Shukra & Reclaiming the Lymph

by Christian Franceschini

(An excerpt from The Neohumanist Journal, 3/24 Issue)

Shukra was known as the essence of the essence of physico-pscho-spiritual vitality.  The holy centre known as the site of extraordinary vitality is conducive to the achievement of all perfection (siddhis). “It subdues sins and destroys ailments.” (Yogasvashista)

Neohumanist founder, Shrii Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar gives us a different definition of shukra: “The food taken in, after mixing with the digestive fluids, is transformed into rasa, while the superfluous material is discarded in the form of urine and other waste substances. The essence of rasa is transformed into blood, while the waste material is again discarded. The essence of blood turns into flesh and the essence of flesh into meda or vasa (fat), and so on, until it turns into bone, bone marrow, and finally into shukra.

The physical body consists of seven tissues, of which shukra is the final essence. This vital fluid has three stages. The first stage is the lymph in both males and females. The second stage is spermatozoa in males and ova in females. The third stage is seminal fluid in males, while in females it comprises substances present in the female reproductive system that contribute to the nourishment of the ovum and offspring.”

The first stage of shukra can be defined as lymph, vital fluid. or energy. It could also be called…superlymph (s-lymph) because of the many qualities and potential it has for … well-being of body and mind.

What produces lymph in our bodies? According to yoga and ayurveda, from the marrow. Marrow is both bone-marrow and the marrow tissue of the lymphatic and endocrine glands.

Shrii Sarkar… refers to how to transform shukra into mental substance …through the practice of lunar fasting. Yogis astutely follow a particular lifestyle to produce lymph in abundance and to harness this surplus of lymph for physical health, hormonal control …increasing psychic stamina and achieving higher states of consciousness. 

Hormones

According to new yogic science, lymph and I would say prana rasa, is the original hormone that produces all other hormones via the endocrine glands.  Sarkar states: “The lymphatic glands supply raw material – lymph – to the factories – the glands – and the surplus lymph goes to the brain and provides food for the nerve cells in the cranium. When lymph comes in contact with the activated gland, hormones are created.” This is why handling of glands and bio-psychological processes in general, in day-to-day activities is so essential.

the activated gland, hormones are created.” This is why handling of glands and bio-psychological processes in general, in day-to-day activities is so essential.

Asanas

Yoga asanas are an essential tool for achieving dynamic balance and peace in one’s bio-psychological life. Yogis have for millennia considered certain daily practices rules of life fundamental to the production and preservation of the lymph. Yogic postures, asanas, compress and decompress the various endocrine and lymphatic glands in precise and specific ways. Such exercises should be done daily not only for keeping the body healthy and flexible…and to increase one’s mental and spiritual faculties.

Bhavasana

In Bhavasana, the posture of ideation, the particular drainage of the axillary lymph nodes associated with a leg position, is particularly suited to reflux stagnant lymph from the peripheral vessels to the many lymph nodes closer to the larger joints such as those in the pelvis and the armpit and breast area. The continued cross gaze of the eyes toward the center, between the eyebrows, called trata in Sanskrit, conveys more s-lymph into the higher glands, such as the pituitary gland.

Note that peripheral lymph is drained through muscular activity to the heart…then mixed with the blood. The lymph then flows to the two kidneys that filter the blood from its impurities…The waste now turned into urine leaves the body by urination.

For the s-lymph .. the journey is different .. It remains in the bloodstream to reach every tissue or cell in the body. In Bhavasana, a special pressure is created in the brain area, which optimizes absorption of prana rasa into the brain area, supplying glands and the brain with this s-lymph. Part of brain activities create molecular clashes in neurons sublimating prana rasa or s-lymph into mental substance or ectoplasm. This is why Bhavasana is useful for mental stability and cognitive faculties; it is helpful in concentration, contemplation, meditation, intellectual reflection, and study.