ing to control it in its three phases of inhalation
(puraka), exhalation (recaka), and suspension of
breath between the two (kumbhaka). Each must
be controlled so that the three fill equal durations
of time. One must gradually develop the ability to
prolong all three.
Further reading: Swami Narayananda, The Secrets of
Prana, Pranayama and Yoga-Asanas, 5th rev. ed. (Gyl-
ling, Denmark: Narayanananda Universal Yoga Trust
& Ashrama, 1979); Swami Naranjananda Saraswati,
Prana, Pranayama, Prana Vidya (Munger: Bihar School
of Yoga, 1994).
Prana Yoga Ashram (est. 1975)
Prana Yoga Ashram is one of several centers
founded by Swami Vignanananda (Who Has the
Bliss of Wisdom), who represents the lineage of
Swami SHIVANANDA of Rishikesh.
Swami Vignanananda (previously known as
Swami Sivalingam), a devotee of Swami SHIVANAN DA
Saraswati, was born in Thinnanore, Trichy Dis-
trict, in Tamil Nadu on June 14, 1932. He stud-
ied with Shivananda at his Yoga Vedanta Forest
Academy on the banks of the GANGES River in
Rishikesh, beginning his spiritual journey there
with four years of intense study of HATHA YOGA,
from 1959 to 1963.
Upon leaving the academy, he began mission
work outside India to disseminate the teaching
and practice of Sivananda. In 1963, he left on a
mission to Asia, establishing Sivananda Yoga Cen-
ters in Japan and Hong Kong. After teaching in
Japan for 10 years, he entered the United States in
1973 and founded the Prana Yoga Foundation in
1974, the Prana Yoga Ashram in Berkeley in 1975,
the Prana Yoga Center in 1976, and the Ayodhy-
anagar Retreat in 1977. During 1975 he traveled
to Canada and established his work there. In all,
he established nine centers in North America.
Vignanananda has passed on the synthesis
of yoga teachings he learned at the academy. His
teaching centers on HATHA YOGA with its postures
(asanas) and the practice of PRANAYAMA (regulation
of breathing patterns). Through a prescribed pattern
of breathing and bodily postures, prana or spiritual
energy is generated and dispersed throughout the
nervous system. The effect is cleansing, healing,
and energizing to the entire body.
The ashrams publish the periodical Prana
Yoga Life through their headquarters in Berkeley,
California.Further reading: Prana Yoga Centers, International.
Available online. URL: http://www.proliberty.com/
pranayoga/. Accessed August 16, 2005; Swami Sival-
ingam, Wings of Divine Wisdom (Berkeley, Calif.: Prana
Yoga Ashrams, 1977).prasada
Prasada (to sit inclined toward someone) means
“grace.” It derives theologically from VAISHNAVISM
but is used in other contexts as well. In theistic
Hinduism the grace of God can free one from the
bonds of KARMA, the cycle of birth and rebirth.
Also, grace can give one blessings in life.
Grace can be conferred by visible means in a
number of ways. Most commonly food or flow-
ers will be offered to the divinity in a temple or
shrine; once the deity has partaken of and blessed
the offering, it is distributed to devotees and called
prasada. Another very common way of receiving
grace is from the arati lamp or PUJA lamp that is
waved before the divinity. One can put one’s hands
over the flame and then touch one’s head and/or
face to receive the blessing of the divinity. Things
given to a person by a guru or other religious per-
sonage also can confer grace. In fact, any object
placed before an icon in order to be blessed may
be given prasada, or grace.Further reading: R. N. Dandekar, “God in Hindu
Thought,” Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research
Institute 48–49 (1968), 433–625; Klaus Klostermaier,
A Survey of Hinduism (Albany: State University of New
York Press, 1994); Richard Lannoy, The Speaking Tree:K 334 Prana Yoga Ashram