The importance of the Life Force (Prana)

 Prana = Life Force (The Spirit) (Chaitanya): (The main deity of the SIDDHA YOGA):

Generally the word Prana (Life Force) is used for breath; but according to the science of yoga it is that force which controls breath. It is the Force of life itself, so we call it Life Force i.e. Jiwan Shakti = Life-energy.Life Force (Prana) holds the key position because the suppression of Life Force (Prana) automatically suppresses the mind; therefore it is said that Life Force (Prana) is superior to all for it controls each and every activity of the body and the mind.

 The Life Force (Pran) coupled with the will of the Spiritual master is the main deity in the practice of the SIDDHA YOGA. The worship of this Deity means efforts being made to please and to obtain the grace of the Spiritual master. To obtain the grace of this Deity, the importance of the Life Force (Prana) should be understood thoroughly.

Life Force (Prana) : The Real Bosom Friend : - of Man :

There is no one who does not know the Life Force (Prana) for in the practical life everybody knows that the Life Force (Prana) means the involuntary process of breathing (breath). The importance of this Deity is very easy to understand.

The Life Force (Prana) is the vital principle of the whole world; and a common man is able to understand its importance. In the practical life one may say, "Someone is my bosom friend and is dearer to me like the Life Force (Prana)". But it may happen that due to difference of opinion in due course, the two may get separated and their friendship is broken. It is only the Life Force (Prana) from the beginning of life till its end, maintains the real friendship (friendly ties) and deserves to be called the real friend = bosom friend. The compound word "Life-Friend", should be understood in such a way that Life Force (Prana) is the 'real eternal friend' or the intimate friend. For if the Life Force (Prana) deserts the mortal body of a man, his life comes to an end.
According to the philosophy of the Upanishads "the Life Force (Prana) itself is nectar". The aphorism is quite known and popular. Another aphorism in the Prshnopanishad 2-13 states the importance of the life force (Prana):
"all this, in this world as well as, all that is in heaven is, under the control of Prana, we pray Him to protect us just as a mother does her sons".
Breath can be understood as the moving form of the Life Force. The still breath contains profound energy. The energy in the breath is indebted to the Life Force (Prana)

Who is stronger - the Life Force (Prana) or the Mind :

 Mind and the Life Force (Prana) are very close (nearer) to each other; and in the practice of breath control the control over the breath gives strength to the Life Force (Prana).
HATHA YOGA PRADIPIKA in Chapter-II in its verse-2 states that the relation between the Life force and mind are not only close but are inter related too. "When the mind stirs, the breath also starts pulsating. In the same way when the Life Force (Prana) is disturbed, the mind also gets stirred. It means that Life Force is superior to the mind.

The nature of Mind and Life Force (Prana) :

The relation between Mind and the Life Force (Prana) has been revealed in the hymn Purusha Sookta "The Moon emerged from the Mind and the Sun from the eye of the Universal Self”
In this hymn, the description which the ancient sage has put down before us is quite useful for understanding their significance (importance). In the formation of the Universe, the comparison between the Moon and Mind as well as that of the Sun and the Life Force (Prana) is quite convincing. The comparison of the Moon and the Mind is very apt. Just as the Moon has Full-Moon and a No-Moon phases of the opposite directions, the Mind too has two extreme tendencies. It some times ascends to the higher ideas and sometimes to the lower and meaner thoughts. The mind sometimes assumes itself to be like a king and remains absorbed in lofty thoughts and ideas, but in a moment it sinks into beastly thoughts (animal instincts). The Spirited Power (Chaitanya shakti) (Life Force) as compared to the Sun is eternal and the cause of creation, sustenance and the destruction of the Universe. In the hymn of  'Saura Sukta' "the Sun is said to be the Soul of the Universe and it is also the Life Force of the Universe". From this it is evident that the Life Force (Prana) is the eternal principle of the Universe.  The other noteworthy fact is that according to the astronomical science the moon is luminous owing to the light of the sun. The moon has no light of her own. The luminosity of the moon is due to the reflected rays of the sun. It means the moon cannot shine without the existence of the sun. As per the analogy stated above, we can say that the mind owes its existence to the Life Force (Prana). If the mind ceases thinking and pondering for sometimes, the life of a human being continues to exist; but if the Life Force (Prana) stops functioning, the mind will not exist at all. When the soul deserts the body, the Life Force returns to its former state - original place in the outer world. Mind cannot be an ideal object for meditation. On the contrary, the Life Force (Prana) like the sun should be accepted as the eternal principle of Truth. To worship it is beneficial and can be followed by us. That is why in India the worship of the Sun is considered to be superior.

The Universal Importance of the Life Force (Prana):

The sages have defined religion as:"(That which sustains life is regarded as religion and the religion sustains people)".
If we accept this definition the same can be further extended and applied to the Life Force because of its function. The existence of the body, mind and intellect totally depend upon the Life Force (Prana) and without it their existence is not possible. Without the Life Force, the Spirit (Chaitanya), the functions of sense organs like hearing, speaking, touching, seeing and smelling as well as tasting are not possible. It can be easily understood that the Life Force (i.e. Spirit - (Chaitanya) which is all-pervading primal force is the basic religion of the universe. The Life Force - Spirit is the only religion (God) of the whole universe.

Chaitanya - (Spirit) is the only religion - all the other are modes of worship:

Everybody in this world asserts - states firmly that only his religion is superior to the other one. How would you prove it to be the wrong statement?  Hindus claim that Hinduism is supreme, Muslims advocate that their religion is superior, while Christians propagate that Christianity is superior to all religions and that Christ is the saviour of the world. In this way, all the religions boast of their superiority to others. In reality, according to our view Spirit - Chaitanya = (Prana) - is the only religion of the world. All other so-called 'religions' are simply various modes (types) of worship. The belief of Hindus in many deities gave rise to (created) different sects which can be called various paths to self-realisation just as "Vaishnava and Shaivas are the two forms of worship. All these are the different ways of worshiping the Spirit, (Soul) - (Chaitanya).

Shia and Sunni are two sects amongst Muslims. They can be said as the two ways of approaching God-Spirit, (Chaitanya). Christianity too has two sects known as Catholic and Protestant. In a way they too worship God, Spirit i.e. Chaitanya. All religions follow different ways of worshiping according to their belief and scriptures; but all of them really speaking worship the Power of Spirit (Chaitanya Shakti). If we do not accept Spirit (Chaitanya) religion, the religious worship is not possible in practical life. Hindus read the BHAGAWAT GEETA, Muslims read the Kuran and the Christian read the Bible. But without any exception all have to rely on the Life Force (Prana) - Spirit. Worship of any kind is not possible without the presence of Life Force (Prana).

Really speaking, all the people of different sects and religions in a way worship the Spirit (Chaitanya), in various ways. In this world there is nothing but the Spirit (Chaitanya). Hence any worship without the Spirit (Chaitanya) will be Spiritless, lifeless and cannot exist. According to the discipline of the SIDDHA YOGA, the worship of the Spirit (Chaitanya) the Life Force is acceptable to all followers of all sects. Therefore the people of all so-called religions of the world qualify themselves and are eligible for the initiation and the practice of this SIDDHA YOGA.

Chanting of God's name is the worship of the Life Force (Prana):

The sage Shri PATANJALI states in his book YOGA DARSHAN, aphorism no.2 of the first chapter:

"Yoga is controlling the activities of the mind (mind-stuff). This definition of yoga is very easy to follow (understand) and experience. There is however difference between the ceasing and (restraining) - (controlling) the tendencies of mind. In the practice of SIDDHA YOGA, the tendencies of the mind cease automatically; they are not restrained (controlled) by efforts. When the practice of SIDDHA YOGA is continued faithfully, all the tendencies of the mind get dissolved slowly into the basic vibration of the Life Force (Prana), the Spirit.

  When one is not initiated into the SIDDHA YOGA, for him there is no better way of awakening the Serpent Power, than the chanting of the holy name i.e. the recitation of the name of the Deity of one's own choice or the name (mantra) given by some Spiritual person in authority. Chanting of the holy name (mantra) should be resorted to and continued all the while, except at the time of meditation.

There are various names and various ways of chanting recitation of God's names. Chanting of holy names is done individually as well as it is done in a group too. It is quite essential to recite the name (mantra) assigned by the Spiritual master or the name of our own favourite deity. For recitation of holy name is a means to self-realisation. As stated before the practice of chanting (nam-sadhana) is by itself the worship of the Life Force (Spirit). During the practice of meditation whatsoever experience arises automatically, the chanting and the name arising within involuntarily (without any effort) is preferred to doing it with conscious effort. Importance must be given to all those practices related to the Life Force (Prana) (the Spirit) (Prana). During the practice of meditation, it should be borne (kept) in mind that a peaceful and steady posture of the body without any physical movement is an important part and step to this practice.

SAINT SHRI JNANESHWAR MAHARAJ comparing the greatness of the chanting of name with the sky said that:

"Chanting of the name is greater than the sky". In this way, SAINT SHRI JNANESHWAR MAHARAJ has praised the chanting of name. It should be considered as a subtle mode of practice which yields desired results. Therefore, everybody should always keep with him this weapon of 'chanting' of name which will enable him to cross the ocean of this material world. The chanting of name supported by the strong weapon of detachment will help him to acuqire the knowledge destroying illusion. The sweetness of automatic chanting is unparallel, untiring and enjoyable. Deliberate chanting with a purpose should be continued ill it begins to arise automatically from within. It will undoubtedly prove beneficial. Hence the siginicance of the 'chanting' should be accepted. Many SAINTS have praised it stating that it is the easiest way for salvation and self-realisation.

Praising the chanting of name SAINT Shri Rang Avadhoot Maharaj advised his disciples in the following precept:  
            "Oh! "Soul recite the name of the Lord Shri Datta with each and every breath".

In this precept SAINT Shri Rang Avadhoot Maharaj states that 'chanting' is advantageous when it is coupled up with the breathing. While chanting, if some words of the mantra are not uttered, the vibrations of the remaining words of the mantra are completed internally. In this way, it will be the worship of Chaitanya the Spirit. It will be self-surrendering supreme devotion in the form of knowledge (wisdom) at the feet of the Almighty.

Devotion is classified in nine forms. One may ask how should we identify the SIDDHA YOGA in terms of this classification. In this classified ways of devotion towards the Almighty, it is the nineth form of devotion known as total surrender to the God (Atma Nivedanam). It is praising the Spirit (Chaitanya) with mind without any thought. In this way the followers of the SIDDHA YOGA automatically perform the highest type of devotion of Atma Nivedanam (i.e. complete surrender to the God). In other words, Chaitanya (the Spirit), individual soul in the form of pure thoughtless state of mind, worships the all-pervading Chaitanya - (the Spirit). It can be said thus:
>"the wise (the realised) worship their own self (Soul)" (sudhinam atma pujanam).