तन्त्रसार (महामाहेश्वर अभिनवगुप्त - तन्त्रालोक का प्रामाणिक सार-संग्रह सटीक)

XXV The activity of Prāṇa goes on functioning without any conscious effort of the living being. Usually prāṇa moves along the channels of iḍā and pingalā. The middle path remains blocked for the ordinary human being. By the grace of guru when the middle path opens up, the aspirant's journey towards the Supreme begins from that time. The movement of prāṇa is then realised by the aspirant as associated with Śakti. It is She who in the form of hamsa is moving upward and she is the real mover of prāṇa. Not only that he realises that she gets the two bījas nourished in two places of their origin, namely, the heart and dvāda- śānta, the top of the head. At the realisation of this truth the Yogin feels thar the prāṇa before its rise takes rest in the void of the heart. Then by its externalisation as apāna the external objects not only shine forth but also get nourished by apāna, the moon. The Yogin then experiences the all- pervasive nature of prāṇa. On account of specific activitics of prāṇa in various spots of the body, the Yogin experiences various kinds of delights in accordance to his aptitude in getting the prāṇa take rest in these spots. These delights are named nirānanda and others. They are six in number. By his experience of delights in different spots he finally realises that the highest place of rest is somewhere else other than the body and prāṇa, He realises the highest form of delight known as jagadānanda in which there is no limitation, for it shines in all directions and where consciousness alone remains ever shining. It expresses itself as the knower, the means of knowledge and the objects known. It expands by the nectar of divine joy of absolute sovereignity, in which there is no need for contemplation¹. 1, Tantrāloka 5,51