- By mastery over Udana levitation and non-contact with water, mire,
thorns etc.
There are five kinds of Prana working in the Pranamaya Kosa—Prana, Apana,
Samana, Udana and Vyana. Each of these has a specialized function to perform in the
maintenance of the body and control acquired over any one kind means that the corre-
sponding function can be regulated according to the will of the Yogi. Udana is obvi-
ously connected with the gravitational pull of the earth on the body and by controlling
this particular Prana it is possible to neutralize this pull. Levitation is a very common
phenomenon in Pranayama practice and is due to the Pranic currents flowing in a par-
ticular way. If the Yogi can neutralize the gravitational pull of the earth and keep his
body floating at any desired level he can easily avoid contact with water, mire and
thorns etc.
- By mastery over Samana blazing of gastric fire.
The relation of Samana Vayu with the gastric fire and the digestion of food is
well known. Control over Samana will naturally enable the Yogi to increase the inten-
sity of the gastric fire to any extent and to digest any amount of food.
That the digestion of food depends upon fire may sound fantastic to people with
modern ideas of medical Science. But the word fire is not used here in its ordinary
sense. Agni is one of the important Tattvas which manifests in innumerable ways and