Svara

Svara

"vibration", "sound", "tone", "intonation"

The word found in Vedic literature, in Samaveda, where it means tonal stress or musical note, depending on the context.

Linguistics
Vowels of the Devanagari alphabet, as well as tonal accent. In Vedic Sanskrit, three tones are distinguished: udatta (high tone), anudatta (low tone) and svarita (falling accent usually follows the udatta). Along with other specifics of Sanscrit pronunciation (the length of vowels, aspirated sounds etc.) the tonal effect plays an important role in the correct recitation of hymns and mantras.

Music
Basic elements in some music systems in India where different terms can have different meanings in different systems. In the Hindustan system, it is an analogue of a note.

Svara Yoga
In yoga, svara is often understood as vibration of the prana in the physical body (etymologically means the sound of one’s own breath).

Svara yoga is the ancient science about prana and biorhythms of the physical body. This science clarifies how prana can be controlled if one learns to rationally manipulate breathing.

Svara yoga, however, can`t be identified with pranayama, which also uses various aspects of breathing. Svara yoga relies on the analysis of breathing and the importance of various pranic rhythms, while pranayama emphasizes the techniques of accumulation, control, and redistribution of prana.

One of the main written sources on Svara Yoga is “Shiva Svarodaya”, an ancient Sanskrit tantric text of 395 sutras recorded as a conversation between Shiva and Parvati. Another authoritative text is “Goraksha Purana”.

It is believed that there are three svaras in the human body: one svara flows through the left nostril, the other through the right, and the third through both nostrils together. The flow of svara passing through the left nostril corresponds to the mind, consciousness (chitta), svara passing through the right nostril corresponds to vitality, prana (energy). The third swara corresponds to the soul (atma). Chitta controls the five organs of perception (eyes, nose, tongue, ears, and skin), prana - the five organs of action (speech, arms, legs, reproductive and excretory organs), and atma is the absolute witness and controller of all processes.

When the flow of svara freely passes through the left nostril, this indicates the activity of mental strength. When the right nostril is active, the forces of prana increase, and the forces of the mind are depleted. But when both nostrils are active, this indicates the predominant power of spiritual energy, the power of atma.