PriyaPrāna

Priya प्रिय | Beloved

The Origin

Priya is my mother's name. It means dear, loving, affectionate. And she is my Prāna, my life force. An amazing inspiration for many who have travelled with her.

Born and raised in Srirangam, married at 17 into a large traditional family where most of her husband's younger siblings were elder to her, the way she carried her responsibilities with love and affection is truly splendid. "Priya mami" she is fondly called, and everyone says: if mami comes, that place feels full and happy.

This is a dedication to my prāna, my mother, who has always stood by me and will continue to encourage me to do my best.

A Daughter's Words

For Ma, with eternal love

How can someone be so beautiful, unconditionally loving, holding so much positivity with unshakeable faith... Maybe God felt he wanted to experience what we all experienced, hence took you with him, Ma.

Your love was not just felt, it was lived, breathed, and shared. You taught me that prāṇa isn't something we seek outside ourselves. It flows through love. It flows through presence. It flows through the way you looked at me and made me feel like the most important person in the world.

You are truly a legacy, Ma.

"Enna thavam seidheno"

What penance did we do to have been born to you?

"Priya" means dear, loving, affectionate, and that is exactly who you were. Every person who met you became family. Every conversation ended with warmth. Every meal you made carried your soul.

You continue to be the prāṇa that flows through every life you touched. Not just my mother, but Priya mami to all who knew you.

Carrying you within me forever. This space is a dedication to my prāṇa, my mother, the life force that will never leave me.

First Light

Unshakeable Faith

More than faith, it was a huge conviction with which she took each step forward. In challenging moments, never once did she complain—"ennamo valayadi paakaran, adhula oru sandhosham"—but it's okay, finally everything will be fine, only good will happen.

Faith creates surrender, and prāṇa flows effortlessly.

Second Light

Boundless Love & Joy

Whoever met her never felt like they were meeting her for the first time. The warmth, comfort, and love she spread around was a bliss to experience. She always found something beautiful in others and made sure to compliment them.

Making others feel good allows prāṇa to expand beyond self.

Third Light

Deep Trust

The trust, love, and conviction she held in her children is beyond words—"super uh varuva, semmaya pannuva, romba perumaya irukku"—her confidence made us look at life positively. We shared everything with her without any hesitation.

Trust creates ease, and prāṇa flows.

Fourth Light

Annapoorani

She had magic in her hands. "Vaay vaazhthalenalum vayaru vaazhthum"—whoever came home, she cooked happily for them. "Cook with love and throw away anything negative while cooking." The food carries not only taste but also the love with which you cook.

When food is cooked with love and joy, prāṇa is infused into every bite.

Fifth Light

Positivity & Gratitude

Come what may, "ennaanalum paathukalaam"—let's face it with a smile. Life was always a celebration for her. Her eyes would fill with tears when feeling thankful—tears of gratitude are always sweet.

A positive mind gives prāṇa space to nourish life. Gratitude creates space, and prāṇa flows in.

Moments That Live On

Fragments of Forever

In the small rituals of daily life, she left behind a legacy of love that no time can erase.

5 AM Coffee

The quiet hours before dawn, when she would prepare filter coffee. That first sip, shared in comfortable silence, held more conversation than words ever could.

Mylapore Streets

Walking together through temple streets, the scent of jasmine and incense mixing with her laughter. Every visit became a pilgrimage of joy.

Saree Shopping

Hours spent draping silks, her eyes lighting up at each new pattern. She never bought for herself alone, always imagining how others would look.

"Unakku romba azhaga irukum"

The Life Force

The Five Prānas

The vital energies that sustain all life

प्र

Prāna

Inward breath

अ

Apāna

Outward energy

स

Samāna

Balancing force

उ

Udāna

Upward energy

व्य

Vyāna

Circulation

Priya was such a soul. Her love was not just felt, it was lived, breathed, and shared. She was, and continues to be, the prāna that flows through the lives she touched.

Understanding The Life Force

Role of Prāna in Human Life

The bridge between body, mind, and spirit

Life Itself

Prāna is what keeps the body alive. Without prāna, the body is just inert matter. It is the invisible thread that animates every cell.

Physical Vitality

Prāna governs all vital functions: respiration, circulation, digestion, and elimination. The five prānas work in harmony to sustain the body.

Mental Harmony

A balanced prāna flow calms the mind and steadies emotions. Disturbances in prāna can manifest as anxiety, fear, or restlessness.

Spiritual Gateway

Prāna is the bridge to higher consciousness. Through prāṇāyāma, we refine the breath to awaken dormant spiritual energy within.

Sacred Breathing

The Practice of Prāṇāyāma

Ancient techniques to master the life force

Nadi Shodhana

नाडी शोधन

Alternate nostril breathing that balances the left and right hemispheres of the brain, bringing harmony to mind and body.

Bhramari

भ्रामरी

The humming bee breath that calms the nervous system, reduces stress, and prepares the mind for meditation.

Kapalabhati

कपालभाति

Skull shining breath that detoxifies, energizes, and awakens the subtle energy centers throughout the body.

Ujjayi

उज्जायी

Ocean breath that builds internal heat, focuses the mind, and creates a meditative rhythm during practice.

Videos

Wisdom in Motion

Explore teachings on prāna, breathwork, and the sacred wisdom that connects us all

Welcome to PriyaPrāna

An introduction to our journey of breath and life force.

Understanding Prāna

Discover the vital life force that flows through all beings.

Pranayama Basics

Begin your practice with foundational breathing techniques.

The Power of Breath

How conscious breathing transforms mind and body.

Daily Practice Guide

Incorporate pranayama into your everyday routine.

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Explore & Learn

Wisdom & Insights

Deepen your understanding of prāna and yogic wisdom

Featured

The Story Behind PriyaPrāna

How a mother's love became the inspiration for a space dedicated to prāṇa and the life force.

June 2025

Priyaprāna

A beautiful way to relate to prāṇa as a friend. This deeply yogic attitude is rooted in bhāvana (inner feeling).

April 2025

Is Prāna Breath?

Prana is the vital life force animating all beings, extending far beyond mere respiration.

April 2025

What Exactly is Prāna?

In deeper yogic practice, balancing prana means also balancing the elements inside you.

April 2025

Prāna in Yoga

Prāṇāyāma as the fourth limb in Ashtanga Yoga aims to remove the veil covering the inner light.

March 2025

Prāna and the Body

Explore how different pranic energies maintain health and cause disturbances when imbalanced.

February 2025

What is Pranayama?

Prāṇa is the vital life force—the subtle energy that animates all living beings.

Remember Your Own

Perhaps as you read these words, you think of your own mother, or someone who filled that role in your life. Someone who cooked for you with love, who believed in you without condition, who made even ordinary moments feel sacred.

This space, while dedicated to Priya, is also an invitation. Take a moment to remember your own prāṇa, the person whose love still sustains you, whether they walk beside you or live on in your heart.

Their love was their legacy. Carrying it forward is ours.

PriyaPrāna

PriyaPrāna

A Daughter's Words