What do you, dear ones think about when we speak about the heart? What feelings come up? What memories come up? Are the feelings happy or unhappy? Are the memories sad or joyous? Have you thought about how many words we use which affect our heart? We have to make our heart free of any baggage.
Our soul resides in our heart. In order to become closer to ourselves and others balancing one’s prana is the solution. Prana purification means we have a self-connect and our thoughts are freed. Freedom from thoughts makes us fearless, awake and aware of the presence of the Divinity around and in us.
The most famous story about Hanuman’s connection to the heart, is narrated in the Ramayana. After Rama’s victory over Ravana, Rama gifted Sita a beautiful necklace of pearls. Hanuman admired the necklace so Sita presented it to Hanuman. Hanuman bit into each pearl, examined them closely and then threw the necklace away. When he was questioned about his action, he replied that the pearls did not have the name of Rama in them, so it was of no value to him. Hanuman then tore his chest open, and revealed the image of Rama and Sita residing within his heart. This deed demonstrated how Hanuman’s being was sustained by his love for the Divine.
Divine connection to the breath
The Hanuman connection to the heart is explained in Yogic philosophy. Since Hanuman’s devotion is closely associated with the Anahata Chakra, it represents how love can transform our feelings into spiritual awareness and awakening. Hanuman is the God of Prana, the son of Pawan, the wind god. Prana connects the individual soul to the Divine. Since Hanuman has a divine connection to the breath, any pranayama will work for purification of self.
One of the best practices is Anuloma Viloma. Anuloma Viloma means in and out and up and down. The easiest one is to visualize the breath going in and out of the left nostril and then visualize the breath going in and out of the right nostril. Now visualize the breath going in through both nostrils. What is happening is when one visualizes the breath going in and out of the left nostril, the Ida nadi is being cleared. When one visualizes the breath going in and out of the right nostril, one is clearing the Pingala nadi. Then visualizing the breath going in and out of both nostrils results in the Sushumna nadi flowing because both Ida and Pingla have been unblocked.
Be kind to one and another, tender hearted. – Ephesians 4:32
As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. – Proverb 27:19
Cherish your heart listen to it and it is the most precious part of you.
Aim Hrim Klim
Picture by Unknown author – Own photograph of manuscript painting from Wellcome Collection, taken in exhibition at SOAS, Public Domain, Link