Concept of Vayu
Understanding “Negativity” as “Upari Hawa”
In ancient Indian traditions, “upari hawa,” literally meaning “upper air” or “external wind,” was a way to describe what we might call negativity or negative influences. It wasn’t just a physical gust of wind, but a subtle energetic force that could affect a person’s mind, body, and spirit. These concepts are deeply rooted in scriptures like the Upanishads and Patanjali Sutras, which discuss the subtle nature of “Vayu” or life force.
Essentially, “upari hawa” suggests that external energies, often unseen, can impact our inner state, much like how a strong wind can disturb a calm environment.
Let's discuss what is written in the Prashnottar Upanishad regarding vayu
The Prashnottar Upanishad (also referred to as Prashna Upanishad) is described as a work written by Rishi Pippalaad, who is presented as a very intelligent saint. The Upanishad is structured around questions posed by his disciples and the answers provided by the Rishi. Your text notes that it addresses the concept of “Vayu,” though it implies that the deeper aspects of Vayu are not explicitly described in the Upanishad, suggesting that these things were “hidden” by the Rishis and Munis.
Regarding Rishi Pippalaad, the text provides a detailed and engaging account of his life:
The Sage Who Gave His Bones – Rishi Dadhichi
Long ago, when the gods were threatened by a terrifying demon named Vritra, they needed a special weapon to defeat him — the mighty Vajra (thunderbolt). But this weapon couldn’t be made from ordinary materials. It needed the strength of pure tapasya and unbreakable bones.
That’s when they turned to Rishi Dadhichi, a sage known for his intense spiritual discipline and immense inner power.
But there was a problem — the bones needed were his own. And without hesitation, Dadhichi sacrificed his life so that his bones could be used to forge the Vajra and destroy evil.
Before this, Rishi Dadhichi had once protected the goddess. There was a attack meant for Devi (the goddess), and Dadhichi took that attack upon himself to save her.
Seeing his sacrifice, Lord Shiva was deeply moved. As a blessing, Shiva gave Dadhichi a boon:
“Your bones will become unbreakable and full of divine power.”
So when the gods approached him and explained the situation, Rishi Dadhichi didn’t hesitate.
He calmly sat in meditation, gave up his mortal body, and let his spirit leave. The gods took his bones and from them crafted the Vajra (thunderbolt) — a divine weapon.
This Vajra was then given to Indra, the king of gods, who used it to finally defeat Vritrasura.
His sacrifice became a symbol of dharmic courage — giving up the body so the universe could live.
Born of a Tree, Blessed by the Cosmos: The Fiery Legacy of Rishi Pippalaad
After the legendary sage Dadhichi sacrificed himself for the greater good, his wife Suvarcas was shattered by grief. Ready to leave the world, she prepared for her final journey. But just then, a divine voice echoed from the heavens:
“You are carrying a child… a soul destined for greatness.”
Instead of waiting for birth, Suvarcas performed an extraordinary act. With full spiritual awareness, she gently brought the unborn child out of her womb and placed him under a sacred Peepal tree. Having completed her purpose, she left her body in peace.
That miraculous child became known as Pippalaad—named after the very tree that sheltered him.
But who would raise a baby left alone beneath the sky?
Nature itself took over.
The Moon God, Chandra Dev, nourished him with divine nectar, and Pippalaad began to grow under the stars—filled with cosmic wisdom far beyond his years.
Eventually, Rishi Narada discovered the boy. Realizing he was the son of the great Dadhichi, Narada revealed his divine lineage and guided him as his spiritual mentor. Pippalaad soon learned a heartbreaking truth: both his parents had suffered deeply due to the harsh effects of Shani Dasha—a difficult planetary phase ruled by Saturn.
This truth sparked a powerful fire within him.
Choosing Narada as his Guru, Pippalaad dived into intense tapasya (spiritual practice) to gain a blessing from Lord Brahma. When Brahma appeared, Pippalaad made a shocking request:
“Grant me the power to burn anything I gaze upon.”
Armed with this power, he directly confronted Lord Shani. The moment Pippalaad looked at him, Shani began to burn! No deity could stop it. Finally, Lord Brahma intervened, requesting Pippalaad to spare Shani.
Pippalaad agreed—but only after Brahma granted him two profound boons:
- Protection for Children:
For the first five years of life, children would be shielded from the negative effects of Shani Dasha. - Grace of the Peepal Tree:
Since the Peepal tree had protected him in his infancy, Pippalaad declared that anyone who lights a Deepak (lamp) under this sacred tree, especially on Saturdays, would be protected from the hardships of Shani Dasha—through his spiritual resolve (Sankalp).
Even today, this tradition continues. Lighting a lamp under a Peepal tree isn’t just a ritual—it’s a legacy of divine protection gifted by Rishi Pippalaad.
This same incredibly wise and powerful Rishi Pippalaad is credited with writing the Prashnottar Upanishad. This scripture came about when his great disciples came to learn from him, asking deep questions. Pippalaad’s answers form the core of this Upanishad. Interestingly, even though the concept of “Vayu” (life force or subtle wind) was discussed, some of its deeper secrets weren’t fully explained in the text. It’s suggested that the ancient sages deliberately kept certain profound truths hidden, perhaps to be discovered through deeper spiritual practice rather than simply read.
Vayu: The Silent Power That Moves the Universe
Our ancient sages, the Rishis and Munis, taught us something truly profound about the universe: all the unseen energies in the astral world—that subtle dimension beyond our physical senses—are fundamentally powered by Vayu. Don’t just think of it as air; imagine Vayu as the ultimate force of movement and subtle energy, the very essence that makes things happen in the unseen.
Here’s a key insight they shared: over 70% of all “negativity” operates through this Vayu element. While negative forces can involve all five elements (like earth, water, fire, etc.), Vayu is their main highway, the primary means by which they move and affect us.
So, how do we protect ourselves from these Vayu-based negative influences? The sages revealed a powerful technique: by increasing the Vayu element within ourselves! How do we do this? Through mantras! Chanting a mantra creates sound vibrations, and these vibrations are a form of Vayu themselves. It’s like generating your own powerful, positive “wind” to counteract any negative “wind” that might be trying to disturb you.
They even taught that there are five different types of Vayu that work within our bodies, each with a specific role. After outlining these, the topic in the ancient texts sometimes shifted, hinting that the deepest understanding of these Vayus might have been left for personal discovery through spiritual practice.
The Five Vayus — Winds of Life and Spirit
In yogic and Upanishadic wisdom, Vayu means “wind” or “movement of life force”. These five subtle winds (Pancha Vayu) are not just bodily forces; they are carriers of consciousness. When balanced, they awaken higher tattvas, open the Sushumna Nadi, and ultimately help Kundalini rise toward enlightenment.
- Prana Vayu – The Divine Receiver
- Location: Chest (lungs and heart)
- Flow: Inward and upward
- Physical Role: Brings in breath, energy, and sensory experiences. Powers heartbeat and lungs.
- Spiritual Role:
- Connects us to the outer world and Guru Tattva.
- Represents the divine intake of shabda (sacred sound), mantra, and grace.
- When awakened, it strengthens the connection with dev tattva and makes the seeker receptive to astral visions and guidance.
- When blocked: The seeker becomes disoriented, disconnected from the source.
- Apana Vayu – The Karma Cleaner
- Location: Below the navel – lower abdomen, pelvis
- Flow: Downward
- Physical Role: Controls elimination, reproduction, and physical stability
- Spiritual Role:
- Root of all karmic purification.
- Helps in removing astral toxins, deep-rooted karmas, and negative pitra influences.
- without Apana, no energy can rise safely.
- When blocked: The seeker faces instability, fear, chronic negativity, and is prone to black magic influences.
- Samana Vayu – The Inner Fire of Transformation
- Location: Navel center (Manipura Chakra)
- Flow: Inward, spiral-like, toward the center
- Physical Role: Governs digestion, metabolism, and energy assimilation
- Spiritual Role:
- Core to tapasya (spiritual heat) and burning of karmic impressions.
- It balances Prana and Apana and converts their energy into spiritual fuel.
- A strong Samana means the seeker can handle astral work, deep sadhana, and intense energy shifts.
- When active: It creates the spark to ignite Shiv Tattva within.
- Udana Vayu – The Uplifter of Soul
- Location: Throat to head
- Flow: Upward
- Physical Role: Supports speech, clarity, memory, and vertical growth
- Spiritual Role:
- Powers Uddharan (liberation).
- Helps the soul leave the body consciously.
- Activates the third eye, inner voice, and vision of past lives.
- In astral work, it helps connect to higher lokas.
- When awakened: It makes communication with Kuldevta, pitra, and Guru Tattva easier.
- Vyana Vayu – The Cosmic Network
- Location: Throughout the body
- Flow: Outward and expansive
- Physical Role: Controls circulation, coordination of limbs, and the nervous system
- Spiritual Role:
- Carries energy to all nadis—it ensures all tattvas and chakras stay connected.
- When strong, Vyana forms an aura shield, protecting from black magic and external negativity.
- Also helps in distributing siddhis and spiritual energy received from Deities or the Guru.
- When blocked: The seeker may experience spiritual disintegration, emotional confusion, or lack of vitality in sadhana.
Your Energetic Echo: What Happens After We're Gone?
You know how everything in the world, even us, is made of five basic ingredients: earth, water, fire, air, and space? Well, our ancient spiritual teachers say this is true even after someone’s physical body is no longer here.
After leaving the body, a person’s atma tattva (their inner spirit) leaves their body, it goes back to the param tattva . But something else stays behind: a kind of energetic imprint of that person. Think of it like a subtle, invisible blueprint or a ghost of their energy. We call this the subtle body.
Here’s how it gets interesting, depending on how a body is handled:
- If someone is cremated (like in Hindu traditions): Their body turns to ash and smoke. So, the subtle energy left behind will mostly carry the essence of fire and air.
- If someone is buried (like in Muslim or Christian traditions): Their body returns to the earth. So, their subtle energy will be strongly linked to earth and water.
- If a body somehow decomposes in water: You’d see a strong link to water and earth in their energetic trace.
The important point is that the way a body breaks down leaves certain elemental “flavors” in this subtle energetic echo.
Life's Leftovers: How Our Desires Shape Unseen Forces
What makes this subtle body “active”? It’s powered by Prana, our life force! Prana is so powerful that if we keep doing something over and over again, it actually breathes “life” into that action or thought, even if it’s just a feeling. Repetition is key to activating Prana!
While we’re alive, our soul, through Prana, energizes not just our muscles, but also our thoughts, emotions, and desires. When we pass away, those strongly “activated” feelings and desires don’t just vanish. They stick to that subtle body.
So, this subtle body is basically a mix of:
- Leftover Prana (life force).
- The elemental “flavors” from how the body was handled.
- Strong, unfulfilled emotions and desires like anger, lust, greed, ego, and envy.
When these ingredients combine, they create different types of Vayu (subtle energy forms) – which can show up as various kinds of “negativity” or unseen influences.
For example:
- If a subtle body, with its fire and air elements, is loaded with leftover lust and anger, it might become what people call a “Bhoot.”
- Add more layers of intense emotions, and it could evolve into a “Pret.”
- Even more complex, it could be a “Pishach.”
- When earth and water elements mix with these strong negative desires, it might form a “Jinn.”
So, these aren’t just spooky stories! They’re ancient explanations for different kinds of energetic imprints created by human experience.
Your Reality, Your Time: Why Some Things Feel Unbelievable
Ever wonder why some people firmly believe in these unseen forces, while others don’t? Our traditions offer a cool idea: what’s “real” or “true” for us often depends on where we are (space) and when we are (time).
As society, culture, and personal experiences change, so does our understanding of the world. Someone who hasn’t experienced these things might think they’re impossible, simply because they haven’t been in the “space” or “time” where such encounters happen. It’s like saying a certain kind of animal doesn’t exist just because you haven’t seen it in your backyard!
This also applies to “positive” and “negative” energies. There’s no fixed rule that says one energy is always good or always bad. It’s all about how that energy affects you. If an energy helps you, it’s “positive” for you. If that exact same energy harms you, then for you, it becomes “negative” – even if it’s a powerful or divine energy used in a harmful way.
It’s a fascinating thought: our universe is a constant dance of energies, and our personal
How Negativity Affects the Vayus and Our Lives
- Apana Vayu and Physical Manifestations:
When negative energies, especially those associated with fire, lust (Kaam Vasna), and anger (Krodh), enter the Apana Vayu region (lower abdomen, reproductive organs), they significantly drain a person’s energy. This can lead to physical issues in those areas. This is why women often experience problems like lower abdominal pain, knee pain, leg pain, and back pain – these are seen as direct results of negative energies or ancestral influences (pitra) affecting their Apana Vayu.
- Samana Vayu and Broader Pain:
If these negative energies gain more power, they can enter into the Samana Vayu region (navel center). This can cause pain in areas like the shoulders and chest, as these are connected to the Samana Vayu’s domain.
- Vyana Vayu and Deep-Seated Negativity (Black Magic):
Vyana Vayu is like the Wi-Fi of your body’s energy system—it flows everywhere, connecting all 72,000 energy channels (nadis). It’s the most widespread and powerful of all the internal energy winds.
But here’s the problem:
If negativity enters this layer, it doesn’t just sit on the surface—it spreads everywhere and becomes extremely hard to remove. This usually happens when the negativity has stayed in the body for more than five years, silently growing roots.
Now, here’s the real twist:
Ordinary negative energies can’t reach Vyana Vayu on their own. To get in, they need something powerful—a spark of Aatma Tattva, the soul force. And only a human or a divine being can provide that. This is exactly how black magic works.
A black magician uses their own soul energy (Aatma Tattva) to push negative Vayu directly into someone’s Vyana Vayu. Once inside, it hijacks the person’s entire energy system, creating deep spiritual and emotional blockages.
To break free from this kind of control, you need something equally powerful—a very high-level Prana Shakti. This special energy can disconnect the victim’s life force (Prana) from the invading force, finally releasing them from its grip.
- Udana Vayu and Suppressed Potential:
Udana Vayu is the energy that lifts you up—literally and spiritually. It’s the force behind your spiritual growth, Kundalini awakening, manifestation power, and your connection to higher realms. When someone is achieving success effortlessly, when their prayers are being answered, and everything seems to align—it’s a clear sign that their Udana Vayu is strong and flowing.
But sometimes, envy from others can cast a shadow.
A jealous person might go to a black magician to shut down this rising energy. The magician sends a counter-wave—a negative Vayu—that directly targets the person’s Udana Vayu. The result? The person still looks healthy and active on the outside, but spiritually, they begin to shut down.
Prayers stop working. Manifestations stall. No matter how hard they try, nothing seems to move forward. That’s because their Udana Vayu has been blocked, cutting off their access to higher dimensions and divine grace.
This is how powerful—and vulnerable—this energy channel can be.
The Energetic Tug-of-War: How Occult Practices Use Vayu and Prana
Imagine your body as a river of energy—constantly flowing, guided by invisible winds called Vayu. This Vayu carries your life force and keeps your system in motion. Now, in certain ancient or occult practices, if someone wants to disturb this flow, they don’t need to touch you physically. Instead, they send out their own stream of Vayu energy—charged with Prāṇ Tattva (life force)—toward your body.
It’s like launching a wave to crash into your river. Their goal? To override, suppress, or hijack your natural energy field.
This is the core of how many energy-based or occult practices work. It’s a silent tug-of-war in the unseen world, where balance, awareness, and the right spiritual techniques determine whose energy prevails.
Conclusion: The Deeper Meaning Behind "Upari Hawa"
What was once dismissed as “upari hawa” is actually a sophisticated understanding of subtle negative energies—energies created from leftover elemental imprints and unfulfilled desires that haven’t yet found resolution.
These forces don’t just float aimlessly—they target the very foundation of our being: the Pancha Vayu, or five life-currents within us. Depending on which Vayu is disturbed, the effects can show up as unexplained physical issues, emotional upheaval, blocked manifestations, or even full-scale energetic manipulation like black magic.
By revisiting these ancient truths, we gain more than spiritual insight—we get a complete energetic map of the human experience. It helps us understand the real roots of suffering and gives us the tools to reclaim balance—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
In the end, the science of Vayu isn’t just philosophy—
It’s the missing link between our inner energy and the unseen cosmic forces that shape our destiny.
