Pranavaha srotas
Prana means vital force, and srotas means channels of transformation and transportation. The energies in the different biological settings are carried through the channels. Pranavaha srotasa carries the vital force throughout the body. It is placed first in the sequence of all srotasa[1] as it is responsible for sustaining life since birth to death [Cha.Sa. Vimana Sthana 5/6]. The other reason for prioritizing pranavaha srotasa is that pranavaha srotasa is more susceptible to disorders due to more frequent exposure to external environment than other constituent srotasa. Prana is among the five types of vata dosha, whose chief function is expiration (nishvasa).[2] Thus, all the activities in which prana vayu is directly or indirectly involved denote life. Therefore, pranavaha srotas is the most important factor for longevity. This article describes the physiological and pathological aspects of Pranavaha Rottasa.
| Section/Chapter/topic | Concepts/SrotasPranavaha Srotas |
|---|---|
| Authors |
Bhojani M. K.1 Sharma Raksha1 Deole Y.S.2 |
| Reviewer & Editor | Basisht G.3, |
| Affiliations |
1 Department of Sharir Kriya, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi, India 2 Department of Kayachikitsa, G. J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 3 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.Department of Kayachikitsa, G. J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India |
| Correspondence emails |
meera.samhita@aiia.gov.in, carakasamhita@gmail.com |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India |
| Date of publication: | September 27, 2023 |
| DOI | 10.47468/CSNE.2023.e01.s09.150 |
Origin
Heart (hridaya) and mahasrotas (gastrointestinal tract) are the origins of pranavaha srotas.[3] Acharya Sushruta described hridaya and the channels carrying nutrient fluids (rasavahini dhamani) as origin of pranavaha srotas.
- Hridaya: Charak and Sushruta have considered hridaya as the origin of pranavaha and rasavaha srotas. The relationship of heart (hridaya) , pranavaha and rasavaha srotas reflects the pulmonary and circulatory systems as per contemporary science.
- Mahasrotas: Mahasrotas is a gastrointestinal tract-like structure. It is the abode of amashaya and pakwashaya (stomach, small intestine, and large intestine).
- Dhamani: Dhamani carries the essence of digested food (rasa) all over the body and maintains the nutrition (poshana).
Other sites of prana
There are ten principal seats in which the life forces (prana) are established. The two temples (shankha), the three vital organs including heart (hridaya), the head region mainly brain (shira), the bladder including kidneys (basti), throat (kantha), rakta dhatu (blood), shukra dhatu (reproductive fluid), oja (the vital fluid) and the anus. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 29/3] These ten sites are related to pranavaha srotasa. The disorders affecting these sites cause vitiation of pranavaha srotasa.
Wasting or degeneration of tissues (kshaya), suppression of natural urges (sandharana), excess exertion(vyayama), excess hunger (kshudhita), excessive dryness (ruksha), exposure to cold (sheeta) in lifestyle and dietary pattern with harmful regimens lead to abnormalities to pranavaha srotas.[4] Suppression of thirst (pipasa dharana) also leads to vitiation of pranavaha srotasa.
There are four kinds of abnormalities in the functioning of srotas. These features can be observed as follows:
| 1. excess functioning (atipravritti) | Increased respiration /breathlessness |
| 2. obstructed functions(sanga) | Due to phlegm/obstruction by foreign bodies |
| 3. cystic formations (siragranthi) | It may be the engorgement of blood vessels or tumor |
| 4. abnormal pathways (vimarga gamana) | Deviation from the normal direction of flow of air or misdirected flow of fluid |
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