Vayu – the element of air and prana

The life force that controls our body and the cosmos

Hanuman, son of Vayu

“Breath of the Gods and life germ of the universe, freely he wanders. We bring him our homage, whose voice may be heard but whose form is not seen.”

“Vayu” means “that which blows.” Akasha is the subtlest of all the elements and vayu evolves from it. When the potential inherent within ether or akasha becomes active, it becomes air or vayu. This element represents the capacity for motion or kinetic energy. Vayu governs all movement. This refers not only to physical movement, but also mental. Any movement that is going on in our body – our thoughts, the blood flow, the signals from the brain, the act of breathing, the digestive flow are all possible due to the air element. Vayu is the Lord of thought and swift as the mind!

Of all the elements, vayu has the greatest ability to cleanse the body of pollutants. Since it’s the life force or prana, it automatically purifies us when it circulates through the body freely.

The sense of touch is the subtle manifestation of this element. The skin is the sense organ that is related to the air element. 

Vayu is connected with the Anahata or Heart Chakra. According to Ayurveda, Prana Vayu is located in this chakra. Feelings of love, freedom, openness, mobility, frivolity, positivity and brightness of intellect are the characteristics of this chakra, and can be felt when our air element is optimally balanced.

Today modern technology has learnt to tap the latent powers of nature and we have a rapid increase in the speed of transferring data and information. But in our culture, we had already discovered the properties of this force and named it “Vayu.” It is the “Kriya Shakti” or power of action that governs all animate and inanimate forces. This energy is not just behind the force of the wind but the same energy that activates the sub-atomic particles which gave rise to the Big Bang – which the western scientist thinks to have triggered off the creation of the universe. The Sanatana Dharma has given us a unique method of tapping this energy and this is known as yoga!

But as usual with our culture, all this scientific knowledge was hidden behind stories and symbols. Therefore, in the Puranas, Vayu is depicted as having four hands. He rides a deer and carries an arrow in one hand and a white banner in the other. The third hand shows the Abhaya Mudra (gesture of benediction) and the other, the Varada Mudra (gesture of grace and mercy). His chariot is driven by one thousand white and purple horses.

Vayu denotes not just the breath but also the life principle which animates the vital organs. All organs are dependent on the prana. As long as prana inhabits it, the organism lives. Once the prana leaves the body, the living being is reduced to a corpse, without significance or value. Hence, the statement “Prano vai Brahma” means “Prana is verily the Brahman.” Just close your nose for some minutes and see how long you can go without breath! We might be able to go without food (prithvi), water (apas) or fire (agni) for some time but not without air!

Most of us do not breathe optimally. We normally take very shallow breaths and only breathe with the very top part of our lungs. Quality breathing takes practise. It involves inhaling all the way down to the bottom of our lungs. Put your hand on your stomach and feel it expand as you inhale. Likewise, when you exhale, expel the breath completely and allow your belly to return to its normal shape. Just watch a baby breathe in order to know how we should breathe! To improve our breathing we are advised to practise “pranayama” which is the science of breath control.

The ancient masters of our culture discovered that the body actually functions due to the presence of five different “vayus.” These are known as Prana Vayu, Apana Vayu, Vyana Vayu, Udana Vayu and Samana Vayu. These five have different functions in the body and keep the body in a fit and perfect condition.

Of course “prana” is the one vayu we are all aware of. When prana leaves the body, the doctor declares the person dead! It is the basic life force. It is responsible for the functioning of all the mechanisms needed for survival. This energy flows from the head to the rest of the body. It is located in the upper part of the body, mainly in the head and chest. It’s an inward and upward movement. It is what we inhale as breath but it is also that which we intake in the form of ideas.

Apana Vayu is located in the pelvis and lower abdomen. Its movement is outward and downward. Apana Vayu governs elimination and reproduction. This includes the exhalation of the breath and semen and expulsion of waste materials. It is said to specifically reside in the colon. 

Vyana is the outward flow of vayu. This vayu is responsible for blood circulation, and all involuntary actions inside the body. It circulates through the whole body, but is primarily located in the heart and lungs. It is what circulates our blood and allows us to breathe. Vyana Vayu moves from the inside to the outside.

Like Prana Vayu, Udana Vayu is an upward movement, but it moves in a circular fashion. It is located in the throat. Udana Vayu governs growth, speech, and self-expression.

Finally, Samana Vayu is always circling inwards. It governs digestion, absorption  and assimilation of all things: food, thoughts and ideas. Its primary location is in the abdomen. It is like a power station, and collects energy absorbed through breath, food, sensory and mental perception and thus it empowers all aspects of life.

When it is healthy, we have strong digestion, vitality and balance at all levels. When it is weak we struggle with assimilation and digestion of not only food for the body but also our mental and emotional experiences. It is concentrated at the navel – Manipura Chakra which is the centre for the transformative power of the fire element. This centre is essential for hatha yogis. Yogasana practices are meant to draw the downward moving Apana Vayu up to the navel and the upward moving Prana Vayu down to the navel. These two unite to awaken the Samana. This integrates the body, balances the mind and gives us the clarity to examine our own minds and the motivation to transform our habits and karmic tendencies.

The air element aids in all the voluntary and involuntary movements happening within the body. This includes movements such as breathing, heartbeat, blood and oxygen circulation, movement of food through digestive organs, flow of thoughts and ideas in our brain, generating hormones, sending signals to body parts through nerves, movement of the arms and legs, blinking, yawning, sneezing, etc.

Imbalances can be caused due to multi-tasking, spending long hours in front of a computer, eating processed foods, intensive exercise, smoking, excessive travelling, stress, grief, surgery, childbirth, late-night activity, or irregular schedules.

One sign of vayu deficiency is that we feel heavy, fatigued, and lethargic. Diet and sleep are critical components for balancing vayu. We can increase vayu in our bodies by eating cool, light, airy foods such as raw fruits and vegetables. Sleeping too much can also be a sign of vayu deficiency. It is important to follow the rhythm of the rising and setting sun as much as possible when it comes to eating and sleeping. When the vayu element is strong, an alarm clock will not be necessary.

Too much vayu can be harmful as well. When there is too much air in our bodies, we experience symptoms such as anxiety, nervousness, sleeplessness, and difficulty in digestion. Excessive vayu can cause us to feel almost disembodied.

On the spiritual side, vayu helps the consciousness to perceive the objects of the world. It is the medium that connects the changeless Brahman to the changing patterns of the world. Prana is the vibrating power of the Brahman which provides contact between the world and the atman.

Now let us see how the power of this great element has been taken to create two of the most fascinating figures in our Puranas. In the Ramayana, he is portrayed as the figure of Hanuman, son of Vayu. In the Mahabharata, Bhima was the son of Vayu. Hanuman can endow us with the atma-shakti or self-power through which we can realise our higher potential and accomplish magical feats. He grants us fearlessness, self-confidence and courage to attempt the impossible. But this can happen only when we dedicate our lives to the Divine Self or Rama within us, letting go of the ego’s attachment to this external world.

How to regulate the air element in the body

Mudras are symbolic hand gestures which act as energy circuits. They can restore health to both body and mind. As we have learnt, the human body is made up of a combination of the five elements. Our rishis discovered that the five fingers of our hands are like switches that control these elements. These elements can be activated by the proper use of the mudras. By using the Vayu Mudra, we can regulate the flow of air in our bodies. This will help in relieving flatulence, joint pains, sciatica, gout and arthritis. It will also help in treating Parkinson’s disease. The Vayu Mudra can be practised by placing the thumb firmly over the middle of the first finger and holding it down firmly for five minutes at a time.

May Hanuman, the son of Vayu, protect us from both physical and mental harm and lead us to the ultimate goal of life, moksha.

Aum Yam Vayave Namaha!

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