Śivasaṃhitā 2.14

The verse begins the enumeration of the fourteen principal nāḍīs, opening with the five most doctrinally significant. Suṣumṇā, Iḍā, and Piṅgalā form the irreducible triad of Haṭha Yoga’s subtle physiology, while Gāndhārī and Hastijihvikā extend the map into less-discussed but structurally necessary channels that complete the body’s energetic architecture.

Suṣumṇā likely derives from su- (excellent) and a root related to ṣumna (grace), marking it as the channel of supreme benevolence. Iḍā connects to the verb iḷ, to refresh or nourish, reflecting its lunar, cooling nature. Piṅgalā means «tawny» or «golden-red», evoking solar heat. Gāndhārī references the ancient region of Gandhāra, and Hastijihvikā literally means «elephant’s tongue», a vivid anatomical metaphor.

Classical commentaries place Iḍā on the left and Piṅgalā on the right of the spinal axis, spiraling around Suṣumṇā in a double helix. This arrangement has invited comparison with the caduceus symbol of Hermes, though the functional logic in the yogic system is specifically prāṇic: the two lateral channels must be balanced before energy can enter the central column.