Yoga & Kundalini Energy

We know that Om, "ॐ" is the sound of the cosmos. We can regenerate this sound within ourself and resonate along with the universe. The energy created will be tremondous.

The "Chakras" are the seven main energy centers in the body. They are located along the Spine, starting at the base and running upwards to the crown of the head. The Chakras are described as "whirling disks of light", and each Chakra radiates a specific color and energy. As each Chakra relates to specific spiritual, emotional, psychological and physical issues, the conscious awareness and the balancing of these energy centers lead to well-being.

1. Muladhara: coccyx, base of the spine, at the perineum
2. Svadhistana: sacral plexus, genital area
3. Manipura: solar plexus, navel center
4. Anahata: cardiac plexus, heart center
5. Visshuddha: thoracic plexus, throat center
6. Ajna: pituitary center, eyebrow center
7. Sahasrara: crown of the head

Kundalini is an enormous reserve of untapped potential within each of us. At the base of the spine (@Muladhara Chakra), subtler than the physical body, lies the Kundalini energy, or spiritual energy, in a latent form.

Yogic Power or perfection in Yoga is achieved by arousing this Supreme Force. After awakening this Kundalini Shakti, you have to take this Supreme Power upward, through the Sushumna Nadi by Yogic method, from Muladhara Chakra to the crown of the head (Sahasrara). Then you will get various Yogic powers. The six stages in Kundalini Awakening are:

1. Prana usually flow in Ida or Pingala
2. Prana is made to flow (causing balance) in Ida and Pingala
3. Prana is made to flow in Sushumna
4. Kundalini energy is awakened
5. Kundalini is lead upwards
6. Kundalini rises to Sahasrara

The ability to balance Ida and Pingala, and cause Prana to flow in Sushumna is the most essential preparation for Meditation and Kundalini Awakening. After the upward journey of Kundalini, coursing through the Sushumna channel and the chakras along the way, it is finally brought to the crown chakra, Sahasrara.

This union is the Realization of the Absolute, and is the meaning of Yoga. An accomplished, Purnayogi in the path of Kundalini Yoga is in possession of eight major Siddhis, viz., Anima, Mahima, Laghima, Garima, Prapti, Prakamya, Vasitvam and Ishitvam.

1. Anima: The Yogi can become as minute as he pleases.

2. Mahima: This is the opposite of Anima. He can become as big as he likes. He can make his body assume a very large size. He can fill up the whole universe. He can assume a Virat Svarupa.

3. Laghima: He can make his body as light as cotton or feather. Vayustambhanam is done through this Siddhi. In Jalastambhanam also the power is exercised to a very small degree. The body is rendered light by Plavini Pranayama. The Yogi produces a diminution of his specific gravity by swallowing large draughts of air. The Yogi travels in the sky with the help of this Siddhi. He can travel thousands of miles in a minute.

4. Garima: This is the opposite of Laghima. In this the Yogi acquires an increase of specific gravity. He can make the body as heavy as a mountain by swallowing draughts of air.

5. Prapti: The Yogi standing on the earth can touch the highest things. He can touch the sun or the moon or the sky. Through this Siddhi the Yogi attains his desired objects and supernatural powers. He acquires the power of predicting future events, the power of clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy, thought-reading, etc. He can understand the languages of the beasts and birds. He can understand unknown languages also. He can cure all diseases.

6. Prakamya: He can dive into the water and can come out at any time he likes. The late Trilinga Swami of Benares used to live for six months underneath the Ganges. It is the process by which a Yogi makes himself invisible sometimes. By some writers it is defined to be the power of entering body of another (Parakaya Pravesh). Sri Sankara entered the body of Raja Amaruka of Benares. Tirumular in Southern India entered the body of a shepherd. Raja Vikramaditya also did this. It is also the power of keeping a youth-like appearance for any length of time. Raja Yayati had this power.

7. Vashitvam: This is the power of taming wild animals and bringing them under control. It is the power of mesmerising persons by the exercise of will and of making them obedient to one's own wishes and orders. It is the restraint of passions and emotions. It is the power to bring men, women and the elements under subjection.

8. Ishitvam: It is the attainment of divine power. The Yogi becomes the Lord of the universe. The Yogi who has this power can restore life to the dead. Kabir, Tulsidas, Akalkot Swami and others had this power of bringing back life to the dead.

Minor Siddhis

The Yogi acquires the following minor Siddhis also:

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst.
2. Freedom from the effects of heat and cold.
3. Freedom from Raga-Dvesha.
4. Doora Darshan, clairvoyance or Dooradrishti.
5. Doora Sravan, clairaudience or Doora Sruti and Doora Pravachana.
6. Mano-Jaya, control of mind.
7. Kama Rupa: The Yogi can take any form he likes.
8. Parakaya Pravesha: He can enter into another body, can animate a dead body and enter into it by transferring his soul.
9. Iccha-Mrityu: Death at his will.
10. Devanam Saha Kreeda and Darshana: Playing with the gods after seeing them.
11. Yatha Sankalpa: Can get whatever he likes.
12. Trikala-Jnana: Knowledge of past, present and future.
13. Advandva: Beyond the pairs of opposites.
14. Vak-Siddhi: Whatever the Yogi predicts will come to pass by the practice of Satya, Prophecy.
15. The Yogi can turn base metal into gold.
16. Kaya-Vyuha: Taking as many bodies as the Yogi likes to exhaust all his Karmas in one life.
17. Darduri-Siddhi: The jumping power of a frog.
18. Patala-Siddhi: Yogi becomes Lord of desire, destroys sorrows and diseases.
19. He gets knowledge of his past life.
20. He gets knowledge of the cluster of stars and planets.
21. He gets the power of perceiving the Siddhas.
22. He gets mastery of the elements (Bhuta Jaya), mastery of Prana (Prana Jaya).
23. Kamachari: He can move to any place he likes.
24. He gets omnipotence and omniscience.
25. Vayu-Siddhi: The Yogi rises in the air and leaves the ground.
26. He can point out the place where a hidden treasure lies.

"Kundalini awakening and raising has never been easier"

Yoga Nadis Nadis or channels are the Astral tubes made up of astral matter that carry psychic currents. Since they are made up of subtle matter, they are not visible to the naked physical eye. It is through these Nadis that the vital force or Pranic current flows in the body. These Yoga Nadis are not the ordinary nerves, arteries and veins. Our body is filled with innumerable Nadis. There are about 3,50,000 Nadis in the body.

Nadis play a vital role in Kunadalini Yoga. 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. For this purpose, you have to do various Yogic Kriyas (practices) such as Dhauti, Bhasti, Neti, Tratak, Nauli, Kapalabhati, Pranayama etc.

All the Nadis (channels) spring up from the KANDA (It is like a shape of an egg and it is covered with membranes. This is just above the Muladhara Chakra). Out of the innumerable Nadis, Ayurveda mentions 72,000 different Nadis.

Tantra Yoga identifies 14 principal nadis:

1. SUSHUMNA
2. IDA
3. PINGALA
4. GANDHARI
5. HASTAJHIVA
6. KUHU
7. SARASWATI
8. PUSHA
9. SANKHINI
10. PAYASWINI
11. VARUNI
12. ALUMBUSHA
13. VISHVADHARA
14. YASASVINI

IDA (moon), PINGALA (sun) & SUSHUMNA are the most important of the fourteen Nadis and SUSHUMNA is the Chief Nadi. The other nadis are subordinate to Sushumna.

Sushumna

Passes through the spinal column, originating in the Muladhara Chakra and terminating in the Sahasrara Chakra, diving in an anterior and posterior branch before reaching the Ajna Chakra. The Sushumna generally remains dormant when the other Nadis flow strongly and is activated only when the breath comes through both nostrils simultaneously. It can also be activated through pranayama and Swar Yoga and operates automatically at dawn and dusk, calming down the system and making meditation easy.

Ida

The Ida Nadi starts and ends to the left of the Sushumna, but is also connected with the left testicle in males. It terminates in the left nostril, stimulating the right side of the brain. It is feminine in energy, carries pranic energy and is one of the most important mental nadis. As it nourishes and purifies the body and the mind, it is also called Ganga in Tantric scriptures. When Sushumna is not working, activating the Ida Nadi is the best way to facilitate meditation.

Pingala

The Pingala Nadi starts and ends to the right of Sushumna. It is the carrier of solar, male energy, adding vitality, physical strength and efficiency. It is also purifying like Ida Nadi, but cleansing like fire. It is activated by the breath in the right nostril where it stimulates the left side of the brain. Bhedana pranayama is used to activate this nadi and is recommended for physical activities, debates and, indeed, duels.