Yashaswini Nadi | Location, Pathway, and Function

Yashaswini Nadi, one of the fourteen major Yoga Nadis, is also referenced as Yajasvini, Yasasvini, Yashaswani, Yasaswani, Yashasvina, Yashovati, Yashasvati, Yasovati, or Eka Nadi.

Although the ancient textual sources that mention Yashaswini are rather conflicting about its trajectory and its intermediary and ending points, it’s widely agreed upon that the Yashaswini Nadi pathway starts in the Kanda and has its endpoint in the left ear.

Mind, however, that there are also quite some scriptural references to intermediary and/or endpoints that suggest that Yashaswini or its branches additionally pass (through) the leg, foot, and toes, either to the right or left side of the body.

In many sources, Yashaswini Nadi is mentioned together with Pusha Nadi. As such, Pusha (which has its termination point in the right ear) is generally considered to be Yashaswini’s complementary Prana Channel.

With the chart of Yashaswini displayed below, we have taken the liberty to take the trajectory of the Thai Sen Line Lawusang as our inspiration.

As a matter of fact, Sen Lawusang (which also terminates in the left ear) is by some in the Thai Massage community considered to be the Thai offshoot of Yashaswini Nadi.

Location and Trajectory of Yashaswini Nadi

At any rate, below you’ll find several descriptions of the trajectory and location of Yashaswini as found in ancient Yoga scriptures:

• Yajasvini goes up to the big toe of left foot (Darshana Upanishad);
• Pusa and Yasasvini conduct through the openings of the ears (Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati);
• Yasasvini which is beautiful proceeds to the great toes (Shandilya Upanishad);
• Yajasvini end in the right ear (Shandilya Upanishad);
• The tender Yajasvini ends in big toes (Shandilya Upanishad);
• Varana and Yasasvini cover all the body (Hatha Tattva Kaumudi);
• Yajasvini stands in the left ear (Yoga Chudamani Upanishad);
• Pusa and Yasasvini are the Nadis that originate from the same region and terminate at the left and right ears (Tri Sikhi Brahmana Upanishad);
• Yashasvini is in the left ear (Goraksha Samhita);
• Yasasvini extends on the right side up to the tip of the toe (Yoga Yajnavalkya);
• Yasasvini spreads in the right side up to the right toe (Vasistha Samhita );
• Pusa in the right ear, Yasasvini in the left ear (Shiva Swarodaya);
• Hail to the right thigh, Yashovati, the Sakti paralyzing all (Bhavana Upanishad);
• Yasasvini goes up to the end of the eyebrows (Hatha Tattva Kaumudi).

Function of Yashaswini Nadi

Yashaswini Nadi is thought to regulate the function of hearing, notably that of the left ear.

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