The Pran Sangli & Nirmala Saints

The Pran Sangli - Sahaja Yoga 

*The Pran Sangli (also spelled Prān Saṅglī or Praan Sangli) is a lesser-known but spiritually significant text sometimes associated with the Nath tradition, Sant tradition, and early Sikh mystical literature. Here’s a breakdown of its origin, context, and relationship to Sikhism:

Origin and Background

• Attributed to Guru Nanak by some sources, though modern scholars debate this.
• More widely believed to be a compilation or composition by Bhai Balu Hasna, a prominent Sikh mystic and disciple of Baba Sri Chand (Guru Nanak's elder son).
• Influenced by the Nath yogic tradition, especially its focus on inner awakening, the ten spiritual doors (nava-dvāra and dasham-dvāra), pranic energy, and kundalini.
• The name Pran Sangli roughly translates to “Chain (or sequence) of Life-breath” — indicating a yogic and spiritual journey through control and realization of the pranas (vital energies).

Structure and Content

• The text is a poetic dialogue or mystical treatise, often composed in early Braj, Punjabi, or Sant Bhasha.
• It explores:
• The inner yogic anatomy: pranas, nadis (subtle energy channels), and chakras.
• The concept of the Dasham Dwar (Tenth Door), a recurring theme in Sikh mysticism and Sant literature.
• The importance of the Guru in guiding the seeker beyond the sensory world to the ultimate spiritual reality.
• The verses are spiritual instructions, often echoing the mystic language of Kabir, Gorakhnath, and Guru Nanak.

Relation to Sikhism

• While not part of the Guru Granth Sahib, Pran Sangli reflects the inner esoteric side of Sikh spirituality, especially among early Udasi and Nirmala saints.
• Its yogic concepts are seen in line with Guru Nanak’s teachings about inner awakening, divine Naam (Name), and transcending ego.
• Some verses are quoted in Sikh literature and used by Sikh mystics for meditation and contemplation.
• The text bridges Sant Mat, Nath yogic practices, and Sikh inner spirituality.

Manuscript and Preservation

• Found in older Sikh manuscripts and Udasi/Nirmala* collections.
• Rarely published, but exists in Gurmukhi script and older Hindi/Braj.
• Some versions are commented upon in Nirmala* and Udasi traditions with spiritual interpretations.

Key Themes in Pran Sangli:

• Control and understanding of prana (vital breath).
• Awakening through Guru's guidance.
• Merging the individual soul with the supreme soul (Paramatma).
• Accessing the Tenth Door (Dasam Dwar) as the gateway to liberation.
• Transcending illusion (maya) through meditation and truth.

*The Nirmala Saints and their collections play a vital but often lesser-known role in preserving and interpreting the deeper spiritual and philosophical side of Sikhism and Indic mysticism — including texts like Prān Sangli. Here’s a clear explanation:

Who Are the Nirmala Saints?

Origin:

• The Nirmala Sampradaya is a scholarly and spiritual order within the broader Sikh tradition.
• It was formally established by Guru Gobind Singh Ji (the 10th Sikh Guru) around 1699, when he sent five Sikhs to Varanasi (Kashi) to study Sanskrit, Vedanta, and other Indic philosophies.
• The aim was to strengthen Sikh Dharma intellectually and philosophically, especially against rising debates from Brahmins and pandits.

What Do Nirmala Saints Do?

They are ascetic, celibate scholar-saints (brahmcharis), deeply learned in:

• 
  
• Vedanta
• Upanishads
• Bhagavad Gita
• Purāṇas
• Sanskrit grammar
• Sikh Scriptures (Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth)

Nirmala saints wear saffron or ochre robes (unlike traditional Khalsa blue) and are often seen meditating or teaching in ashrams, gurukuls, or sadhu communities.

What is the “Nirmala Collection”?

This refers to the vast body of rare spiritual and philosophical texts that the Nirmala saints have:

• Collected
• Copied
• Translated
• Preserved
• Commented upon

These include:

• 
  
• Ancient yogic and tantric texts
• Sant-mat poetry (Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas)
• Rare Sanskrit Sikh manuscripts
• Commentary on Dasam Granth and Sarab Loh Granth
• Prān Sangli, Sarab Gyan, Vivek Prakash, Upadesh Ratnawali, etc.

These are often stored in Nirmala deras (monasteries) and private collections. Some are still unpublished, existing only as manuscripts in Gurmukhi, Devanagari, or Takri scripts.

Role in Sikh Mysticism

• Nirmala saints emphasize the inner, meditative, yogic side of Sikhism, often called Advaitic or Vedantic Sikhism.
• Their teachings bridge Guru Nanak's mystical insight with the broader Hindu shastric knowledge.
• They played a key role in interpreting Dasam Granth, Jaap Sahib, and the yogic symbolism found in Sikh banis.

Nirmala & Prān Sangli

• Texts like Prān Sangli—with deep inner yogic, pranic, and metaphysical references—fit perfectly into the Nirmala saints’ tradition of preserving gnosis (gyan) and tattva (essence). They:
• Interpreted these texts allegorically and spiritually, not literally.
• Linked them with the Dasham Dwaar, Kundalini, and Naam Simran.
• Integrated them with Sikh bhakti and Vedantic non-duality.

In Summary:

Nirmala Saints

Ascetic scholar-saints founded by Guru Gobind Singh

Focus

Sanskrit, Vedanta, Sikh scriptures, meditation

Contribution

Preserved, translated, and commented on spiritual texts

Nirmala Collections

Rare Sikh, yogic, and Vedantic manuscripts

Relation to Pran Sangli

Considered part of their spiritual library; interpreted through Sikh-Vedantic lens