Sanskrit Lexicon
प्राणायाम
Pranayama
prāṇāyāma
The precise linguistic root, etymology, and scriptural context of Pranayama.
Pronunciation
prah-nah-yah-mah
AEO Summary
Pranayama is the yogic science of breath control, designed to expand and regulate the vital life force energy.
Primary Meanings
- Breath control
- Expansion of life force
- The fourth limb of Ashtanga Yoga
Tradition Context
Yoga Sutras
The deliberate regulation of inhalation, exhalation, and retention. It is said to remove the veil covering the inner light.
Scriptural Usage
Yoga Sutras 2.52
"ततः क्षीयते प्रकाशावरणम्"
— Thereby the covering of the light is destroyed.
Significance: Patanjali explains the ultimate benefit of Pranayama: it clears the energetic impurities that obscure the mind's natural clarity.
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