How we are connected with this cosmos – Swarodaya phenomena

The cosmos is an unique system of innumerable satellites, planets, suns, solar systems, galaxies, universes, dust particles and many more known or unknown objects and particles. They all are inter-connected and inter-related with each other. They exert some pressure or force among themselves so that they constantly remain in a systematic movement. Any change or any deviation in any way, in any object of the cosmos will influence each other i.e. all objects are inter-connected by a definite push or pull force.

 Now question arise that man who considers himself most unique creature of the nature; is he also integrated with the cosmos system or he is independent of it? Whether any change in cosmos affects him or not and if affects how cosmos controls man i.e. what are the processes and means by which man is integrated with cosmos.

Some people say that cosmos have no impact over man and control of man by cosmos is an unscientific equation. But they fail to explain how our metabolism is influenced by circadian clock; how our blood pressure is influenced by the movement of sun and moon; how women’s menstruation cycle is controlled by moon; how our breathing pattern is controlled by the sun and moon; how and why most of the cases of heart failures occur after midnight; and so on?

In this article we will discuss the way how movement of sun and moon control our breathing pattern. We always breathe unequal i.e. our one nostril remains congested and other nostril remains open for inhaling and exhaling air. The equation changes alternatively after a definite period i.e. congested nostril will open and open nostril will get congested. This process of alternative opening and congesting of nostril continues till our death and is governed by the movement of sun and moon. This is an automatic natural cycle and any one can feel it any time. Any deviation from the breathing pattern controlled by sun and moon will turn man ill or sick. The process was learnt and understood by our ‘Rishis’ in ancient time and various treaties and commentaries were made on the subject. It was called ‘Swarodaya Vigyan’ or ‘Swara Yoga’.

The Vedic science of understanding the functioning of the nasal cycle is known as ‘Swarodaya vigyana’. ‘Swara’ means the sonorous sound produced by the air flow by nostrils during breathing; ‘Udaya’ means functioning state; and ‘Vigyana’ means knowledge.

It is said in human 7200 ‘nadis’ are present which channelize prana to every cell of our body. Among them ‘Ida’, ‘Pingala’ and ‘Sushumna’ are main and most important nadis. Ida represents moon, Pingala represents sun and both together constitutes Sushumna. Further when we breathe with left nostril, it is said that Ida nadi is functioning and when right nostril is active the Pingala nadi is said to be active. When both nostrils function with equal capacity the Sushumna nadi is said to be active.

This cycle of activeness and passiveness of nadis or nostrils is controlled by movement of sun and moon, day and night, and time. In ‘Bramha mahurt’ i.e. early morning first three days of ‘Shuklapaksha’ i.e. the bright fortnight, the Ida flows and then alternates with each other. 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd day Ida, and then 4^th, 5^th, 6^th day Pingla, thus they keep alternating throughout the quarter. While, conversely, in ‘Krishnapaksha’ – dark fortnight, in Brahma muhurt i.e. early morning first three days, the Pingala flows first i.e.1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Pingala; and 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th   day Ida, thus they alternate one after another in this fort night. This is depicted specifically in the following manner:-

A.   Bright fort night i.e. Shukla paksh:-

1. First, second and third day – Ida i.e. left nostril.

2. Fourth, fifth and sixth day – Pingala i.e. right nostril.

3. Seventh, eighth and ninth day - Ida i.e. left nostril.

4. Tenth, eleventh and twelfth day – Pingala i.e. right nostril.

5. Thirtieth, fourteenth and fifteenth day i.e. full moon - Ida i.e. left nostril.

     B. Dark fort night i.e. Krishna paksh:-

1.  First, second and third day – Pingala i.e. right nostril.

2. Fourth, fifth and sixth day – Ida i.e. left nostril.

3. Seventh, eighth and ninth day - Pingala i.e. right nostril.

4. Tenth, eleventh and twelfth day – Ida i.e. left nostril.

5. Thirtieth, fourteenth and fifteenth day i.e. dark moon - Pingala i.e. right nostril.

One cycle involving Ida and Pingala congestion and de-congestion is completed in 5 ghadees. One ghadee is equal to 24 minutes and 60 ghadees are in 24 hours i.e. day and night. This is the time scale measurement of Vedic people. Therefore it is natural to inhale breath by one nostril is for two and a half ghadhee which comes approximately 60 minutes i.e. one hour. After that other nostril will decongest and inhale breathing will start from it and it will continue for next one hour. Thus in 24 hours 12 cycles of alternate breathing occurs.

What happens if we inhale equally with both nostrils? It is said Sushumna nadi is activated and functioning. It’s not normal state of breathing and only occurs when we are under extreme emotional pressures e.g. anger, fear and insecurity etc. This is most conducive state for yoga practices. Practicing yoga in other two states may harm us. Therefore nadi shodhan pranayam is done before practicing yoga i.e. anulom-vilom pranayam. By practicing anulom-vilom pranayam normal breathing with both nostrils starts i.e. sushumna nadi becomes activate.

It is further said that inhaling by left nostril activates right half of our brain and when inhaling is done by right nostril left half of our brain is active. This alternative activeness and passiveness of two half of our brain is a biological requirement which is made possible by alternate breathing only.

Why and how it happens it is not known so far. But it happens. Any person may experience it, and if he possesses normal health and emotionally quite, will find the same sequence of congestion and decongestion in breathing, as described above. Very little work is done in this regard. It is natural and if a man does not inhale and exhale according to above pattern, it is said, he will become ill or sick. The continuous irregular pattern of breathing may turn fatal. No man is exception to it and patterned breathing is also found among several animals also.

It is clear from the above discussion that our breathing is patterned and controlled by time, day and movement of sun and moon. Sun and moon control earth and any change of any kind in them affect physical and biological characteristics on earth. In turn all three are controlled by various celestial bodies present in universe and cosmos.

Thus ultimately we are as a man also controlled by cosmos in a continuous regular way. We are not independent of cosmos and any activity anywhere, whatever its intensity may be; it has specific impact on us. However we are unable to sense it. That’s what we are in a specific ‘laya’ or rhythm with the cosmos and we exist as long as this rhythm continues. When this ‘laya’ or rhythm is broken the ‘pralay’ or destruction occurs and our existence comes to an end. Therefore it is a must to remain in a perfect rhythm with the cosmos in order to exist as such.