In Swara Yoga the left and right breaths are not just anatomy — they are two temperaments. Chandra swara is the moon breath; Surya swara is the sun breath. Knowing which one the day favours, and matching your actions to it, is the working heart of the practice.

Chandra Swara — the lunar breath

Chandra swara flows through the left nostril (the Ida channel). It is cool, soft, and steadying. The tradition recommends it for actions that are gentle, sustained, or auspicious in a quiet way:

  • Beginning long-term or permanent undertakings
  • Rest, healing, and calming the mind
  • Devotional practice, study, and creative work
  • Acts of giving, reconciliation, and nourishment

Surya Swara — the solar breath

Surya swara flows through the right nostril (the Pingala channel). It is warm, sharp, and mobilising. It suits actions that need heat, effort, or decisiveness:

  • Physical exertion and travel
  • Difficult or urgent tasks that must be pushed through
  • Digesting heavy food
  • Confronting obstacles and taking bold, one-time action

How the tithi chooses

Beyond your moment-to-moment nostril flow, each tithi (lunar day) carries a prescribed swara. The waxing fortnight (Shukla Paksha) and the waning fortnight (Krishna Paksha) assign the tithis differently, so the same tithi name can call for a different breath depending on the moon's phase. This is why a genuine reading looks up the tithi and the paksha together rather than guessing.

When your personal swara and the tithi's prescribed swara agree, the current is strong and clear. When they disagree, awareness itself is the practice: you know which way the day leans, and you can consciously open the favoured nostril before you begin.

Putting it together

Each morning, a full reading tells you three things — the swara of your moon sign, of the tithi, and of the weekday — and prescribes the breathing count and direction to match. You don't need to memorise the tables to benefit; you need only to check your breath, learn the day's prescribed swara, and let the two inform how you move through the hours ahead.