Meaning & Role:Nāḍī (Tib. rtsa, རྩ་) means “tube” or “channel.” These are conduits of subtle energy and consciousness, not physical nerves. Through them flow the winds (prāṇa), carrying awareness throughout the psychophysical continuum.
Three Principal Channels:
Central Channel – Avadhūtī (Tib. dbu ma): runs from the crown (or brow) to the base of the spine. It symbolizes the Middle Way and is the pathway of nondual realization.
Right Channel – Rasanā (Tib. ro ma): solar, red, associated with method (upāya), compassion, and masculine energy.
Left Channel – Lalanā (Tib. rkyang ma): lunar, white, associated with wisdom (prajñā), emptiness, and feminine energy.
Function: In ordinary beings, winds move mainly through the side channels, sustaining dualistic perception. When yogic practice (such as tummo or nadi-shodhana) draws them into the central channel, conceptual thought dissolves, revealing the clear light mind.