Nadis, Purity and Ailments – the Yoga Vasistha

The book “The Supreme Yoga” is the teaching of the sage Vasistha imparted to Sri Rama. It contains true understanding about the creation of the world i.e. the world is nothing but the play of consciousness. the Yoga Vasistha is the greatest help to the spiritual awakening and direct experience of Truth. Vasistha demands direct observation of the mind, its motion, its notions, its reasoning, the assumed cause and the projected result. The book is a translation into English by Swami Venkatesananda of Divine Life Society, Rishikesh India. The article is primarily based on it.

One should abandon all habits and tendencies that are unrelated to what one wishes to achieve. One should learn to close the apertures in the body and also learn the practice of different postures. The diet should be pure. One should contemplate the meaning of holy scriptures. Right conduct and the company of holy ones are essential. Having renounced everything, one should sit comfortably. If one than practises pranayama for some time without allowing anger, greed etc. to rise within oneself, the life-force comes under one’s perfect control.

Nadi & Kundalini -
Deep within the body there is a Nadi known as the Antravestika. It rests in the vitals and it is the source of a hundred other Nadis. It exists in all beings – gods, demons and humans, animals and birds, worms and fish. It is coiled at the source. It is a contact with all avenues in the body, from the waist right up to the crown of the head.
Within this Nadi dwells the supreme power. It is known as kundalini, because it is coiled in appearance. It is the supreme power in all beings and it is prime mover of all power. When the prana or life-force which is in the heart reaches the abode of the kundalini, there arises within oneself an awareness of the elements of nature. It is the kundalini unfolds and begins to move that there is awareness within oneself.
All the other Nadi (radiating flow of energy) is tied to the kundalini, as it were. Hence the kundalini is the very seed of consciousness and understanding (or knowledge). 

Diversity in Creatures -
Latent conditioning produces insentient beings; patent conditioning gives rise to gods, humans etc. In some there is dense conditioning conducive to ignorance; in others there is attuned conditioning conducive to liberation. Conditioning alone is responsible for the diversity in creatures.

Movement of Life Force -
As the Apana is constantly flows downward, as Samana it dwells in the solar plexus and as Udana the same life-force rises up. On account of these forces, there is balance in the system. If, however, the downward pull is excessive and the downward force is not arrested by appropriate effort, death ensues. Similarly, if the upward pull is excessive and it is not arrested by appropriate effort, death ensues. If the movement of the life-force is governed in such a way that neither goes up nor down, there is unceasing state of equilibrium and all diseases are overcome. Otherwise, if there is malfunctioning of ordinary (secondary) Nadi one is subject to minor ailments, and if the principal Nadi are involved there is serious ailment.
By the practice of Puraka or inhalation, if the kundalini at the base of the spine is ‘filled’ and made to rest in a state of equilibrium, the body remains firm. When through the retention of the ‘breath’ all the Nadi are warmed up, the kundalini rises up like a stick and its energies flood all the Nadi of the body. On account of this the Nadi are purifying and made light. Then the yogi is able to travel in space. When the kundalini arises through the Brahma-Nadi and reaches the spot known as dvadasanta (twelve finger-breaths from the crown of the head) during the Rechaka or exhalation. If the kundalini can be held there for a hour, the yogi sees the gods and perfected beings who travel in space.
Ailments -
What are Vyadi (illnesses), what are adhi (psychic disorders) and what are the degenerative conditions of the body? Physical malady is known as vyadhi, and psychic disturbance caused by psychological condition (neuroses) is known as adhi. Both these are rooted in ignorance and wickedness. They end when self-knowledge or knowledge of truth is attained.
Physical ailments are caused by ignorance and is its concomitant total absence of mental restraint which leads to improper eating and living habits. other causes are untimely and irregular activities, unhealthy habits, evil company, wicked thoughts. They are also caused by the weakening of the Nadi or by their being cluttered or clogged up, thus preventing the free flow of the life-force. Lastly, they are caused by an unhealthy environment. All these are of course ultimately determined by the fruits of past actions performed either in the near of the distant past.
All these psychic disturbances and physical ailments arise from the fivefold elements. Physical ailments are twofold: ordinary and serious. The former arise from day-to-day causes and latter are congenial. The former are corrected by day-to-day remedial measures and by adopting the proper mental attitude. But the latter (serious) ailments, as also the psychic disturbances, do not cease until self-knowledge is attained: the snake seen in the rope dies only when the rope is again seen as rope. Self-knowledge ends all physical and psychic disturbances. However, physical ailments that are not psychosomatic may be dealt with by meditation, prayers and by right action, as also by baths. All these have been described in medical treatises.
There arise disturbances in metabolism, indigestion, excessive appetite, as also improper functioning of the digestive system. Food eaten turns into poison. The natural movement of food in and through the body is arrested. This gives rise to various physical ailments.
Thus, psychic disturbance leads to physical ailments. Just myrobalan is capable of making the bowels move, even so certain mantra like ya, ra, la, va, can also remedy these psychosomatic disorders. Other measures are and auspicious actions, service of holy men, etc. By this mind becomes pure and there is great joy in the heart. The life-force flow along the Nadi as they should. Digestion becomes normal, diseases cease.