There are different sleeping positions in which we sleep and those with some sleep disorders are always looking for ways on ” How to sleep better “. Many articles speak about certain personality traits associated with a person based on his sleeping position. Sleep is fundamentally a process that is predominant in Tama component; as it is performed during the night time, which by itself is a period predominant in Tama component. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to understand the spiritual science underlying various aspects related to peaceful sleep such as correct postures for sleeping as prescribed by Hinduism.This article details various effects of different sleeping postures on us and the appropriate ways of sleeping.
1. Science underlying ” How to sleep better ” – Sleeping on the left or right side
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Sleeping on the left or right side activates the chandranadi or suryanadi respectively and keeps the chetana in the cells in an awakened state, thereby protecting the body that is in contact with Patal, from the attacks of negative energies from the earth : Sleep is associated with Tama component and hence, sleep on the left or right side if possible. As a result, the chandranadi (Moon channel)or the suryanadi (Sun channel) will be activated at the respective levels, and it will keep the chetana (That aspect of Divine consciousness that governs the functioning of the mind and body) in the cells in an awakened state, which in turn will protect the body that is in contact with Patal (Hell region) from the attacks of negative energies from the earth.
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Subtle benefits: Subtle benefits observed when an ordinary individual (not performing any spiritual practice) sleeps on his left side:
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Flow of Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) gets attracted and a ring of Chaitanya gets created and activated at the Adnya-chakra (Sixth centre or chakra in the spiritual energy system; located in the mid-brow region in the subtle-body) and Anahat-chakra (The fourth centre in the spiritual energy flow system, located in the region of the heart in the subtle-body)
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Ring of Chaitanya gets emitted from Adnya-chakra.
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Ring of tarak-shakti (Saviour energy) gets created and activated at Anahat-chakra and tarak-shakti particles get emitted into the environment.
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Vital energy particles get created and activated in the body and they get emitted into the environment.
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2. Science underlying ” How to sleep better ” – Sleeping on the back
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Sleeping on the back exerts pressure on the Muladhar-chakra, thereby activating the gases associated with sexual desires, which move in the downward direction, thus enabling the negative energies from Patal to attack to a greater extent: Sleeping on the back pushes the chetana in the cells of the body into an unmanifest and sleeping state. Also, the body remains associated with Patal for maximum duration and hence, the cells in the body fail to repel the distressing vibrations originating from Patal. Sleeping on the back exerts pressure on the Muladhar-chakra (First chakra [Centre] in the spiritual energy system located in the region between the anus and the base of the genitals in the subtle-body), thereby activating the gases associated with sexual desire, which move in the downward direction, thus enabling the negative energies from Patal to attack to a greater extent. The downward flow of gases provides momentum to the flow of upa-pranas (Sub-vital energies), facilitating the negative energies to easily transmit black energy into the body of the individual, thus increasing effectively the proportion of their attack.
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If an individual, with a spiritual level less than 55% sleeps on its back, it is likely to face danger of being affected by distressing vibrations from Patal: In the body of an individual whose spiritual level is less than 55%, the proportion of emotions exceeds that of bhav (Spiritual emotion). Also, the balance of energy-based flows in the right and left channels is always irregular in proportion to the fluctuations in emotions. Since energy is not stored uniformly in the whole body while sleeping on the back, this individual faces the danger of being affected by distressing vibrations from Patal. The irregularity of flow in the two channels may result in spread of Raja –Tama predominant waves in the body. Hence, unless a control is established on the movement of energy-oriented flow that exists in the channels at the level of unexpressed bhav, with the help of sadhana (Spiritual practice), sleeping on the back in proximity of earth is dangerous. Under such circumstances, if an individual is alert and performs various spiritual remedies, sleeping on the back may prove to be pleasant.
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When an individual with a spiritual level more than 55% sleeps on its back, its Sushumnanadi is activated: When an individual with a spiritual level more than 55% sleeps on its back, its Sushumnanadi (Central channel of Kundalini [Dormant spiritual energy in the subtle-body]) is activated. Beyond the level of 55%, the Raja-Tama predominant flow in the body is controlled as required at the level of unexpressed bhav; because, the ability to function in unexpressed bhav at the level of soul-energy is enhanced. The soul-energy integrates and balances the flow of both, Sun and Moon channels. Therefore, if the individual sleeps on its back, due to enhancement of the soul-energy in the body, chakras (Centres in the body through which the spiritual energy flow) on the back get pressed appropriately and equally. Thus, the chakras are activated. They activate the flow of Sushumnanadi and control it appropriately.
3. Science underlying ” How to sleep better ” – Sleeping on the stomach
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Sleeping on stomach causes discharge of Raja–Tama predominant waste gases from the body, thus increasing the possibility of attacks of negative energies: Sleeping on the stomach exerts pressure on the voids in the stomach and hence, the subtle-waste gases in these voids start moving in the downward direction. Sometimes, if the pressure of waste gases in the void of the chest is greater, then these gases move upwards and are discharged even through the nose and mouth. During this process of the movement of the subtle Raja-Tama-predominant gases in the body, the body becomes sensitive to imbibing Raja–Tama-predominant waves from the atmosphere. In this posture, the direct movement of gross organs in the body is slowed and the atmosphere along with the voids around the organs is awakened due to the pressure on the stomach. Therefore, the Raja–Tama predominant movement (in the upward or downward direction) of the waste gases (stored in the voids and discharged from the movement of the organs as per their constitution) gains momentum. At this juncture, the body becomes sensitive to the process of discharging Raja–Tama predominant gases at the subtle-level. During this period, the body may become a victim of negative energy attack from the atmosphere as well as from Patal.
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Sleeping on the stomach helps negative energies attack from the upward direction; whereas, sleeping on the back helps them attack from the downward direction: Sleeping on the stomach helps the negative energies attack from the upward direction; whereas, sleeping on the back helps them attack from the downward direction. The back side of the body of an individual has greater ability to imbibe black energy than the front side has, because the movement of waste gases is greater on the back side than it is in the front side. In contrast, movement of Sattva waves is comparatively greater in the front. Hence, negative energies mostly try to attack from the back side.
4. Other aspects about sleep on ” How to sleep better “
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Sleeping on the stomach: By sleeping on the stomach, the saptachakras (Seven chakras) do not get activated. Therefore, the distressing energy flows in the body, causing imbalance in the flow of Kundalini energy.
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Sleeping on the left side
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There is an increase in the prana-shakti (Vital energy) in the individual’s body.
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Sagun (Materialised)-nirgun (Non-materialised) Chaitanya is generated in the individual.
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Suryanadi is activated by sleeping on the left side and Chandranadi by sleeping on the right side.
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Reference: Sanatan Sanstha’s Holy Text ‘How to sleep peacefully ?’