The Channels of Energy

The pillar powerhouse

The chakras or the energy centres are aligned along main vertical energy channels called naadis. The naadis are also spread across the entire body as a network of passages for the flow of praana or life-force. As the seven chakras among the 114, are named and well-known, so also, there are 12 Important naadis: Ida, Pingala, Sushumna, Shankini, Gandhaari, Hasthini, Lambusi, Saraswathi, Nanda, Kuhu, Poorna, Vaaruni.

Of these, Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna* are the main naadis. Ida and Pingala are complementary and flow on either side of the Madhya-naadi, the Sushumna. The former is to the left, representing lunar energy and the latter to the right, representing solar energy. The cluster of all naadis is found in the space between the genitals and anus, and is called tundi. There are 50 branches each, of Ida naadi in the left nostril and Pingala naadi in the right nostril.

*bramha naadi or madhya naadi

Just as the chakras require cleansing for the Kundalini to be awakened, the naadis too require cleansing. Naadi-shuddhi pranaayaama is a yogic practice of breathing through alternate nostrils while holding the closed nostril in a particular mudra* (the ring finger for closing the left nostril and thumb for the right nostril), and is said to enable efficient flow of life-force through the channels.

*Vishnu mudra

At the time of death, the life-force or praana of one who has been able to activate the Sushumna naadi, exits the body through the Bramharaandra, the top-most point of the naadi splitting it open. Such a soul has no re-birth.

Excerpts from Harikathaamruthasaara

Jagannatha daasaru has described the naadis in great detail, in his magnum opus, Harikathaamruthasaara. There are a total of 72000 naadis, 36000 naadis on either side, representing male and female naadis. Vaasudeva named Brihathi, along with Shree devi and Bhoo devi, resides within the 72000 forms of Vayu devaru in the naadis, in sthree and purusha rupas*, accepting the service of the tattvaabhimaani devathes, who are divided into two categories, patrons of the day and patrons of the night.

*female and male forms in the left and right side of the body, respectively

The 12 naadis* of utmost importance, originating from the heart, are the dwelling places of Ganga and other holy rivers. Hari is present as Keshava and other 11 forms in these, and as Ekaatma in the Sushumna naadi.

*Kaarana naadis

The Sushumna naadi, originating in the tundi and going all the way to the crown of the head, is about the size of a thousandth of a strand of human hair, and is surrounded on all four sides by Vajrika, Aarya, Prakaashini and Vaidyutha naadis.

At the root of the lotus of the heart (the centre of madhya-naadi,), resides Naarayana in the form of Mulesha at whose feet is Vayu devaru who prevents evil forces from entering; and travels within, unhindered in the Sushumna naadi. The kind paramaatma in a trikona-chakra* in the middle of the Sushumna naadi burns papa-purusha** in the agni-mandala***, during the day. The papa-purusha, by the boon of Bramha regains his body at night.

*A triangle within a circle

**embodiment of sin

***the upward journey of kundalini from the lowest chakra

Hari in the form of Naarayana, Vaasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha (pancha-rupi paramaatma) is forever protecting the devathes and vanquishing the daityas, the abhimani devathes of days and nights, respectively.

The number of branches of Sushumna naadi:

Hari pervades in the naadis of all creatures, terrestrial, aquatic and aerial; and is the karta.* As Ekaathma, he is present in 72000 forms in each of the devathes in the two sides of the body, protects his devotees, and inspires them to perform actions based on their nature (gunas) and capacity (yogyathe). The devathes who reside in the naadis that are spread both vertically and horizontally, are perpetually warding off the daanavas (wicked forces) and singing paeans of Hari.

*the one who performs actions and makes us perform them

The total lifespan of a 100 years grants a person 72000* days. Thus, one should contemplate on the 72000 forms of the Lord in the naadis, through his life.

*36000 days and 36000 nights