294 The Law of the Rhythmic Breath 



being the color of the gross body, that Occultists 

 assign this color to vital-force, or Prdna. This, 

 however, is not the teaching of the Shivdgama. 

 Rama Prasad, who follows the Sanskrit work, 

 describes the positive current of Prdna as " red- 

 dish-white," and the negative, as "pure white; 

 both being modified and tinged by the flow of the 

 Tattva at the time prevailing. This teaching is 

 corroborated by known physiological distinctions 

 between the sensory and motor nerves; the former 



the receptive and negative being bluish- 

 white ; and the latter the outgoing, positive 

 agents reddish gray. The Tantrists always re- 

 fer to the negative, or Rayi as " the cooler state 

 of life-matter, which is only a shade of Prdna, 

 the original state." Rayi receives the impressions 

 from " the motion-imparting phase of life-matter," 



that is, the positive phase of Prdna. 



Yellow is the color of the purest state of Prlthwi, 

 the spiritual element in the earth, its ensouled 

 force, and predominating in the solar-terrestrial cur- 

 rents flowing round it; therefore, it is uncommon 

 in the crust of the earth, which is composed of the 

 grossest of its manifold permutations, but shines 

 forth in its perfected things the most precious 

 metal, the citron fruits, ripened grains, and flowers. 

 The fragrance of flowers is a spiritual essence 

 stimulating to the nerves and conveying direct nu- 

 triment to the soul. Yellow is a very precious 



