Kundalini is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning either coiled up or coiling like a snake. It is a term in yoga, referring to a reservoir of psychic energy at the base of the spine. Kundalini is curled up in the back part of the root chakra in three and one-half turns.
"Kundalini is the energy of the Divine as it is experienced in the individual. Kundalini binds us when we project its energy into the world and yet, kundalini liberates us when we return this energy to its divine origin.
This video is a good attempt to get a feeling of the Kundalini rising:"
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Archives on Kundalini
Kundalini Introduction and Site Map
Please note that all words in grey (like Kundalini, Kundalini Yoga, Chakra, Nadis etc) are links to related archives.
What is kundalini?
Kundalini is the potential form of prana or life force, lying dormant
in our bodies. It is conceptualized as a coiled up serpent (literally,
'kundalini' in Sanskrit is 'coiled up') lying at the base of our spine,
which can spring awake when activated by spiritual disciplines.
The Kundalini is curled up in the back part of the root chakra in three
and a half turns.
"Kundalini is the energy of the Divine as it is experienced in the
individual. Kundalini binds us when we project its energy into the
world and yet, kundalini liberates us when we return this energy to its
divine origin."
Spiritual practices like yoga and meditation focuses on the raising of
the kundalini from the chakra at the base of the spine to the chakra in
the crown of the head � awakening a powerful transformative energy.
"Kundalini energy has the capacity to wash away our deepest tensions,
eliminate our misunderstandings about our true nature, and to expand
the flow of creative energy and consciousness within us.
Kundalini is both the energy and essence of life and the practice of becoming aware of it."
See also: Kundalini Awakening, Spiritual Unfoldment, Adhyatma vikasa, Liberation
Kundalini and Chakras, Kundalini and Mudras,
Kundalini and Nadis, Kundalini and Shaktipat, Kundalini and Siddhis, Kundalini and Healing,
Kundalini Mantras, Kundalini Massage, Kundalini Serpent
Kundalini Tantra, Kundalini Orgasm, Kundalini and Sex, Kundalini and Intimacy
The practitioners of Kundalini Yoga concentrate on psychic centers or
chakras in the body in order to generate a spiritual power, which is
known as kundalini energy.
The practice of Kundalini Yoga comprises of awakening and then forcing
this energy, flowing through nadis or channels, up the psychic channel
of the sushumna, which runs from the base of the spine to the brain.
The three main channels running alongside the spinal cord are ida,
pingala and the sushumna. When this kundalini energy, pictured as the
serpent residing in the first chakra at the root of the spine (muladhar
chakra), is raised up through the rest of the chakras until it reaches
the seventh and the highest chakra (sahasrara) located at the crown of
the head - self-realization occurs. This induces the blissful state of
samadhi. The school of Sahaja Yoga is very similar to the Kundalini
school.
See also: Kundalini Yoga, Samadhi, Pada, Sadhana, Sadhana marga, San Marga, Tapas
Tantra Yoga
The roots of Tantra Yoga go back to ancient fertility cults of India.
The history of this strain of yoga, like the Kundalini school, is
linked with the worship of Shakti, the primordial female energy. The
objective of Tantra Yoga is to merge with the Ultimate by the arousal
and channeling of sexual energy.
The Tantra school equates spiritual awakening with the awakening and
rising of the kundalini power. According to Tantra, the kundalini is
present in everything, even in the smallest of particles, in the form
of cosmic energy. Only a fraction of it is operative, while an
unmeasured residuum is left 'coiled up' and untapped at the 'base root'.
See also: Tantra Yoga, Tantra, Kundalini and Tantra
Kundalini and Shaktipat
Shaktipat is the Direct Transmission of Spiritual Energy. Tantric
practices recognize that spiritual freedom is realized through our own
inner practice and the transmission of energy (shaktipat) from a
teacher that awakens the kundalini energy. Shaktipat means the descent
of grace, and it is a vitally important presence in the awakening of
the kundalini. It is the fire that ignites the rising of the kundalini.
See also: Shaktipat, Diksha (Deeksha)
Kundalini and Chakras
The chakras are any of the nerve plexes or centers of force and
consciousness located within the inner bodies of man. In the physical
body there are corresponding nerve plexuses, ganglia and glands.
The seven principal chakras can be seen psychically as colorful,
multi-petaled wheels or lotuses. They are situated along the spinal
cord from the base to the cranial chamber.
Additionally, seven chakras, barely visible, exist below the spine.
They are seats of instinctive consciousness, the origin of jealousy,
hatred, envy, guilt, sorrow, etc. They constitute the lower or hellish
world, called Naraka or patala. Thus, there are 14 major chakras in all.
The seven upper chakras, from lowest to highest, are:
muladhara chakra (base of spine): memory, time and space;
svadhishthana chakra (below navel): reason;
manipura chakra (solar plexus): willpower;
anahata chakra (heart center): direct cognition;
vishuddha chakra (throat): divine love;
ajna chakra (third eye): divine sight;
sahasrara chakra (crown of head): illumination, Godliness.
The seven lower chakras, from highest to lowest, are
atala chakra (hips): fear and lust;
vitala chakra (thighs): raging anger;
sutala chakra (knees): retaliatory jealousy;
talatala chakra (calves): prolonged mental confusion;
rasatala chakra (ankles): selfishness;
mahatala chakra (feet): absence of conscience;
patala chakra (located in the soles of the feet): murder and malice.
See also: Chakra, Kundalini and Chakras, Pradakshina, Naraka
Kundalini and Nadis
Nadis are the astral tubes made up of astral matter that carry psychic
currents. It is through these Nadis (Sukshma, subtle passages), that
the vital force or Pranic current moves or flows.
Kundalini when awakened, will pass through Sushumna Nadi and this is
possible only when the Nadis are pure. Therefore, the first step in
Kundalini Yoga is the purification of Nadis. A detailed knowledge of
the Nadis and Chakras, is absolutely essential. Their location,
functions, nature, etc., should be thoroughly studied.
The three main nadis are named ida, pingala and sushumna.
ida nadi: Also known as chandra ("moon") nadi, it is pink in color
and flows downward, ending on the left side of the body. This current
is feminine in nature and is the channel of physical-emotional energy.
pinga nadi: Also known as surya ("sun") nadi, it is blue in color and
flows upward, ending on the right side of the body. This current is
masculine in nature and is the channel of intellectual mental energy.
sushumna nadi: The major nerve current which passes through the
spinal column from the muladhara chakra at the base to the sahasrara at
the crown of the head. It is the channel of kundalini. Through yoga,
the kundalini energy lying dormant in the muladhara is awakened and
made to rise up this channel through each chakra to the sahasrara
chakra.
Out of the innumerable Nadis 14 are said to be important. They are:
Fundamental practices for activation of Kundalini shakti:
Purification of the body with the aid of Neti, Dhyoti and Vasti.
Practice of eight kinds of Pranayam (Yogic exercises).
Practise essential mudras such as Mahamudra, Mahavedha, Mahabandh,
Viparitakarani, Taran, Paridhan, Yuktichalan and Shaktichalani.
See also: Neti, Dhyoti, Vasti, Pranayam, Pranayama, Yogic Excercises,
Mudras
Kundalini Developmentalism
An article about the different stages in kundalini and spiritual awakening.
See: Kundalini Developmentalism.
Famous Kundalini Gurus
See: Sivananda and Kundalini, Gopi Krishna and Kundalini
Kundalini Dictionary
Here is a list of links for some of the most important terms related to
Kundalini. Each link takes you to an archive with related articles and
dictionary entries.
Kundalini is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning either "coiled up" or "coiling like a snake". There are a number of other translations of the term usually emphasizing a more serpent nature to the word— e.g. 'serpent power'. The caduceus symbol of coiling snakes is thought to be an ancient symbolic representation of Kundalini physiology.
The concept of Kundalini comes from Yogic philosophy of ancient India and refers to the mothering intelligence behind yogic awakening and spiritual maturation (Sovatsky, 1998). It mig ...
Theorists within the schools of Humanistic psychology, Transpersonal psychology and Near-Death Studies describe a complex pattern of motor, sensory, affective and cognitive/hermeneutic symptoms called The Kundalini Syndrome. This psycho-somatic arousal and excitation is believed to occur in connection with prolonged and intensive spiritual or contemplative practice (such as meditation or yoga) or as a result of intense life experiences or a close encounter with death (such as a near-death experience) (Greyson 1993, 2000; Scotton, 1996; Lukof ...
Breath, sound and meditation are the main resources of kundalini yoga. For example, a school of Kundalini yoga is probably best recognised for its frequent use of 'Breath of Fire' and the mantra 'Sat Nam'. Breath of Fire is a breathing exercise where you inhale and exhale rapidly through the nose without pausing, and pump the navel point while using the abdomen as a bellows. Sat Nam means 'truth is my identity' and, as a chant, is used to stop mind chatter by creating a rhythm that produces higher consciousness.
The unfoldment of the spirit, the inherent, divine soul of man. The very gradual expansion of consciousness as kundalini shakti slowly rises through the sushumna.
The term spiritual unfoldment indicates this slow, imperceptible process, likened to a lotus flower's emerging from bud to effulgent beauty. Contrasted with development, which implies intellectual study; or growth, which implies character building and sadhana.
Sound intellect and good character are the foundation for spiritual unfoldment, but they are not the unfoldment itself. When philosophical training and sadhana is complete, the kundalini rises safely and imperceptively, without jerks, twitches, tears or hot flashes. Brings greater willpower, compassion and perceptive qualities.
A coiled female serpent. The elemental, creative force of the astral body which, like a serpent, rests coiled at the base of the spine.
The male and female forces are exactly balanced in the Ida and Pingala subtle channels.
Everyone uses Kundalini power to think with and to maintain consciousness, but it very seldom rises up the central spinal channel of Sushumna beyond the first center.
Various disciplines exist to arouse the "sleeping serpent" to ascend to the higher centers.
(See also: Kundalini , New Age
Spirituality, Body
Mind and Soul)
Kundalini
awakening or pranic awakening and its cross-tradition similars-the spontaneous
spinal rockings known in Judaism as davening and in
Sufisim as zikr; the "taken-over"
gyrations of gospel "holy ghost" shaking and dancing and
charismatic/pentacostal "mani-festations"; the Dionysian
"revel"; QuakerismÕs and Shakerism's autonomic quaking and shaking;
Tai Chi guided by chi itself; the shamanic trance-dance;
BuddhismÕs and Raja-YogaÕs effortless "straight back" (uju-kaya)
meditation; the yogically derived ecstatic belly-dance and Flamenco; and even
the full-bodied, spontaneous Reichian "reflex"-literally embody the
spiritual path.
When Kundalini awakening happens to people who are not on a spiritual path, the experience can leave them fragile and fragmented. As the Kundalini process involves a redefinition and reintegration of self, it adds extra pressure when people wish to suppress the transformation and insist to lead their lives normally.
This FAQ gives a background on the phenomenon of kundalini. Part
II of III.
In Part II: 1) Can I just use kundalini yoga simply to
improve my health?, 2)
Is there any scientific basis for kundalini and the cakras?,
3) Do I really have to believe that all these cakras physically exist?, 4) Is
Chinese qi gong a kind of kundalini yoga?, 5) What about Tibetan Buddhism - has
kundalini been known in Tibet?, 6) Are there any other traditions that show
awareness of kundalini?, 7)So how do I awaken kundalini?, 8) What are the
advantages and disadvantages of using effort to awaken kundalini?
A
Kundalini release can be triggered by meditation, yoga, prayer, bodywork,
psychedelic drugs, a life crisis (such as extreme physical or emotional trauma,
a near-death experience or the death of a loved one), childbirth, menopause,
certain ascetic or sexual practices, and so forth. Kundalini can also awaken
spontaneously from no apparent cause. This out-of-the-blue Kundalini arousal
occurred in my own case in 1991. Since then, I have communicated with hundreds
of people whose Kundalini rose involuntarily, initiating a long transformative
process.
When Rob told me my Kundalini had been
awakened, I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. The awakening of
Kundalini is a spiritual awakening, a major step towards realization of the
divine. It is, in fact, a great boon, a great blessing and a magical gift.
According to Swami Prajananda,
"The main purpose of its
awakening in a seeker is to enable him to attain Godhood" (Muktananda,
Kundalini 9).
The word ' Yog ’ is derived from the verb yuj which means to yoke, to join, to connect. The end of life is to yoke oneself to the holy spirit i.e., the Paramchaitanya. Hindu scriptures enlighten us on the various ways or margas of doing so. The union with the holy spirit is possible through Gyan Yog, Karma Yog, Bhakti Marg, Mantra Yog, Raj Yog, Sanyas Marg or Hath Yog.
The rishi-munis have particularly adopted the Gyan Yog which is possible only through Dhyan . For the householder, Karma Yog and Bhakti Marg are the most practical ways of attaining moksha. Ascetics have developed the knowledge of mantra-tantra . Hath Yogis have evolved various Aasanas, postures and occult practices for awakening the Kundalini. Shri Aadishakti Shri Mataji Nirmaladevi has advocated the Sahaj Yog for householders to attain the Parmachaitanya through the raising of the Kundalini.
(See also: Sahaj Yog , God and Religion,
Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind
and Soul)
This FAQ gives an overview of those kundalini yoga practices
which require conscious effort. Part I of III.
In Part III: 1) But even if kundalini is dangerous, isn't it
a faster way to enlighenment?, 2) What are the origins of kundalini yoga?, 3)
What is the classical literature of kundalini yoga?, 4) What is the precise
role of the guru in kundalini yoga?, 5) Can't I learn it through books?, 6)
Where can I gain instruction on kundalini yoga?, 7) Where can I learn more?
This FAQ gives a background on the phenomenon of kundalini. Part
III of III.
In Part II: 1) What are the signs of an
awakened kundalini?, 2) Are these methods of awakening kundalini dangerous?, 3)
What about Gopi Krishna's books?, 4) But even if kundalini is dangerous, isn't
it a faster way to enlighenment?, 5) There have been many scandals among
kundalini yoga teachers - particularly sexual scandals. Is there a correlation
between sexual scandals and kundalini yoga practice?, 6) If my kundalini is
awakened will I need to change my lifestyle? 7) Do I need to be celibate?, 8)
Where can I learn more?
Kundalini Yoga Ð In this style of
yoga, the spine is regarded as a snake. It was brought to the West by Yogi
Bhajan in the late 1960s. The practice concentrates on releasing the Kundalini
energy which is found at the base of the spine. Kundalini Yoga includes a
series of classic poses and chanting. The emphasis however, is not on the Asana
but on the chanting. Spiritual transformation is the main aim of practice.
Kundalini can be awakened by attaining perfection of certain hatha
yoga postures called asanas, by certain breathing exercises aimed at
controlling the breath called pranayama, by God's grace, by
meditation or by intense devotion.
Another technique of
great importance is Shaktipat, the transmission of energy. A powerful yogi can
transmit energy to an aspirant and awaken the Kundalini. This is accomplished
in one of four ways: by touch, gaze, sound or thought.
