214 - The system of veins in the body and their benefits

 Agni said:

1-4. Ishall describe the system of veins by knowing which one would know lord Hari. Fibre-like things spread out from the bulbous root below the navel. They are seventy-two thousand situated at the centre of the navel. They spread out and occupy everywhere across, above and below. They are situated like a wheel. Among these idā, pingalā, sushumna, gândhari, hastijihva, prutha, yasi, alambushā, huhu and šankhini are the ten principal veins. 

5-14. These veins are said to be carrying the ten life forces— prana, apana, samana, udana vyana, nāga, kūrma, krukara, devadatta and dhananjaya. Präna is the chief wind and is the lord of the ten. The präņa makes the life living from exhalation after the inhalation. Remaining in the chest of beings it fills up daily. The prāņa gets united with life by exhalation, inhalation and coughing. Because it moves out from the life it is said to be präna. Apana pushes down the food in men. It is said to be apana because it is the wind that carries the urine and semen. The wind known as samana equalises the blood, biles, phlegm and wind in the body (caused by) drinking, eating and smelling. The wind known as uddna agitates the vulnerable points and causes the quivering of lips, face and causes change in the complexion of the eye. (The wind) vyāna depresses the body and activates the disease. It is said to be vyāna because it returns from the throat and spreads out. The wind näga (is known to be) in vomitting and kūrma remains in the opening. (The wind) krukara is in eating, devadatta in yawning, dhananjaya in raising loud sound. They do not abandon even the dead. Thus goes the life cycle with the ten activities. Hence it is the cycle of veins. 

15-20. The solstices, the equinoxes, day and night, the sun's passage north and south of the equator, intercalary month, debt, the incomplete night and wealth (are attributed to the different parts of the body and their functions). The incomplete night would be the hiccough and the intercalary mouth the yawning. The debt would be coughing. The exhalation is said to be wealth. The right side (of the body) is known to be the north and the left side is designated as the south. The equinoctical points are said to be in the middle line passing through the two parts while the solstice is that passing from its own nervecentre to another centre. O Brahmin! Sushumna is established in the middle of the body, the idä on the left and the pingala on the right. The präņa above is remembered to be the day. In the same way apana would be the night. One wind (exists) in ten forms. The expanse in the middle of the body is said to be the lunar eclipse. The expanse between the principles of the body is known to be the solar eclipse. 

21. Filling the abdomen with wind as much as one desires is known to be the pranayama known as the püraka because it fills up. 

22. After covering all the holes, oneshould remain like a pot after filling (the abdomen with air) without exhalation and inhalation. That is the kumbhaka (variety of) prandydma. 

23-26. One who knows the sacred syllableshould push the wind upwards and let out in one breath. Heshould evacuate it upwards (to the region of the brain). Since (lord) Siva residing in the body (of beings) himself utters (that) (the letter ha), that is said to be the repetition for those who know the principles. That master of yoga does the repetition twentyone thousand six hundred times in the course of a day and night. This gayatri known as the ajapa is of the form of Brahmå, Vishņu and Maheśvara. There is no rebirth for one that repeats this ajapā (mantra). 

27. The foremost kundalini (the energy coiled in one of the psychometric centres) is considered to be associated with the moon, fire and sun. It is known to remain in the heart in the form. of a sprout. 

28-32. The location of the creationshould be therein because of its suspension from that. The foremost worshippershould contemplate therein the flowing ambrosia. The sakala (endowed with the parts) is known to be remaining in the body and the nishkala (without the parts) as devoid of the body. That one who repeats hamsa is the lord Sadasiva (ever auspicious). That person remains in the body of the man both outside and inside just as oil in the sesamum and fragrance in the flowers, Lord Brahma has his place in the heart. Lord Vishņu remains at the throat. Lord Rudra is situated in the middle of the cheeks. Lord Maheśvara is at the forehead. Lord Sivashould be known as the tip of the vital principle and the higher and the lower as its end. The sakala form is said to be of five kinds and niskala form as the contrary, 

33-41. That person who produces the sound that is präsåda (propitious) and repeats hundred times would no doubt get accomplished in six months endowed with yoga. There will be destruction of all sins because of the knowledge of the past and future events. One would get virtues such as anima (the power to become minute as an atom) in six months. The präsåda has been described by me as three: gross, subtle and foremost. Präsåda is of three kinds-short, long and protracted. Theshort one burns sins. Thc long one would confer emancipation. The elongated one is in accomplishing things. It is adorned with a dot on its head. The syllable phat is beneficial at the beginning and end of theshort sound for the sake of destroying an enemy. The heart (mantra) at the beginning and end is stated to be useful in captivating (others' minds). Oneshould repeat (the same) five lakhs time (standing facing) the southern face of the deity. After the repetition thereshould be oblation of ghee ten thousand times. With the sacred syllable having been accomplished thus oneshould do the repetition for captivating etc. It is void above, void inthe middle and void below. It is devoid of blemishes. Whichever brahmin knows the three voids would certainly be released (from the mundane existence). One is said to be not a preceptor if he does not know the präsåda, made of the five sacred syllables, endowed with thirtyeight parts. So also the preceptor knows the syllable oth, the gayatri, (lord) Rudra and others.