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→प्राणविद्या || Pranavidya
=== प्राणविद्या || Pranavidya ===
=== प्राणविद्या || Pranavidya ===
The importance of Pranavidya is the special emphasis of Aranyakas. The quiet environment and solitude of the forests are the most apt locations to meditate on Pranavidya. Aitareya Aranyaka gives an exceptional account of this vidya (Aite. Aran. 1.1-3). The references of Rig Veda mantras add strength to the concept of this vidya.
The importance of Pranavidya is the special emphasis of Aranyakas. The quiet environment and solitude of the forests are the most apt locations to meditate on Pranavidya. Aitareya Aranyaka gives an exceptional account of this vidya (Aite. Aran. 1.1-3). The references of Rig Veda mantras add strength to the concept of this vidya. Prana is said to be supreme among all indriyas as given in the second adhyaya of this Aranyaka (2.1.4). <blockquote>सर्वं हीदं प्राणेनाऽऽवृतम्, इति । सोऽयमाकाशः प्राणेन बृहत्या विष्टब्धस्तद्यथाऽयमाकाशः प्राणेन बृहत्या विष्टब्ध । एवं सर्वाणि भूतानि आपिपीलिकाभ्यः प्राणेन बृहत्या विष्टब्धानीत्येवं विद्यात्, इति ।। (Aitr. Aran. 2.1.6)<ref name=":0">Aitareya Aranyaka ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%90%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AF_%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Aranyaka 2 Adhyaya 1])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>sarvaṁ hīdaṁ prāṇēnāvr̥tam, iti । sō'yamākāśaḥ prāṇēna br̥hatyā viṣṭabdhastadyathāyamākāśaḥ prāṇēna br̥hatyā viṣṭabdha । ēvaṁ sarvāṇi bhūtāni āpipīlikābhyaḥ prāṇēna br̥hatyā viṣṭabdhānītyēvaṁ vidyāt, iti ।। </blockquote>Summary : Every thing in this jagat is filled with or covered by Prana. Prana bears everything in the universe. By the power of Pranashakti, akasha is in its place. So also all the beings from the largest to the smallest ant are firmly supported by Prana.
Without Prana the universe that we see in front of our eyes does not sustain, so Prana is all-pervading, omnipresent and protector. Hence in mantras Prana is called Gopa (गोपा). It is the reason for Ayu (आयुः । longevity). As long as Prana is in the shareera (body) till then life sustains. Kaushitaki Upanishad mentions the Ayukaraka nature of Prana as follows<blockquote>आयुः प्राणः प्राणो वा आयुः प्राण एवाचामृतम् । यावद्ध्यस्मिञ्छरीरे प्राणो वसति तावदायुः । (Kaus.Upan.3.2)<ref>Kaushitaki Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D Adhyaya 3])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>āyuḥ prāṇaḥ prāṇō vā āyuḥ prāṇa ēvācāmr̥tam । yāvaddhyasmiñcharīrē prāṇō vasati tāvadāyuḥ ।</blockquote>It was through Prana, that Antariksha ( loosely called as Space or Ether) and Vayu (Air) were created. A symbolic concept of Prana is that of the father and the sons as Antariksha and Vayu, who always serve the father. All beings with Prana are able to move in this Antariksha and it is the medium through which sound travels, thus Antariksha is subservient to Prana. The vayu brings sweets smells to the nose (indriya for smell) and satisfies the Prana inside the body as given by Aitareya Aranyaka below<blockquote>प्राणेन सृष्टावन्तरिक्षं च वायुश्च । अन्तरिक्षं वा अनुचरन्ति अन्तरिक्षमनुशृण्वन्ति । वायुरस्मै पुण्यं गन्धमावहति । एवमेतौ प्राणं पितरं परिचरतोऽन्तरिक्षं च वायुश्च । (Aitr. Aran. 2.1.7)<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>prāṇēna sr̥ṣṭāvantarikṣaṁ ca vāyuśca । antarikṣaṁ vā anucaranti antarikṣamanuśr̥ṇvanti । vāyurasmai puṇyaṁ gandhamāvahati । ēvamētau prāṇaṁ pitaraṁ paricaratō'ntarikṣaṁ ca vāyuśca ।</blockquote>Different forms and qualities of prana have been extensively described for upasana and meditation purposes.
=== Comparison of Aranyakas and Brahmanas ===
=== Comparison of Aranyakas and Brahmanas ===
Following are the similarities between Aranyakas and Brahmanas.
Following are the similarities between Aranyakas and Brahmanas.