Prana or vital force – Let’s understand the role of Udana Vayu or Prana. Vayu is air or wind and otherwise known as the vital force or prana. It is because of this prana or life force that the entire system of the body functions.
Prana is the cause for all experience of our sense perception, the movement of the limbs and respiration. All prana is a manifestation of matter or nature. This is in the form of breath. But there is another subtle vital force that moves the breath too.
Just as there is the subtle bladder within the soccer ball, the human gross physical body comprises a subtle astral body. This is known as the sukshma deha. Udana Vayu separates the subtle body from the physical body in the time of death. It is with the assistance of Udana Prana that the Astral body detaches itself from the physical body. A strong Udana Prana eases the phase of death. Swallowing, or deglutition, is a complex reflex mechanism by which food is pushed from the oral cavity into the oesophagus and then pushes to the stomach. This movement of food from the oral cavity on to the oesophagus and stomach by moving is called propulsion, and it is an integral part of the digestive process. The Udana Vayu is responsible for this process, and it abides in the throat.
The Udana Vayu aids the circulatory system with blood flow through the veins and arteries of the heart.
It is this prana that enables an individual to reach higher realms and get absorbed in Brahman. In the process of death, the individual soul merges with the supreme soul or Para Brahman.
