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Universal Mantras Mantra sanskrit

Prana Apana Mantra

The Prana-Apana mantra works with the five prana vayus (vital winds/life-force currents) described in the Upanishads and Ayurveda. Prana — the upward-moving vital breath, governing inhalation, heart, and intake of energy. Apana — the downward-moving vital breath, governing exhalation, elimination, and the lower body. Samana — the balancing breath at the navel centre, governing digestion and assimilation. Udana — the upward-moving subtle breath in the throat, governing speech, expression, and the transition at death. Vyana — the all-pervading vital breath governing circulation throughout the body. Mantra traditions addressing the prana-apana balance come from both Vedic (Chandogya Upanishad, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad) and Yogic (Hatha Yoga Pradipika) sources. The principle is that disease arises from imbalance of the prana vayus — too much downward movement (apana) without sufficient upward prana, or vice versa. The Bhagavad Gita (4:29) describes the practice of "apane juhvati pranam" — offering the prana into the apana and vice versa — as a form of yajna (sacrifice) performed within the body through pranayama. This mantra is most effectively chanted alongside pranayama (breathwork) — chanting during or after alternate nostril breathing, Ujjayi breath, or any pranayama practice amplifies the effect of both the mantra and the breathwork. It is also used as a healing mantra — chanted while placing hands on areas of the body experiencing pain or disease, intending to rebalance the prana in that region. Morning practice is ideal, aligning with the natural upward movement of prana at dawn.

Lyrics

Praana Apaana Shushumna Hari Hari Har Hari Har Hari Har Hari

Word-by-Word Meaning

Sanskrit Pronunciation Meaning
Praana refers to the life force.
Apaan is the eliminating force.
Shushumna refers to the central channel of energy.
Prana In the yogic tradition, prana is considered [**the life force or vital energy](https://www.yogabasics.com/learn/the-flow-of-prana/)** that sustains life. It is the energy that flows through all living beings and is essential for maintaining health and vitality.
Apana Apana is the eliminating force or the energy that governs elimination and expulsion from the body. It is responsible for removing toxins and waste materials from the body, ensuring the proper functioning of the internal organs.
Shushmana Shushmana is the central channel or energy pathway that runs along the spine in the subtle body. It is considered the most important of the energy channels (nadis) and is associated with the central nervous system.
Hari Hari is [**a name of God](https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/7560/hari-om)** and is often used as a seed sound (bij mantra) for activation and elevation.

Benefits of Prana Apana Mantra

  • Source: Chandogya Upanishad — the five prana vayus and their governance of health

  • Source: Charaka Samhita (Ayurveda) — samana as governor of digestion

  • Source: Hatha Yoga Pradipika — the relationship of mantra and pranayama

  • Source: Traditional Ayurvedic and Yoga practice

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Prana Apana Mantra?
The Prana Apana Mantra is a Vedic chant working with the five vital breath-forces (prana vayus) described in the Upanishads — particularly prana (upward breath, governing intake and heart) and apana (downward breath, governing elimination and grounding). The mantra invokes the balancing of these two primary forces, which Vedic medicine (Ayurveda) and classical yoga identify as fundamental to physical health and mental clarity. When prana and apana are in balance, the body functions optimally; when they are disrupted — through stress, poor diet, or illness — disease follows.
What are the five prana vayus?
The five prana vayus (vital breath-forces) are: Prana (upward-moving, governs inhalation, heart, and intake of all experiences); Apana (downward-moving, governs exhalation, elimination, and the lower body — kidneys, colon, reproductive organs); Samana (balancing, at the navel, governs digestion and assimilation); Udana (upward in the throat, governs speech, expression, upward spiritual movement, and transition at death); Vyana (all-pervading, governs circulation and the distribution of energy throughout the body). These are not physical breath but the subtle life-force currents that animate the body. Pranayama (breath practices) and mantra both work at this subtle level.
How does this mantra help with health?
Ayurveda and Yoga both identify pranic imbalance as an underlying cause of physical disease. By chanting the Prana-Apana mantra with conscious breathing, the practitioner directly addresses this root cause. Practically: digestive issues relate to weak samana and apana; heart/respiratory issues to prana imbalance; speech and thyroid issues to udana; circulation problems to vyana. While mantra alone is not a medical treatment, its use alongside appropriate lifestyle, diet, and pranayama supports the body's natural healing capacity at the energetic level that underlies the physical.
How do I chant the Prana Apana Mantra?
Chant alongside pranayama for maximum effect. A simple approach: sit in a comfortable meditation posture, begin with 10 minutes of alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana), then chant the Prana-Apana mantra 108 times with one hand on the heart (prana centre) and one on the navel (samana/apana centre). Visualize the upward prana current on the inhale (rising from navel to crown) and the downward apana current on the exhale (descending from navel to feet and earth). Feel the balance point at the navel where the two meet. This visualisation-mantra-breath combination is a complete pranic rebalancing practice.
Is this mantra related to Ayurveda?
Yes — the concept of prana vayus is foundational to both the Yoga system and Ayurveda (the Vedic science of life and medicine). Charaka Samhita, the primary Ayurvedic text, describes the five vayus and their relationship to health in detail. Mantra therapy (Mantra Chikitsa) is one of Ayurveda's recognised treatment modalities — the use of specific sound vibrations to rebalance the prana in the body. The Prana-Apana mantra falls within this tradition. For those integrating Ayurveda into their wellness practice, adding this mantra to a daily routine of abhyanga (self-massage), pranayama, and appropriate diet creates a comprehensive pranic health system.

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