22NADI – The Channel Of Vital Force
Nadi are commonly known as channels or tube like or pipe like where the energies flow intercepting at chakras, the special points of intensity. The word nadi comes from the Sanskrit root nad meaning “channel”, “stream”, or “flow”. The energy flow is observed at all five layers, these are
- Annamaya kosha (food sheath, Earth element)
- Pranamay kosha (vital sheath, Water element)
- Manomaya kosha (mental sheath, Fire element)
- Vijnanamaya kosha (intellect/intuitive sheath, Air element)
- Anandamaya kosha (bliss sheath, ether/Space element)
The three principal nadis are ida, pingala, and sushumna. Ida (“comfort”) lies to the left of the spine, whereas pingala (“solar”) is to the right side of the spine, mirroring the ida. Sushumna runs along the spinal cord in the center, through the seven chakras. When the channels are unblocked by the action of yoga, the energy of kundalini uncoils and rises up the sushumna from the base of the spine. The nadis play a role in yoga, as many yogic practices, including shatkarmas, mudras and pranayama, are intended to open and unblock the nadis. The ultimate aim of some yogic practices are to direct prana into the sushumna nadi specifically, enabling kundalini to rise, and thus bring about moksha, or liberation.
In the physical body, the nadis are channels carrying air, water, nutrients, blood and other bodily fluids around and are similar to the arteries, veins, capillaries, bronchioles, nerves, lymph canals. In the subtle and the causal body, the nadis are channels for so called cosmic, vital, seminal, mental, intellectual, etc. energies (collectively described as prana) and are important for sensations, consciousness and the spiritual aura.
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Goraksha Samhita quote 72,000 nadis, each branching off into another 72,000 nadis, whereas the Shiva Samhita states 350,000 nadis arise from the navel center, and the Katha Upanishad says that 101 channels radiate from the heart.
The Ida and Pingala nadis are sometimes in modern readings interpreted as the two hemispheres of the brain. Pingala is the extroverted (Active), solar nadi, and corresponds to the right hand side of the body and the left hand side of the brain. Ida is the introverted, lunar nadi, and corresponds to the left hand side of the body and the right hand side of the brain (there is a contra lateralization).