What Are Nadis?
In yoga, nadis are the subtle channels through which prana (life energy) flows through the body, much as blood flows through veins. The texts describe an enormous network of them, often numbering seventy-two thousand.
Among all these, three are considered the most important: Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. They are said to originate near the base of the spine, at the Muladhara chakra, and travel upward to the region of the head.
These three nadis are central to pranayama and meditation, because working gently with the breath is believed to influence the flow of prana within them. Understanding them offers a beautiful map of how the yogic tradition views inner balance, energy and the path of awakening.
Ida, Pingala and Sushumna Explained
- Ida nadi flows on the left side of the spine and is associated with the moon - it is cooling, calming, nourishing and linked with the mind and emotions. It is said to correspond to the left nostril.
- Pingala nadi flows on the right side and is associated with the sun - it is warming, energising, active and linked with the body and vitality. It corresponds to the right nostril.
- Sushumna nadi is the central channel running through the spine. It is normally quiet, and the tradition holds that when Ida and Pingala are balanced, prana can enter Sushumna.
Ida and Pingala are often pictured winding around the central channel, a spiralling image echoed in the well-known caduceus. Their balance is considered the foundation of steady health and a calm, one-pointed mind.
Balance, Breath and Awakening
The yogic tradition teaches that our energy naturally alternates between Ida and Pingala through the day, reflected in which nostril flows more freely. When one dominates for too long, we may feel either dull and heavy or restless and overheated.
Gentle practices such as Nadi Shodhana (alternate-nostril breathing) are traditionally used to balance these two channels. As the breath and mind grow steady and even, prana is said to flow into the quiet Sushumna, which the texts describe as the true path of meditation and, in time, of kundalini rising.
Please learn pranayama from a qualified teacher and practise gently within your capacity. This is traditional yogic understanding shared for devotional interest and is not medical advice; consult a doctor if you have any health condition.
Reader Questions Answered
What are Ida, Pingala and Sushumna?+
They are the three main nadis, or subtle energy channels, of the yogic body. Ida is the cooling lunar channel on the left, Pingala is the warming solar channel on the right, and Sushumna is the central channel through the spine along which prana rises in deep practice.
Which nadi is on the left and which on the right?+
Ida flows on the left side of the spine and is linked with the moon, the left nostril, coolness and calm. Pingala flows on the right side and is linked with the sun, the right nostril, warmth and activity. Sushumna runs in the centre between them.
How can the nadis be balanced?+
Ida and Pingala are traditionally balanced through gentle pranayama, especially Nadi Shodhana or alternate-nostril breathing, done calmly and within one's capacity. As they come into balance, prana is said to flow into Sushumna. Learn breathing practices from a qualified teacher; this is not medical advice.
About the author
Pandit Ravindra Sharma · Vedic Rituals & Bhakti, 22+ years
Pandit Ravindra is the Vandnaa editorial team's resident specialist on aarti, chalisa, and daily devotion. He has performed home and temple pujas across Varanasi and Delhi for over two decades and contributes the bhakti-focused articles on this site.
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