Greetings All,

Chapter 2, Anuvakaha # 2, Shloka # 2.

Other than that (soul) made up of the essence of food there is an inner soul (sheath) made up of Prana. With it this is filled. This (pranamaya) is of the same form as the previous. Its human form is exactly as human form of the former. Of that, Prana is the head, vyana is the right side, apana is the left side , akasa is the trunk, earth is the tail or the support. About this also there is the following Vaidika verse.

We are in the middle of anuvakaha #2 of chapter # 2 in which panchakosha viveka topic has been started. Annamaya was introduced as the Atma and the body is taken as our Atma. Upon this annamaya (one’s body) one has to perform Virat meditation. Through this meditation we recognize that annamaya does not exist separate from annam. It is very similar to the concept that a wave is not separate from the ocean. We create the separation by attributing reality to the wave. Once we create this separation in attribute then the birth and growth of the wave makes us happy while its death makes us sad. The wave itself does not have any powers. The power to disturb me (with joy and sorrow) is given by me to the wave. I gave the wave more power than it deserved. The ocean alone is the reality; it alone is, was and will be. There is no wave. The more I shift my attention to the ocean the lessor will be my wave abhimana or identification with wave and it cannot upset me. Once I get the vishwaroopa darshanam of the ocean, then I see only the ocean. Samashti (macro) upasana reduces Vyashti (Micro) abhimana. Anna upasana reduces annamaya abhimana. After practicing this meditation for a length of time then one moves to the next step.

This process of meditation is like plucking a ripe fruit. Before ripening it is difficult to pluck a raw fruit; the plucking leaves tears on the tree and the fruit. Wait for it to ripen. So, practice anna-aikya upasana for some time to reduce the abhimana. Effectively you should be ripe enough through meditation to go to the next step. Now we move to the next Kosha known as Pranamaya.

Now, pranamaya becomes the Atma while annamaya becomes a kosha or anatma. Annamaya becomes a Karyam. Anatma is always a product. Whatever is a product is only a nama and roopa. A substance cannot be produced. Law of conservation of energy means energy cannot be produced or destroyed. Thus, Karyam is only a nama and roopa. Therefore, anatma is called mithya as it depends on something else. Non-substantial pot is nama and roopa and it depends upon clay. So also annamaya depends upon annam. Anatma has only a borrowed existence; it does not have its own existence. As such it is as good as non-existence. Therefore, pot does not exist. There is only clay and nothing called pot. This is known as Pravilapanam or the intellectual denial of the existence of pot.

Where is pranamaya obtained? It obtains in annamaya kosha. Annamaya is the container while pranamaya is the content. Annamaya is the Deha while pranamaya is the Dehi.

Annamaya container is filled with pranamaya atma. Pranamaya becomes anatma only after one moves to manomaya.

Annamaya is the solid body or manushya akara. Pranamaya is the energy body. Pranamaya does not have an intrinsic shape of its own. It is like water. Water does not have its own shape. Shapeless water assumes shape of the vessel. The container shapes the content. Therefore, pranamaya is also manushya adhara. How long will it retain this shape? As long as the body exists it retains that shape. Upon death Prana will not have purusha akara. Its next shape will depend upon the next body it enters.

How did it get the manushya shape? In keeping with human shape of the annmaya, the container, the content is also shaped.

What are the five factors of pranamya? The head, the right side, the left side, the trunk and the tail.

Corresponding to the five factors Pranamaya has five features. They are: Prana, apana, vyana, samana and udana. Of these five Prana, the life breath is the most important one as such it corresponds to the head. Vyana is the right side and deals with circulatory system that transports nutrients to the body. Apana is the left side dealing with waste clearing system. Akasha or Samana is the middle or trunk. Samana is the digestive system of the body. Udana is not discussed as it activates only at death and is known as the reversing system. The tail, the lower part of body is Prithvi devata that retains the Prana Vayu in the body.  Prithvi is connected to our Prarabhdham. Once our prarabhdhams are complete Prana leaves the body. In Pranamaya also there is a Samashti Prana Upasana. The following Rig mantra deals with this upsana.

Chapter 2, Anuvaka 3, Shloka # 1:

Through Prana, the gods (indriyas) live and so also do men and animal kingdom. Prana is verily the life of beings. Therefore, it is called universal life or life of all. Those who meditate on Brahman as Prana come to live the full span of their life. Prana verily is the life of beings. Therefore, it is called universal life or the life of all.

(Note: As per Swamiji, this shloka # 1 in our book extends to the first line of shloka # 2 in anuvaka # 3, as well. Looks like Swamiji’s book are different from ours.)

With this Rig mantra we are entering anuvaka 3. The Rig mantra ends at Tasyaisha Eva Sharira…..Purvasya.

Vedas originally did not have punctuations, as they were not a written text. However, with them now in writing, punctuations have appeared.

Pranamaya is a product of Samashti Prana or Hiranyagarbha or Sutra-Atma. Prana pervades whole universe. When an animal is killed annamaya is merged in samashti annam and pranamaya is merged in Samashti Prana. Samashti Prana is Sthithi Laya Karanam. All animals survive because of Samashti Prana. At death Prana goes out and Vayu does not come in.

Glorification of Prana:

All animals survive only due to blessing of Samashti Prana. Disturbance in Pranic energy can cause disease. Surya Devata is abode of Samashti Prana. Sun’s rays are considered Pranic energy. Therefore life of a being is a blessing of Hiranyagarbha. Worship of sun during sandhyavandanam changes our pranic energy. Samashti Prana is called Sarvayushma , the life span of every being.

Now the Upasana is discussed. There is no Vyashti Pranamaya separate from Samashti Pranamaya.  It is similar to concept of a wave that is not separate from the ocean. It is only a Nama and Roopa that disappears. Therefore, death is not a tragedy.

There is a Marana Mantra or death mantra usually chanted at time of death. The mantra says, let Virat Prana merge into Samashti Prana and so on. It is like a river merging into the ocean. Death is a scared event of going back home. Abhimana of Vyashti Pranamaya comes down through this meditation. The meditation is called Pranamaya, prana aikya upasana. Samshti Prana is called Prana Brahma. It is an upsana on Vyashti pranamaya.

What are the benefits of this meditation or Phallam?

Benefits of Sakama Upasana are: Whosoever practices this upsana (sandhyavandanam includes it), they get a full life or long life as Prana is favorable to them.

Benefits of Nishkama Upasana are: Chitta shuddhi and Chitta Vishalata. In such a person, respect for life increases. Ahimsa becomes natural to him. Vegetarianism comes naturally to him. Pranamaya abhimana comes down. Abhimana tyaga is a benefit.

Only when you dis-identify from Pranamaya can you go to the next step of manomaya.

Chapter 2, Anuvaka 3, shloka 2:

Of that former annamaya, this pranamaya is the atman. Different from this pranamaya-self made up of pranas, there is another self constituted of the mind. With that self made of mind, the pranamaya is full. This is also of the form of man. Its human form is according to that of the former. Of it, Yajus is the head, Rk is right side, Saman is the left side, the scriptural injunction (adesa) is the trunk and the group of hymns of Atharva –Vada is the tail and support. There is the following Vaidika verse about it.

Until now Pranamaya was atma. Really speaking Pranamaya is also not atma. Atma is something other than Pranamaya. This atma is within Pranamaya and is called Manomaya. With this, now, Pranamaya has become a Kosha or an anatma.

Take Away

1. A wave is not separate from the ocean. We create the separation by attributing reality to the wave.
2. The ocean alone is the reality; it alone is, was and will be.
3. Once I get the vishwaroopa darshanam of the ocean, then I see only the ocean.

With Best Wishes,

Ram Ramaswamy