Saraswati Nadi | Location, Pathway, and Function

Saraswati Nadi is categorized as one of the fourteen principal Yoga Nadis, and is also known as Sarasvati Nadi or Suvani Nadi.

Interesting fact is that Saraswati is the name of a female Deity, the Hindu Goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning, which also explains this Nadi’s function in relation to the tongue, mouth, throat, and speech.

In India, the Sarasvati is also considered a mythical, metaphysical river (in this case equated with Sushumna Nadi), forming the imagined confluence with the sacred rivers Ganges (Ida Nadi) and Yamuna (Pingala Nadi) at the Triveni Sangam, being “the pathway to immortality.”

As just mentioned, another particularity about Saraswati Nadi is that the name is regularly used as a synonym for Sushumna Nadi. Moreover, it’s sometimes even equated with Sushumna Nadi in the sense that it makes part of (or being the same as) Sushumna.

In any case, the classical texts are quite unanimous about its location and pathway, that is, Saraswati Nadi is believed to start in the Kanda and end in the mouth at the tip of the tongue.

Another interesting fact is that Saraswati Nadi has exactly the same trajectory as the main pathway of the Thai Sen Line Sumana, which confirms the notion that Saraswati Nadi is intimately connected to Sushumna Nadi, either as being part of it or alternatively as a branch or extension.

Trajectory and Locations of Sarasvati Nadi

In the classical Yoga scriptures you’ll find several locations and trajectories for Saraswati Nadi , such as:

• Sarasvati stands on the side of Ida (Darshana Upanishad);
• Sarasvati goes to the tip of the tongue (Darshana Upanishad);
• Saraswati goes to the upper part of the tongue (Shandilya Upanishad);
• Saraswati ends at the tip of the tongue (Shandilya Upanishad);
• Sarasvati Nadi goes to the tip of the tongue (Yoga Shikha Upanishad);
• The Ida Nadi is Ganga, while Pingala is Yamuna and Susumna is Sarasvati (Hatha Ratnavali);
• Sarasvati is on the side of the Sushumna and extends upwards up to the tongue (Yoga Yajnavalkya);
• Sarasvati is situated in the upper part up to the tongue (Vasistha Samhita );
• Sarasvati, to Sri Anandanatha, on the tongue (Bhavana Upanishad);
• Suvani [Sarasvati] lies behind Gandharika and goes up to the tongue (Hatha Tattva Kaumudi);
• Sarasvati producing speech is to be adorned, which resides in the tongue (Hatha Tattva Kaumudi).

Function of Saraswati Nadi

Saraswati Nadi is thought to give energy to the tongue, mouth, and throat, and controls speech. It’s also believed to have a role in the awakening and rise of Kundalini Energy through Sushumna Nadi. Additionally, it’s said to keep the abdominal organs free from disease.

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