Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Naga is one of the five Upapranas i.e. sub-pranas. It is a very important and vital form of prana which controls and manages the function of belching / burping and guards the stomach and intestines by expelling the unnecessary air or gases in the gastrointestinal tract out of the body. Its balanced functioning is not only needed for a balanced functioning of the gastrointestinal system and digestion of food, but is also necessary for the overall health since, like other upa-pranas it will help the main pranas in their proper functioning.
Related Reading – ‘Upa-Pranas’
In this article I will throw some light on the understanding of the importance of Naga Upa-prana and its contribution towards maintenance of gastrointestinal health in particular and general health in general.
Naga-Upaprana
As already said, Naga Upa-prana is a sub-prana which controls the function of belching / burping which is very much essential to throw away the air we swallow and gases formed inside the body which might interfere with normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract including the process of digestion.
Gases are formed in the stomach / intestines during the process of digestion of food. The unwanted gases can trouble us in different ways. The same thing happens when we swallow air while eating foods or drinking liquids.
At stomach level – Naga Prana helps in expelling this gas from the body. Burping is a natural process to expel the excess air that we swallow accidentally while eating food or drinking liquids. Burping is controlled by the energetic force of Naga i.e. Naga energy. Burping is an important function of the body. If the air from the digestive tract is not expelled out it will cause discomfort in the form of bloating or abdominal pain. There will also be interference in the process of digestion of food.
The Naga prana energy is reflected in the subtle yet vital process of burping and flushing off of the unwanted gases and air from our digestive tract. It reflects the natural intelligence system of the body which operates to maintain the balance, health and comfort of the interior world of the digestive system.
At colon level – Some experts say that the Naga Prana energy is also said to control and expel excess gas formed in the colon which might cause severe and disturbing flatulence, distension of abdomen and indigestion if not expelled at the right time.
Naga and the main Pranas – The subtypes of Vayu are the main five Pranas. Naga Prana energy removes the blockages of Prana and Apana Pranas and hence helps in their functioning. Prana helps in swallowing, Apana helps in expulsion of wastes and Naga helps these two pranas in their functions.
Blocks and imbalances of Naga Upa-prana and its impact on health
If Naga energy is not functioning properly or if it is blocked, it leads to many gastrointestinal ailments related to stomach and colon as mentioned above. Apart from this suppression or blocks of Naga energy is also said to cause cardiac ailments. The Naga energy should always be activated and should be at its functional best for the balanced functioning of stomach and colon, for food to be received, digested, absorbed and the wastes of digestion expelled.
Neglected Naga Upa-prana can cause severe indigestion which in turn can cause many ailments.
Urdhwa Vata – burping or gases / wind moving upwards to be expelled is said to be one of the vegas – the body’s natural reflexes / urges and as a rule should not be forcibly controlled / withheld. Its suppression also causes many disorders after having pathologically altered the normal course of vata and making it move upwards i.e. udavarta. This natural urge is controlled by Naga Upa-prana.
When air accumulates in the digestive tract it would affect the other pranas and will disrupt their free flow in the body and thus hampering their normal functioning. It mainly afflicts the Samana Vayu which controls the digestive functions in the stomach. Excess gases in the stomach and small intestine may hamper easy digestion of food. This would lead to formation of ama, which in turn clogs the pathways (srotas) in the body and meddles with smooth functioning of many tissues and organ systems. Naga Upa-prana helps in expelling this abnormal air from our body and thus supports the Samana Vayu in digesting the food and further related functions like absorption, processing and distribution of nutrients and energy to all parts of the body and thus supporting the ecosystem of Pranas and Upa-pranas.
Hiccups and Naga – Some experts also say that the Naga Upa-prana also controls hiccups in the body apart from belching / burping.
How does Naga Upa-prana come into play?
When the air element is imbalanced in the gut or when the air or gases retained in the stomach or colon gets agitated, Naga Upa-prana will come into play. It becomes active and tries to throw this unnecessary air which is disturbing in nature out of the stomach. It does so by stimulating and causing vibrations in Samana Vayu, Udana Vayu and Prana Vayu. These Vayus now coordinate with each other with the help of Naga Upa-prana and expel the air from the system.
How to protect the Naga Upa-prana?
You can protect the Naga Upa-prana in you by taking a good diet and keeping the physiology of digestion and the digestive system including the stomach, small and large intestine healthy.
One should also avoid holding the natural urge to belch / burp and also to the urge to fart. This is healthy for the digestive system and will naturally expel the air and gases not required for the system from upper or lower directions.
One should also immediately address the digestive issues or any diseases occurring in the digestive system by taking suitable remedies as and when needed. Indigestion, anorexia, tastelessness, aversion to food, flatulence, bloating, sounds in the abdomen (abnormal and frequent), and nausea should never be ignored and brushed off as simple symptoms.
Similarly symptoms of ama too shall be addressed if any.
To sum up
In short, Naga energy is nothing but the function of burping. Healthy burping is physiological and we need to facilitate the body to clear it. By doing so, we will be preserving the energy of Naga Upa-prana, which in turn will support the functioning of other Pranas in an uninterrupted way.
