| Triangle denotes | - | Fire | | Hexagon denotes | - | Air | | Small spots denotes | - | Ether. | Knowing tattva by direction of flow | When the breath flows out from the bridge of the nose it denotes | - | Earth | | When the breath flows straight out | - | Water | | When the breath rises up | - | Fire | | When the breath goes in a deflected way | - | Air | | When the breath goes round in all directions | - | Ether | Knowing tattva by length of flow
When we exhale the exhaled air flows out of the nostrils for some distance before it gets diffused into the external atmosphere. Place the palm under the nose and move it up and down to recognize the length. | A 12 inch flow denotes | - | Earth | | A 16 inch flow denotes | - | Water | | A 4 inch flow denotes | - | Fire | | A 8 inch flow denotes | - | Air | | The flow is not perceptible outside the nostrils | - | Ether | Knowing tattva by taste | Sweet | - | Earth | | Astringent | - | Water | | Sour | - | Fire | | Bitter | - | Air and Ether. | Functions of the tattvas | Controls bones, muscles, skin and hair. | - | Earth | | Controls semen, fat, urine and saliva. | - | Water | | Controls hunger, thirst, sleep and light. | - | Fire | Controls motion, walking, smelling,
contraction and expansion. | - | Air |
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