Five Airs of Vata
The five sites or centres of operation and systemic outreach through which Vata casts its
influence on the entire organism are called the five airs of Vata, namely: prana, dana,
samana, apana and vyana
Air of Respiration: Prana -
Prana means ‘life’ is the first air of the universe and of the body. Although located in the body
between the diaphragm and throat, it not only pervades the region of the heart and chest, but
also up into the face and brain. Prana aids in the chewing and swallowing of food and
provides immediate nourishment to all vital tissues of the body. The system is constantly
being rejuvenated through the natural rhythm of the breath’s inhalation, exhalation, and timely
retention. The activity of the colon is attuned to the respiration’s rhythm; the main function of
prana is extracting ‘prana’ i.e life from the digested food and diffusing it into all of the tissues
in the body. When the colon is disturbed and unable to fulfil its natural ability to extract and
diffuse prana, this unused prana becomes waste.
Prana facilitates all movement in and out of the body. It moves in the region of the heart,
causing it to beat. It carries food through the oesophagus into the stomach. Prana sustains
the heart, arteries, veins, senses, and our wisdom faculty, (buddhi). When prana cannot
function properly our very life force is threatened. Respiratory ailments such as bronchitis and
asthma result. Heart ailments and the impulse to vomit are also related to prana’s imbalance.
Air of the Throat: Udana
Udana, the second air of Vata, which means “rising air,” flows upward from the umbilicus
through the lung and into the throat and nose. Known as the air of ejection, it provides us with
our vocal powers and clarity of sense perceptions. It also preserves our body’s natural forces,
such as its strength of will and capacity for effort.
Udana has the supreme task of keeping track of the number of breaths we expend.
An equally supreme task is udana’s capacity to preserve memory, both experiential
(memories gathered within a present lifetime) and cognitive (cumulative memories carried into
all lives from the beginning of creation through all time). Impairment of udana can result in
loss of memory, impaired speech, giddiness or heaviness in the head, deep-seated fears, and
a shortened life span).
Air of the Stomach: Samana
Samana, the third air of Vata, is located between the diaphragm and navel. It aids the
movement of food through the stomach and small intestines, fans the fires of digestion by
stimulating the production of gastric juices and digestive enzymes and helps in the
assimilation of nutrients extracted from our food. Samana is the moving force that transports
these nutrients to the various tissue elements and discharges wastes into the colon. When
the samana air is disturbed, it can cause mucus accumulation in the stomach called ‘ama’,
indigestion, poor assimilation, and diarrhoea.
Air of the Colon: Apana
The fourth air of Vata, apana, is located in the colon and the organs of the pelvic region. Also
known as the air of elimination, apana’s primary function is to relieve the body of feces, urine,
flatus, semen, and menstrual waste. Its down ward pressure maintains position of the foetus
and the flow of its eventual birth. Apana is the most dominant of the five airs, situated as it is
in Vata’s primary location. Apana maintains the delayed nutrition of prana in the organism.
When apana is impaired, diseases of the bladder, anus, testicles, uterus, menstrual problems
and obstinate urinary diseases, including diabetes, prevail.
Air of Circulation: Vyana
Vyana is the fifth and final air of the Vata and is located in the heart. It diffuses the energy
derived from food and breath throughout the entire organism including the skin. Circulatory in
nature, Vyana functions in the body’s circulation channels, such as the blood vessels, to
transport nutritive juices and blood throughout the body. Vyana also carries sweat from the
glands to the skin and is the force behind bodily expressions such as yawning and blinking.
When vyana malfunctions, there is dryness of the skin and other body extremities, poor
circulation, and diseases such as fever.
