Pingala is one of the three primary nadis in yogic and Ayurvedic traditions, responsible for channeling solar energy through the body. It is associated with the right side of the body and the left hemisphere of the brain, governing dynamic and active qualities such as logic, analytical thinking, and physical activity. Pingala nadi originates at the base of the spine, intertwining with the Ida nadi and Sushumna nadi, and terminates at the right nostril. Balancing Pingala helps in maintaining vitality, focus, and a balanced energetic flow.

Transliteration

Jis simrat sabh kilvikh naaseh pitree ho-ay udhaaro
So har har tum sad hee jaapahu jaa kaa ant na paaro
Poota maataa kee aasees
Nimakh na bisara-o tum ka-o har har sadaa bhajahu jagdees rahaa-o
Satgur tum ka-o ho-ay da-i-aalaa santsang tayree preet
Kaaparh pat parmaysar raakhee bhojan keertan neet
Amrit peevhu sadaa chir jeevhu har simrat anad anantaa
Rang tamaasaa pooran aasaa kabeh na bi-aapai chintaa
Bhavar tumaaraa ih man hova-o har charnaa hohu ka-ulaa
Naanak daas un sang laptaa-i-o ji-o booNdeh chaatrik ma-ulaa

Meaning

Remembering God, all mistakes are cleansed and our ancestors redeemed and saved.
Always chant the name of God, Har Har. God is within you, God is infinite.
Oh, my child, this is your mother’s blessing.
Do not forget God for a moment, always praising the Lord of the Universe.
May the true Guru be kind to you, may you love to be with the Saints.
May your clothing be God’s protection, may your food be the chanting of God’s prayers.
Drink the nectar of God’s name and have a long life, may meditation on God give you infinite joy.
May love be yours and your desires fulfilled. May you never be overcome by worry.
Let your mind be the bumblebee and let the Guru’s Lotus Feet be the flower.
Oh Servant Nanak, bind your mind in this way. Like the hawk finding a drop of rain, it flourishes.

Effect

The mantra Poota Mata Kee Asees is a mantra of prayer, love, and protection. It is a blessing that mothers bestow upon their children, for them to have divine protection and guidance.

Prabhupati is a term rooted in Sanskrit, composed of “Prabhu,” meaning “lord” or “master,” and “Pati,” meaning “husband” or “protector.” In the context of Kundalini Yoga, it refers to a person who has mastered their inner self and holds dominion over their own mind, body, and spirit. This mastery allows them to lead and protect others, guiding them on their spiritual journey. A Prabhupati embodies wisdom, strength, and compassion, acting as a beacon for those seeking enlightenment and inner peace.

Prakriti is a Sanskrit term that refers to the fundamental, natural, and primordial matter or nature, particularly in Sankhya and Ayurveda traditions. It represents the dynamic, ever-changing physical world and all its elements, including the mind, body, and senses. Prakriti is composed of three gunas (qualities) — Sattva (balance), Rajas (activity), and Tamas (inertia) — which influence its state and transformations. In contrast to Purusha, the unchanging, pure consciousness or spirit, Prakriti is the creative force that interacts with Purusha to manifest the universe. Understanding and balancing Prakriti is essential for achieving harmony and spiritual growth.

Life Force Seal

Effects of Prana Mudra:

Practicing Prana Mudra or Kapha Kaarak Mudra stimulates the life force energy within us, which can be a handy antidote to feeling tired or lethargic. Ayurvedically, it is said to reduce the Pitta Dosha, or fire element, and increase the Kapha Dosha, or water element, in the body; this combination can help get things flowing and reduce heat, bringing the body into greater balance. This calming of the fire element can reduce mental tensions and hot emotions, lowering blood pressure. The stimulation of the water element can help lubricate joints and ease arthritis. Its cooling and calming action soothes the nervous system, which can decrease insomnia. It is also said to help heal eye conditions.

How to do Prana Mudra:

1. Touch the tip of the thumb with the tips of your ring and pinky fingers, keeping your index and middle fingers extended and together. (For Active Prana Mudra, cover the nails and/or first segments of your ring and pinky fingers with the thumb, keeping your index and middle fingers extended and together.)
2. Rest your hands on your knees or thighs, with the palms facing upward. Ensure that your arms are relaxed and not strained.

Prana Vayu is one of the five subdivisions of prana, or life force, in yogic and Ayurvedic traditions. It governs the inward movement of energy and is centered in the chest, controlling respiration and the heart. Prana Vayu is responsible for drawing in vital life energy through breath, sustaining all bodily functions, and is essential for maintaining vitality and health. By enhancing Prana Vayu, one can improve mental clarity, emotional stability, and overall energy levels, fostering a deeper connection to the self and the environment.

Effects of Anjali/Pranam Mudra/Prayer Pose:

Pranam Mudra, also known as Prayer Pose or Anjali Mudra, is considered one of the oldest and most universal mudras. Since the beginning of time, people have put their palms together at their Heart Center (Anahata Chakra). This mudra ties together the right and left sides of the body and the right and left brain hemispheres.

When we perform this mudra, our thumbs create some pressure on the sternum which turns on the conception and governing vessels, a central meridian that loops around and connects all the meridian systems. We also believe that the pressure of the knuckles on the center of the sternum activates a type of mind nerve or focal point that supports your ability to meditate more deeply. Try it and tune into the feelings that you have as you press your hands together and press the thumbs against the sternum. What do you feel in this ancient position?

In ancient times people understood that the heart area was the seat or center of human consciousness, even more so than your head and brain. As you practice this mudra, feel your thought processes centering into your heart area, so that you are connected to a part of yourself that is feeling and soul centric, beyond the analytical mind.

How to do Pranam Mudra:

1. Begin by pressing your palms together in front of your heart. Press the large joint of your thumbs on your sternum.
2. Make sure that the bracelet lines of the wrist (where the palm and wrist join) are placed at the Heart Center (Anahata Chakra). The fingers are at 90 degrees, pointing straight up under the bottom of the chin. 
3. Apply an even and constant pressure on all 10 fingers and the palms as well as against the sternum (the breastbone).

Pranayama is a practice in yoga that involves controlling the breath to enhance physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. The term comes from Sanskrit, where “prana” means life force or vital energy, and “ayama” means control or extension. Through various techniques such as deep breathing, breath retention, and alternate nostril breathing, pranayama aims to regulate the flow of prana within the body. This practice can reduce stress, increase concentration, and improve overall health by balancing the mind and body.

Pranayama Kosha is the second of the five sheaths, or layers, of the human being according to yogic philosophy. It represents the energy body, encompassing the life force known as prana, which flows through the nadis and is concentrated in the chakras. Pranamaya Kosha is responsible for vitality and sustains the physical body, linking the physical and mental planes. Practices like pranayama and energy work help to balance and strengthen this sheath, promoting overall well-being and health.

Pratyahara is the fifth limb of the eight-limbed path of yoga outlined by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. It refers to the withdrawal of the senses from external objects and distractions to turn inward. This practice helps in gaining control over the senses and mind, reducing sensory overload, and preparing for deeper stages of meditation. By practicing pratyahara, one learns to detach from external stimuli and cultivate inner awareness, leading to greater mental clarity, focus, and spiritual growth.

The term “Prithvi Tattva” refers to the earth element in the context of yoga and Ayurveda’s five elements (Pancha Tattvas). It symbolizes stability, solidity, and groundedness, embodying the foundational qualities necessary for physical existence and material abundance. In Kundalini Yoga, Prithvi Tattva is closely linked with the root chakra (Muladhara), which governs our sense of security, stability, and connection to the physical world. Balancing and harmonizing this element is crucial for establishing a strong foundation for spiritual growth and holistic well-being.

Purusha refers to the unmanifest spirit or pure consciousness that transcends individual identity and physical form. It embodies the eternal essence beyond the fluctuations of the material world, serving as the cosmic observer distinct from manifest reality. Realizing Purusha involves recognizing oneself beyond transient thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, and identifying with the universal consciousness that underlies all existence. This concept is central to spiritual practices aiming for self-realization and inner liberation.

Transliteration

Ra Ma Da Sa, Sa Say So Hung

Meaning

Ra is the energy of the Sun: strong, bright and hot. It energizes and purifies.
Ma is the energy of the moon: receptive, cool, and nurturing.
Da is the energy of Earth: secure and personal. It is the ground of action.
Sa is the impersonal Infinity. The cosmos in all of its dimensions, openness, expansiveness and totality is Sa.
Sa is the impersonal Infinity.
Say is the totality of experience and is personal. It is the feeling of a sacred “Thou.” It is the embodiment of Sa.
So is the personal sense of merger and identity.
Hung is the Infinite, vibrating and real. The two qualities together (So and Hung) mean: “I am Thou.”

Effect

The universal energies can be compared to the strings of a harp.
This mantra tunes those strings so that everything within and around us becomes melodious.

Transliteration

Raj yog takhat dee-an Guru Ram Das.

Prithamay Naanak chand jagat bhayo anand;

Taaran manukh jan kee-o pragaas.

Guru Angad dee-o nidhaan akath kathaa gi-aan;

Panch bhoot bas keenay jamat na traas.

Guru Amar Guroo siri sat kalijug raakhee pat.

Aghan daykhat gat charan kaval jaas.

Sabh bidh maani-o man tab hee bhayo prasann,

Raj jog takhat dee-an Guru Raam Daas.

Meaning

The throne of raja yoga has been bestowed on Guru Ram Das.

First, Guru Nanak, like the full moon, filled the world with bliss; 

He liberated the souls of humanity with His illumination.

Guru Angad was blessed with the treasure of divine discourse and knowledge of God.

He overcame the five demons and so was rid of the fear of death’s messenger.

Guru Amar Das, the great and true Guru, is the savior of honor in the Kali Yuga.

By the sight of His lotus feet, sins are eradicated.

With His mind satisfied in every way, He was pleased.

And the throne of raja yoga was bestowed on Guru Ram Das.

Effect

This shabad gives you self-majesty and helps create graceful surroundings. It can be played or chanted while cooking to infuse healing energy into the food.

Raja Yoga is the royal path of yoga, emphasizing meditation, mental control, and spiritual enlightenment. It focuses on stilling the mind through practices like meditation, concentration, and breath control (pranayama), aiming to achieve self-realization by experiencing the true nature of consciousness. Raja Yoga incorporates ethical principles, physical postures (asanas), and systematic techniques for mental clarity and inner peace, as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Rajas is one of the three gunas in yogic philosophy, representing activity, energy, and passion. It is characterized by its fiery, active nature and its role as a catalyst for transformation. These qualities—Sattva (purity, harmony), Rajas (activity, passion), and Tamas (inertia, darkness)—constantly interact, intertwine, and influence each other in varying combinations. Rajas drives ambition, restlessness, and the pursuit of goals, shaping both emotional responses and behavioral tendencies. Recognizing and balancing Rajas helps individuals manage their energy levels and navigate their aspirations and actions towards personal growth and harmony.