Kundalini Yoga
Submitted by divine_sysop on June 2, 2009 - 09:57
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Supta guruprasadena yada jagarti kundali |
Tada sarvani padmani bhidyante granthyopica ||
Meaning:
By the grace of the Guru, the dormant kundalini sakti is roused to action; then all the lotuses (energy centers) and knots (obstructions) are pierced by prana.
Kundalini Yoga:
Kundalini is derived from the Sanskrit word kunda meaning deeper place or cleft. Kunda refers to the concave cavity that resembles a coiled and sleeping serpent. Kundalini is untapped, dormant, potential energy.
The word kundalini refers to the shakti or power when it is in its dormant, potential state, and when it is manifested, it is called sakti, or other names according to the manifestation. The classical literature of Kashmiri Saivism describes three different manifestations of kundalini shakti.
These are:
- Adisakti - The cosmic energy
- Prana - The manifested energy of the body and mind functions
- Sakti - The consciousness ; kundalini which always intermediates between Adisakti and Prana Kundalini yoga transforms the aspirant from the empirical to the universal Supreme.
The Object of Kundalini Yoga:
Creation and consciousness can never be separated from each other when they are in a state of manifestation; Shiva & sakti are present in all of the tattvas (elements) of the universe. In the human body, the pure consciousness, siva is present in the highest center of the cerebral cortex, called sahasrara. Conscious power, sakti is located in the lowest center of the spinal card, called muladhara.
This Sakti is latent, and expresses itself only through its secondary manifestations such as vayu and prana. Awakening this sakti (dormant power), and uniting it with siva (consciousness) is the object of kundalini yoga.
According to Tantric texts, kula-kundali is lying as a coiled snake in muladhara (root chakra), with its mouth closing the entrance to the sushumna nadi (central meridian). The traditional kundalini practitioners used to call this power kutilangi, bhujangi and isvari. Prana is a particular manifestation of this kundalini sakti, and the process of awakening this power begins with a determined focus on prana sakti.
The Traditional Method of Practice:
All Tantric texts emphasize that before the practice of kundalini yoga sadhana, the sadhaka (practitioner) must undergo a series of basic hatha yoga practices. For example, one should sit in a prescribed asana and steady the mind by concentrating between the eyebrows (sambhavi mudra). One should inhale and retain the prana (breath) in the prescribed manner.
By performing jalandhara bandha (chin lock), the prana is prevented from moving upward. In the next movement the prana vayu automatically rushes downwards. Mulabandha pushes apana vayu upwards from the pelvic region.
Thus, prana vayu is collected and directed towards the muladhara center. The mind and willpower are concentrated upon it. As a result, due to frictional pressure on the prana and apana that are being held tightly together, intense heat is produced. This heat raises the kundalini sakti, which is drawn upwards by mental concentration
with the aid of mantras, and the jivatma, which is in the shape of a flame, is brought down from the heart to muladhara and united with the awakened sakti.
The asanas, kumbhakas, bandhas and mudras help to raise the kundalini and push it upwards towards brahma randra. The aroused kundalini moves upwards to the sahasrara chakra. On the way, it starts piercing each chakra, which is called chakra bhedana. As it advances from chakra to chakra, the shakti absorbs the tattvas present in the sahasrara.
The kundalini always has a natural tendency to return to its original position.
The sadhaka should repeat this process regularly, retaining the power for longer and longer periods of time, until the sakti stays permanently with Lord Shiva.
According to kundalini yoga,this state is Mukti or Samadhi, and the sadhaka becomes Jivanmukta.
