The Mystery Of Kundalini Serpent Power

By Prashant kumar Kundalini Reference On Wikipedia: Kundalini in Sanskrit, literally means coiled. In Indian yoga, a corporeal energy an unconscious, instinctive or libidinal force or Shakti, envisioned either as a goddess or else as a sleeping serpent coiled at the base of the spine, hence a number of English renderings of the term such as serpent power. Kundalini is considered a part of the subtle body along with chakras (energy centres) and nadis (channels). The overall conception has many points in common with Chinese theories of acupuncture. Yoga and Tantra propose that this energy may be awoken by such means as austerities, breath and other physical exercises, visualisation and chanting. It may then rise up a subtle channel at the spine (called Shushumna) to the head, bringing psychological illumination. Each chakra is said to contain special characteristics. Yogis tend to attempt this alone, Tantrics in couples, both usually under the instruction of a guru. When Kundalini Shakti is conceived as a goddess then, when it rises to the head it unites itself with the Supreme Being (Lord Shiva). The aspirant gets engrossed in deep meditation and infinite bliss. Kundalini Reference On Wikipedia Preface To The Book Kundalini Yoga By Sri Swami Sivananda: O Divine Mother Kundalini, the Divine Cosmic Energy that is hidden in men! Thou art Kali, Durga, Adisakti, Rajarajeswari, Tripurasundari, Maha-Lakshmi, Maha-Sarasvati! Thou hast put on all these names and forms. Thou hast manifested as Prana, electricity, force, magnetism, cohesion, gravitation in this universe. This whole universe rests in Thy bosom. Crores of salutations unto thee. O Mother of this world! Lead me on to open the Sushumna Nadi and take Thee along the Chakras to Sahasrara Chakra and to merge myself in Thee and Thy consort, Lord Siva. Kundalini Yoga is that Yoga which treats of Kundalini Sakti, the six centres of spiritual energy (Shat Chakras), the arousing of the sleeping Kundalini Sakti and its union with Lord Siva in Sahasrara Chakra, at the crown of the head. This is an exact science. This is also known as Laya Yoga. The six centres are pierced (Chakra Bheda) by the passing of Kundalini Sakti to the top of the head. Kundala means coiled. Her form is like a coiled serpent. Hence the name Kundalini. All agree that the one aim which man has in all his acts is to secure happiness for himself. The highest as well as the ultimate end of man must, therefore, be to attain eternal, infinite, unbroken, supreme happiness. This happiness can be had in ones own Self or Atman only. Therefore, search within to attain this eternal Bliss. The thinking faculty is present only in human being. Man only can reason, reflect and exercise judgment. It is man only who can compare and contrast, who can think of pros and cons and who can draw inferences and conclusions. This is the reason why he alone is able to attain God-consciousness. That man who simply eats and drinks and who does not exercise his mental faculty in Self-realisation is only a brute.

O worldly-minded persons! Wake up from the sleep of Ajnana. Open your eyes. Stand up to acquire knowledge of Atman. Do spiritual Sadhana, awaken the Kundalini Sakti and get that sleepless-sleep (Samadhi). Drown yourself in Atman. Chitta is the mental substance. It takes various forms. These forms constitute Vrittis. It gets transformed (Parinama). These transformations or modifications are the thought-waves, whirlpools or Vrittis. If the Chitta thinks of a mango, the Vritti of a mango is formed in the lake of Chitta. This will subside and another Vritti will be formed when it thinks of milk. Countless Vrittis are rising and subsiding in the ocean of Chitta. These Vrittis cause restlessness of mind. Why do Vrittis arise from the Chitta? Because of Samskaras and Vasanas. If you annihilate all Vasanas, all Vrittis will subside by themselves. When a Vritti subsides it leaves a definite impression in the subconscious mind. It is known as Samskara or latent impression. The sum total of all Samskaras is known as Karmasaya or receptacle of works. This is called Sanchita Karma (accumulated works). When a man leaves the physical body, he carries with him his astral body of 17 Tattvas and the Karmasaya as well, to the mental plane. This Karmasaya is burnt by highest knowledge obtained through Asamprajnata Samadhi. During concentration you will have to collect carefully the dissipated rays of the mind. Vrittis will be everrising from the ocean of Chitta. You will have to put down the waves as they arise. If all the waves subside, the mind becomes calm and serene. Then the Yogi enjoys peace and bliss. Therefore real happiness is within. You will have to get it through control of mind and not through money, women, children, name, fame, rank or power. Purity of mind leads to perfection in Yoga. Regulate your conduct when you deal with others. Have no feeling of jealousy towards others. Be compassionate. Do not hate sinners. Be kind to all. Develop complacency towards superiors. Success in Yoga will be rapid if you put in your maximum energy in your Yogic practice. You must have a keen longing for liberation and intense Vairagya also. You must be sincere and earnest. Intent and constant meditation is necessary for entering into Samadhi. He who has firm faith in Srutis and Shastras, who has Sadachara (right conduct), who constantly engages himself in the service of his Guru and who is free from lust, anger, Moha, greed and vanity easily crosses this ocean of Samsara and attains Samadhi quickly. Just as fire burns a heap of dried leaves, so also the fire of Yoga burns all Karmas. The Yogi attains Kaivalya. Through Samadhi, the Yogi gets intuition. Real knowledge flashes in him within a second. Neti, Dhauti, Basti, Nauli, Asanas, Mudras, etc., keep the body healthy and strong, and under perfect control. But they are not the be-all and end-all of Yoga. These Kriyas will help you in your practice of Dhyana. Dhyana will culminate in Samadhi, Self-realisation. He who practises Hatha Yogic Kriyas is not a Purna Yogi. He who has entered into Asamprajnata Samadhi only is a Purna Yogi. He is a Svatantra Yogi (absolutely independent). Samadhi is of two kinds, viz., Jada Samadhi and Chaitanya Samadhi. A Hatha Yogi through the practice of Khechari Mudra can shut himself up in a box and remain underneath the ground for months and years. There is no higher supernatural knowledge in this kind of Samadhi. This is Jada Samadhi. In Chaitanya Samadhi, there is perfect awareness. The Yogi comes down with new, super-sensuous wisdom. When a man practises Yogic Kriyas, naturally various kinds of Siddhis are acquired. The Siddhis are hindrances to Realisation. The Yogi should not at all care for these Siddhis, if he wants to advance further and get the highest realisation, the final Goal. He who runs after Siddhis will become the biggest house-holder and a worldly-minded man. Self-realisation only is the Goal. The sum total of knowledge of this universe is nothing when compared to the spiritual knowledge that is obtained through Self-realisation.

Ascend the path of Yoga cautiously. Remove the weeds, thorns and the sharp angular pebbles on the way. Name and fame are the angular pebbles. Subtle under-current of lust is the weed. Attachment to family, children, money, disciples, Chelas or Ashram is the thorn. These are forms of Maya. They do not allow the aspirants to march further. They serve as the stumbling-blocks. The aspirant gets false Tushti, stops his Sadhana, imagines foolishly that he has realised, and tries to elevate others. This is like a blind man leading the blind. When the Yogic student starts an Ashram, slowly luxury creeps in. The original Vairagya gradually wanes. He loses what he has gained and is unconscious of his downfall. Ashram develops begging mentality and institutional egoism. He is the same house-holder now in some other form (Rupantara-bheda) though he is in the garb of a Sannyasin. O aspirants, beware! I warn you seriously. Never build Ashrams. Remember the watchwords:-SECLUSION, MEDITATION, DEVOTION. March direct to the goal. Never give up the Sadhana zeal and Vairagya until you realise Bhuma, the highest goal. Do not entangle yourself in the wheel of name, fame and Siddhis. Nirvikalpa is the state of superconsciousness. There are no Vikalpas of any sort in this condition. This is the Goal of life. All the mental activities cease now. The functions of the intellect and ten Indriyas cease entirely. The aspirant rests now in Atman. There is no distinction between subject and object. The world and the pairs of opposites vanish completely. This is a state beyond all relativity. The aspirant gets knowledge of Self, supreme peace and infinite, indescribable bliss. This is also called Yogaroodha state. When Kundalini is taken to the Sahasrara and when it is united with Lord Siva, perfect Samadhi ensues. The Yogic student drinks the Nectar of Immortality. He has reached the Goal. Mother Kundalini has done Her task now. Glory to Mother Kundalini! May Her blessings be upon you all! Om Shantih! Shantih! Shantih! Book Meditation As Explained By Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba: Every person has to awaken the Kundalini that is asleep within one. Kundalini, Sanat Kumara taught, should be led in a proper path towards the goal to fulfil ones life. In the Bharats Yoga Shastras, it has been mentioned that there are 7 types of lotuses in the spinal column helping people to take to right path. They are known as Naadi Mandalas/Chakras. (Nerve centres / disks) Kundalini power starts at Muladhara disk at the beginning of the spinal column. Muladhara, Swadhishtana, Manipurakam, Anahata, Visuddha, Agneya and Sahasrara are the seven Chakras. Each is at a higher plane than the other. Behind these chakras, on either side of spinal column Ida and Pingala nerves keep throbbing. In the centre of spinal column there is a nerve by the name Sushumna. All these perform their duties in the prescribed manner. How does one awaken the Kundalini power? All have believed it to be in the form of a dormant serpent near the Muladhara Chakra. Snakes of the world are considered poisonous. The serpent (Kundalini) dormant in man is that of worldly desires. These desires become poison. Worldly snakes eat frogs, rats etc. Kundalini serpent consumes only the life principle of man. To awaken this serpent, one has to control the intake of this life principle. When we hold breath through Yogic practices, the Kundalini power does not get food near Muladhara Chakra. In search of food, it becomes active and continues to come up. During meditation when we deny the food, it travels upwards from Muladhara to Manipuraka, Swadhishtana and comes to throat. Even near the throat food is not available for it. Then it reaches Agneya. Unable to find food even from there, it merges into Sahasrara. Therefore, to awaken the life principle or consciousness from Muladhara and let it merge in Sahasrara has been described as liberation by Vedanta. Dhyana, now-a-days, both in India and abroad has taken various forms. They believe it to be concentration. But both are different. Right from dawn to dusk whatever activities we perform, they are done with concentration. To walk, to eat, to read a book, to write a letter all need concentration. Concentration is natural for man. Why

should are spend/waste time for such concentration by sitting separately. But one has to question the source from which one derives concentration. We have held a book in hand. We can see with our eyes. What has been seen is sent for enquiry to the intelligence/Buddhi. After the enquiry, mind begins to recollect/reflect upon it. It is an Indriya (instrument /sense) that held a book. Again it is another indriya that saw the matter. It is yet again another indriya that reflected over the matter. It is due to the collective effort of all the indriyas that we are able to perceive the matter. Therefore, concentration is below senses. It is meaningless to call concentration which is below senses as meditation. Meditation is beyond senses. There is a border between concentration which is below senses and meditation which is beyond senses known as contemplation. Contemplation is said to be the second stage of intelligence. Intelligence is said to be the essence of Satwa. It can be best illustrated with an example to make it clear to you. There is a rose plant. It has leaves, thorns and rose flowers. Concentration helps you to identify as to where the thorns are and where the rose flower is. In concentration, we have only rose as the objective, without touching the thorns we have to pluck the flower. Love is flower; lust is thorn. There is no rose without thorns but we have to pluck the flower without touching the thorns. For what purpose is this cutting of rose? To cut the love (flower) away from worldly desires (thorns) is contemplation. Concentration is identifying the various locations of the thorns and flowers by looking at the tree/plant. To offer the flower so cut, to the Lord is meditation. In our body likened to that of a rose plant, we have pure love in the form of rose. It is permeated with fragrance/good smell of virtues. But right under this are the thorns of worldly desires. True meditation is to identify the thorns of worldly desires from selfless love and offer that selfless love to the Lord. From ancient days, meditation has been considered as the highest goal in Bharat. Today meditation is done as though it were a panacea akin to saridon which removes headache. Meditation that comes so easily cannot be termed as such. People such as Narada, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanat Kumara and Tumbura considered meditation to be the process of sending the Kundalini from Muladhara to Sahasrara. During meditation, one should not join worldly desires and must reach only selfless love as the goal. The method/posture of meditation is also very important. In the beginning, we must sit in Padmasana. Spinal column should not bend to any side. Some people bend the neck and sit. This is very dangerous. If Kundalini power were to get locked there, where many nerves are present, it would damage the person and cause paralysis. There are many who have damaged their heads/senses by wrongly adhering to Kundalini. One should not bend backwards either. One should be so straight that if a nail were to be driven down from Sahasrara, it should appear as though the whole body were wrapped around the nail. Not only that, one should loosen the garment that is around the waist prior to sitting for meditation. If the garment is tightly wound round the waist, it might, to an extent, obstruct the Kundalini. Usually people who practise Kundalini yoga are single garmented. So, waist should not be tightly bound. Vision should be centred at the tip of the nose. If one were to sit for meditation with open eyes, all those who pass by would cause disturbance to the mind. If eyes are totally closed, the goddess of sleep would envelop us. Therefore, we should have half closed eyes posture. To arouse Kundalini and sit in meditation is very difficult. The easiest path is pure love. No meditation can surpass/equal this. For most people, Sathya Sai Baba has advised against the practice of Kundalini and stated that Kundalini Yoga is not necessary on the spiritual path. Since many people practicing Kunalini Yoga or Pranayama have gone insane or suffer from mental problems afterwards, Sathya Sai Baba preaches the superiority of Bhakti Yoga (the path of Devotion or Divine Love) and asserts that it is the best path for spiritual aspirants.

Kundalini - The Serpent Power

Kundalini Art - The Serpent Energy

The image above is a 100% purely natural design created by manipulating a single image of a snake with imaging software. The kaleidoscopic design emerged from twirling the image with different variables. Nothing was added to the image whatsoever. Everything possesses this potential for beauty, complexity and inspiration and this latent potential can be seen and evoked with the help of imaging software.

Kundalini Art - Awaken Mother Kundalini!

Information About Kundalini:

Kundalini Reference On Wikipedia: Kundalini in Sanskrit, literally means "coiled". In Indian yoga, a "corporeal energy" - an unconscious, instinctive or libidinal force or Shakti, envisioned either as a goddess or else as a sleeping serpent coiled at the base of the spine, hence a number of English renderings of the term such as 'serpent power'. Kundalini is considered a part of the subtle body along with chakras (energy centres) and nadis (channels). The overall conception has many points in common with Chinese theories of acupuncture. Yoga and Tantra propose that this energy may be "awoken" by such means as austerities, breath and other physical exercises, visualisation and chanting. It may then rise up a subtle channel at the spine (called Shushumna) to the head, bringing psychological illumination. Each chakra is said to contain special characteristics. Yogis tend to attempt this

alone, Tantrics in couples, both usually under the instruction of a guru. When Kundalini Shakti is conceived as a goddess then, when it rises to the head it unites itself with the Supreme Being (Lord Shiva). The aspirant gets engrossed in deep meditation and infinite bliss. Kundalini Reference On Wikipedia Preface To The Book Kundalini Yoga By Sri Swami Sivananda: O Divine Mother Kundalini, the Divine Cosmic Energy that is hidden in men! Thou art Kali, Durga, Adisakti, Rajarajeswari, Tripurasundari, Maha-Lakshmi, Maha-Sarasvati! Thou hast put on all these names and forms. Thou hast manifested as Prana, electricity, force, magnetism, cohesion, gravitation in this universe. This whole universe rests in Thy bosom. Crores of salutations unto thee. O Mother of this world! Lead me on to open the Sushumna Nadi and take Thee along the Chakras to Sahasrara Chakra and to merge myself in Thee and Thy consort, Lord Siva. Kundalini Yoga is that Yoga which treats of Kundalini Sakti, the six centres of spiritual energy (Shat Chakras), the arousing of the sleeping Kundalini Sakti and its union with Lord Siva in Sahasrara Chakra, at the crown of the head. This is an exact science. This is also known as Laya Yoga. The six centres are pierced (Chakra Bheda) by the passing of Kundalini Sakti to the top of the head. Kundala means coiled. Her form is like a coiled serpent. Hence the name Kundalini. All agree that the one aim which man has in all his acts is to secure happiness for himself. The highest as well as the ultimate end of man must, therefore, be to attain eternal, infinite, unbroken, supreme happiness. This happiness can be had in one's own Self or Atman only. Therefore, search within to attain this eternal Bliss. The thinking faculty is present only in human being. Man only can reason, reflect and exercise judgment. It is man only who can compare and contrast, who can think of pros and cons and who can draw inferences and conclusions. This is the reason why he alone is able to attain God-consciousness. That man who simply eats and drinks and who does not exercise his mental faculty in Self-realisation is only a brute. O worldly-minded persons! Wake up from the sleep of Ajnana. Open your eyes. Stand up to acquire knowledge of Atman. Do spiritual Sadhana, awaken the Kundalini Sakti and get that sleepless-sleep (Samadhi). Drown yourself in Atman. Chitta is the mental substance. It takes various forms. These forms constitute Vrittis. It gets transformed (Parinama). These transformations or modifications are the thought-waves, whirlpools or Vrittis. If the Chitta thinks of a mango, the Vritti of a mango is formed in the lake of Chitta. This will subside and another Vritti will be formed when it thinks of milk. Countless Vrittis are rising and subsiding in the ocean of Chitta. These Vrittis cause restlessness of mind. Why do Vrittis arise from the Chitta? Because of Samskaras and Vasanas. If you annihilate all Vasanas, all Vrittis will subside by themselves. When a Vritti subsides it leaves a definite impression in the subconscious mind. It is known as Samskara or latent impression. The sum total of all Samskaras is known as Karmasaya or receptacle of works. This is called Sanchita Karma (accumulated works). When a man leaves the physical body, he carries with him his astral body of 17 Tattvas and the Karmasaya as well, to the mental plane. This Karmasaya is burnt by highest knowledge obtained through Asamprajnata Samadhi. During concentration you will have to collect carefully the dissipated rays of the mind. Vrittis will be ever-rising from the ocean of Chitta. You will have to put down the waves as they arise. If all the waves subside, the mind becomes calm and serene. Then the Yogi enjoys peace and bliss. Therefore real happiness is within. You will have to get it through control

of mind and not through money, women, children, name, fame, rank or power. Purity of mind leads to perfection in Yoga. Regulate your conduct when you deal with others. Have no feeling of jealousy towards others. Be compassionate. Do not hate sinners. Be kind to all. Develop complacency towards superiors. Success in Yoga will be rapid if you put in your maximum energy in your Yogic practice. You must have a keen longing for liberation and intense Vairagya also. You must be sincere and earnest. Intent and constant meditation is necessary for entering into Samadhi. He who has firm faith in Srutis and Shastras, who has Sadachara (right conduct), who constantly engages himself in the service of his Guru and who is free from lust, anger, Moha, greed and vanity easily crosses this ocean of Samsara and attains Samadhi quickly. Just as fire burns a heap of dried leaves, so also the fire of Yoga burns all Karmas. The Yogi attains Kaivalya. Through Samadhi, the Yogi gets intuition. Real knowledge flashes in him within a second. Neti, Dhauti, Basti, Nauli, Asanas, Mudras, etc., keep the body healthy and strong, and under perfect control. But they are not the be-all and end-all of Yoga. These Kriyas will help you in your practice of Dhyana. Dhyana will culminate in Samadhi, Self-realisation. He who practises Hatha Yogic Kriyas is not a Purna Yogi. He who has entered into Asamprajnata Samadhi only is a Purna Yogi. He is a Svatantra Yogi (absolutely independent). Samadhi is of two kinds, viz., Jada Samadhi and Chaitanya Samadhi. A Hatha Yogi through the practice of Khechari Mudra can shut himself up in a box and remain underneath the ground for months and years. There is no higher supernatural knowledge in this kind of Samadhi. This is Jada Samadhi. In Chaitanya Samadhi, there is perfect awareness. The Yogi comes down with new, super-sensuous wisdom. When a man practises Yogic Kriyas, naturally various kinds of Siddhis are acquired. The Siddhis are hindrances to Realisation. The Yogi should not at all care for these Siddhis, if he wants to advance further and get the highest realisation, the final Goal. He who runs after Siddhis will become the biggest house-holder and a worldly-minded man. Self-realisation only is the Goal. The sum total of knowledge of this universe is nothing when compared to the spiritual knowledge that is obtained through Self-realisation. Ascend the path of Yoga cautiously. Remove the weeds, thorns and the sharp angular pebbles on the way. Name and fame are the angular pebbles. Subtle under-current of lust is the weed. Attachment to family, children, money, disciples, Chelas or Ashram is the thorn. These are forms of Maya. They do not allow the aspirants to march further. They serve as the stumbling-blocks. The aspirant gets false Tushti, stops his Sadhana, imagines foolishly that he has realised, and tries to elevate others. This is like a blind man leading the blind. When the Yogic student starts an Ashram, slowly luxury creeps in. The original Vairagya gradually wanes. He loses what he has gained and is unconscious of his downfall. Ashram develops begging mentality and institutional egoism. He is the same house-holder now in some other form (Rupantarabheda) though he is in the garb of a Sannyasin. O aspirants, beware! I warn you seriously. Never build Ashrams. Remember the watchwords:-SECLUSION, MEDITATION, DEVOTION. March direct to the goal. Never give up the Sadhana zeal and Vairagya until you realise Bhuma, the highest goal. Do not entangle yourself in the wheel of name, fame and Siddhis. Nirvikalpa is the state of superconsciousness. There are no Vikalpas of any sort in this condition. This is the Goal of life. All the mental activities cease now. The functions of the intellect and ten Indriyas cease entirely. The aspirant rests now in Atman. There is no distinction between subject and object. The world and the pairs of opposites vanish completely. This is a state beyond all relativity. The aspirant gets knowledge of Self, supreme peace and infinite, indescribable bliss. This is also called Yogaroodha state.

When Kundalini is taken to the Sahasrara and when it is united with Lord Siva, perfect Samadhi ensues. The Yogic student drinks the Nectar of Immortality. He has reached the Goal. Mother Kundalini has done Her task now. Glory to Mother Kundalini! May Her blessings be upon you all! Om Shantih! Shantih! Shantih! Book - "Meditation As Explained By Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba": Every person has to awaken the Kundalini that is asleep within one. Kundalini, Sanat Kumara taught, should be led in a proper path towards the goal to fulfil one's life. In the Bharat's Yoga Shastras, it has been mentioned that there are 7 types of lotuses in the spinal column helping people to take to right path. They are known as Naadi Mandalas/Chakras. (Nerve centres / disks) Kundalini power starts at Muladhara disk at the beginning of the spinal column. Muladhara, Swadhishtana, Manipurakam, Anahata, Visuddha, Agneya and Sahasrara are the seven Chakras. Each is at a higher plane than the other. Behind these chakras, on either side of spinal column Ida and Pingala nerves keep throbbing. In the centre of spinal column there is a nerve by the name Sushumna. All these perform their duties in the prescribed manner. How does one awaken the Kundalini power? All have believed it to be in the form of a dormant serpent near the Muladhara Chakra. Snakes of the world are considered poisonous. The serpent (Kundalini) dormant in man is that of worldly desires. These desires become poison. Worldly snakes eat frogs, rats etc. Kundalini serpent consumes only the life principle of man. To awaken this serpent, one has to control the intake of this life principle. When we hold breath through Yogic practices, the Kundalini power does not get food near Muladhara Chakra. In search of food, it becomes active and continues to come up. During meditation when we deny the food, it travels upwards from Muladhara to Manipuraka, Swadhishtana and comes to throat. Even near the throat food is not available for it. Then it reaches Agneya. Unable to find food even from there, it merges into Sahasrara. Therefore, to awaken the life principle or consciousness from Muladhara and let it merge in Sahasrara has been described as 'liberation' by Vedanta. Dhyana, now-a-days, both in India and abroad has taken various forms. They believe it to be concentration. But both are different. Right from dawn to dusk whatever activities we perform, they are done with concentration. To walk, to eat, to read a book, to write a letter - all need concentration. Concentration is natural for man. Why should are spend/waste time for such concentration by sitting separately. But one has to question the source from which one derives concentration. We have held a book in hand. We can see with our eyes. What has been seen is sent for enquiry to the intelligence/Buddhi. After the enquiry, mind begins to recollect/reflect upon it. It is an 'Indriya' (instrument/sense) that held a book. Again it is another indriya that saw the matter. It is yet again another indriya that reflected over the matter. It is due to the collective effort of all the indriyas that we are able to perceive the matter. Therefore, concentration is below senses. It is meaningless to call concentration which is below senses as meditation. Meditation is beyond senses. There is a border between concentration which is below senses and meditation which is beyond senses known as contemplation. Contemplation is said to be the second stage of intelligence. Intelligence is said to be the essence of Satwa. It can be best illustrated with an example to make it clear to you. There is a rose plant. It has leaves, thorns and rose flowers. Concentration helps you to identify as to where the thorns are and where the rose flower is. In concentration, we have only rose as the objective, without touching the thorns we have to pluck the flower. "Love is flower; lust is thorn." There is no rose without thorns but we have to pluck the flower without touching the thorns. For what purpose is this cutting of rose? To cut the love (flower) away from worldly desires (thorns) is contemplation. Concentration is identifying the various locations of the thorns and flowers by looking at the tree/plant. To offer the flower so cut, to the Lord is meditation. In our body likened to that of a rose plant, we have pure

love in the form of rose. It is permeated with fragrance/good smell of virtues. But right under this are the thorns of worldly desires. True meditation is to identify the thorns of worldly desires from selfless love and offer that selfless love to the Lord. From ancient days, meditation has been considered as the highest goal in Bharat. Today meditation is done as though it were a panacea akin to saridon which removes headache. Meditation that comes so easily cannot be termed as such. People such as Narada, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanat Kumara and Tumbura considered meditation to be the process of sending the Kundalini from Muladhara to Sahasrara. During meditation, one should not join worldly desires and must reach only selfless love as the goal. The method/posture of meditation is also very important. In the beginning, we must sit in Padmasana. Spinal column should not bend to any side. Some people bend the neck and sit. This is very dangerous. If Kundalini power were to get locked there, where many nerves are present, it would damage the person and cause paralysis. There are many who have damaged their heads/senses by wrongly adhering to Kundalini. One should not bend backwards either. One should be so straight that if a nail were to be driven down from Sahasrara, it should appear as though the whole body were wrapped around the nail. Not only that, one should loosen the garment that is around the waist prior to sitting for meditation. If the garment is tightly wound round the waist, it might, to an extent, obstruct the Kundalini. Usually people who practise Kundalini yoga are single garmented. So, waist should not be tightly bound. Vision should be centred at the tip of the nose. If one were to sit for meditation with open eyes, all those who pass by would cause disturbance to the mind. If eyes are totally closed, the goddess of sleep would envelop us. Therefore, we should have half closed eyes posture. To arouse Kundalini and sit in meditation is very difficult. The easiest path is pure love. No meditation can surpass/equal this.

Chakras | Chakrum | Colors | Chart | Kundalini

Chakra Artwork - Chakras Pictures - Chakras Images:

, purposes or online image collections.

Properties Of Chakras & Interesting Facts About Chakras:

CHAKRAS Crown Chakra / Chakrum - Sahasrara CHAKRAS 3rd Eye Chakra / Chakrum - Ajna CHAKRAS Throat Chakra / Chakrum - Vishuddi CHAKRAS Heart Chakra / Chakrum - Anahata CHAKRAS Solar Plexus Chakra / Chakrum - Manipura CHAKRAS Navel Chakra / Chakrum - Swadhisthana CHAKRAS Root Chakra / Chakrum - Muladhara

Chakras Chart - Chakra Colors - Chakras Petals: No. 7 Chakras Crown Petals 1000 Colors Violet

6 5 4 3 2 1

3rd Eye Throat Heart Solar Navel Root

2 16 12 10 6 4

Indigo Blue Green Yellow Orange Red

Information About The Chakras:

Chakras is derived from the Sanskrit word cakram meaning wheel or circle. The individual chakras are referred to as: 1) Chakrum; 2) Chakra; 3) Cakrum; 4) Cakra. It is alleged that the subtle life energy known as prana is channeled from the chakra points through a vast network of subtle nerves called nadis. These nadis are said to supply the etheric bodies (kosas) with light, which is responsible for intellect, wisdom, understanding, clarity of mind and awareness. It is said there are as many as 88,000 chakras and 77,000 nadis in our entity and each chakra is ruled by a particular god (truth) or goddess (wisdom). The culimation of all these truths and facets of wisdom (through chakra activation) is said to result in enlightenment or illumination. There are several different types chakra concepts that can be found in Hindu agamas, tantric texts (Sat-CakraNirupana and the Padaka-Pancaka), Vajrayana Buddhism, the Himalayan Bnpo religion, traditional Chinese acupuncture, rGyud-bzhi (Four Tantras) and Vagbhatas Ashtangahrdaya. There are primarily six major chakra centers that culimate in Sahasrara, which is often called the crown chakra. The crown chakra has been described as a state of transcendence and enlightenment and is not always considered a chakra. Different types of crystals, minerals and semi-precious stones are often used in New Age practices to awaken and balance the chakras. These chakra stones are usually selected by matching the color of the crystals, minerals or semi-precious stones with the corresponding chakra colors. For example, indigo colored azurite would be used for the indigo colored third-eye chakra and orange colored carnelian would be used for the orange colored navel chakra. It is believed that various types of crystals, minerals and semi-precious stones help in opening & balancing the chakras. Crystal pendulums are often used to detect and align the chakras. Mudras (or specific hand gestures) are also believed to stimulate subtle energies within the chakras. In Hinduism, various mantras are used to awaken the kundalini and to open the chakras. Chakras have been popularized by a Japanese ninja cartoon entitled Naruto (i.e, Naturo Chakra). Chakras Spa, Creative Chakra Spa, Chakras Spa By Penache, Chakra Salon Spa, Chakra Aveda Spa, Chakra Restaurant & Lounge and Chakra Indian Cuisine are various businesses using the word chakra. Chakra is a female music group from South Korea known for their unique Indian-inspired dance music. A Chakram (also called a war quoit) is a throwing weapon. Dharmacakra (or Wheel of Dharma or Wheel of Law) is a symbol of Buddhism. The Sudarshana Chakra is the disc weapon used by Lord Vishnu in Hinduism. Chakra (Film) is a 1981 Hindi movie directed by Rabindra Dharmaraj. There is also a region in Bangladesh called Chakra. Linux live CD based on Archlinux and KDE4 was named Chakra.

7 CHAKRAS: On these pages, you will find information on the Root Chakra (also called the Muladhara Chakrum, Base Cakra, Sex Center or the first chakra), the Navel Chakra (also called Swadisthana Chakrum, Svadisthana Cakra or the second chakra), the Solar Plexus Chakra (also called the Solar Chakrum, Manipura Cakra or the third chakra), the Heart Chakra (also called the Love Chakrum, Anahata Cakra or the fourth chakra), the Throat Chakra (also called the Vishuddi Chakrum, Vishuddha Cakra or the fifth chakra), the Third Eye Chakra (also called the 3rd Eye Chakrum, Ajna Cakra, Agya or the sixth chakra) and the Crown Chakra (also called the Thousand Petalled Chakrum, Sahasrara Cakra, Sahasra or the seventh chakra). The Chakras And Kundalini Yoga Shakti / Energy:

The kundalini yoga chakras are said to have spiritual qualities associated with them and many of their opulances remain dormant until they are opened and nourished by the mysterious kundalini power. Kundalini is a word taken from the sanskrit word kundal, which means coiled up. Kundalini is envisioned as coiled up at the base of the spine and its ascent upward through the seven chakras activates their dormant powers, truths and wisdoms. The powers, truths and wisdoms located within the 7 chakras are discussed in Patanjalis yoga sutras. Adi Shankara described kundalini as: Having filled the pathway of the Nadis with the streaming shower of nectar flowing from the Lotus feet, having resumed thine own position from out of the resplendent Lunar regions and Thyself assuming the form of a serpent of three and a half coils, sleepest thou, in the hollow of Kula Kunda (Kula Kunda means the hollow of Mooladhara Sacrum bone)...Thou art residing in secrecy with Thy Lord (The spirit) in the thousand petalled Lotus, having pierced through the Earth situated in Mooladhara, the Water in Manipu ra, the Fire abiding in the Svadhisthana, the Air in the Heart (Anahata), the Ether above (Visshuddhi) and Manas between the eyebrows (Agnya) and thus broken through the entire Kula Path. (Saundarya-Lahari 9.10.)

Lokas (Luminous Worlds): 7 Higher Chakra Spheres:

CHAKRAS LOKAS Satyaloka Chakra Chakrum CHAKRAS LOKAS Tapoloka Chakra Chakrum CHAKRAS LOKAS Janaloka Chakra Chakrum CHAKRAS LOKAS Maharloka Chakra Chakrum CHAKRAS LOKAS Svarloka Chakra Chakrum CHAKRAS LOKAS Bhuvarloka Chakra Chakrum CHAKRAS LOKAS Bhurloka Chakra Chakrum

Lokas Chakras Chart - Lokas Chakra Colors: No. +7 Loka Chakras Satyaloka Ultraviolet Colorless

+6 +5 +4 +3 +2 +1

Tapoloka Janaloka Maharloka Svarloka Bhuvarloka Bhurloka

Colorless Colorless Colorless Colorless Colorless Colorless

Talas (Shadow Worlds): 7 Lower Chakra Spheres:

CHAKRAS TALAS Atala Chakra Chakrum CHAKRAS TALAS Vitala Chakra Chakrum CHAKRAS TALAS Sutala Chakra Chakrum CHAKRAS TALAS Talatala Chakra Chakrum CHAKRAS TALAS Rasatala Chakra Chakrum CHAKRAS TALAS Mahatala Chakra Chakrum CHAKRAS TALAS Patala Chakra Chakrum

Talas Chakras Chart - Talas Chakra Colors: No. -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 Tala Chakras Atala Vitala Sutala Talatala Rasatala Mahatala Hex Color B8B8B8 989898 787878 585858 383838 181818

-7

Patala

000000

Crown Chakra - Sahasrara Chakrum

Art Of The Sahasrara Chakra - Crown Chakrum:

Many years ago, I compiled the following information about the Crown Chakra from various online, offline and personal resources:

The Sahasrara Chakra According To Swami Shivananda: Sahasrara Chakra is the abode of Lord Siva. This corresponds to Satya Loka. This is situated at the crown of the head. When Kundalini is united with Lord Siva at the Sahasrara Chakra, the Yogi enjoys the Supreme Bliss, Parama Ananda. When Kundalini is taken to this centre, the Yogi attains the superconscious state and the Highest Knowledge. He becomes a Brahmavidvarishtha or a full-blown Jnani. The word Sahasradala-Padma denotes that this Padma has 1000 petals. That is, one thousand Yoga Nadis emanate from this centre. There are different opinions about the exact number of petals. It is quite sufficient if you know that innumerable Nadis proceed from this centre. As in the case of other Chakras, the vibrations that are made by the Yoga Nadis are represented by the Sanskrit letters. All the 50 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet

are repeated here again and again on all Yoga Nadis. This is a Sukshma centre. The corresponding centre in the physical body is in the brain. The term Shat-Chakras refers only to the chief six Chakras, viz., Muladhara, Svadhishthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha and Ajna. Above all these we have Sahasrara Chakra. This is the chief of all the Chakras. All the Chakras have their intimate connection with this centre. Hence this is not included as one among the Shat-Chakras. This is situated above all the Chakras.

PROPERTIES OF THE CROWN CHAKRA:

Tantra: Adhomukha Mahapadma, Amlana Padma, Dashashatadala Padma, Pankaja, Sahasrabja, Sahasrachchada Panikaja, Sahasradala, Sahasradala Adhomukha Padma, Sahasradala Padma, Sahasrapatra, Sahasrara, Sahasrara Ambuja, Sahasrara Mahapadma, Sahasrara Padma, Sahasrara Saroruha, Shiras Padma, Shuddha Padma, Wyoma, Wyomambhoja Vedas (late Upanishads): Akasha Chakra, Kapalasamputa, Sahasradala, Sahasrara, Sahasrara Kamala (Pankaja or Padma), Sthana, Wyoma, Wyomambuja

Puranic: Parama, Sahasradala, Sahasraparna Padma, Sahasrapatra, Sahasrara, Sahasrara Kamala (Parikaja or Padma), Shantyatita, Shantyatita Pada Name Meaning: Thousand Petaled Ruling Planet: Ketu Associated Age: None Location: Top and Brahmarandhra or above the head Color: Colorless, Ultraviolet, White, Gold, Blue, Camphor Kosa: Bliss Sheath or Anandamaya Kosa Ruling God: Nityananda Shiva Ruling Goddess: Nirvana Shakti Day: Sunday Gland/Organ: Pineal Gland and Cerebral Cortex Astrological Sign(s): Pisces and Capricorn Petals: 1,000 Sanskrit Letters on Petals: A to Ksa Note: High B Frequency: 493 cycles per second Loka: Sathya Loka Tala: Atala Element: Origin of Ether Crystals/Minerals: Diamond, Light Amethyst, Sugilite, Clear Quartz, Apophyllite Bija Akshara (Seed Mantra): Visarga (Transformation) Bija Bearer: Vindu Flower(s): Sunflower, Lotus Tarot: The Sun, The Hermit Rune(s): Wunjo, Jera

Mantra: Hreem Shreema Hum Phut Or The: Mahamritunjaya Mantra Opened, Gives: Wisdom, Intuition, Truth, Liberation, Oneness, Understanding, Peace, Fulfillment, Clarity Closed, Gives: Deep Anguish, Yearning, Fanaticism, Confusion, Excessiveness

Third Eye Chakra - Ajna Chakrum - 3rd Eye

Art Of The Ajna Chakra - Third Eye Chakrum - 3rd Eye:

Many years ago, I compiled the following information about the Third Eye Chakra from various online, offline and personal resources:

The Ajna Chakra According To Swami Shivananda: Ajna Chakra is situated within the Sushumna Nadi and its corresponding centre in the physical body is at the space between the two eye-brows. This is known as Trikuti. The presiding deity, Paramasiva (Shambhu), is in the form of Hamsa. There is Goddess Hakini (Sakti). Pranava (Om) is the Bijakshara for this Chakra. This is the seat of the mind. There are two petals (Yoga Nadis) on each side of the lotus (Chakra) and the vibrations of these Nadis are represented by the Sanskrit letters: ham and ksham. This is the Granthi Sthana (Rudra Granthi). The Chakra is of pure white colour or like that of the fullmoon (on the Purnima day). Bindu, Nada and Sakti are in this Chakra. This Chakra corresponds to Tapo-Loka. The corresponding centre in the physical body is at the Cavernous Plexus. He who concentrates at this centre destroys all the Karmas of the past lives. The benefits that are derived by meditation on this Chakra cannot be described in words. The practitioner becomes a Jivanmukta (liberated man while living). He acquires all the 8 major and 32 minor Siddhis. All Yogis and Jnanis too concentrate to this centre on the Bijakshara, Pranava! (OM). This is called Bhrumadya Drishti (gaze at the space between the two eye-brows).

PROPERTIES OF THE THIRD EYE - 3RD EYE CHAKRA:

Tantra: Ajita-Patra, Ajna, Ajna-Pura, Ajna-Puri, Ajnamhuja, Ajnapankaja, Bhru-Madhya, Bhru-MadhyaChakra, Bhru-Madhyaga-Padma, Bhru-Mandala, Bhru-Mula, Bhru-Saroruha, Dwidala, Dwidala-Kamala, Dwidalambuja, Dwipatra, Jnana-Padma, Netra-Padma, Netra-Patra, Shiva-Padma, Triweni-Kamala Vedas (late Upanishads): Ajna, Baindawa-Sthana, Bhru Chakra, Bhruyugamadhyabila, Dwidala Puranic: Ajna, Dwidala, Trirasna Name Meaning: Command; Authority Ruling Planet: Saturn Associated Age: None Location: Just above the space between the eyebrows (Bhru-Madhya) Color: Indigo, Purple, White Kosa: Intellectual sheath or Vignanamaya Kosa Ruling God: Sadashiva Ruling Goddess: Hakini Day: Saturday Gland/Organ: Pituitary Astrological Sign(s): Sagittarius, Aqauarius and Pisces Petals: 2 Sanskrit Letters on Petals: Ham, Ksham Note: High A Frequency: 440 cycles per second Loka: Tapar Tala: Vital Element: Ether Crystals/Minerals: Azurite, Lapis, Sapphire, Clear Quartz, Milky Quartz, Smokey Quartz, Obsidian Bija Akshara (Seed Mantra): AUM Bija Bearer: Nada

Flower(s): Lily, Iris, Magnolia Tarot: The Chariot, The Hanged Man Rune(s): Ansuz, Kenaz, Isa Mantra: Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Vichche Opened, Gives: Clarity, Concentration, Clairvoyance, Perspecuity, Bliss, Intuition, Decisiveness, Insight Closed, Gives: Confusion, Uncertainty, Cynicism, Pessimism, Jealousy, Envy, One Sidedness.

Throat Chakra - Vishuddi Chakrum

Art Of The Vishuddi Chakra - Throat Chakrum:

Many years ago, I compiled the following information about the Throat Chakra from various online, offline and personal resources:

The Vishuddi Chakra According To Swami Shivananda: Vishuddha Chakra is situated within the Sushumna Nadi at the base of the throat, Kantha-Mula Sthana. This corresponds to Janar Loka. It is the centre of Akasa Tattva (ether element). The Tattva is of pure blue colour. Above this, all other Chakras belong to Manas Tattva. The presiding deity is Sadasiva (Isvara Linga), and the Goddess is Shakini. From this centre emanate 16 Yoga Nadis which appear like the petals of a lotus. The vibrations that are produced by the Nadis are represented by the 16 Sanskrit vowels: a a i a u a e e i e ai o au a and a. Akasa Mandal (the region of ether) is round in shape like the fullmoon. The Bija of Akasa Tattva h (ha) is in this centre. It is of white colour. This Chakra corresponds to Laryngeal plexus in the physical body. The concentration on the Tattva of this Chakra is called Akasa Dharana. He who practises this Dharana will not perish even in Pralaya. He attains the highest success. He gets the full knowledge of the four Vedas by meditating on this Chakra. He becomes a Trikala Jnani (who knows the past, the present and the future).

PROPERTIES OF THE THROAT CHAKRA:

Tantra: Akasha, Dwyashtapatrambuja, Kantha, Kanthadesha, Kanthambhoja, Kanthambuja, Kanthapadma, Kanthapankaja, Nirmala-Padma, Shodasha, Shodasha-Dala, Shodasha-Patra, Shodashara, Shodashollasa-Dala, Vishuddha, Vishuddhi Vedas (late Upanishads): Kantha Chakra, Vishuddha, Vishuddhi Puranic: Vishuddha, Vishuddhi Name Meaning: Pure Ruling Planet: Jupiter Associated Age: 28 - 35 years of age Shape: Crescent Sense Organ(s): Ears

Work Organ(s): Vocal Cords Location: Base of Throat, top of sternum Color: Sky Blue, Smoke Blue, White, Mixed Dark and Light Blues Kosa: Mental sheath or Manamaya Kosa Ruling God: Five-Faced, Sadashiva Ruling Goddess: Shakini Day: Friday Gland/Organ: Thyroid, Tongue, Pharynx, Larynx Astrological Sign(s): Gemini, Taurus, Aquarius Petals: 16 Sanskrit Letters on Petals: am, aam, im, iim, um, uum, rim, reem, lri, lreem, em, aim, om, aum, am, aham Note: G# Frequency: 393 cycles per second Loka: Janar Tala: Sutala Element: Air Crystals/Minerals: Aquamarine, Turquoise, Chrysochola, Celestite, Milky Quartz, Blue Topaz, Talc Bija Akshara (Seed Mantra): Ham Bija Bearer: Elephant Flower(s): Rose, Primrose, Violets, Alyssum Tarot: Hierophant Rune(s): Tiwaz, Perthro Mantra: Shreem Hreem Kleem Aim Kamalasinyai Swaha Opened, Gives: Confidence, Communication, Eloquence, Understanding, Singing, Poetry, Descriptiveness Closed, Gives: Passiveness, Brevity in Speech, Misunderstandings, Harsh Speech

Heart Chakra - Anahata Chakrum

Art Of The Anahata Chakra - Heart Chakrum:

Many years ago, I compiled the following information about the Heart Chakra from various online, offline and personal resources:

The Anahata Chakra According To Swami Shivananda: Anahata Chakra is situated in the Sushumna Nadi (Sukshma centre). It has control over the heart. It corresponds to the Cardiac Plexus in the physical body. This corresponds to Mahar Loka. The Chakra is of deep red colour. Within this Chakra there is a hexagonal space of smoke or deep black colour or the colour of collyrium (used for the eyes). This chakra is the centre of Vayu Mandal (region of air, Vayu Tattva). From here

15 Yoga Nadis emanate. The sound that is produced by each Nadi is represented by the following Sanskrit letters: ka, kha, ga, gha, a, ca, cha, ja, jha, a, na, and nha. The Bijakshara (ya), the Bija of Vayu, is here. The presiding deity is Isha (Rudra) and Devata is Kakini. In the Muladhara Chakra there is Svayambhu Linga and in Anahata Chakra we have Bana Linga. Kalpa Vriksha, which gives all the desired things, is here. Anahata sound, the sound of Shabda Brahman, is heard at this centre. When you do Sirshasana for a long time, you can distinctly hear this sound. Vayu Tattva is full of Sattva Guna. Vishnu Granthi is in this Sthana. He who meditates on this Chakra has full control over Vayu Tattva. He gets Bhuchari Siddhi, Khechari Siddhi, Kaya Siddhi, etc., (flying in air, entering the body of another). He gets cosmic love and all other divine Sattvic qualities.

PROPERTIES OF THE HEART CHAKRA:

Tantra: Anahata, Anahata-Puri, Dwadasha, Dwadashadala, H'idayambhoja, Hridabja, Hridambhoja, Hridambuja, Hridaya, Hridaya Kamala, Hridayabja, Hridayambuja, Hridayasarasija, Hrit Padma, Hritpankaja, Hritpankeruha, Hritpatra, Hritsaroruha, Padma-Sundara, Suryasangkhyadala Vedas (late Upanishads): Anahata, Dwadashara Chakra, Fourth Chakra, Hridaya Chakra

Puranic: Anahata Name Meaning: Unstruck Ruling Planet: Venus Associated Age: 21 - 28 years of age Shape: Hexagram Sense Organ(s): Skin Work Organ(s): Hands Location: Middle Chest Color: Vibrant Green, Pink, Red Kosa: Vital-Air sheath Pranamaya kosa Ruling God: Ishan Ruling Goddess: Kakini Day: Thursday Gland/Organ: Heart, Lungs Astrological Sign(s): Leo, Libra Petals: 12 Sanskrit Letters on Petals: kam, kham, gam, gham, nam, cam, cham, jam, jham, nyam, tam, tham Note: F# Frequency: 659 cycles per second Loka: Mahar Tala: Rasatala Element: Air, Fire Crystals/Minerals: Emerald, Dioptase, Aventurine, Ziosite, Jade, Rose Quartz, Kunzite, Malachite, Chrysoprase, Amazonite Bija Akshara (Seed Mantra): Yam Bija Bearer: Deer

Flower(s): Jasmine, Roses (All Colors), Hibiscus Tarot: The Empress Rune(s): Berkano, Laguz Mantra: Om Hreen Ghrinisurya Aditya Shri Opened, Gives: Understanding, Love, Compassion, Forgiveness, Tolerance, Patience, Balance, Peace, Contentment, Friendliness, Harmony Closed, Gives: Fearful, Seclusion, Lonliness, Sadness, Apathy, Introversion

Solar Plexus Chakra - Manipura Chakrum

Art Of The Manipura Chakra - Solar Plexus Chakrum:

Many years ago, I compiled the following information about the Solar Plexus Chakra from various online, offline and personal resources:

The Manipura Chakra According To Swami Shivananda: Manipura is the third Chakra from the Muladhara. It is located within the Sushumna Nadi , in the Nabhi Sthana (region of navel). This has its corresponding centre in the physical body and has control over the liver, stomach, etc. This is a very important centre. From this Chakra emanate ten Yoga Nadis which appear like the petals of a lotus. The vibrations that are produced by the Nadis are represented by the Sanskrit letters: a, ha, a, ta, tha, da, dha, na, pa, and pha. The Chakra is of the colour of dark clouds. Within there is a space triangular in form. It is the Agni Mandala (region of fire - Agni Tattva). The Bijakshara r (ra), the Bija of Agni, is here. The presiding deity is Vishnu and Goddess is Lakshmi. This Chakra corresponds to Svah or Svarga Loka and to Solar Plexus in the physical body. The Yogi who concentrates at this Chakra gets Patala Siddhi, can acquire hidden treasures and will be free from all diseases. He has no fear at all from Agni (fire). Even if he is thrown into the burning fire, he remains alive without fear of death. (Gheranda Samhita).

PROPERTIES OF THE SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA:

Tantra:Dashachchada, Dashadala Padma, Dashapatra, Dashapatrambuja, Manipura, Manipuraka, Nabhipadma, Nabhipankaja Vedas (late Upanishads): Manipura, Manipuraka, Nabhi Chakra Puranic: Manipura, Nabhi Chakra Name Meaning: City of Gems Ruling Planet: Sun Associated Age: 14 - 21 years of age Shape: Triangle Sense Organ(s): Eyes

Work Organ(s): Legs and Feet Location: Between Navel and the bottom of the Sternum Color: Yellow, Orange, Gold, White, Blue Kosa: Vital-Air sheath or Pranamaya Kosa Ruling God: Vishnu Ruling Goddess: Lakshmi Day: Wednesday Gland/Organ: Pancreas, Gall Bladder Astrological Sign(s): Leo, Sagittarius, Virgo Petals: 10 Sanskrit Letters on Petals: dam, dham, nam, tam, tham, dam, dham, nam, pam, pham Note: E Frequency: 349 cycles per second Loka: Swar Tala: Talatala Element: Fire Crystals/Minerals: Citrine, Gold, Tigers Eye, Amber, Golden Topaz, Golden Agate, Orange or Yellow Calcite Bija Akshara (Seed Mantra): Ram Bija Bearer: Ram Flower(s): Honeysuckle, Sweet Pea, and Daisies Tarot: The High Priestess, The Emperor Rune(s): Eihwaz, Dagaz Mantra: Om Namo Bhagwate Rudray Swaha Opened, Gives: Personal Power, Determination, Drive, Will Power, Self Esteem, Energy, and Passion Closed, Gives: Belittlement, Procrastination, Complacency, Apathy, Introversion

Navel Chakra - Swadhisthana Chakrum

Art Of The Swadhisthana Chakra - Navel Chakrum:

Many years ago, I compiled the following information about the Navel Chakra from various online, offline and personal resources:

The Swadisthana Chakra According To Swami Shivananda: Svadhishthana Chakra is located within the Sushumna Nadi at the root of the reproductory organ. This corresponds to Bhuvar Loka. This has control over the lower abdomen, kidneys, etc., in the physical body. Jala Mandal (region of water - Apa Tattva) is here. Within this Chakra there is a space like a crescent moon or the form of a conch or Kunda flower. The presiding deity is Lord Brahma and Devata is Goddess Rakini.

Bijakshara (va), the Bija of Varuna, is in this Chakra. The colour of the Chakra is pure blood-like red or the colour of Sindura (vermilion). From this centre six Yoga Nadis emanate, which appear like the petals of a lotus. The vibrations that are produced by the Nadis are represented by the Sanskrit letters: ba, bha, ma, ya, ra and la. He who concentrates at this Chakra and meditates on the Devata has no fear of water. He has perfect control over the water element. He gets many psychic powers, intuitional knowledge and a perfect control over his senses. He has full knowledge of the astral entities. Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya and other impure qualities are completely annihilated. The Yogi becomes the conqueror of death (Mrityunjaya).

PROPERTIES OF THE NAVEL CHAKRA:

Tantra: Adhishthana, Bhima, Shatpatra, Skaddala Padma, Swadhishthana, Wari Chakra Vedas (late Upanishads): Medhra, Swadhishthana Puranic: Swadhishthana Name Meaning: Abode of the Self

Ruling Planet: Mercury Associated Age: 8 - 14 years of age Shape: Circle Sense Organ(s): Tongue Work Organ(s): Genitals Location: 4 Fingers above Genitalia Color: Orange, Yellow, Red, Red-Orange, White Kosa: Food sheath or Annamaya Kosa and the Vital-Air sheath or Pranamaya Kosa Ruling God: Four Armed, Lord Vishnu Ruling Goddess: Shrivatsa and Kaustubhamani Day: Tuesday Gland/Organ: Spleen Astrological Sign(s): Cancer, Libra, and Scorpio Petals: 6 Sanskrit Letters on Petals: bam, bham, mam, yam, ram, lam Note: D Loka: Bhuvar Tala: Mahatala Element: Earth, Water Crystals/Minerals: Coral, Onyx, Citrine, Clear Quartz, Tigers Eye, Moonstone Bija Akshara (Seed Mantra): Vam Bija Bearer: Makara Flower(s): Jessamine, Azalea, Fruit Blossoms Tarot: The Moon, The Lovers Rune(s): Fehu, Othala Mantra: Om Namo Narayana

Opened, Gives: Peace, Inner Rhythm, Movement, Balance, Harmony, Sentimentality, Maternal/Paternal Instincts Closed, Gives: Seclusion, Confusion, Over Indulgence, Over Stimulation, Living in Dark Places

Root Chakra - Muladhara Chakrum

Art Of The Muladhara Chakra - Root Chakrum

Many years ago, I compiled the following information about the Root Chakra from various online, offline and personal resources:

The Muladhara Chakra According To Swami Shivananda: Muladhara Chakra is located at the base of the spinal column. It lies between the origin of the reproductory organ and the anus. It is just below the Kanda and the junction where Ida, Pingala and Sushumna Nadis meet. Two fingers above the anus and about two fingers below the genitals, four fingers in width is the space where the Muladhara Chakra is situated. This is the Adhara Chakra (support) as the other Chakras are above this. Kundalini, which gives power and energy to all the Chakras, lies at this Chakra. Hence this, which is the support of all is called Muladhara or Adhara Chakra. From this Chakra four important Nadis emanate which appear as petals of a lotus. The subtle vibrations that are made by each Nadi are represented by the Sanskrit letters: va, a, a, and sa. The Yoni that is in the centre of this Chakra is called Kama and it is worshipped by Siddhas. Here Kundalini lies dormant. Ganesa is the Devata of this Chakra. The seven underworlds: Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Rasatala, Mahatala and Patala Lokas are below this Chakra. This Chakra corresponds with Bhu Loka or Bhu-Mandal, physical plane (region of earth). Bhuvah, Svah or Svarga, Maha, Jana, Tapa and Satya Lokas are above this Chakra. All the underworlds refer to some minor Chakras in the limbs which are controlled by the Muladhara Chakra. That Yogi, who has penetrated this Chakra through Prithvi Dharan, has conquered the Prithvi Tattva. He has no fear of death from earth. Prithvi is of yellow colour. The golden Tripura (fire, sun and moon) is termed the Bija. It is also called the great energy (Param Tejas) which rests on the Muladhara Chakra and which is known as Svayambhu Linga. Near this Linga is the golden region known as Kula and the presiding deity is Dakini (Shakti). Brahma Granthi or the knot of Brahma is in this Chakra. Vishnu Granthi and Rudra Granthi are in the Anahata and Ajna Chakras. (la) is the Bija of Muladhara Chakra. The wise Yogi, who concentrates and meditates on the Muladhara Chakra, acquires the full knowledge of Kundalini and the means to awaken it. When Kundalini is awakened, he gets Darduri Siddhi, the power to rise from the ground. He can control the breath, mind and semen. His Prana enters the middle Brahma Nadi. All his sins are destroyed. He acquires knowledge of the past, present and future. He enjoys the natural Bliss (Sahaja Ananda).

PROPERTIES OF THE ROOT CHAKRA:

Tantra: Adhara, Brahma Padma, Bhumi Chakra, Chaturdala, Chatuhpatra, Muladhara, Mula Chakra, Mula Padma Vedas (late Upanishads): Adhara, Brahma, Muladhara, Mulakanda Puranic: Adhara, Muladhara Name Meaning: Foundation Ruling Planet: Mars Associated Age: 1 - 7 years of age Shape: Square Sense Organ(s): Nose

Work Organ(s): Anus Location: Base of Spine Genital Region Color: Red, Orange Kosa: Food sheath or Annamaya Kosa Ruling God: Brahma Ruling Goddess: Dakini Day: Monday Gland/Organ: Genitalia Astrological Sign(s): Aries, Taurus, Scorpio and Capricorn Petals: 4 Sanskrit Letters on Petals: vam, sham, sham, sam Note: High C Frequency: 535 cycles per second Loka: Bhur Tala: Patala Element: Earth Crystals/Minerals: Garnet, Tourmaline, Obsidian, Smokey Quartz, Jasper, Bloodstone, Unichite, Selenite, Jade, Pyrite Bija Akshara (Seed Mantra): Lam Bija Bearer: Airavata Flower(s): Aromatic Woods, Resins, Saps Tarot: The Magician, The Fool Rune(s): Uruz, Thurisaz Mantra: Gan Ganapataye Namah Opened, Gives: Groundedness, Stability, Balance, Strength, Fertility, Health, Longevity, Stamina, Passion Closed, Gives: Insecurity, Introversion, Low Self Esteem, Frailty, Insecurity, Uncoordination

MEDITATION AS EXPLAINED BY BHAGWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

Sai Jyoti animation photo right click and save to the disk.

Sathya Sai Baba on Meditation

1 Meditation Method an introduction 2- Sitting posture & seat - 3 Kundalini power - 4 mind - 5 Role of Love in meditation: A B

6 Jyoti Meditation - 7 Lord Sai Baba on Meditation

Have a lamp with a bright steady flame or a candle before you. Sit in the Padmasana posture or any other comfortable asana in front of the flame. Look at the flame steadily. Then closing your eyes, try to feel the flame inside you, between your eye brows. From there let it descend down into the lotus of your heart, in the centre of the chest, illumining the path. When it enters the heart, imagine that the petals of the lotus bud open out, one by one, bathing every thought, feeling, emotion and impulse in the light and so removing darkness there. There is no space now for darkness to take refuge. It has to flee before the flame.

Imagine that the light becomes wider, bigger and brighter. Let it pervade the limbs; now these limbs can never more deal in dark, suspicious and wicked activities. These have become instruments of light and love. Let the light reach up to the tongue and falsehood, slander and spite vanish from it. Let it rise up to the eyes and the ears and destroy all the dark desires therein. Let your head be surcharged with light and all the wicked thoughts flee there from, for these are the denizens of darkness. Imagine that light in you more and more intensely and it will become so. Let it shine all around you and let it spread from you in ever widening circles, taking in your loved ones, your kith and kin, your friends and companions, your enemies and rivals, strangers, all living beings, the entire world. Stay on in that thrill of witnessing light. If you are adoring God in any form, now try to visualise that form in the all pervasive light, for light is God and God is light. "Just like a child yearns for its mother's bosom; a lost calf for its mother in a herd; and a widow cries for her lost husband in a corner, you too must aspire for the proximity of Sai and reap joy therefrom." "A root pest would eat away the roots of a tree and a white ant would eat away the tree itself. Similarly, a man of evil nature would bring about the ruin of a virtuous one. Listen! O son of Bharat." The power of spirituality is inexplicable and infinite. The institute or individual that cannot obtain this becomes virile. The power of spirituality can transform an animal into man and man to a divine being. The paths of spirituality have sprung up to lead man from human state to that of divine. Man tries to understand everything. He has been trying to acquire many types of learning. However, he has not yet made an effort to find out his real nature. All learning is naught if it can not help one to realise one's own nature. Knowledge without practical aspect is akin to a lamp in a blind man's hand.

Just as, Narada had skill in 64 types of learning/sciences - 4 Vedas, 6 Sastras, 20 Upangas, Painting, Sculpture, Dance, Music, Literature etc. None could surpass Narada in singing. In spite of such accomplishments Narada could not overcome restlessness.

Narada had mastered Gaja Karna and Gokarna which could not be mastered by anyone in the world. Seeking a solution for his restlessness, Narada came to Sanat Kumara. He expressed his restlessness. Sanat Kumara asked Narada about his qualifications. Narada explained that he had learnt everything. Sanat Kumara asked Narada if he had known about his own self. "That alone I have not learnt" said Narada. Sanat Kumara then pointed out that to be the reason for his restlessness. Today man desires to know about everything that goes on in the world. From the moment he gets up, he desires to know the news from all quarters of the world and does not pay heed to the nuisance coming from within. If he were to understand the principle within him, he could understand the world better. In Andhra region, there is a proverb, "win over the self and win over the village." Unless one saves oneself, one cannot save others. Philosophy and learning can get you food but not liberation. "Therefore, Narada, when you desire to know yourself, you have to awaken a dormant factor within you" said Sanat Kumara. Narasimha Murthy stated that sleep played a chief role in Ramayana. Even in the Ramayana of life, sleep is very important. Every person has to awaken the Kundalini that is asleep within one. Kundalini, Sanat Kumara taught, should be led in a proper path towards the goal to fulfill one's life. In the Bharat's Yoga Shastras, it has been mentioned that there are 7 types of lotuses in the spinal column helping people to take to right path. They are known as Naadi Mandalas/Chakras. (Nerve centres / disks) Kundalini power starts at Muladhara disk at the beginning of the spinal column. This nerve centre is situated at the place of excretion of faecal matter. It has 4 petals. Swadhishtana is situated in the urinary excretory point. It has 6 petals. Manipuraka Naabhi/Navel point has 6 petals. From there to Anahata near heart with 16 petals. Thence to Visuddha the power travels near throat - From there it comes to Agneya situated between the brows. It has two petals. From there it goes to Sahasrara which is situated on the crown of the head. It has 1000 petals. Muladhara, Swadhishtana, Manipurakam, Anahata, Agneya, Visuddha and Sahasrara are the seven Chakras. Each is at a higher plane than the other. Behind these chakras, on either side of spinal column Ida and Pingala nerves keep throbbing. In the centre of spinal column there is a nerve by the name Sushumna. All these perform their duties in the prescribed manner. How does one awaken the Kundalini power? All have believed it to be in the form of a dormant serpent near the Muladhara Chakra.

Snakes of the world are considered poisonous. The serpent (Kundalini) dormant in man is that of worldly desires. These desires become poison. Worldly snakes eat frogs, rats etc. Kundalini serpent consumes only the life principle of man. To awaken this serpent, one has to control the intake of this life principle. When we hold breath through Yogic practices, the Kundalini power does not get food near Muladhara Chakra. In search of food, it becomes active and continues to come up. During meditation when we deny the food, it travels upwards from Muladhara to Manipuraka, Swadhishtana and comes to throat. Even near the throat food is not available for it. Then it reaches Agneya. Unable to find food even from there, it merges into Sahasrara. Therefore, to awaken the life principle or consciousness from Muladhara and let it merge in Sahasrara has been described as 'liberation' by Vedanta. Dhyana, now-a-days, both in India and abroad has taken various forms. They believe it to be concentration. But both are different. Right from dawn to dusk whatever activities we perform, they are done with concentration. To walk, to eat, to read a book, to write a letter - all need concentration. Concentration is natural for man. Why should are spend/waste time for such concentration by sitting separately. But one has to question the source from which one derives concentration. We have held a book in hand. We can see with our eyes. What has been seen is sent for enquiry to the intelligence/Buddhi. After the enquiry, mind begins to recollect/reflect upon it. It is an 'Indriya' (instrument/sense) that held a book. Again it is another indriya that saw the matter. It is yet again another indriya that reflected over the matter. It is due to the collective effort of all the indriyas that we are able to perceive the matter. Therefore, concentration is below senses. It is meaningless to call concentration which is below senses as meditation. Meditation is beyond senses. There is a border between concentration which is below senses and meditation which is beyond senses known as contemplation. Contemplation is said to be the second stage of intelligence. Intelligence is said to be the essence of Satwa. It can be best illustrated with an example to make it clear to you. There is a rose plant. It has leaves, thorns and rose flowers. Concentration helps you to identify as to where the thorns are and where the rose flower is. In concentration, we have only rose as the objective, without touching the thorns we have to pluck the flower. "Love is flower; lust is thorn." There is no rose without thorns but we have to pluck the flower without touching the thorns. For what purpose is this cutting of rose? To cut the love (flower) away from worldly desires (thorns) is contemplation. Concentration is identifying the various locations of the thorns and flowers by looking at the tree/plant. To offer the flower so cut, to the Lord is meditation.

In our body likened to that of a rose plant, we have pure love in the form of rose. It is permeated with fragrance/good smell of virtues. But right under this are the thorns of worldly desires. True meditation is to identify the thorns of worldly desires from selfless love and offer that selfless love to the Lord. From ancient days, meditation has been considered as the highest goal in Bharat. Today meditation is done as though it were a panacea akin to saridon which removes headache. Meditation that comes so easily cannot be termed as such. People such as Narada, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanat Kumara and Tumbura considered meditation to be the process of sending the Kundalini from Muladhara to Sahasrara. During meditation, one should not join worldly desires and must reach only selfless love as the goal. The method/posture of meditation is also very important. In the beginning, we must sit in Padmasana. Spinal column should not bend to any side. Some people bend the neck and sit. This is very dangerous. If Kundalini power were to get locked there, where many nerves are present, it would damage the person and cause paralysis. There are many who have damaged their heads/senses by wrongly adhering to Kundalini. One should not bend backwards either. One should be so straight that if a nail were to be driven down from Sahasrara, it should appear as though the whole body were wrapped around the nail. Not only that, one should loosen the garment that is around the waist prior to sitting for meditation. If the garment is tightly wound round the waist, it might, to an extent, obstruct the Kundalini. Usually people who practice Kundalini yoga are single garmented. So, waist should not be tightly bound. Vision should be centred at the tip of the nose. If one were to sit for meditation with open eyes, all those who pass by would cause disturbance to the mind. If eyes are totally closed, the goddess of sleep would envelop us. Therefore, we should have half closed eyes posture. Some believe the tip of the nose to be between the eye brows. No! It is forehead; It is the end of nose. i.e., Tip of the nose that has to be concentrated upon. Lord Krishna has also described the same. "Kasturi Tilakam Lalaata(1) Phalake Vaksha(2) Sthale Kausthubam Naasagre(3) Navamouktikam..." 1) Refers to the eye of wisdom. 2) Lord Krishna adorned his chest with the plaque of happiness 3) He kept his vision fixed on the tip of his nose. Such a Krishna had two bracelets on His hand. One bracelet signifies "Save the righteous and punish the wicked" The second bracelet signifies "One who constantly relies on me, I shall take care of all his needs". God wears bracelets for fulfilling vows. So, Lord Krishna's vision was on the tip of His nose i.e., always meditative.

PRAYER TO MOTHER KUNDALINI

Wake up Mother Kundalini. Thou whose nature is Bliss EternalThe Bliss of Brahman. Thou dwelling like a serpent asleep at the lotus of Muladhara, Sore, affected and distressed am I in body and mind, Do thou bless me and leave thy place at the basic lotus. Consort of Siva the Self-caused Lord of Universe, Do thou take thy upward course through the central canal. Leaving behind Svadhishthana, Manipuraka, Anahata, Vishuddha, and Ajna. Be thou united with Siva, thy Lord the God. At Sahasrarathe thousand-petalled-lotus in the brain. Sport there freely, O Mother, Giver of Bliss Supreme. Mother, who is Existence, Knowledge, Bliss Absolute. Wake up, Mother Kundalini! Wake up.

EXPERIENCES ON AWAKENING OF KUNDALINI

During meditation you behold divine visions, experience divine smell, divine taste, divine touch, hear divine Anahata sounds. You receive instructions from God. These indicate that the Kundalini Shakti has been awakened. When there is throbbing in Muladhara, when hairs stand on their roots, when Uddiyana, Jalandhara and Mulabandha come involuntarily, know that Kundalini has awakened. When the breath stops without any effort, when Kevala Kumbhaka comes by itself without any exertion, know that Kundalini Shakti has become active. When you feel currents of Prana rising up to the Sahasrara, when you experience bliss, when you repeat Om automatically, when there are no thoughts of the world in the mind, know that Kundalini Shakti has awakened. When, in your meditation, the eyes become fixed on Trikuti, the middle of the eyebrows, when the Shambhavi Mudra operates, know that Kundalini has become active. When you feel vibrations of Prana in different parts inside your body, when you experience jerks like the shocks of electricity, know that Kundalini has become active. During meditation when you feel as if there is no body, when your eyelids become closed and do not open in spite of your exertion, when electric-like currents flow up and down the nerves, know that Kundalini has awakened. When you meditate, when you get inspiration and insight, when the nature unfolds its secrets to you, all doubts disappear, you understand clearly the meaning of the Vedic texts, know that Kundalini has become active. When your body becomes light like air, when you have a balanced mind in perturbed condition, when you possess inexhaustible energy for work, know that Kundalini has become active. When you get divine intoxication, when you develop power of oration, know that Kundalini has awakened. When you involuntarily perform different Asanas or poses of Yoga without the least pain or fatigue, know that Kundalini has become active. When you compose beautiful sublime hymns and poetry involuntarily, know that Kundalini has become active.

THE GRADATIONAL ASCENT OF THE MIND

The Chakras are centres of Shakti as vital force. In other words, these are centres of Pranashakti manifested by Pranavayu in the living body, the presiding Devatas of which are the names for the Universal Consciousness as It manifests in the form of these centres. The Chakras are not perceptible to the gross senses. Even if they were perceptible in the living body which they help to organise, they disappear with the disintegration of organism at death. Purity of mind leads to perfection in Yoga. Regulate your conduct when you deal with others. Have no feeling of jealousy towards others. Be compassionate. Do not hate sinners. Be kind to all. Success in Yoga will be rapid if you put your maximum energy in your Yogic practice. You must have a keen longing for liberation and intense Vairagya also. You must be sincere and earnest. Intense and constant meditation is necessary for entering into Samadhi. The mind of a worldly man with base desires and passions moves in the Muladhara and Svadhishthana Chakras or centres situated near the anus and the reproductive organ respectively. If ones mind becomes purified the mind rises to the Manipura Chakra or the centre in the navel and experiences some power and joy. If the mind becomes more purified, it rises to the Anahata Chakra or centre in the heart, experiences bliss and visualises the effulgent form of the Ishta Devata or the tutelary deity. When the mind gets highly purified, when meditation and devotion become intense and profound the mind rises to Visuddha Chakra or the centre in the throat, and experiences more and more powers and bliss. Even when the mind has reached this centre, there is a possibility for it to come down to the lower centres. When the Yogi reaches the Ajna Chakra or the centre between the two eyebrows he attains Samadhi and realises the Supreme Self, or Brahman. There is a slight sense of separateness between the devotee and Brahman. If he reaches the spiritual centre in the brain, the Sahasrara Chakra, the thousand-petalled lotus, the Yogi attains Nirvikalpa Samadhi or superconscious state. He becomes one with the non-dual Brahman. All sense of separateness dissolves. This is the highest plane of consciousness or supreme Asamprajnata Samadhi. Kundalini unites with Siva. The Yogi may come down to the centre in the throat to give instructions to the students and do good to others (Lokasamgraha).

PRANAYAMA FOR AWAKENING KUNDALINI

When you practise the following, concentrate on the Muladhara Chakra at the base of the spinal column, which is triangular in form and which is the seat of the Kundalini Shakti. Close the right nostril with your right thumb. Inhale through the left nostril till you count 3 Oms slowly. Imagine that you are drawing the Prana with the atmospheric air. Then close the left nostril with your little and ring fingers of the right hand. Then retain the breath for 12 Oms. Send the current down the spinal column straight into the triangular lotus, the Muladhara Chakra. Imagine that the nerve-current is striking against the lotus and awakening the Kundalini. Then slowly exhale through the right nostril counting 6 Oms. Repeat the process from the right nostril as stated above, using the same units, and having the same imagination and feeling. This Pranayama will awaken the Kundalini quickly. Do it 3 times in the morning and 3 times in the evening. Increase the number and time gradually and cautiously according to your strength and capacity. In this Pranayama, concentration on the Muladhara Chakra

is the important thing. Kundalini will be awakened quickly if the degree of concentration is intense and if the Pranayama is practised regularly.

KUNDALINI PRANAYAMA
In this Pranayama, the Bhavana is more important than the ratio between Puraka, Kumbhaka and Rechaka. Sit in Padma or Siddha Asana, facing the East or the North. After mentally prostrating to the lotus-feet of the Sat-guru and reciting Stotras in praise of God and Guru, commence doing this Pranayama which will easily lead to the awakening of the Kundalini. Inhale deeply, without making any sound. As you inhale, feel that the Kundalini lying dormant in the Muladhara Chakra is awakened and is going up from Chakra to Chakra. At the conclusion of the Puraka, have the Bhavana that the Kundalini has reached the Sahasrara. The more vivid the visualisation of Chakra after Chakra, the more rapid will be your progress in this Sadhana. Retain the breath for a short while. Repeat the Pranava or your Ishta Mantra. Concentrate on the Sahasrara Chakra. Feel that by the Grace of Mother Kundalini, the darkness of ignorance enveloping your soul has been dispelled. Feel that your whole being is pervaded by light, power and wisdom. Slowly exhale now. And, as you exhale feel that the Kundalini Shakti is gradually descending from the Sahasrara, and from Chakra to Chakra, to the Muladhara Chakra. Now begin the process again. It is impossible to extol this wonderful Pranayama adequately. It is the magic wand for attaining perfection very quickly. Even a few days practice will convince you of its remarkable glory. Start from today, this very moment. May God bless you with joy, bliss and immortality.

KUNDALINI
The word Kundalini is a familiar one to all students of Yoga, as it is well known as the power, in the form of a coiled serpent, residing in Muladhara Chakra, the first of the seven Chakras, the other six being Svadhishthana, Manipuraka, Anahata, Visuddha, Ajna and Sahasrara, in order. All Sadhanas in the form of Japa, meditation, Kirtan and prayer as well as all development of virtues, and observance of austerities like truth, non-violence and continence are at best calculated only to awaken this serpent-power and make it to pass through all the succeeding Chakras beginning from Svadhishthana to Sahasrara, the latter otherwise called as the thousand-petalled lotus, the seat of Sadasiva or the Parabrahman or the Absolute separated from whom the Kundalini or the Shakti lies at the Muladhara, and to unite with whom

the Kundalini passes through all the Chakras, as explained above, conferring liberation on the aspirant who assiduously practises Yoga or the technique of uniting her with her Lord and gets success also in his effort. In worldly-minded people, given to enjoyment of sensual and sexual pleasures, this Kundalini power is sleeping because of the absence of any stimulus in the form of spiritual practices, as the power generated through such practices alone awakens that serpent-power, and not any other power derived through the possession of worldly riches and affluence. When the aspirant seriously practises all the disciplines as enjoined in the Shastras, and as instructed by the preceptor, in whom the Kundalini would have already been awakened and reached its abode or Sadasiva, acquiring which blessed achievement alone a person becomes entitled to act as a Guru or spiritual preceptor, guiding and helping others also to achieve the same end, the veils or layers enmeshing Kundalini begin to be cleared and finally are torn asunder and the serpent-power is pushed or driven, as it were upwards. Supersensual visions appear before the mental eye of the aspirant, new worlds with indescribable wonders and charms unfold themselves before the Yogi, planes after planes reveal their existence and grandeur to the practitioner and the Yogi gets divine knowledge, power and bliss, in increasing degrees, when Kundalini passes through Chakra after Chakra, making them to bloom in all their glory which before the touch of Kundalini, do not give out their powers, emanating their divine light and fragrance and reveal the divine secrets and phenomena, which lie concealed from the eyes of worldly-minded people who would refuse to believe of their existence even. When the Kundalini ascends one Chakra or Yogic centre, the Yogi also ascends one step or rung upward in the Yogic ladder; one more page, the next page, he reads in the divine book; the more the Kundalini travels upwards, the Yogi also advances towards the goal or spiritual perfection in relation to it. When the Kundalini reaches the sixth centre or the Ajna Chakra, the Yogi gets the vision of Personal God or Saguna Brahman, and when the serpent-power reaches the last, the top centre, or Sahasrara Chakra, or the Thousand-petalled lotus, the Yogi loses his individuality in the ocean of Sat-Chit-Ananda or the Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute and becomes one with the Lord or Supreme Soul. He is no longer an ordinary man, not even a simple Yogi, but a fully illumined sage, having conquered the eternal and unlimited divine kingdom, a hero having won the battle against illusion, a Mukta or liberated one having crossed the ocean of ignorance or the transmigratory existence, and a superman having the authority and capacity to save the other struggling souls of the relative world. Scriptures hail him most, in the maximum possible glorifying way, and his achievement. Celestial beings envy him, not excluding the Trinity even, viz., Brahma, Vishnu and Siva.
Kundalini And Tantrik Sadhana

Kundalini Yoga actually belongs to Tantrik Sadhana, which gives a detailed description about this serpentpower and the Chakras, as mentioned above. Mother Divine, the active aspect of the Existence-KnowledgeBliss Absolute, resides in the body of men and women in the form of Kundalini, and the entire Tantrik Sadhana aims at awakening Her, and making Her to unite with the Lord, Sadasiva, in the Sahasrara, as described in the beginning in detail. Methods adopted to achieve this end in Tantrik Sadhana are Japa of the name of the Mother, prayer and various rituals.
Kundalini And Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga also builds up its philosophy around this Kundalini and the methods adopted in it are different from Tantrik Sadhana. Hatha Yoga seeks to awaken this Kundalini through the discipline of the physical body, purification of Nadis and controlling the Prana. Through a number of physical poses called Yoga Asanas it tones up the entire nervous system, and brings it under the conscious control of the Yogi, through Bandhas and Mudras it controls the Prana, regulates its movements and even blocks and seals it without allowing it to move, through Kriyas it purifies the inner organs of physical body and, finally, through Pranayama it brings the mind

itself under the control of the Yogi. Kundalini is made to go upwards towards Sahasrara through these combined methods.
Kundalini And Raja Yoga

But Raja Yoga mentions nothing about this Kundalini, but propounds a still subtle, higher path, philosophical and rational, and asks the aspirant to control the mind, to withdraw all the senses and to plunge in meditation. Unlike Hatha Yoga which is mechanical and mystical, Raja Yoga teaches a technique with eight limbs, appealing to the heart and intellect of aspirants. It advocates moral and ethical development through its Yama and Niyama, helps the intellectual and cultural development through Svadhyaya or study of holy Scriptures, satisfies the emotional and devotional aspect of human nature by enjoining to surrender oneself to the will of the Creator, has an element of mysticism by including Pranayama also as one of the eight limbs and finally, prepares the aspirant for unbroken meditation on the Absolute through a penultimate step of concentration. Neither in philosophy nor in its prescription of methods of Raja Yoga mentions about Kundalini, but sets the human mind and Chitta as its targets to be destroyed as they alone make the individual soul to forget its real nature and brings on it birth and death and all the woes of phenomenal existence.
Kundalini And Vedanta

But when we come to Vedanta, there is no question about Kundalini or any type of mystical and mechanical methods. It is all enquiry and philosophical speculation. According to Vedanta the only thing to be destroyed is ignorance about ones real nature, and this ignorance cannot be destroyed either by study, or by Pranayama, or by work, or by any amount of physical twisting and torturing, but only by knowing ones real nature, which is Sat-Chit-Ananda or Existence-Knowledge-Bliss. Man is divine, free and one with the Supreme Spirit always, which he forgets and identifies himself with matter, which itself is an illusory appearance and a superimposition on the spirit. Liberation is freedom from ignorance and the aspirant is advised to constantly dissociate himself from all limitations and identify himself with the all-pervading, non-dual, blissful, peaceful, homogeneous spirit or Brahman. When meditation becomes intensified, in the ocean of Existence or rather the individuality is blotted or blown out completely. Just as a drop of water let on a frying pan is immediately sucked and vanishes from cognition, the individual consciousness is sucked in by the Universal Consciousness and is absorbed in it. According to Vedanta there cannot be real liberation in a state of multiplicity, and the state of complete Oneness is the goal to be aspired for, towards which alone the entire creation is slowly moving on.

INTRODUCTION
Essence Of Kundalini Yoga

The word YOGA comes from the root Yuj which means to join, and in its spiritual sense, it is that process by which the human spirit is brought into near and conscious communion with, or is merged in, the Divine Spirit, according as the nature of the human spirit is held to be separate from (Dvaita, Visishtadvaita) or one with (Advaita) the Divine Spirit. As, according to Vedanta, the latter proposition is affirmed, Yoga is that process by which the identity of the two (Jivatman and Paramatman) which identity ever exists, in factis realised by the Yogin or practitioner of Yoga. It is so realised because the Spirit has then pierced through the veil of Maya which as mind and matter obscures this knowledge from itself. The means by which this is achieved is the Yoga process which liberates the Jiva from Maya. So the Gheranda-Samhita says: There is no bond equal in strength to Maya, and no power greater to destroy that bond than Yoga. From an Advaitic or Monistic standpoint, Yoga in the sense of a final union is inapplicable, for union implies a dualism of the Divine and human spirit. In such case, it denotes the process rather than the result. When the two are regarded as distinct, Yoga may apply to both. A person who practises Yoga is called a Yogin. All are not competent to attempt Yoga; only a very few

are. One must, in this or in other lives, have gone through Karma or selfless service and ritualistic observances, without attachment to the actions or their fruits, and Upasana or devotional worship, and obtained the fruit thereof, viz., a pure mind (Chittasuddhi). This does not mean merely a mind free from sexual impurity. The attainment of this and other qualities is the A B C of Sadhana. A person may have a pure mind in this sense, and yet be wholly incapable of Yoga. Chittasuddhi consists not merely in moral purity of every kind, but in knowledge, detachment, capacity for pure intellectual functioning, attention, meditation and so forth. When by Karma Yoga and Upasana, the mind is brought to this point and when, in the case of Jnana Yoga, there is dispassion and detachment from the world and its desires, then the Yoga path is open for the realisation of the ultimate Truth. Very few persons indeed are competent for Yoga in its higher form. The majority should seek their advancement along the path of Karma Yoga and devotion. There are four main forms of Yoga, according to one school of thought, namely Mantra Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Laya Yoga and Raja Yoga; Kundalini Yoga is really Laya Yoga. There is another classification: Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Laya Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Mantra Yoga. This is based on the idea that there are five aspects of spiritual life:-Dharma, Kriya, Bhava, Jnana and Yoga; Mantra Yoga being said to be of two kinds according as it is pursued along the path of Kriya or Bhava. There are seven Sadhanas of Yoga, namely Sat-Karma, Asana, Mudra, Pratyahara, Pranayama, Dhyana and Samadhi, which are cleansing of the body, seat postures for Yoga purposes, the abstraction of the senses from their objects, breath-control, meditation, and ecstasy which is of two kindsimperfect (Savikalpa) in which dualism is not wholly overcome, and perfect (Nirvikalpa) which is complete Monistic experiencethe realisation of the Truth of the Mahavakya AHAM BRAHMASMI a knowledge in the sense of realisation which, it is to be observed, does not produce Liberation (Moksha) but is Liberation itself. The Samadhi of Laya Yoga is said to be Savikalpa Samadhi and that of complete Raja Yoga is said to be Nirvikalpa Samadhi. The first four processes are physical, last three mental and supramental. By these seven processes respectively certain qualities are gained, namely, purity (Sodhana), firmness and strength (Dridhata), fortitude (Sthirata), steadiness (Dhairya), lightness (Laghava), realisation (Pratyaksha) and detachment leading to Liberation (Nirliptatva). What is known as the eight-limbed Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) contains five of the above Sadhanas (Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dhyana and Samadhi) and three others, namely, Yama or self-control by way of chastity, temperance, avoidance of harm (Ahimsa), and other virtues; Niyama or religious observances, charity and so forth, with devotion to the Lord (Isvara-Pranidhana); and Dharana, the fixing of the internal organ on its object as directed in the Yoga-practice. Man is a microcosm (Kshudra Brahmanda). Whatever exists in the outer universe exists in him. All the Tattvas and worlds are within him and so is the Supreme Siva-Sakti. The body may be divided into two main parts, namely, the head and trunk on the one hand, and the legs on the other. In man, the centre of the body is between these two, at the base of the spine where the legs begin. Supporting the trunk and throughout the whole body there is the spinal cord. This is the axis of the body, just as Mount Meru is the axis of the earth. Hence, mans spine is called Merudanda, the Meru or axis-staff. The legs and feet are gross which show less signs of consciousness than the trunk with its spinal white and grey matter; which trunk itself is greatly subordinate in this respect to the head containing the organ of mind, or physical brain, with its white and grey matter. The positions of the white and grey matter in the head and spinal column respectively are reversed. The body and legs below the centre are the seven lower or nether worlds upheld by the sustaining Sakti or Powers of the universe. From the centre upwards, consciousness more freely manifests through the spinal and cerebral centres. Here there are the seven upper regions or Lokas, a term which me ans What are seen (Lokyante), that is, experienced, and are hence the fruits of Karma in the form of particular rebirth. These regions, namely, Bhuh, Bhuvah, Svah, Tapa, Jana, Maha and Satya Lokas correspond with the six centres; five in the trunk, the sixth in the lower cerebral centre; and the seventh in the upper brain or Satyaloka, the abode of the Supreme Siva-Sakti. The six centres are: the Muladhara or root-support situated at the base of the spinal column in a position midway in the perineum between the root of the genitals and the anus; above it, in the region of the genitals, abdomen, heart, chest and throat, and in the forehead between the two eyes, are the Svadhishthana, Manipura,

Anahata, Visuddha and Ajna Chakras or lotuses respectively. These are the chief centres, though some texts speak of others such as the Lalana and Manas and Soma Chakras. The seventh region beyond the Chakras is the upper brain, the highest centre of manifestation of consciousness in the body and therefore, the abode of the Supreme Siva-Sakti. When it is said to be the abode, it is not meant that the Supreme is there placed in the sense of our placing, namely, it is there and not elsewhere! The Supreme is never localised, whilst its manifestations are. It is everywhere both within and without the body, but it is said to be in the Sahasrara, because it is there that the Supreme Siva-Sakti is realised. And, this must be so, because consciousness is realised by entering in and passing through the higher manifestation of mind, the Sattvamayi Buddhi, above and beyond which is Chit and Chidrupini Saktis themselves. From their Siva-Sakti Tattva aspect are evolved Mind in its form as Buddhi, Ahamkara, Manas and associated senses (Indriyas) the centre of which is above the Ajna Chakra and below the Sahasrara. From Ahamkara proceed the Tanmatras, or generals of the sense-particulars, which evolve the five forms of sensible matter (Bhuta), namely, Akasa (ether), Vayu (air), Agni (fire), Apah (water) and Prithvi (earth). The English translation given does not imply that the Bhutas are the same as the English elements of air, fire, water, earth. The terms indicate varying degrees of matter from the ethereal to the solid. Thus Prithvi or earth is any matter in the Prithvi state; that is, which may be sensed by the Indriya of smell. Mind and matter pervade the whole body. But there are centres therein in which they are predominant. Thus Ajna is the centre of mind, and the five lower Chakras are the centres of the five Bhutas; Visuddha of Akasa, Anahata of Vayu, Manipura of Agni, Svadhishthana of Apah, and Muladhara of Prithvi. In short, man as a microcosm is the all-pervading Spirit (which most purely manifests in the Sahasrara) vehicled by Sakti in the form of mind and matter, the centres of which are the sixth and following five Chakras respectively. The six Chakras have been identified with the following plexuses commencing from the lowest, the Muladhara; the sacrococcygeal plexus, the sacral plexus, the solar plexus, (which forms the great junction of the right and left sympathetic chains Ida and Pingala with the cerebro-spinal axis). Connected with this is the lumbar plexus. Then follows the cardiac plexus (Anahata), laryngeal plexus, and lastly the Ajna or cerebellum with its two lobes. Above this is the Manas-Chakra or middle cerebrum, and finally, the Sahasrara or upper cerebrum. The six Chakras themselves are vital centres within the spinal column in the white and grey matter there. They may, however, and probably do, influence and govern the gross tract outside the spine in the bodily region lateral to, and co-extensive with, that section of the spinal column in which a particular centre is situated. The Chakras are centres of Sakti as vital force. In other words these are centres of Pranasakti manifested by Pranavayu in the living body, the presiding Devatas of which are names for the Universal Consciousness as It manifests in the form of those centres. The Chakras are not perceptible to the gross senses. Even if they were perceptible in the living body which they help to organise, they disappear with the disintegration of organism at death. Just because post-mortem examination of the body does not reveal these Chakras in the spinal column, some people think that these Chakras do not exist at all, and are merely the fabrication of a fertile brain. This attitude reminds us of a doctor who declared that he had performed many post-mortems and had never yet discovered a soul! The petals of the lotuses vary, being 4, 6, 10, 12, 16 and 2 respectively, commencing from the Muladhara and ending with Ajna. There are 50 in all, as are the letters of the alphabet which are in the petals; that is, the Matrikas are associated with the Tattvas; since both are products of the same creative Cosmic process manifesting either as physiological or psychological function. It is noteworthy that the number of the petals is that of the letters leaving out either Ksha or the second La, and that these 50 multiplied by 20 are in the 1000 petals of the Sahasrara, a number which is indicative of infinitude. But why, it may be asked, do the petals vary in number? Why, for instance, are there 4 in the Muladhara and 6 in the Svadhishthana? The answer given is that the number of petals in any Chakra is determined by the number and position of the Nadis or Yoga-nerves around that Chakra. Thus, four Nadis surrounding and passing through the vital movements of the Muladhara Chakra, give it the appearance of a lotus of four petals which are thus configurations made by the positions of Nadis at any particular centre. These Nadis are not those which are known to the Vaidya. The latter are gross physical nerves. But the former, here spoken of, are called Yoga-

Nadis and are subtle channels (Vivaras) along which the Pranic currents flow. The term Nadi comes from the root Nad which means motion. The body is filled with an uncountable number of Nadis. If they were revealed to the eye, the body would present the appearance of a highly-complicated chart of ocean currents. Superficially the water seems one and the same. But examination shows that it is moving with varying degrees of force in all directions. All these lotuses exist in the spinal columns. The Merudanda is the vertebral column. Western anatomy divides it into five regions; and it is to be noted in corroboration of the theory here expounded that these correspond with the regions in which the five Chakras are situated. The central spinal system comprises the brain or encephalon contained within the skull (in which are the Lalana, Ajna, Manas, Soma Chakras and the Sahasrara); as also the spinal cord extending from the upper border of the Atlas below the cerebellum and descending to the second lumbor vertebra where it tapers to a point called the filum terminale. Within the spine is the cord, a compound of grey and white brain matter, in which are the five lower Chakras. It is noteworthy that the filum terminale was formerly thought to be a mere fibrous cord, an unsuitable vehicle, one might think, for the Muladhara Chakra and Kundalini Sakti. More recent microscopic investigations have, however, disclosed the existence of highly sensitive grey matter in the filum terminale which represents the position of the Muladhara. According to Western science, the spinal cord is not merely a conductor between the periphery and the centres of sensation and volition, but is also an independent centre or group of centres. The Sushumna is a Nadi in the centre of the spinal column. Its base is called Brahma-Dvara or Gate of Brahman. As regards the physiological relations of the Chakras all that can be said with any degree of certainty is that the four above Muladhara have relation to the genito-excretory, digestive, cardiac and respiratory functions and that the two upper centres, the Ajna (with associated Chakras) and the Sahasrara denote various forms of its cerebral activity ending in the repose of Pure Consciousness therein gained through Yoga. The Nadis of each side Ida and Pingala are the left and right sympathetic cords crossing the central column from one side to the other, making at the Ajna with the Sushumna a threefold knot called Triveni; which is said to be the spot in the Medulla where the sympathetic cords join together and whence they take their originthese Nadis together with the two lobed Ajna and the Sushumna forming the figure of the Caduceus of the God Mercury which is said by some to represent them. How is it that the rousing of Kundalini Sakti and Her union with Siva effect the state of ecstatic union (Samadhi) and spiritual experience which is alleged? In the first place, there are two main lines of Yoga, namely, Dhyana or Bhavana-Yoga and Kundalini Yoga; and there is a marked difference between the two. The first class of Yoga is that in which ecstasy (Samadhi) is obtained by intellective processes (Kriya-Jnana) of meditation and the like, with the aid, it may be, of auxiliary processes of Mantra or Hatha Yoga (other than the rousing of Kundalini) and by detachment from the world; the second stands apart as that portion of Hatha Yoga in which, though intellective processes are not neglected, the creative and sustaining Sakti of the whole body is actually and truly united with the Lord Consciousness. The Yogin makes Her introduce him to Her Lord, and enjoys the bliss of union through her. Though it is he who arouses Her, it is She who gives knowledge or Jnana, for She is Herself that. The Dhyana Yogin gains what acquaintance with the Supreme state his own meditative powers can give him and knows not the enjoyment of union with Siva in and through the fundamental Body-power. The two forms of Yoga differ both as to method and result. The Hatha Yogin regards his Yoga and its fruit as the highest; the Jnana Yogin may think similarly of his own. Kundalini is so renowned that many seek to know her. Having studied the theory of this Yoga, one may ask: Can one get on without it? The answer is: It depends upon what you are looking for. If you want to rouse Kundalini Sakti, to enjoy the bliss of union of Siva and Sakti through Her and to gain the accompanying powers (Siddhis), it is obvious that this end can be achieved only by the Kundalini Yoga. In that case, there are some risks incurred. But if Liberation is sought without desire for union through Kundalini, then, such Yoga is not necessary; for, Liberation may be obtained by Pure Jnana Yoga through detachment, the exercise and then the stilling of the mind, without any rousing of the central Bodily-power at all. Instead of setting out in and from the world to unite with Siva, the Jnana Yogin, to attain this result, detaches himself from the world. The one is the path of enjoyment and the other of asceticism. Samadhi may also be obtained on the path of devotion (Bhakti) as on that of knowledge. Indeed, the highest devotion (Para Bhakti) is not different

from Knowledge. Both are Realisation. But, whilst Liberation (Mukti) is attainable by either method, there are other marked differences between the two. A Dhyana Yogin should not neglect his body, knowing that as he is both mind and matter, each reacts, the one upon the other. Neglect or mere mortification of the body is more apt to produce disordered imagination than a true spiritual experience. He is not concerned, however, with the body in the sense that the Hatha Yogin is. It is possible to be a successful Dhyana Yogin and yet to be weak in body and health, sick and short-lived. His body, and not he himself, determines when he shall die. He cannot die at will. When he is in Samadhi, Kundalini Sakti is still sleeping in the Muladhara, and none of the physical symptoms and psychical bliss or powers (Siddhis) described as accompanying Her rousing are observed in his case. The ecstasy which he calls Liberation while yet living (Jivanmukti) is not a state like that of real Liberation. He may be still subject to a suffering body from which he escapes only at death, when if at all, he is liberated. His ecstasy is in the nature of a meditation which passes into the Void (Bhavana-samadhi) effected through negation of all thought-form (Chitta-Vritti) and detachment from the worlda comparatively negative process in which the positive act of raising the Central Power of the body takes no part. By his effort, the mind which is a product of Kundalini as Prakriti Sakti, together with its worldly desires, is stilled so that the veil produced by mental functioning is removed from Consciousness. In Laya Yoga, Kundalini Herself, when roused by the Yogin (for such rousing is his act and part), achieves for him this illumination. But why, it may be asked, should one trouble over the body and its Central power, the more particularly as there are unusual risks and difficulties involved? The answer has been already given. There is completeness and certainty of Realisation through the agency of the Power which is Knowledge itself (Jnanarupa Sakti), an intermediate acquisition of powers (Siddhis), and intermediate and final enjoyment. If the Ultimate Reality is the One which exists in two aspects of quiescent enjoyment of the Self, and of liberation from all form and active enjoyment of objects, that is, as pure spirit and spirit in matter, then a complete union with Reality demands such unity in both of its aspects. It must be known both here (Iha) and there (Amutra). When rightly apprehended and practised, there is truth in the doctrine which teaches that man should make the best of both worlds. There is no real incompatibility between the two, provided action is taken in conformity with the universal law of manifestation. It is held to be false teaching that happiness hereafter can only be had by absence of enjoyment now, or in deliberately sought for suffering and mortification. It is the one Siva who is the Supreme Blissful Experience and who appears in the form of man with a life of mingled pleasure and pain. Both happiness here and the bliss of Liberation here and hereafter may be attained, if the identity of these Sivas be realised in every human act. This will be achieved by making every human function, without exception, a religious act of sacrifice and worship (Yajna). In the ancient Vaidik ritual, enjoyment by way of food and drink was preceded and accompanied by ceremonial sacrifice and ritual. Such enjoyment was the fruit of the sacrifice and the gift of the Devas. At a higher stage in the life of a Sadhaka, it is offered to the One from whom all gifts come and of whom the Devatas are inferior limited forms. But this offering also involves a dualism from which the highest Monistic (Advaita) Sadhana is free. Here the individual life and the world life are known as one. And the Sadhaka, when eating or drinking or fulfilling any other of the natural functions of the body, does so, saying and feeling Sivoham. It is not merely the separate individual who thus acts and enjoys. It is Siva who does so in and through him. Such a one recognises, as has been said, that his life and the play of all its activities are not a thing apart, to be held and pursued egotistically for its and his own separate sake, as though enjoyment was something to be filched from life by his own unaided strength and with a sense of separatedness; but his life and all its activities are conceived as part of the Divine action in Nature (Shakti) manifesting and operating in the form of man. He realises in the pulsating beat of his heart the rhythm which throbs through and is the song of the Universal Life. To neglect or to deny the needs of the body, to think of it as something not divine, is to neglect and deny the greater life of which it is a part, and to falsify the great doctrine of the unity of all and of the ultimate identity of Matter and Spirit. Governed by such a concept, even the lowliest physical needs take on a cosmic significance. The body is Shakti; its needs are Shaktis needs. When man enjoys, it is Shakti who enjoys through him. In all he sees and does, it is the Mother who looks and acts, His eyes and hands are Hers. The whole body and all its functions are Her manifestations. To fully realise Her as such is to perfect this particular manifestation of Hers which is himself. Man when seeking to be the master of himself, seeks so on all the planes physical, mental and spiritual nor can they be severed, for they are

all related, being but differing aspects of the one all-pervading Consciousness. Who, it may be asked, is the more divine; he who neglects and spurns the body or mind that he may attain some fancied spiritual superiority, or he who rightly cherishes both as forms of the one Spirit which they clothe? Realisation is more speedily and truly attained by discerning Spirit in and as all being and its activities, then by fleeing from and casting these aside as being either unspiritual or illusory and impediments in the path. If not rightly conceived, they may be impediments and the cause of fall; otherwise they become instruments of attainment; and what others are there to hand? And so, when acts are done in the fight feeling and frame of mind (Bhava), those acts give enjoyment; and the repeated and prolonged Bhava produces at length that divine experience (Tattva-Jnana) which is Liberation. When the Mother is seen in all things, She is at length realised as She who is beyond them all. These general principles have their more frequent application in the life of the world before entrance on the path of Yoga proper. The Yoga here described is, however, also an application of these same principles, in so far as it is claimed that thereby both Bhukti and Mukti (enjoyment and liberation) are attained. By the lower processes of Hatha Yoga it is sought to attain a perfect physical body which will also be a wholly fit instrument by which the mind may function. A perfect mind, again, approaches and, in Samadhi, passes into Pure Consciousness itself. The Hatha Yogin thus seeks a body which shall be as strong as steel, healthy, free from suffering and therefore, long-lived. Master of the body he isthe master of both life and death. His lustrous form enjoys the vitality of youth. He lives as long as he has the will to live and enjoys in the world of forms. His death is the death at will (Iccha-Mrityu); wheh making the great and wonderfully expressive gesture of dissolution, (Samhara-Mudra) he grandly departs. But, it may be said, the Hatha Yogins do get sick and die. In the first place, the full discipline is one of difficulty and risk, and can only be pursued under the guidance of a skilled Guru. Unaided and unsuccessful practice may lead not only to disease, but death. He who seeks to conquer the Lord of death incurs the risk, on failure, of a more speedy conquest by Him. All who attempt this Yoga do not, of course, succeed or meet with the same measure of success. Those who fail not only incur the infirmities of ordinary men, but also others brought on by practices which have been ill-pursued or for which they are not fit. Those again who do succeed, do so in varying degrees. One may prolong his life to the sacred age of 84, others to 100, others yet further. In theory at least those who are perfected (Siddhas) go from this plane when they will. All have not the same capacity or opportunity, through want of will, bodily strength, or circumstance. All may not be willing or able to follow the strict rules necessary for success. Nor does modern life offer in general the opportunities for so complete a physical culture. All men may not desire such a life or may think the attainment of it not worth the trouble involved. Some may wish to be rid of their body and that as speedily as possible. It is, therefore, said that it is easier to gain Liberation than Deathlessness! The former may be had by unselfishness, detachment from the world, moral and mental discipline. But to conquer death is harder than this, for these qualities and acts will not alone avail. He who does so conquer, holds life in the hollow of one hand and, if he be a successful (Siddha) Yogin, Liberation in the other hand. He has Enjoyment and Liberation. He is the Emperor who is Master of the World and the possessor of the Bliss which is beyond all worlds. Therefore, it is claimed by the Hatha Yogin that every Sadhana is inferior to Hatha Yoga! The Hatha Yogin who works for Liberation does so through Laya Yoga Sadhana or Kundalini Yoga which gives both enjoyment and Liberation. At every centre to which he rouses Kundalini he experiences special form of Bliss and gains special powers. Carrying Her to Siva of his cerebral centre, he enjoys the Supreme Bliss which in its nature is that of Liberation, and which when established in permanence is Liberation itself on the loosening of Spirit and Body. Energy (Shakti) polarises itself into two forms, namely, static or potential (Kundalini), and dynamic (the working forces of the body as Prana). Behind all activity there is a static background. This static centre in the human body is the central Serpent Power in the Muladhara (root-support). It is the power which is the static support (Adhara) of the whole body and all its moving Pranic forces. This Centre (Kendra) of Power is a gross form of Chit or Consciousness; that is, in itself (Svarupa), it is Consciousness; and by appearance it is a Power which, as the highest form of Force, is a manifestation of it. Just as there is a distinction (though identical at base) between the Supreme Quiescent Consciousness and Its active Power (Shakti), so when Consciousness

manifests as Energy (Sakti), it possesses the twin aspects of potential and kinetic Energy. There can be no partition in fact of Reality. To the perfect eye of the Siddha the process of becoming is an ascription (Adhyasa). But to the imperfect eye of the Sadhaka, that is, the aspirant for Siddhi (perfected accomplishment), to the spirit which is still toiling through the lower planes and variously identifying itself with them, becoming is tending to appear and an appearance is real. The Kundalini Yoga is a rendering of Vedantic Truth from this practical point of view, and represents the world-process as a polarisation in Consciousness itself. This polarity as it exists in, and as, the body is destroyed by Yoga which disturbs the equilibrium of bodily consciousness, which consciousness is the result of the maintenance of these two poles. The human body, the potential pole of Energy which is the Supreme Power, is stirred to action, upon which the moving forces (dynamic Shakti) supported by it are drawn thereto, and the whole dynamism thus engendered moves upwards to unite with the quiescent Consciousness in the Highest Lotus. There is polarisation of Shakti into two formsstatic and dynamic. In the mind or experience this polarisation is patent to reflection; namely, the polarity between pure Chit and the Stress which is involved in it. This Stress or Shakti develops the mind through an infinity of forms and changes in the pure unbounded Ether of Consciousnessthe Chidakasa. This analysis exhibits the primordial Shakti in the same two polar forms as before, static and dynamic. Here the polarity is most fundamental and approaches absoluteness, though of course, it is to be remembered that there is no absolute rest except in pure Chit. Cosmic energy is in an equilibrium which is relative and not absolute. Passing from mind, let us take matter. The atom of modern science has ceased to be an atom in the sense of an indivisible unit of matter. According to the electron theory, the atom is a miniature universe resembling our solar system. At the centre of this atomic system we have a charge of positive electricity around which a cloud of negative charges called electrons revolve. The positive charges hold each other in check so that the atom is in a condition of equilibrated energy and does not ordinarily break up, though it may do so on the dissociation which is the characteristic of all matter, but which is so clearly manifest in the radioactivity of radium. We have thus here again, a positive charge at rest at the centre, and negative charges in motion round about the centre. What is thus said about the atom applies to the whole cosmic system and universe. In the world-system, the planets revolve around the Sun, and that system itself is probably (taken as a whole) a moving mass around some other relatively static centre, until we arrive at the Brahma-Bindu which is the point of Absolute Rest, around which all forms revolve and by which all are maintained. Similarly, in the tissues of the living body, the operative energy is polarised into two forms of energyanabolic and catabolic, the one tending to change and the other to conserve the tissues; the actual condition of the tissues being simply the resultant of these two coexistent or concurrent activities. In short, Shakti, when manifesting, divides itself into two polar aspectsstatic and dynamicwhich implies that you cannot have it in a dynamic form without at the same time having it in a static form, much like the poles of a magnet. In any given sphere of activity of force, we must have, according to the cosmic principle of a static back-groundShakti at rest or coiled. This scientific truth is illustrated in the figure Kali, the Divine Mother moving as the Kinetic Shakti on the breast of Sadasiva who is the static background of pure Chit which is actionless, the Gunamayi Mother being all activity. The Cosmic Shakti is the collectivity (Samashti) in relation to which the Kundalini in particular bodies is the Vyashti (individual) Shakti. The body is, as I have stated, a microcosm (Kshudrabrahmanda). In the living body there is, therefore, the same polarisation of which I have spoken. From the Mahakundalini the universe has sprung. In Her Supreme Form She is at rest, coiled round and one (as Chidrupini) with the Siva-bindu. She is then at rest. She next uncoils Herself to manifest. Here the three coils of which the Kundalini Yoga speaks are the three Gunas and the three and a half coil are the Prakriti and its three Gunas, together with the Vikritis. Her 50 coils are the letters of the Alphabet. As she goes on uncoiling, the Tattvas and the Matrikas, the Mother of the Varnas, issue from Her. She is thus moving, and continues even after creation to move in the Tattvas so created. For, as they are born of movement, they continue to move. The whole world (Jagat), as the Sanskrit term implies, is moving. She thus continues creatively acting until She has evolved Prithvi, the last of the

Tattvas. First She creates mind, and then matter. This latter becomes more and more dense. It has been suggested that the Mahabhutas are the Densities of modern science:Air density associated with the maximum velocity of gravity; Fire density associated with the velocity of light; Water or fluid density associated with molecular velocity and the equatorial velocity of the earths rotation; and Earth density, that of basalt associated with the Newtonian velocity of sound. However this be, it is plain that the Bhutas represent an increasing density of matter until it reaches its three dimensional solid form. When Shakti has created this last or Prithvi Tattva, what is there further for Her to do? Nothing. She therefore then again rests. At rest, again, means that She assumes a static form. Shakti, however, is never exhausted, that is, emptied into any of its forms. Therefore, Kundalini Shakti at this point is, as it were, the Shakti left over (though yet a plenum) after the Prithvi, the last of the Bhutas, has been created. We have thus Mahakundalini at rest as Chidrupini Shakti in the Sahasrara, the point of absolute rest; and then the body in which the relative static centre is Kundalini at rest, and around this centre the whole of the bodily forces move. They are Shakti, and so is Kundalini Shakti. The difference between the two is that they are Shaktis in specific differentiated forms in movement; and Kundalini Shakti is undifferentiated, residual Shakti at rest, that is, coiled. She is coiled in the Muladhara, which means fundamental support, and which is at the same time the seat of the Prithvi or last solid Tattva and of the residual Shakti or Kundalini. The body may, therefore, be compared to a magnet with two poles. The Muladhara, in so far as it is the seat of Kundalini Shakti, a comparatively gross form of Chit (being Chit-Shakti and Maya Shakti), is the static pole in relation to the rest of the body which is dynamic. The working that is the body necessarily presupposes and finds such a static support, hence the name Muladhara. In sense, the static Sakti at the Muladhara is necessarily coexistent with the creating and evolving Shakti of the body; because the dynamic aspect or pole can never be without its static counterpart. In another sense, it is the residual Shakti left over after such operation. What then happens in the accomplishment of this Yoga? This static Shakti is affected by Pranayama and other Yogic processes and becomes dynamic. Thus, when completely dynamic, that is when Kundalini unites with Siva in the Sahasrara, the polarisation of the body gives way. The two poles are united in one and there is the state of consciousness called Samadhi. The polarisation, of course, takes place in consciousness. The body actually continues to exist as an object of observation to others. It continues its organic life. But mans consciousness of his body and all other objects is withdrawn because the mind has ceased so far as his consciousness is concerned, the function having been withdrawn into its ground which is consciousness. How is the body sustained? In the first place, though Kundalini Sakti is the static centre of the whole body as a complete conscious organism, yet each of the parts of the body and their constituent cells have their own static centres which uphold such parts or cells. Next, the theory of the Yogins themselves is that Kundalini ascends and that the body, as a complete organism, is maintained by the nectar which flows from the union of Siva and Sakti in the Sahasrara. This nectar is an ejection of power generated by their union. The potential Kundalini Sakti becomes only partly and not wholly converted into kinetic Sakti; and yet since Saktieven as given in the Muladharais an infinitude, it is not depleted; the potential store always remains unexhausted. In this case, the dynamic equivalent is a partial conversion of one mode of energy into another. If, however, the coiled power at the Muladhara became absolutely uncoiled, there would result the dissolution of the three bodies gross, subtle and causal, and consequently, Videha-Mukti, bodiless Liberationbecause the static background in relation to a particular form of existence would, according to this hypothesis, have wholly given way. The body becomes cold as a corpse as the Sakti leaves it, not due to the depletion or privation of the static power at the Muladhara but to the concentration or convergence of the dynamic power ordinarily diffused over the whole body, so that the dynamic equivalent which is set up against the static background of Kundalini Sakti is only the diffused fivefold Prana gathered homewithdrawn from the other tissues of the body and concentrated along the axis. Thus, ordinarily, the dynamic equivalent is the Prana diffused over all the tissues: in Yoga, it is converged along the axis, the static equivalent of Kundalini Sakti enduring in both cases. Some part of the already available dynamic Prana is made to act at the base of the axis in a suitable manner, by which means the basal centre or Muladhara becomes, as it were, oversaturated and reacts on the whole diffused dynamic power (or Prana) of the body by withdrawing it from the tissues and converging it along the line of the axis. In this way, the diffused dynamic equivalent becomes the converged dynamic equivalent along the axis. What, according to this view,

ascends is not the whole Sakti but an eject like condensed lightning, which at length reaches the ParamaSivasthana. There the Central Power which upholds the individual world-Consciousness is merged in the Supreme Consciousness. The limited consciousness, transcending the passing concepts of worldly life, directly intuits the unchanging Reality which underlies the whole phenomenal flow. When Kundalini Sakti sleeps in the Muladhara, man is awake to the world; when she awakes to unite, and does unite, with the supreme static Consciousness which is Siva, then consciousness is asleep to the world and is one with the Light of all things. The main principle is that when awakened, Kundalini Sakti, either Herself or Her eject, ceases to be a static Power which sustains the world-consciousness, the content of which is held only so long as She sleeps; and when once set in movement is drawn to that other static centre in the Thousand-petalled Lotus (Sahasrara) which is Herself in union with the Siva-consciousness or the consciousness of ecstasy beyond the world of form. When Kundalini sleeps, man is awake to this world. When She wakes, he sleepsthat is, loses all consciousness of the world and enters his causal body. In Yoga, he passes beyond to formless Consciousness. Glory, glory to Mother Kundalini, who through Her Infinite Grace and Power, kindly leads the Sadhaka from Chakra to Chakra and illumines his intellect and makes him realise his identity with the Supreme Brahman! May Her blessings be upon you all!

Chapter One

PRELIMINARY
Patanjali-vyasamukhan gurunanyamscha bhaktitah; Natosmi vangmanah-kayairajnanadhvanta-bhaskaran We offer our obeisance by word, mind and body to Patanjali, Vyasa and to all other Rishis and Yogic Masters who are like so many Suns to remove the darkness of Ajnana (ignorance).
FoundationVairagya

Man, ignorant of his true Divine nature, vainly tries to secure happiness in the perishable objects of this illusory sense-universe. Every man in this world is restless, discontented and dissatisfied. He feels actually that he is in want of something, the nature of which he does not really understand. He seeks the rest and peace that he feels he is in need of, in the accomplishment of ambitious projects. But he finds that worldly greatness when secured is a delusion and a snare. He doubtless does not find any happiness in it. He gets degrees, diplomas, titles, honours, powers, name and fame; he marries; he begets children; in short, he gets all that he imagines would give him happiness. But yet, he finds no rest and peace. Are you not ashamed to repeat the same process of eating, sleeping and talking again and again? Are you not really fed up with the illusory objects created by the jugglery of Maya? Have you got a single sincere friend in this universe? Is there any difference between an animal and the so-called dignified human being with boasted intellect, if he does not do any spiritual Sadhana daily, for Self-realisation? How long do you want to remain a slave of passion, Indriyas, woman and body? Fie on those miserable wretches who revel in filth and who have forgotten their real Atmic nature and their hidden powers! The so-called educated persons are refined sensualists only. Sensual pleasure is no pleasure at all. Indriyas are deceiving you at every moment. Pleasure mixed with pain, sorrow, fear, sin, diseases is no pleasure at all. The happiness that depends upon perishable objects is no happiness. If your wife dies, you weep. If you lose money or property, you are drowned in sorrow. How long do you want to remain in that abject, degraded state? Those who waste their precious life in eating, sleeping and chatting without doing any Sadhana are brutes only.

You have forgotten your real Svarupa or purpose of life on account of Avidya, Maya, Moha and Raga. You are tossed up hither and thither aimlessly by the two currents of Raga and Dvesha. You are caught up in SamsaraChakra on account of your egoism, Vasanas, Trishnas and passions of various sorts. You want a Nitya (eternal), Nirupadhika (independent), Niratisaya (Infinite) Ananda. This you will find in your realisation of the Self only. Then alone will all your miseries and tribulations melt away. You have taken this body only to achieve this end. Din nike bite jate hainThe days are passing away quickly. The day has come and gone. Will you waste the night also? Aashaya badhyate loko karmana bahu-chintaya; Ayukshinam na janati tasmat jagrata jagrata You are bound in this world by desires, actions and manifold anxieties. Therefore you do not know that your life is slowly decaying and is wasted. Therefore wake up, wake up. Now wake up. Open your eyes. Apply diligently to spiritual Sadhana. Never waste even a minute. Many Yogins and Jnanins, Dattatreya, Patanjali, Christ, Buddha, Gorakhnath, Matsyendranath, Ram Das and others have already trodden the spiritual path and realised through Sadhana. Follow their teachings and instructions implicitly. Courage, Power, Strength, Wisdom, Joy and Happiness are your Divine heritage, your birth-right. Get them all through proper Sadhana. It will be simply preposterous to think that your Guru will do the Sadhana for you. You are your own redeemer. Gurus and Acharyas will show you the spiritual path, remove doubts and troubles and give some inspiration. You will have to tread the Spiritual Path. Remember this point well. You will have to place each step yourself in the Spiritual Path. Therefore do real Sadhana. Free yourself from death and birth and enjoy the Highest Bliss.
What Is Yoga?

The word Yoga comes from a Sanskrit root Yuj which means to join. In its spiritual sense it is that process by which the identity of the Jivatma and Paramatma is realised by the Yogins. The human soul is brought into conscious communion with God. Yoga is restraining the mental modifications. Yoga is that inhibition of the functions of the mind which leads to abidance of the spirit in his real nature. The inhibition of these functions of the mind is by Abhyasa and Vairagya (Yoga Sutras). Yoga is the Science that teaches the method of joining the human spirit with God. Yoga is the Divine Science which disentangles the Jiva from the phenomenal world of sense-objects and links him with the Ananta Ananda (Infinite Bliss), Parama Shanti (Supreme Peace), joy of an Akhanda character and Power that are inherent attributes of the Absolute. Yoga gives Mukti through Asamprajnata Samadhi by destroying all the Sankalpas of all antecedent mental functions. No Samadhi is possible without awakening the Kundalini. When the Yogi attains the highest stage, all his Karmas are burnt and he gets liberation from Samsara-Chakra.
The Importance Of Kundalini Yoga

In Kundalini Yoga the creating and sustaining Sakti of the whole body is actually and truly united with Lord Siva. The Yogi goads Her to introduce him to Her Lord. The rousing of Kundalini Sakti and Her Union with Lord Siva effects the state of Samadhi (Ecstatic union) and spiritual Anubhava (experience). It is She who gives Knowledge or Jnana, for She is Herself That. Kundalini Herself, when awakened by the Yogins, achieves for them the Jnana (illumination).

Kundalini can be awakened by various means and these different methods are called by different names, viz., Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, etc. The practitioner of this Kundalini Yoga claims, that it is higher than any other process and that Samadhi attained thereby is more perfect. The reason that they allege, is this: In Dhyana Yoga, ecstasy takes place through detachment from the world and mental concentration leading the variety of mental operation (Vritti) of the uprising of pure consciousness unhindered by the limitations of the mind. The degree to which this unveiling of consciousness is effected, depends upon the meditative power, Dhyana Sakti, of the Sadhaka and the extent of detachment from the world. On the other hand, Kundalini is all Sakti and is therefore Jnana Sakti Herselfbestows Jnana and Mukti, when awakened by the Yogins. Secondly, in Kundalini Yoga there is not merely a Samadhi through meditation, but the central power of the Jiva, carries with it the forms of both body and mind. The union in that sense is claimed to be more complete than that enacted through methods only. Though in both cases the body-consciousness is lost, in Kundalini Yoga not only the mind but the body also, in so far as it is represented by its central power, is actually united with Lord Siva at the Sahasrara Chakra. This union (Samadhi) produces Bhukti (enjoyment) which a Dhyana Yogi does not possess. A Kundalini Yogi has both Bhukti (enjoyment) and Mukti (liberation) in the fullest and literal sense. Hence this Yoga is claimed to be the foremost of all Yogas. When the sleeping Kundalini is awakened by Yogic Kriyas, it forces a passage upwards through the different Chakras (Shat-Chakra Bheda). It excites or stimulates them into intense activity. During its ascent, layer after layer of the mind becomes fully opened. All Kleshas (afflictions) and the three kinds of Taapa will vanish. The Yogi experiences various visions, powers, bliss and knowledge. When it reaches Sahasrara Chakra in the brain, the Yogi gets the maximum knowledge, Bliss, power and Siddhis. He reaches the highest rung in the Yogic ladder. He gets perfectly detached from body and mind. He becomes free in all respects. He is a full-blown Yogi (Purna Yogi).
Important Qualifications Of A Sadhaka

When the whole vitality is sapped from the body one cannot do any rigid Sadhana. Youth is the best period for Yoga Abhyasa. This is the first and the foremost qualification of a Sadhaka; there must be vigour and vitality. One who has a calm mind, who has faith in the words of his Guru and Sastras, who is moderate in eating and sleeping and who has the intense longing for deliverance from the Samsara-Chakra is a qualified person for the practice of Yoga. Ahamkaram balam darpam kamam krodham parigraham; Vimuchya nirmamah santo brahmabhuyaya kalpate Having cast aside egoism, violence, arrogance, desire, wrath, covetousness, selfless and peaceful he is fit to become ETERNAL. Those who are addicted to sensual pleasures or those who are arrogant and proud, dishonest, untruthful, diplomatic, cunning and treacherous and who disrespect the Guru, Sadhus and elders and take pleasure in vain controversies and worldly actions, can never attain success in Yogic practices. Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, and all other impurities should be completely annihilated. One cannot become pure and perfect when one has so many impure qualities. Sadhakas should develop the following virtuous qualities: Straightforwardness, service to Guru, the sick and old persons, Ahimsa, Brahmacharya, spontaneous generosity, Titiksha, Sama Drishti, Samata, spirit of service, selflessness, tolerance, Mitahara, humility, honesty and other virtues to an enormous degree. Aspirants will not at all be benefited in any way in the absence of these virtues even if they exert much to awaken the Kundalini through Yogic exercises.

Aspirants should freely open their hearts to their Guru. They must be frank and candid. They should give up the self-assertive, Rajasic vehemence, vanity and arrogance, and carry out their masters instructions with Sraddha and Prem. Constant self-justification is a dangerous habit for a Sadhaka. Energy is wasted in too much talking, unnecessary worry and vain fear. Gossiping and tall-talk should be given up entirely. A real Sadhaka is a man of few words, to the point and that too on spiritual matters only. Sadhakas should always remain alone. Mouna is a great desideratum. Mixing with householders is highly dangerous for a Sadhaka. The company of a householder is far more injurious than the company of a woman. Mind has the power to imitate.
Yogic Diet

A Sadhaka should observe perfect discipline. He must be civil, polite, courteous, gentle, noble and gracious in his behaviour. He must have perseverance, adamantine will, asinine patience and leech-like tenacity in Sadhana. He must be perfectly self-controlled, pure and devoted to the Guru. A glutton or one who is a slave of his senses with several bad habits, is unfit for the spiritual path. Mitaharam vina yastu yogarambham tu karayet; Nanarogo bhavettasya kinchit yogo na siddhyati Without observing moderation of diet, if one takes to the Yogic practices, he cannot obtain any benefit but gets various diseases (Ghe. Sam. V-16). Food plays a prominent place in Yoga-Sadhana. An aspirant should be very careful in the selection of articles of Sattvic nature especially in the beginning of his Sadhana period. Later on when Siddhi is attained, drastic dietetic restrictions can be removed. Purity of food leads to purity of mind. Sattvic food helps meditation. The discipline of food is very very necessary for Yogic Sadhana. If the tongue is controlled, all the other Indriyas are controlled. Ahara-suddhau sattva-suddhih, sattva-suddhau dhruva smritih; Smriti-lambhe sarva-granthinam viprarnokshahBy the purity of food follows the purification of the inner nature, by the purification of the nature, memory becomes firm and on strengthening the memory, follows the loosening of all ties and the wise get Moksha thereby.
Sattvic Articles

I will give you a list of Sattvic articles for a Sadhaka. Milk, red rice, barley, wheat, Havishannam, Charu, cream, cheese, butter, green dal (Moong dal), Badam (almonds), Misri (sugar-candy), Kismis (raisins), Kichidi, Pancha Shakha vegetables (Seendil, Chakravarty, Ponnan-gani, Chirukeerai and Vellaicharnai), Lowki vegetable, plantain-stem, Parwal, Bhindi (ladys finger), pomegranates, sweet oranges, grapes, apples, bananas, mangoes, dates, honey, dried ginger, black pepper, etc., are the Sattvic articles of diet prescribed for the Yoga Abhyasis. Charu: Boil half a seer of milk along with some boiled rice, ghee and sugar. This is an excellent food for Yogins. This is for the day-time. For the night, half a seer of milk will do. Milk should not be too much boiled. It should be removed from the fire as soon as the boiling point is reached. Too much boiling destroys the nutritious principles and vitamins and renders it quite useless. This is an ideal food for Sadhakas. Milk is a perfect food by itself.

A fruit diet exercises a benign influence on the constitution. This is a natural form of diet. Fruits are very great energy-producers. Fruits and milk diet help concentration and easy mental focussing. Barley, wheat, milk and ghee promote longevity and increase power and strength. Fruit-juice and the water wherein sugar-candy is dissolved, are very good beverages. Butter mixed with sugar-candy, and almonds soaked in water can be taken. These will cool the system.
Forbidden Articles

Sour, hot, pungent and bitter preparations, salt, mustard, asafoetida, chillies, tamarind, sour curd, chutnee, meat, eggs, fish, garlic, onions, alcoholic liquors, acidic things, stale food, overripe or unripe fruits, and other articles that disagree with your system should be avoided entirely. Rajasic food distracts the mind. It excites passion. Give up salt. It excites passion and emotion. Giving up of salt helps in controlling the tongue and thereby the mind and in developing will-power also. Snake-bite and scorpion-stings will have no influence on a man who has given up salt. Onions and garlic are worse than meat. Live a natural life. Take simple food that is agreeable. You should have your own menu to suit your constitution. You are yourself the best judge to select a Sattvic diet. The proficient in Yoga should abandon articles of food detrimental to the practice of Yoga. During intense Sadhana, milk (and ghee also) is ordained. I have given above several articles of Sattvic nature. That does not mean that you should take all. You will have to select a few things that are easily available and suitable to you. Milk is the best food for Yogins. But even a small quantity of milk is harmful for some and may not agree with all constitutions. If one form of diet is not suitable or if you feel constipated, change the diet and try some other Sattvic articles. This is Yukti. In the matter of food and drinks you should be a master. You should not have the least craving or sensehankering for any particular food. You must not become a slave to any particular object.
Mitahara

Heavy food leads to Tamasic state and induces sleep only. There is a general misapprehension that a large quantity of food is necessary for health and strength. Much depends upon the power of assimilation and absorption. Generally, in the vast majority of cases, most of the food passes away undigested along with faeces. Take half stomachful of wholesome food. Fill a quarter with pure water. Leave the rest free. This is Mitahara. Mitahara plays a vital part in keeping up perfect health. Almost all diseases are due to irregularity of meals, overeating and unwholesome food. Eating all things at all times like a monkey is highly dangerous. Such a man can become a Rogi (sick man) easily; but he can never become a Yogi. Hear the emphatic declaration of Lord Krishna: Success in Yoga is not for him who eats too much or too little; nor for him who sleeps too much or too little (Gita VI-16). Again in the Sloka 18 of the same chapter, He says: To him who is temperate in eatin g and in sleep and wakefulness, Yoga becomes a destroyer of misery. A glutton cannot at the very outset have diet regulations and observe Mitahara. He must gradually practise this. First let him take less quantity twice as usual. Then instead of the usual heavy night meals, let him take fruits and milk alone for some days. In due course of time he can completely avoid the night meals and try to take fruits and milk in the daytime. Those who do intense Sadhana must take milk alone. It is a perfect food by itself. If necessary they can take some easily digestible fruits. A glutton, if he all on a sudden takes to fruit or milk diet, will desire at every moment to eat something or other. That is bad. Once again I reiterate, gradual practice is necessary.

Do not fast much. It will produce weakness in you. Occasional fasting once a month or when passion troubles you much, will suffice. During fasting you should not even think of the various articles of food. Constant thinking of the food when you fast cannot bring you the desired result. During fasting, avoid company. Live alone. Utilise your time in Yogic Sadhana. After a fast do not take any heavy food. Milk or some fruit-juice is beneficial. Do not make much fuss about your diet. You need not advertise to everyone if you are able to pull on with a particular form of diet. The observance of such Niyamas is for your advancement in the spiritual path and you will not be spiritually benefited by giving publicity to your Sadhana. There are many nowadays who make it a profession to earn money and their livelihood by performing some Asana, Pranayama or by having some diet regulation such as eating only raw articles or leaves or roots. They cannot have any spiritual growth. The goal of life is Self-realisation. Sadhakas should keep the goal always in view and do intense Sadhana with the prescribed methods.
The Place For Yoga Sadhana

Sadhana should be done in a secluded place. There should be no interruption by anyone. When you live in a house, a well-ventilated room should be reserved for Sadhana purposes. Do not allow anybody to enter the room. Keep it under lock and key. Do not allow even your wife, children or intimate friends to enter the room. It should be kept pure and holy. It should be free from mosquitoes, flies and lice and absolutely free from dampness. Do not keep too many things in the room. They will distract you every now and then. No surrounding noise also should disturb you. The room should not be too big as the eyes will begin to wander. Places of cool or temperate climate are required for Yoga Abhyasa as you will get easily exhausted in hot place. You must select such a place where you can comfortably stay all through the year in winter, summer and rainy season. You must stick to one place throughout Sadhana period. Select a beautiful and pleasant spot where there is no disturbance, on the banks of a river, lake or sea or top of a hill where there is a nice spring and grove of trees and where milk and articles of food are easily procurable. You should select such a place where there are some other Yogic practitioners. When you see others who are devoted to Yogic practices you will diligently apply yourself to your practices. You can consult them in times of difficulties. Do not wander here and there in search of a place where you will get all conveniences. Do not change your place very often when you find some inconvenience. You must put up with it. Every place has some advantage and disadvantage. Find out a place where you have many advantages and a few disadvantages. The following places are best suited. They are admirably adapted. Scenery is charming and spiritual vibrations are marvellous and elevating. There are several Kutirs (huts) to live in for real Abhyasis, or you can construct your own hut. Milk and other rations are available in all the places from the neighbouring villages. Any solitary village on the banks of Ganga, Narmada, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri is suitable. I will tell you some important places for meditation. Kulu Valley, Champa Valley and Srinagar in Kashmir; Banrughi Guha near Tehri; Brahmavarta near Kanpur; Joshi (Prayag) in Allahabad; Canary Caves near Bombay; Mussoorie; Mt. Abu; Nainital; Brindavan; Banares; Puri; Uttara Brindavan (14 miles from Almora); Hardwar, Rishikesh (N.Rly.); Lakshmanjhula (*3), Brahmapuri Forest (*4), Ram Guha in Brahmapuri Forest, Garuda Chatty (*4), Neelkant (*8), Vasishtha Guha (*14), Uttarkashi; Deva Prayag; Badrinarayan; Gangotri, Nasik and Nandi Hills in Mysore. ( * Distance in miles from Rishikesh) If you build a Kutir in a crowded place, people out of curiosity will disturb you. You will have no spiritual vibrations there. There will be a lot of other disturbances also. Again you will be without any protection if you construct your Kutir in a thick forest. Thieves and wild animals will trouble you. The question of food will arise. You must consider all these points well before you select a place for your Sadhana. If you cannot go in for such places, convert a solitary room into a forest.

Your Asana (seat) for the Yogic practices should not be too high or too low. Spread a seat of Kusha grass, tigerskin or deer-skin and then sit. Burn incense daily in the room. In the initial period of your Sadhana you must be very particular about all these. When you have sufficiently advanced in your practice, then you need not lay much stress on such rules.
The Time

It is stated in Gheranda Samhita that Yogic practices should not be commenced in winter, summer and rainy seasons, but only in spring and autumn. This depends upon the temperature of the particular place and the strength of the individual. Generally cool hours are best suited. In hot places you should not practise during the day. Early morning hours are suitable for Yogic practices. You should completely avoid Yoga Abhyasa in summer in those places where the temperature is hot even in winter. If you live in cool places like Kodaikanal, Ooty, Kashmir, Badrinarayan, Gangotri, etc., you can practise even during the day. As instructed in the previous lessons you should not practise when the stomach is loaded. Generally Yogic practices should be done only after a bath. A bath is not beneficial immediately after the practices. You should not sit for Yogic practices when your mind is restless or when you are worried much.
The Age

Young boys under 18 years of age whose bodies are very tender should not have too much practice. They have a very tender body which cannot stand the exertion of Yogic exercises. Further, a youths mind will be wandering and unsettled and so, in youth one cannot concentrate well, whereas, Yogic exercises require intense and deep concentration. In old age when all vitality is sapped by unnecessary worry, anxieties, troubles and other worldly Vyavaharas, one cannot do any spiritual practice. Yoga requires full vitality, energy, power and strength. Therefore the best period for Yoga Abhyasa is from 20 to 40 years of age. Those who are strong and healthy can take to Yogic practices even after 50.
Necessity For A Yogic Guru

In olden days the aspirants were required to live with the Guru for a number of years, so that the Guru could study the students thoroughly. The food during practice, what to practise and how, whether the students are qualified for the path of Yoga, and the temperament of the aspirants and other important items have to be considered and judged by the Guru. It is the Guru that should decide whether the aspirants are of Uttamai, Madhyama or Adhama type and fix different kinds of exercises. Sadhana differs according to the nature, capacity and qualifications of the aspirants. After understanding the theory of Yoga, you will have to learn the practice from an experienced Yogic Guru. So long as there is the world, there are books on Yoga and teachers also. You will have to search for them with Sraddha, faith, devotion and earnestness. You can get easy lessons from the Guru and practise them at home also in the initial stages of practice. When you advance a bit, for advanced and difficult exercises you will have to stay with the Guru. The personal contact with the Guru has manifold advantages. You will be highly benefited by the spiritual magnetic aura of your Guru. For the practice of Bhakti Yoga and Vedanta you do not require a Guru by your side. After learning the Srutis for sometime from a Guru, you will have to reflect and meditate alone, in entire seclusion, whereas in Kundalini Yoga you will have to break up the Granthis and take the Kundalini from Chakra to Chakra. These are all difficult processes. The method of uniting the Apana and Prana and sending it along the Sushumna and breaking the Granthis need the help of a Guru. You will have to sit at the Gurus feet for a pretty long time. You will have to understand thoroughly the location of the Nadis, Chakras and the detailed technique of the several Yogic Kriyas.

Lay bare to your Guru the secrets of your heart and the more you do so, the greater the sympathy and help you get from your Guru. This sympathy means accession of strength to you in the straggle against sin and temptation. Learn thou this by discipleship, by investigation and by service. The wise, the seers of the Essence of things will instruct thee in wisdom. (Gita-IV-34) Some do meditation for some years independently. Later on they feel actually the necessity for a Guru. They come across some obstacles in the way. They do not know how to proceed further and to obviate these impediments or stumbling blocks. Then they begin to search for a master. A stranger in a big city finds it difficult to go back to his residence in a small avenue though he has walked in the way half a dozen times. When difficulty arises even in the case of finding out the way through streets and roads how much more difficult it should be in the path of spirituality when one walks alone with closed eyes! The aspirant gets obstacles or impediments, dangers, snares and pitfalls on the spiritual path. He may commit errors in Sadhana also. A Guru who has already trodden the path and reached the goal, is very necessary to guide him.
Who Is A Guru?

Guru is one who has full Self-illumination and who removes the veil of ignorance in deluded Jivas. Guru, Truth, Brahman, Ishvara, Atman, God, Om are all one. The number of realised souls may be less in this Kali Yuga when compared with the Satya Yuga, but they are always present to help the aspirants. They are always searching for the proper Adhikarins. Guru is Brahman Himself. Guru is Ishvara Himself. Guru is God. A word from him is a word from God. He need not teach any. Even his mere presence or company is elevating, inspiring and soul-stirring. The very company itself is self-illumination. Living in his company is spiritual education. That which comes out of his lips is all Vedas or gospel-truth. His very life is an embodiment of Vedas. Guru is your guide or spiritual preceptor, real father, mother, brother, relative and intimate friend. He is an embodiment of mercy and love. His tender smile radiates light, bliss, joy, knowledge and peace. He is a blessing to the suffering humanity. Whatever he talks is Upanishadic teaching. He knows the spiritual path. He knows the pitfalls and snares on the way. He gives warning to the aspirants. He removes obstacles on the path. He imparts spiritual strength to the students. He showers his grace on their heads. He takes their Prarabdha even on his head. He is the ocean of mercy. All agonies, miseries, tribulations, taints of worldliness, etc., vanish in his presence. It is he who transmutes the little Jivahood into great Brahmanhood. It is he who overhauls the old, wrong, vicious Samskaras of the aspirants and awakens them to the attainment of the knowledge of Self. It is he who uplifts the Jivas from the quagmire of body and Samsara, removes the veil of Avidya, all doubts, Moha and fear, awakens Kundalini and opens the inner eye of intuition. The Guru must not only be a Srotriya but a Brahma-Nishtha also. Mere study of books cannot make one a Guru. One who has studied Vedas and who has direct knowledge of Atman through Anubhava can only be considered a Guru. If you can find peace in the presence of a Mahatma, and if your doubts are removed by his very presence you can take him as your Guru. A Guru can awaken the Kundalini of an aspirant through sight, touch, speech or mere Sankalpa (thought). He can transmit spirituality to the student just as one gives an orange-fruit to another. When the Guru gives Mantra to his disciples, he gives it with his own power and Sattvic Bhava.

The Guru tests the students in various ways. Some students misunderstand him and lose their faith in him. Hence, they are not benefited. Those who stand the tests boldly come out successful in the end. The periodical examinations in the Adhyatmic University of Sages are very stiff indeed. In days of yore the tests were very severe. Once Gorakhnath asked some of his students to climb up a tall tree and throw themselves head downwards on a very sharp Trident (Trishul). Many faithless students kept quiet. But one faithful student at once climbed up the tree with lightning speed and threw himself down. He was protected by the invisible hand of Gorakhnath. He had immediate Self-realisation. He had no Deha-adhyasa (attachment for his body). The other faithless students had strong Moha and Ajnana. There is a good deal of heated debates and controversy amongst many people on the matter of the necessity of a Guru. Some of them assert with vehemence and force that a preceptor is not at all necessary for Self-realisation and spiritual advancement and that one can have spiritual progress and self-illumination through ones own efforts only. They quote various passages from scriptures and assign arguments and reasonings to support them. Others boldly assert with greater emphasis and force that no spiritual progress is possible for a man, however intelligent he may be, however hard he may attempt and struggle in the spiritual path, unless he gets the benign grace and direct guidance of a spiritual preceptor. Now open your eyes and watch carefully what is going on in this world in all walks of life. Even a cook needs a teacher. He serves under a senior cook for some years. He obeys him implicitly. He pleases his teacher in all possible ways. He learns all the techniques in cooking. He gets knowledge through the grace of his senior cook, his teacher. A junior lawyer wants the help and guidance of a senior advocate. Students of mathematics and medicine need the help and guidance of a Professor. A student of Science, music and astronomy wants the guidance of a scientist and musician and an astronomer. When such is the case with ordinary, secular knowledge, then, what to speak of the inner spiritual path, wherein the student has to walk alone with closed eyes? When you are in a thick jungle, you come across several cross foot-paths. You are in a dilemma. You do not know the directions and by which path you should go. You are bewildered. You want a guide here to direct you in the right path. It is universally admitted that an efficient teacher is needed in all branches of knowledge in this physical plane and that physical, mental, moral and cultural growth can only be had through the help and guidance of a capable master. This is a universal inexorable law of nature. Why do you deny them, friend, the application of this universally accepted law in the realm of spirituality? Spiritual knowledge is a matter of Guruparampara. It is handed down from a Guru to his disciple. Study Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. You will have a comprehensive understanding. Gaudapadacharya imparted Selfknowledge to his disciple Govindapadacharya; Govindapadacharya to his disciple Sankaracharya; Sankaracharya to his disciple Suresvaracharya. Gorakhnath to Nivrittinath; Nivrittinath to Jnanadev. Totapuri imparted knowledge to Ramakrishna; Ramakrishna to Vivekananda. It was Dr. Annie Besant who moulded the career of Sri Krishnamurthi. It was Ashtavakra who moulded the life of Raja Janaka. It was Gorakhnath who shaped the spiritual destiny of Raja Bhartrihari. It was Lord Krishna who made Arjuna and Uddhava establish themselves in the spiritual path, when their minds were in an unsettled condition. Some aspirants do meditation for some years independently. Later on they feel actually the necessity for a Guru. They come across some obstacles in the way. They do not know how to proceed further and how to obviate these impediments or stumbling blocks. Then they begin to search for a Guru. The student and the teacher should live together as father and devoted son or as a husband and wife with extreme sincerity and devotion. The aspirant should have an eager, receptive attitude to imbibe the teachings of the master. Then only will the aspirant be spiritually benefited; otherwise, there is not the least hope of the spiritual life of the aspirant and complete regeneration of his old Asuric nature. It is a great pity that the present system of education in India is not favourable to the spiritual growth of Sadhakas. The minds of the students are saturated with materialistic poison. Aspirants of the present day have not got any idea of the true relationship of Guru and a disciple. It is not like the relationship of a student and

teacher or professor in schools and colleges. Spiritual relationship is entirely different. It involves dedication. It is very sacred. It is purely divine. Turn the pages of the Upanishads. In days of yore, Brahmacharins used to approach their teachers with profound humility, sincerity and Bhava.
Spiritual Power

Just as you can give an orange to a man and take it back, so also spiritual power can be transmitted by one to another and taken back also. This method of transmitting spiritual power is termed Shakti Sanchara. Birds keep their eggs under their wings. Through heat the eggs are hatched. Fish lay their eggs and look at them. They are hatched. The tortoise lays its eggs and thinks of them. They are hatched. Even so the spiritual power is transmitted by the Guru to the disciple through touch (Sparsha) like birds, sight (Darshana) like fish, and thinking or willing (Sankalpa) like the tortoise. The transmitter, the Yogi-Guru, sometimes enters the astral body of the student and elevates his mind through his power. The Yogi (operator) makes the subject (Chela) sit in front of him and asks him to close his eyes and then transmits his spiritual power. The subject feels the spiritual power actually passing from Muladhara Chakra higher up to the neck and top of the head. The disciple does various Hatha Yogic Kriyas, Asanas, Pranayamas, Bandhas, Mudras, etc., by himself. The student must not restrain his Iccha-Sakti. He must act according to the inner Prerana (inner goading or stirring). The mind is highly elevated. The moment the aspirant closes his eyes, meditation comes by itself. Through Sakti-Sanchara Kundalini is awakened by the grace of the Guru in the disciple. Sakti Sanchara comes through Parampara. It is a hidden mystic science. It is handed down from the Guru to the disciple. The disciple should not rest satisfied with the transmission of power from the Guru. He will have to struggle hard in Sadhana for further perfection and attainments. Sakti Sanchara is of two kinds, viz., lower and higher. The lower one is Jada Kriya only wherein one automatically does Asanas, Bandhas and Mudras without any instructions when the Guru imparts the power to the student. The student will have to take up Sravana, Manana and Nididhyasana for perfection. He cannot depend upon the Kriya alone. This Kriya is only an auxiliary. It gives a push to the Sadhaka. A fully-developed Yogi only possesses the higher kind of Shakti-Sanchara. Lord Jesus, through touch, transmitted his spiritual power to some of his disciples (Masters Touch). Samartha Ramdas touched a prostitute. She entered into Samadhi. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa touched Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda had superconscious experiences. He struggled hard for seven years more even after the touch for attaining perfection. Lord Krishna touched the blind eyes of Vilvamangal (Surdas). The inner eye of Surdas was opened. He had Bhava Samadhi. Lord Gouranga, through his touch, produced Divine intoxication in many people and converted them to his side. Even atheists danced in ecstasy in the streets by his touch and sang songs of Hari. Glory, glory to such exalted Yogic Gurus.

Chapter Two

KUNDALINI YOGATHEORY

Yoga Nadis

Nadis are the astral tubes made up of astral matter that carry psychic currents. The Sanskrit term Nadi comes from the root Nad which means motion. It is through these Nadis (Sukshma, subtle passages), that the vital force or Pranic current moves or flows. Since they are made up of subtle matter they cannot be seen by the naked physical eyes and you cannot make any test-tube experiments in the physical plane. These Yoga Nadis are not the ordinary nerves, arteries and veins that are known to the Vaidya Shastra (Anatomy and Physiology). Yoga Nadis are quite different from these. The body is filled with innumerable Nadis that cannot be counted. Different authors state the number of Nadis in different ways, i.e., from 72,000 to 3,50,000. When you turn your attention to the internal structure of the body, you are struck with awe and wonder. Because the architect is the Divine Lord Himself who is assisted by skilled engineers and masonsMaya, Prakriti, Visva Karma, etc. Nadis play a vital part in this 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. A detailed knowledge of the Nadis and Chakras, is absolutely essential. Their location, functions, nature, etc., should be thoroughly studied. The subtle lines, Yoga Nadis, have influence in the physical body. All the subtle (Sukshma) Prana, Nadis and Chakras have gross manifestation and operation in the physical body. The gross nerves and plexuses have close relationship with the subtle ones. You should understand this point well. Since the physical centres have close relationship with the astral centres, the vibrations that are produced in the physical centres by prescribed methods, have the desired effects in the astral centres. Whenever there is an interlacing of several nerves, arteries and veins, that centre is called Plexus. The physical material plexuses that are known to the Vaidya Shastra are: Pampiniform, Cervical, Brachial, Coccygeal, Lumbar, Sacral, Cardiac, Esophageal, Hepatic Pharyngeal, Pulmonary, Ligual Prostatic Plexus, etc. Similarly there are plexuses or centres of vital forces in the Sukshma Nadis. They are known as Padma (lotus) or Chakras. Detailed instructions on all these centres are given elsewhere. All the Nadis spring from the Kanda. It is in the junction where the Sushumna Nadi is connected with the Muladhara Chakra. Some say, that this Kanda is 12 inches above the anus. Out of the innumerable Nadis 14 are said to be important. They are: Again Ida, Pingala and Sushumna are the most important of the above 14 Nadis, and Sushumna is the chief. It is the highest and most sought by the Yogins. Other Nadis are subordinate to this. Detailed instructions on each Nadi and its functions and the method of awakening the Kundalini and passing it from Chakra to Chakra are given in the following pages.
Spinal Column

Before proceeding to the study of Nadis and Chakras you will have to know something about the Spinal Column, as all the Chakras are connected with it. Spinal Column is known as Meru Danda. This is the axis of the body just as Mount Meru is the axis of the earth. Hence the spine is called Meru. Spinal column is otherwise known as spine, axis -staff or vertebral column. Man is microcosm. (Pinda - Kshudra-Brahmanda). All things seen in the universe,mountains, rivers, Bhutas, etc., exist in the body also. All the Tattvas and Lokas (worlds) are within the body.

The body may be divided into three main parts:head, trunk and the limbs, and the centre of the body is between the head and the legs. The spinal column extends from the first vertebra, Atlas bone, to the end of the trunk. The spine is formed of a series of 33 bones called vertebrae; according to the position these occupy, it is divided into five regions: 1. Cervical region (neck) 7 vertebrae 2. Dorsal region (back) 12 vertebrae 3. Lumbar region (waist or loins) 5 vertebrae. 4. Sacral region (buttocks, Sacrum or gluteal) 5 vertebrae. 5. Coccygeal region (imperfect vertebrae Coccyx) 4 vertebrae.

Vertebrae The vertebral bones are piled one upon the other thus forming a pillar for the support of the cranium and trunk. They are connected together by spinous, transverse and articular processes and by pads of fibro-cartilage between the bones. The arches of the vertebrae form a hollow cylinder or a bony covering or a passage for the spinal cord. The size of the vertebrae differs from each other. For example, the size of the vertebrae in cervical region is smaller than in dorsal but the arches are bigger. The body of the lumbar vertebrae is the largest and biggest. The whole spine is not like a stiff rod, but has curvatures that give a spring action. All the other bones of the body are connected with this spine. Between each pair of vertebrae there are apertures through which the spinal nerves pass from the spinal cord to the different portions and organs of the body. The five regions of the spine correspond with the regions of the five Chakras: Muladhara, Svadhishthana, Manipura, Anahata and Vishuddha. Sushumna Nadi passes through the hollow cylindrical cavity of the vertebral column and Ida is on the left side and Pingala on the right side of the spine.
Sukshma Sarira

The physical body is shaped in accordance with the nature of the astral body. The physical body is something like water, Sthula form. When water is heated, the steam or vapour corresponds to the astral body. In the same way the astral or Sukshma body is within the gross or physical body. The gross body cannot do anything without the astral body. Every gross centre of the body has its astral centre. A clear knowledge of the gross body is of utmost importance as this Yoga deals with the centre of the astral body. In subsequent chapters you will find, therefore, a short description of the centres of the gross body and their corresponding centres in the Sukshma Sarira. You will find the descriptions of the astral centres and their connected functions in the physical body.

Kanda

This is situated between the anus and the root of the reproductory organ. It is like the shape of an egg and is covered with membranes. This is just above the Muladhara Chakra. All the Nadis of the body spring from this Kanda. It is in the junction where Sushumna is connected with Muladhara Chakra. The four petals of the Muladhara Chakra are on the sides of this Kanda and the junction is called Granthi-Sthana, where the influence of Maya is very strong. In some Upanishads you will find that Kanda is 9 digits above the genitals. Kanda is a centre of the astral body from where Yoga Nadis, subtle channels, spring and carry the Sukshma Prana (vital energy) to the different parts of the body. Corresponding to this centre, you have Cauda equina in the gross physical body. The spinal cord extending from the brain to the end of the vertebral column tapers off into a fine silken thread. Before its termination it gives off innumerable fibres, crowded into a bunch of nerves. This bunch of nerves is Cauda equina in the gross body. The astral centre of Cauda equina is Kanda.
Spinal Cord

The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord, the cerebro-spinal centre or axis. The continuation of the Medulla oblongata or the Bulb is a connecting medium between the brain and the spinal cord. The centre in the Medulla oblongata is closely connected with the involuntary functions of breathing and swallowing. The spinal cord extends from the top of the spinal canal to the second vertebra of the coccygeal region where it tapers off into a fine silken thread, called Filum terminale. The spinal cord is a column of very soft grey and white brain-matter. The white matter is arranged on the sides of the grey matter. The white matter is of medullated nerves while the grey is of nerve-cells and fibres. This is not tightly fitted with the spinal canal, but suspended or dropped, as it were, into the spinal canal just like the brain in the cranial cavity. This is nourished by the membranes. Spinal cord and brain float in the cerebro-spinal fluid. The fluid prevents, therefore, any injury done to them. Further the spinal cord is protected by a covering of fatty tissue. It is divided into two symmetrical halves by an anterior and posterior fissure. In the centre there is a minute canal, called canalis centralis. Brahmanadi runs along this canal from the Muladhara to Sahasrara Chakra. It is through this Nadi, Kundalini, when awakened, passes to Brahmarandhra. The spinal cord is not divided or separated from the brain. It is continuous with the brain. All the cranial and spinal nerves are connected with this cord. Every nerve of the body is connected with this. The organs of reproduction, micturition, digestion, blood-circulation, respiration are all controlled by this spinal cord. Spinal cord opens out into the fourth ventricle of the brain in the medulla oblongata. From the fourth ventricle it runs along the third, then the fifth ventricle of the brain and finally it reaches the crown of the head, Sahasrara Chakra.
Sushumna Nadi

When we study the construction, location and function of the Spinal Cord and the Sushumna Nadi, we can readily say that the Spinal Cord was called Sushumna Nadi by the Yogins of yore. The Western Anatomy deals with the gross form and functions of the Spinal Cord, while the Yogins of ancient times dealt with all about the subtle (Sukshma) nature. Now in Kundalini Yoga, you should have a thorough knowledge of this Nadi. Sushumna extends from the Muladhara Chakra (second vertebra of coccygeal region) to Brahmarandhra. The Western Anatomy admits that there is a central canal in the Spinal Cord, called Canalis Centralis and that the cord is made up of grey and white brain-matter. Spinal Cord is dropped or suspended in the hollow of the spinal column. In the same way, Sushumna is dropped within the spinal canal and has subtle sections. It is of red colour like Agni (fire).

Within this Sushumna there is a Nadi by name Vajra which is lustrous as Surya (sun) with Rajasic qualities. Again within this Vajra Nadi, there is another Nadi, called Chitra. It is of Sattvic nature and of pale colour. The qualities of Agni, Surya and Chandra (fire, sun and moon) are the three aspects of Sabda Brahman. Here within this Chitra, there is a very fine minute canal (which is known as Canalis Centralis). This canal is known as Brahmanadi through which Kundalini, when awakened, passes from Muladhara to Sahasrara Chakra. In this centre exist all the six Chakras (lotuses, viz., Muladhara, Svadhishthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha and Ajna). The lower extremity of the Chitra Nadi is called Brahmadvara, the door of Brahman, as Kundalini has to pass through this door to Brahmarandhra. This corresponds to Haridwar which is the gate of Hari of Badrinarayan in the macrocosm (physical plane). The Chitra terminates in the Cerebellum. In a general sense the Sushumna Nadi itself (gross Spinal Cord) is called Brahma Nadi because, Brahma Nadi is within the Sushumna. Again the canal within the Chitra is also called Sushumna, because the canal is within the Sushumna. Ida and Pingala Nadis are on the left and right sides of the spine. Chitra is the highest and most beloved of the Yogins. It is like a thin thread of lotus. Brilliant with five colours, it is in the centre of Sushumna. It is the most vital part of the body. This is called the Heavenly way. It is the giver of Immortality. By contemplating on the Chakras that exist in this Nadi, the Yogi destroys all sins and attains the Highest Bliss. It is the giver of Moksha. When the breath flows through Sushumna, the mind becomes steady. This steadiness of the mind is termed Unmani Avastha, the highest state of Yoga. If you sit for meditation when Sushumna is operating, you will have wonderful meditation. When the Nadis are full of impurities, the breath cannot pass into the middle Nadi. So one should practise Pranayama for the purification of Nadis.
Para-Sympathetic And Sympathetic System

On either side of the spinal cord run the sympathetic and para-sympathetic cords, a double chain of ganglia. Ganglia means a collection of nerve-cells. These constitute the Autonomic System which supplies nerves to the involuntary organs, such as heart, lungs, intestines, kidneys, liver, etc., and controls them. Vagus nerve which plays a vital part in human economy comes out of this sympathetic system. Sympathetic system stimulates or accelerates. Para-sympathetic system retards or inhibits. There are nerves to dilate or expand the arteries which carry pure oxygenated blood to nourish the tissues, organs and cells of different parts of the body. These are called Vaso-dilators. The left and the right sympathetic chains are connected by filaments. These cross from the right to the left side and vice versa, but the exact places where these crosses are not known, though several have attempted to find. MKendrick and Snodgrass in their Physiology of the Senses write: Where the sensory fibres cross from one side to the other is not known ..... In some parts of the spinal cord the sensory fibres do cross from the right to left side and vice versa.
Ida And Pingala Nadis

Ida and Pingala Nadis are not the gross sympathetic chains. These are the subtle Nadis that carry the Sukshma Prana. In the physical body these tentatively correspond to the right and left sympathetic chains. Ida starts from the right testicle and Pingala from the left testicle. They meet with Sushumna Nadi at the Muladhara Chakra and make a knot there. This junction of three Nadis at the Muladhara Chakra is known as Mukta Triveni. Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati dwell in Pingala, Ida and Sushumna Nadis respectively. This meeting place is called Brahma Granthi. Again these meet at the Anahata and Ajna Chakra. In the macrocosm also you have a Triveni at Prayag where the three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati meet.

Ida flows through the left nostril and Pingala through the right nostril. Ida is also called Chandra Nadi (moon) and Pingala as Surya Nadi (sun). Ida is cooling and Pingala is heating. Pingala digests the food. Ida is of pale, Sakti Rupa. It is the great nourisher of the world. Pingala is of fiery red, Rudra Rupa. Ida and Pingala indicate Kala (time) and Sushumna swallows time. The Yogi knows the time of his death; takes his Prana into Sushumna; keeps it in Brahmarandra, and defies time (Kaladeath). The famous Yogi Sri Chang Dev of Maharashtra fought against death several times by taking the Prana into Sushumna. He was a contemporary of Sri Jnanadev of Alandi, near Poona. It was he who had Bhuta Siddhi, control over wild animals, through his Yogic practices. He came on the back of a tiger to see Sri Jnanadev.

We may have to observe certain physical activities. Mind is very much wavering. Knowing fully well that something is wrong, it would like to do it. We know well that to hear bad things is not good and yet we do it. We should teach it a lesson. "O ears! Why do you go after listening to the tales of all and sundry? When the Lord's name is chanted, why don't you pay heed?" You should teach the ears to listen to tales that would give happiness to all and such facts that would glorify the Lord. "You go and see films, which do you no good, again and again. But you do not wish to contemplate on the Lord even for a moment. O eyes! Pay heed." In this manner, you must teach senses lessons and control them. When mind begins to wander hither and thither, one must engage it. If mind does not have anything to do, it would roam the whole world. "By the time truth begins to wear sandals, untruth would go around the world and come." Similarly mind, if no work is assigned, would go round the world. So, before sitting for meditation, one must assign some work to the mind. What type of work? It has been a known fact that mind is a mad monkey. To make a monkey busy while he performs other feats, the street performer would plant a stick in the ground and ask the monkey to repeatedly go up and down the stick. Similarly we must assign the job of a watchman to the mind near that part of forehead where eyebrows join. By constant practice, we can make the mind stay in one place. As one constantly breaths 'Soham', the breath gets controlled. This is the great power of Yoga. There is no separate effort that one needs to make to arouse Kundalini. When all the vital air remains outside, in search of food, Kundalini would rise. Some base 'lamp' as the point of concentration. This elucidates the principle of 'Unity in diversity' and 'Many in One'. This cannot be understood by all very easily and does not confer bliss very easily. We should construe three types of pictures - imaginary, mental or one based on feeling and actualisation. Example for the first one - you have seen Swami. If you close your eyes and begin to

visualise Swami's hair and robe, then you would have picture created by imagination or 'Uha'. This picture goes away in a moment. It appears as though it has been seen but goes away the moment you begin to visualise further. The second type of picturisation - 'Bhava' is not like this. It takes some time. You can picturise Swami from feet upwards - feet, gown, inside robe, hands, neck, eyes, nose, mouth, ears and crown of hair. Like this by the time you picturise, half-an-hour would have elapsed. If you continuously go about doing this - picturising Swami from foot to head and vice versa - it would lead to Sakshatkara i.e. actual manifestation. Upon practising in this manner you would realise that you are able to see the form for a fraction at least before it fades away. So, this is not the goal. One should not go by imagination. One should go by feeling. One should go on painting each limb. One eye on one side and another eye on the other side-You should not think thus. Is this eye parallel to the other? - In this fashion, one must minutely paint the picture. In the process, mind would become totally engaged. "Knower of the Brahman becomes Brahman". If you were to melt silver and pour it into the mould of Lord Krishna, the feet, hands, eyes, mouth and even hair would be that of silver. Similarly, when one concentrates and paints the mind with the form, the mind would also be transformed into the form. When you question as to where the mind is, you would get the answer - in Swami's feet, in Swami's hair, in Swami's eyes etc. i.e., mind is totally immersed in Swami's form. Therefore, meditation is that which would transform mind into the form and not vice versa. When we sit for Meditation our body should not be in contact with anyone else's body. When one works with electricity, one would done some sort of insulation (wood/cloth) to insure against shock. Similarly, meditation also is a kind of power. It also would give a shock if two bodies touch. In every body, there is current. The current goes/gets lost through nails, hair, eyes and speech. In the olden days people allowed nails and hair to grow because they did not want the current to be wasted. It is due to that current that hair and nails grow and eyes and other organs function. What is the reason for Munis to observe silence? They realised that current gets wasted through words and hence observed silence. Not understanding this we begin to conclude that in the forest the saints did not have any facilities to trim their hair and nails and hence they were unkempt. They were making efforts to convert the current in the body into Divine Power and hence their appearance. One should not have contact with another in more than necessary manner.

Attachment with an object or a person might grow into a deeper relationship. They lead to certain desires. As the desires get fulfilled, ego would begin to sprout. If the desires do not find fruition, anger would develop. Therefore desires have ill-effects, either way. When the desires become many, man's sense of intelligence dwindles. This causes loss of control over the speech and unwarranted words would emanate from the person, criticising and hurting others. That would lead to abusing others. The act of abusing is a fuel to the fire of sin. Therefore, the root cause for sin is relationship. So, excess of contact should not be had in the first place. In Rishikesh there was a choultry by the name 'Kali Kamliwala'. It was a tradition in those days to feed all those who came there. One Sannyasi got a wheat bread and since he could not find any place, went to the river Ganga and sitting on a rock, began to partake of the same. In this manner, he spent some years using the rock as his dining place. As it happened, a relation developed between him and the rock. On a particular day by the time he could procure alms, it became later than usual. Meanwhile some other Sannyasi got his alms and sat at that rock to have his meal. The older Sannyasi got his wheat bread and came to the rock. He began to have an argument - "Ai! This is my rock; you go somewhere else." They both began to have a duel. At that place, there was a saint by the name Satchidanandam. He came and enquired of the quarrelling Sannyasins as to the reason for their fight. When he became aware of the reason, he admonished them saying - "You have left behind your wives, children, parents, relatives and shaved your head and swore to lead a life of mendicancy. Now due to your attachment, you have developed anger between yourselves." Similarly, you have all come here leaving behind many things for education and Swami. Why develop unnecessary contacts? Maintain a relation akin to "Hello! Hello; How are you? Good-bye! Good-bye." There is another incident that took place at Rishikesh. One person went from Mysore state and became a Sannyasin at Rishikesh. About 6 kms from Rishikesh is a famous cave known as 'Vasishta's cave'. Purushottamananda used to do penance there. It was near Ganges and the air was cool and serene and the area was dense with shade bestowing trees. That Sannyasi (one who came from Mysore) used to meditate under the tree and live by eating whatever bread was given to him. One day, a tourist bus came from Karnataka state. They also came to see 'Vasishta cave' and later were sitting under a tree talking. The Sannyasin who was meditating, heard them speak in Kannada. A little attachment towards the language sprouted in him. He left meditation and began to converse with them in Kannada. They told him that they came from Bangalore District. "Which village do you come from?" asked the Sannyasin who was influenced by the attachment to his own street.

They said that they were in the street of Rama's temple. Affected by the attachment to his house, he asked them as to what was their house number. They said that their house number was 11. He asked the troupe if they knew his father who was in the house numbered 12. Body attachment prevailed. They said that his father passed away 3 months previously. The Sannyasin began to weep. Why should the Sannyasin leave his meditation in the first place and enquire of the tourists various details? This attachment caused all the sorrow. It is only when you leave all responsibilities can your meditation progress. Sometimes the varied nature of Nature attracts. One should never succumb to the temptations. To arouse Kundalini and sit in meditation is very difficult. The easiest path is pure love. No meditation can surpass/equal this. We want to prepare Sambar. We got fresh vegetables from Bangalore in the morning. We got fresh tamarind, white, spotless salt and impeccable Dal also was procured. The cook is an exceptionally skilled one. We have made Sambar. But when it was served, it turned out to be poison. Reason? None of the ingredients were faulty nor was the cook. The vessel in which it was cooked was not clean! Similarly, we do meditation, Bhajans - in fact we even swing during Bhajans but we are far away from obtaining peace. This is because we do not have the unsullied love in our hearts. Many wonder as to why they have not obtained peace in spite of doing meditation and Bhajans etc. It is because they have not cleaned their hearts with pure love. Another example. There is a mango tree. Hundreds of ripe and unripe mangos are present. You water it and put manure also. All of a sudden, one fine morning, the tree looks dried-up, what is the reason? Have you not given water and manure? What is the reason for a tree which was resplendently green the previous day to look lack-lustre the very next day? The roots have been eaten away by the pests! Similarly, we may be doing meditation, chanting rosary and attending Bhajans externally; but wicked qualities might be gnawing at the heart. Therefore, send away wicked qualities; fill yourself with virtues; and develop love. Meditation is not something of a pose given for a photographer. It is not for others. It is for one's own self. There are certain cautions that are to be observed in this regard. One should be seated on a plank at least 1/2 inch above the ground. On top of this, skin of an animal - preferably a docile and pure - satvic animal - deer is to be spread. In order to prevent the deer hair causing irritation, a thin cloth is advised to be spread over it. All these to be done so as not to cause any disturbance to our meditation. If kundalini were to really begin rising, the earth would pull it downward.

To avoid this and to avoid any shock, this plank is put. In this manner the ancients have experienced and expressed it to us. Instead of going for meditation and spoiling your mind, it is better you create the form you are interested in, put that picture in front of you and observe carefully. While observing deeply, close your eyes. Now, begin to paint the form that you have seen, in your mind's eye. Then your mind would be totally enveloped in the form. Gradually even when you open your eyes, you begin to see the form everywhere. That is manifestation - Sakshatkara. This does not happen if you were to do it once in a while. You should daily do this both morning, evening and at all other times also. Then you begin to see the form spreading itself in all limbs and all bodies. Most importantly, youth's mind is most wavering. During the day the youth must spend time reading class books and assimilating them. The reason being that mind will not enter unnecessary avenues when it has a lot of work to do. We must attach ourselves to work so as to deprive mind from associating itself with outside world. Both morning and evening let the mind be immersed in Dhyana/Meditation in the aforesaid manner. Meditation is a path of obtaining sanctity. It is a process of obtaining unity; a path of experiencing divinity. Your mind must merge in the Lord just as a river merges into the ocean. Then mind as such does not exist. Then you become beyond mind. The river has a form, name and taste before merging into the ocean. After merging, it loses all such identities. This has been conveyed by Ramadas in a song form: "There is a fortress of seven boundaries. In the fort there is a garden - one of worldly desires. If you want to find the path through the garden, sing the name of the Lord Rama. The whole Kingdom will be filled with light." The boundaries referred to are the seven nerve-centres/chakras. This song was heard by Lord Rama. He replied: "The essence is like oil. The Truth is like wick. When the light fades away, neither the oil nor the wick follow it. They stay there itself." Then Ramadas got a doubt "The support is the tree and the grip is another branch of the tree. If the basis/support is left in the hope of relying on the strength of the branch and the branch also breaks then salvation is imminent." Here, the basis is the worldly desires and the branch which would break is the society in which you live. If you leave the desires and if the world/society shuns you, you are bound to attain salvation. You need the society as long as you have not understood the true reality. Therefore, one needs firewood only as long as the cooking is being done. One does not need firewood after the food has been cooked.

Veda, Shastra, Purana, Itihasa etc. are essential only as long as one has not understood oneself. After one has realised oneself, all these become unnecessary. Hence, it is not possible to renounce/detach oneself from the society unless one has realised oneself. You have to realise yourself by living in the world. Some creatures like caterpillar, crawling from one leaf to another. In the process, it catches the leaf it would like to go to and then release the leaf it has been on. It does not leave the base before catching/obtaining the support. Similarly, we should leave world after obtaining divinity and not before. Otherwise, we would have lost both the worlds. Do not be carried away by the term Meditation. It is not something that one does by sitting for a couple minutes or hours. It should be always at all places (the contemplation on the Lord). It should not pertain only to Mandir/meditation room. Wherever one goes, be it market or classes, one should be totally absorbed. We should be totally sacred in our feelings. This is possible only through the path of love. Speak lovingly to all people. Even such a speech should be in moderation. This is because mind begins to change as words become many. One sage came from the Himalayas and declared that he had conquered anger. He met his friends and told them that he was totally at peace and that he had no anger in him at all. One came and asked him - "Sir! Have you conquered anger?" "Yes! I have controlled" came the guarded reply. That person reiterated, "Sir! You of all the people! Have you really conquered anger?" "Yes, it is true" came the gruff reply. "What sir! It is really impossible to believe. How could you conquer anger?" Asked the man for the third time. "Ai! Can't you understand when I have said so?" Came the hot reply. "Sir! When this is the case, how could you have conquered anger?", asked the man for the fourth time. "Are you out of your senses? I told you that I have conquered". So, while saying that he had conquered anger, due to repetition of words, he lost control over anger. If words were not expressed, anger might cooled down. But as he expressed them, anger grew. Due to lack of patience, anger emanates. There is no other remedy for anger. Only cultivation of patience is the answer. Today man is bent upon conquering/vanquishing/controlling anger. This is wrong. He must inculcate patience. Then anger will automatically subside. If darkness has to be expelled, light has to be brought. Similarly, to expel anger, patience has to be fostered. So, make efforts to develop patience. Patience or sanctity can be attained only through love. There is nothing that cannot be attained with love. One can attain all with love. Everything is dedicated/subordinate to love. Hence it is said LOVE IS GOD; LIVE IN LOVE. If the concept of love is perfectly understood, it in itself becomes Meditation. Meditate on love. But the love should be selfless. It should be dedicated to the Lord. Any kind of love once offered to Lord becomes sanctified.

We have made sweet pongal at home. We call it sweet pongal and eat it. The same sweet pongal once it is offered to the Lord in a temple, we call it 'prasadam' / blessed food. The moment you offer it to the Lord, it becomes prasadam. All defects - defects of the ingredients, cooking and the vessel would get removed after such an offering. For the sweet pongal made at home, there may not be cleanliness of the vessel, ingredients or the cooking process itself. In order to remove all defects from the food cooked - we do not know wherefrom the vegetables have come; may be they were stolen; may be the intention of the seller was not good. We assemble all food items and pray to Lord that everything be blessed. Then it all becomes prasadam and all defects run away from the same. There is a small clause in meditation. All cannot do the same type of meditation. Meditation changes from person to person depending on their state of evolution/capacity. All doing one type of meditation is not proper. Each has his own form to worship and the way he goes about it may also differ. Some worship God as Mother of the Universe; some consider Him as Father of the Universe while others consider God to be their friend. There are those who worship God as Master/husband. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Gauranga are examples of this nature. Jayadeva and Gauranga had not done any meditation. They felt no need for meditation as they could see God everywhere. There is a small anecdote. This happened to many great men in all the yugas. Gaurangada entered a small village called Nava Dweepa. He could not find a place to live. If he were to go the streets to do bhajan, mischievous boys would throw stones at him. They troubled him in numerous ways. To avoid all this, he entered the temple of Lord Eshwara. Keeping his legs on top of the Lingam - image of Lord Shiva, he lay down to sleep. In the morning the chief priest arrived. Considering him to be a mad man, the priest beat him. "O fool! How dare you put your feet on top of the Lord's image? Could you not find any other place to keep your feet?", asked the priest. Then Chaitanya replied - "Sir! Please show me the place where Eshwara does not exist and I shall gladly place my feet on that spot." Saying that he would show him, the priest dragged Chaitanya by the feet and dropped him aside. Due to his merit, even there the image of the Lord appeared. The pujari dragged him all over the mandir, wherever Chaitanya's feet fell, Eshwara's image was seen to emerge. Then the pujari realised his folly. God pervades the universe. How then can anyone define a place to be devoid or filled with God? For a true aspirant God's insignia are seen everywhere. Since God pervades the creation, there is nothing that is unsacred. But there is bound to be a change in the way we utilise the same. Therefore, we can make some changes in the society, house and people with whom we deal. Then alone can we obtain peace of

mind. It is not meditation if one were to close one's eyes/sit in lotus posture/sit without movements. The most important factor for meditation is to fill the heart with love. That love is verily God Himself. Along with this love you must also sit in the lotus posture and in the manner described earlier to awaken the kundalini power and thus give more meaning to your lives. You may go anywhere and do anything. But your heart must be filled with pure love. Gaurangada, Tukaram, Nammalwar etc., have lived in this manner. If purity of heart is one's property, one can question the Lord's ways as a rightful gesture. After a lot of merit, we have acquired the birth of a human being. If we do not make good use of it, it would be a sheer waste. Gems in the ocean are not easily available. With a great difficulty if one were to dive deep and brave the attack of sharks, one could manage to obtain rare pearls hidden in the womb of the ocean. The pearl that is got after such a strenuous effort, if one were to lose it, one would not get it back however much one may pine. "Sway! Lord Krishna! I have obtained with great difficulty the pearl of Krishna from the deep ocean of samsara. Please shower your grace that I may not lose it", prayed Meera. Since her prayer was such, Lord Krishna also granted her that wish. She loved and pined for Krishna so much that her anguish at the separation from the Lord turned into penance and she merged into the Lord. Every human who would like to turn the energy in him to divinity must participate in prayers. Prayer for mind is as essential as food is for body. Good food strengthens the body. Stale food brings about ill-health. Similarly, if we participate in prayers, our heart becomes pure. If, on the other hand, one were to participate with pomposity, ego and show, it would be like the bad food harming the mind. Therefore youth must travel from slumber and inactivity to penance. Whatever we may do, we must do with determination. One should not stop meditation after having begun, in a span of 2 days. Whole life should be transformed into meditation. We have come essentially for that purpose. We must discharge our duties. Along with this knowledge we must seek worldly education also. One must accept the basis of the worldly education. I have told many a time. I am repeating, observe the message carefully. There are many metals in the earth - Iron, steel etc. As they are deep inside earth, due to heat, they are available in the form of liquid. Due to this heat even iron would be in a liquid state. This we call as Chemistry. As we gradually come to the surface, the materials solidify as the temperature decreases and we call it as Physics. As dust and other particles join this, plants begin to sprout in it. The study of these plants is called Botany. Insects and birds come from everywhere to these plants.

The study of these birds and insects is called Zoology. What is the basis for Zoology? Botany? The foundation of Botany is Physics which in turn is based on Chemistry. So, for Chemistry also there must be some foundation. Isn't it? There is water in this tumbler. For the water to stay, there must be a container in the first place. If there is no vessel, how can liquid stay put? Therefore the source of sciences - Chemistry has its foundation in divinity. Therefore, all the sciences have stemmed from the root of Divinity. So, for all subjects Divinity is the primal basis. If we were to catch the vessel, Divinity, all the contents, subjects, would easily become ours. Today we are ready to catch the creation and investigate but have not ever thought of investigating the nature of the creator. Even those that harm us become friendly in the presence of the Lord. Serpent adorns the neck of Lord Shiva. Since it is around the neck of the Lord, we bow down to it also. Same serpent if seen in the bazaar would die due to the blows received from us. Though it is a poisonous snake, since it adorns the neck of the Lord, it becomes worthy of worship. Once Lord Vishnu sent Garuda to Eshwara with a message. Eshwara's body is very peculiar. His body is smeared with vibhuti/ash. He has moon as his crown jewel and serpents as his other ornaments. To such Shiva when Garuda flew and landed, the breeze created by his wings disturbed the sacred ash of the Lord which fell into the eyes of the snake adorning His neck. The serpent, in anger, hissed at Garuda. Garuda replied, "O snake! Since you adorn the Lord's neck you are saved. Had you been in the bazaar/market place, I would have snatched you with my feet and torn you to shreds. Since you are in the proximity of the Lord you have earned the right to be forgiven." Similarly, since you are enjoying Swami's proximity, people praise you. The moment you leave Swami and go, people do not care a fig for you. Wherever you go, you must absorb whatever has been taught here and keeping the discipline as your shadow and Swami in your heart must create peace around you. Once in a while to recharge your batteries, you can come to Swami. In this way, you can enjoy Swami's Love and Grace.

Jyoti Meditation

"As regards the technique of meditation, different teachers and trainers give different forms of advice. But I shall give you now the most universal and the most effective form. This is the very first step in spiritual discipline. At first, set a few minutes every day for meditation, and extend the time as you feel the bliss that you get.

"Let it be in the hours before dawn. This is preferable because the body is refreshed after sleep, and the dealings of daytime will not yet have impinged on you. Have a lamp or a candle before you with an open, steady, and straight flame. Sit in front of the candle in the lotus posture or any other comfortable sitting position. Look on the flame steadily for some time, and closing your eyes try to feel the flame inside you between your eyebrows. Let it slide down into the lotus of your heart, illuminating the path. When it enters the heart, imagine that the petals of the lotus open out by one, bathing every thought, feeling, and emotion in the light and so removing darkness from them. There is no space for darkness to hide. The light of the flame becomes wider and brighter. Let it pervade your limbs. Now those limbs can never indulge in dark, suspicious, and wicked activities; they have become instruments of light and love. As the light reaches up to the tongue, falsehood vanishes from it. Let it rise up to the eyes and the ears and destroy all the dark desires that infest them and which lead you to perverse sights and childish conversation. Let your head be surcharged with light and all wicked thoughts will flee there from. Imagine that the light is in you more and more intensely. Let it shine all around you and let it spread from you in ever widening circles, taking in your loved ones, your kith and kin, your friends and companions, your enemies and rivals, strangers, all living beings, the entire world. "Since the light illumines all the senses every day so deeply and so systematically, a time will soon come when you can no more relish dark and evil sights, yearn for dark and sinister tales, crave for base, harmful, deadening toxic food and drink, handle dirty demeaning things, approach places of ill-fame and injury, or frame evil designs against anyone at any time. Stay on in that thrill of witnessing the light everywhere. If you are adoring God in any form now, try to visualize that form in the all-pervasive light. For Light is God; God is Light. "Practice this meditation as I have advised regularly every day. At other times repeat the name of God (any Name fragrant with any of His many Majesties), always taking care to be conscious of His might, mercy, and munificence." - Sri Sathya Sai Baba Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume X, Page 348-350, Shivarathri, 1979

Jyothi Meditation Based on Bhagavan's step-by-step directions.

Jyothi (flame) Meditation is the foremost spiritual discipline geared towards gaining inner peace. 1) We should have a fixed time and place every day where we sit for meditation either in the morning and/or evening.

2) We should sit on a thin mattress for this exercise. The sitting pose or asana should be comfortable both for our mind and body. 3) We should then chant Omkar, the Universal Mantra glorified as 'Nada Brahma' at least 3 times but preferably 21 times. The mind under the influence of this divine sound slowly loses momentum and becomes more and more tranquil and steady. 4) The next step is to put the breath in rhythm. The easiest and the most effortless method is to watch the breath, thereby the process becomes normal, that is, longer and calmer. When we inhale, the breath sounds 'So' and when we exhale, it sounds 'Humm' which means 'He' i.e. "God" and 'I' respectively or "God am I". 5) Accordingly, synchronizing with these two breaths, imagine that the flame 'Jyoti' is within us. Feel that the light of the flame is in our heart, right in the centre of the Lotus. Gently move the light to other parts of your body -- the stomach, the limbs, the eyes, the ears and the tongue. Feel that the entire body is illumined thereby. Rejoice that the light is the light of love; it removes hatred; it dispels darkness and doubt; it reveals that all are Divine. 6) As the light fills the eyes, you must feel that they have been purified. They shall no longer seek to look upon evil sights. When the light lights the tongue with love, decide that there is no more scope for uttering harsh words. Similarly, once the radiance of the divine light bathes the arms, they can no longer delight in performing harmful deeds while the feet can no longer move into polluting areas and places. 7) Now visualize the light as surrounding our physical body and spreading far out to family members, neighbours and even those whom we do not like. Every object is enveloped in that divine effulgence. Isavaasyam Idam Sarvam. All this is illumined by God. This is the stage of bliss. 8) In this manner, the ONE flame on which we concentrate can cleanse our mind and body and spread its light and radiance to include our entire environment. 9) Finally, take the Jyoti on to the figure of our Ishta Devta or the Deity of you choice and/or fix our vision on the Jyoti, and commence meditation or silent sitting for a few minutes, followed by Japa of our chosen Mantra with the full understanding of its meaning and firm faith in its power and benefits. It should be inter-woven with our breathing process of inhaling and exhaling.

Exercise on Jyoti Meditation. Instructions compiled from Sri Sathya Sai Discourses
1. Let us close the eyes and chant Omkar (OM) 3 times To make the mind become tranquil and steady.

2. Keeping the eyes closed, let us put the breath in rhythm To make it normal and calmer. In our mind (mentally) repeat "SOHUM'. (1-2 mins.) As we inhale mentally repeat "SO" As we exhale mentally repeat "HUM". (1-2 mins.)

3. Let us mentally bathe the senses in the light Look at the Jyoti, imagine that the flame is ablaze in the Lotus of our heart. Having the beautiful feeling of LOVE. Take the flame to the different parts of the body. "Let not my eyes see evil "Let not my ears hear evil or bad "Let my tongue speak only sweet words "Let my hands do only right things "Let my legs be always moving towards places for good actions and good work." Now, bring the flame up the legs slowly, strengthening; up through the stomach, cleansing; through to the eyes, taking away all the darkness and out of the body through the head, purify us. 4. Open the eyes and look at the Jyoti. (2-3 mins.) 5. Now imagine the figure, of the form of your choice (Baba), for worshipping in the Jyoti. (2-3mins.) 6. Effortlessly repeat OM SAI RAM or your personal mantra. (2-3 mins.) It should be natural and without tension. Relax. 7. Slowly close the eyes and meditate for a few minutes. (15-20 mins.) 8. Keep the eyes closed, stop repeating the mantra, or having the flame and form consciously. (2-3 mins.)

9. End meditation.

Softly and slowly.

Om Asato Ma Sadgamaya Lead me from untruth to truth Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya Lead me from darkness to light Mrutyor Ma Amrutamgamaya Lead me from death to immorality Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Peace Peace Peace

Lord Sai Baba on Meditation

We always have enough time to talk, visit cinemas etc. There is certainly time for meditation. The power is from God (referring to the feeling of strength after meditation). Early morning is best. Mind is quiet and there is not the pressure of responsibilities. There is difficulty during the day. People are around, and there is work. If meditation is attempted, even work may suffer. Real medi tation is getting absorbed in God as the only thought, the only goal. God only, only God. Think God, breathe God, love God. Concentration means, when all senses and desires fall away and there is only God. In between concentration and meditation, like a separation between the two, is contemplation. Concentration to contemplation, then meditation. As long as one thinks "I am meditating" that is the mind and not meditation. As long as one knows he is meditating, he is not meditating. In absorption in God, one puts aside every form and merges into God. In that process the mind naturally stops. Meditation for its proper practice, should be at the same place, at the same time. In that way, it surely will be successful. If one is away from home in travel, in his mind he can go to the accustomed place no matter where he is. Truth is in every place at all times. When away from Swami, by remembering Him doing this or that, the battery is "recharged". That also is genuine meditation. Meditation is constant inner inquiry as to who am I, what is true, what is ego action, what is loving and what is harsh. Meditation is thinking on spiritual principles, searching out the application to oneself of what Baba says, and the like. For the one who has completely surrendered to God and whose heart is filled with love for God, these 'college courses' (referring to Hatha Yoga etc) are not needed and have no meaning and are quite unnecessary.

 The Atma is everywhere, but for the purpose of sitting in meditation, the life pr inciple can be considered as being 10 inches above the navel and at the centre of the chest. An inch in this measurement is the width of the thumb at the first joint. Without concentration nothing can be done. And we use that concentration through out the day. Why is that same concentration so difficult to come in spiritual matters? Because the mind is outward turned, and by desire the mind clings to object. But the mind can be trained to concentrate inwardly, and the heart can be cultured to grow with love for God. How? By sadhana. The best sadhana is that every act through the day be done as worship of God. A fence is placed around a young tree to protect it. The same precautions must be observed in meditation. People think it is all right to meditate in any place. There are currents, there is will power. There is a strong current passing into the earth. Because of this, the earth exerts a strong attraction. In meditation it is advisable to insulate oneself from such currents. For this reason, meditators sit on a plank and cover their shoulders with a woollen shawl. Once the person has grown strong in his meditation, he may sit anywhere and not suffer for it. The light is first moved into the heart which is conceived as a lotus, the petals of whi ch will open. The Jyothi is then moved to other body parts. There is no particular sequence. But important is the final body station, which is the head. There the light becomes a crown enshrining and covering the head. The light is then moved outside, from the particular to the universal. Move the light into relatives, friends, enemies, trees, animals, birds until the entire world and all its forms are seen to have the same light at their centre as has been found to be within oneself. The idea of moving the light into the universal phase, the idea of universality is that the same divine light is present in everyone and everywhere. To impress this universality on the mind, we do the spreading of the light outside one's own body. One should understand that what comes about in meditation as one moves deeply into it, is not the thinking of the light, but the forgetting of the body and thereby the direct experience that the body is not oneself. This is the stage of contemplation when the body is totally forgotten. It cannot be forced. It comes about by itself and is the stage that naturally follows correct concentration. Seeing the light and moving the light here and there is to give work to the mind, to keep the mind occupied in the right direction so that the mind will not be thinking of this and that and thus interfering with the process of becoming more and more quiet. Spreading the light into its universal phase, sending the light into every other body, and when one is so concentrated in it that he is no longer conscious of his body, is the stage of contemplation. As contemplation deepens, the stage of meditation comes about of its own volition. It cannot be forced. If the meditator remains conscious of himself and that he is engaged in meditatio n, then he is not meditating but is still in the preliminary stage, at the beginning of concentration.

 There are three stages: concentration, contemplation and meditation. When contemplation deepens it moves naturally into meditation. Meditation is entirely above the senses. In the state of meditation, the meditator, the object of his meditation and the process of meditation have fallen away, and there is only one, and that One is God. All that may change has fallen away and Tat Twam Asi, That Thou Art, is the state that exists. As one gradually returns to this customary and habitual state of consciousness, the Jyothi is again placed in the heart and kept lighted there though out the day. The three stages, concentration which is below the senses, meditation which is entirely above the senses and contemplation which lies between and is partially within the senses and partially above the senses, which is on the border of each, this is the experience in genuine meditation whether the object taken be form or light. There is no essential difference. If the devotee has a form of God to which he is particularly devoted, he may merge that form into the Jyothi, and that form is most attractive to him and is the object of his concentration and is seen to be within the light wherever it is seen. Or, the concentration may be just on the form of God, for God is universal in every form. Again, the object chosen is just a device to allow one to sink deeply into quietness and to allow the body, which is non-self, to fall away out of consciousness. Anything concrete, such as light, form or sound may be chosen as the object of concentration. It is possible to just move directly into the stage of meditation. Meditation as described by Swami is the royal road, the easy path. For meditation to be effective there must be steady practice with no hurry and no worry. With steady practice, the person will become quiet and the state of meditation will naturally come about. To think otherwise is weakness. Success is assured. Call upon God, He will help you. He will respond and He himself will be your guru. He will guide you. He will always be at your side. Think God, see God, hear God, eat God, drink God, love God. That is the easy path, the royal road to your goal of breaking ignorance and the realization of your true nature. Which is one with God. Light a lamp or a candle. Gaze straight ahead at the flame. Then take the candle flame, the Jyothi, into the heart and see it in the midst of the petals of the heart. Watch the petals of the heart unfold and see the light illumine the heart. Bad feelings cannot remain. Then move the flame to the hands and they can no longer do dark deeds. In turn move the flame in like fashion to the eyes and ears so they may henceforth take in only bright and pure sensations. Then move the light outward and into your friends, relatives and enemies, and then into animals, birds and other objects so that all are illumined by the same light. Christ said, "All are one, be alike to everyone." To sit straight is important. Between the 9th and 12th vertebrae is the life -force. If the spine is injured at this point, paralysis occurs. If the body is in straight position, as if it were wound around a straight pole, the life force may rise up through the straight body and give the quality of intense concentration of the mind.

 Moreover, just as a lightning rod attached to the roof of a building attracts lightning, in like fashion a perfectly straight body provides a conductor, so to speak, for divine power to enter the temple of your body and give you the strength to accomplish your task and reach your goal. As another example, the divine power is always here, just as radio signals are here. But to hear the radio music there must be an antenna. Further, if the tuning device is not properly adjusted, there will be some sound but no music. In like fashion, the divine power, which is always present, may flow into you if the meditation is correct and the body straight. First you are in the light. Then the light is in you. Finally, you are the light and the light is everywhere. Enjoy for a while, then bring the light back to the heart and hold it there for all the day. The form of God may also be included. Krishna, Rama, Jesus, Sai, as you wish. The form of God selected may be seen in the centre of the flame wherever it is carried, and then you are with God everywhere. The stomach is four parts: 1/4 part air, 1/4 part food, and 1/2 part water. Too much food results in dullness of the mind. Food in moderation does not result in sickness. Too much milk is bad. It is rajasic. The type of food you eat, that kind of thought will come to your mind. If you have satwic food, there will be satwic effect. Fruit and milk everything that is cool and not hot like strong onions. Meat gives the blood its effect, like passion and similar qualities. Dirty thoughts come with fish. Although fish is always in water, it has a bad smell. If you are keen on spiritual life, eating meat is not worth while; but if you are keen on worldly life, it is all right. There is another spiritual reason. When you kill an animal you give it suffering, pain, harm. God is in every creature, so how can you give such pain? Sometimes when someone beats a dog he cries, he feels so much pain. How much more pain then in killing. Animals did not come to the purpose of supplying food to human beings. They came to work out their own life in the world. When a human being is dead, the foxes and other animals may eat, but we have not come to provide food for those that eat the human body; we have not come for that purpose. Similarly, man eats the animal, but the animal has not come to provide man with food. But, we have taken to eating meat as a habit. In Dwapara Yuga, before Kali Yuga, 5680 years back, milk came into favor. Eleven thousand years is the full length of the Kali Yuga. (i.e. 3712 BC to 7288 AD). The world is also turning round like a fan. Even if the Kali Yuga stops, it still has a few more revolutions to go before the final ending. (speech dated 1968) There are four Yugas. The sequence is circular, and when the last is finished, the whole cycle starts all over again. Kali Yuga still has 5,320 years before ending. (AD 7288. Year now is 1997, another 5,291 years to go!!) (Extracted from: Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba by Dr. John Hislop, pages 145-156, 22. Conversation recorded in 1968) ==============================================================================

Kundalini Awakening
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Audio Podcast: The Secret of Shiva and Shakti Kundalini is innate for all people: At the base of the spine, subtler than the physical body, lies the Kundalini energy, or spiritual energy, in a latent form. Regardless of what religious, spiritual, or meditation tradition one follows, the awakening of this energy, by whatever name you call it, is a most innate and essential part of spiritual advancement, unfoldment, or realization.

All Yoga is Kundalini Yoga: While some people use a specific terminology "Kundalini Yoga" for certain practices, all of Yoga actually leads to the activation of Kundalini. Thus, in a sense, all of Yoga is Kundalini Yoga, regardless of whether you use that specific name. Awakening kundalini and leading it to union with the Absolute is the goal of the Himalayan sages and the path of Yoga, Vedanta, and Tantra.

See also the article: Bindu: Pinnacle of Yoga, Vedanta and Tantra

Stages in Kundalini Awakening: The graphics above display the seven major chakras (section #5), the left and right energies of Ida and Pingala (section #1), and the Sushumna nadi, the central channel that courses through the chakras (Sushumna is sometimes called "silver cord"). The six graphics visually represent the process of Kundalini Awakening. Clicking on each of the six graphics will move you through explanations of the stages. Also, there is an index for the contents of these pages. The six stages are:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Prana usually flow in Ida or Pingala Prana is made to flow in Ida and Pingala Prana is made to flow in Sushumna Kundalini energy is awakened Kundalini is lead upwards Kundalini rises to Sahasrara

Number of stages in Kundalini Awakening: There is nothing especially significant about describing this Kundalini Awakening in six stages (the six graphics), as opposed to some other number; it is simply a convenient way to explain the process. The simplest way of describing the entire process is in three stages:

1. Awakening, opening, or applying Sushumna 2. Awakening Kundalini 3. Kundalini arising to the crown Chakra, Sahasrara
One energy with many names and forms: There is one energy (Shakti) that keeps taking on new shapes and forms. Each time the energy takes on a new form, we give it a new name. See the article Kundalini, Shakti, and a River for an explanation of these names and forms. Shiva and Shakti: Tantra considers the universe to be a manifestation of pure consciousness. Through this process of manifesting, consciousness divides itself into two parts, which, though seeming to be separate, cannot exist without one another. Shiva remains as a static, formless quality. Shakti is a dynamic, creative aspect. The Secret of Shiva and Shakti:

Science and physics: Modern science also considers these two forms of energy, though viewing them in different ways. Science includes, for example, potential energy and kinetic energy (the energy of motion), recognizing that they are both manifestations of the same underlying energy. Tantra describes the unification of all as the pouring out of the energy of consciousness through the manifestation of the static (Shiva) through a veiling and projecting process (Shakti), creating the levels of the universe. At the physical level, modern physics also seeks to find a unifying source, and is in the process of explaining this unification through quark and string theories.

Like ink and the word: Shiva and Shakti are inseparable and coexist, like ink and the written word, which, though one and the same, are different. With one pen of ink, many different words or images can be manifested, although there remains only one container (pen) of ink. It is that creative process of manifestation that makes the ink appear to have different forms and meaning from one word to the next. When you write different words, or draw both a circle and a square, you have not created a single ink molecule, but have only rearranged the existing molecules, creating the appearance of different words or forms. It remains exactly what it was in the first place, which is ink. This is not negative or merely intellectually reductionistic, but is a most awesome, beautiful process. Similarly, the unmanifest Shiva can manifest into countless forms through the creative appearance of Shakti. Simple metaphors such as ink and written word can be extremely useful to contemplate on, so as to understand the principle of the one appearing to be two, and how these two dance together to form the elegant complexity of manifest reality. Experiencing their union: The journey of Tantra and Kundalini Yoga leads to Kundalini Awakening and to the realization of the Absolute, where these two apparently different aspects of manifestation are experienced in their original union. Yoga means union, or joining, and this union of the static and the dynamic is the meaning of Yoga (see also Yoga Sutras, particularly sutras 1.1-1.4, which define Yoga). Through the process of going ever deeper or higher in practices relating to your own constitution, one repeatedly comes to see the way in which seemingly different realities and self-identities are only apparent, and that manifestation is the mere play of the creative aspect of Shakti with the static aspect of Shiva. Concepts of Shiva and Shakti: As with many principles of reality, some religious people and traditions conceptualize Shiva and Shakti as anthropomorphic deities, while others view the two as principles and processes of the universe. In either case, the journey of Kundalini Awakening is an inner experience, going from gross to subtle, to subtler, and subtle most, to one's own center of consciousness, by whatever name you choose to call that. In this article, Shiva and Shakti are seen to be the two principles and processes of static and dynamic, as noted several paragraphs above.

See also the article: Secret of Shiva and Shakti

Meaning of kunda and kundala: Kunda means bowl, or cave, and refers to the bowl of fire of consciousness resting in the first chakra at the base of the spine. Lini refers to that which resides in that bowl. Kundala means coiled, as the Shakti forms in a coil there. Meaning of shak: The word shak is the root word of Shakti, and means to be able, or to have power. Hence, Kundalini Shakti is the power of consciousness that is coiled in a latent form, in the base of the spine. External and internal practice: For those who are lesser prepared, the path of external practices (bahiyayag) is preferred, which may include external forms of rituals or symbolic gestures. For those who are prepared, the path of internal practices (antaryag) is available, which involves making the mind onepointed and doing introspection. Kaula, mishra, and samaya tantra: The three schools of tantra are kaula, mishra, and samaya. The kaula school starts with the lower chakras, and involves external practices. The mishra school also works with external practices, and emphasizes the central chakras. The samaya school is the highest, emphasizing the upper chakras. It involves no external practices, focusing only on the inner (antaryag) practices. (The Tantra practice of Yoga Nidra is extremely effective in opening, balancing and purifying the chakras. See also the page describing the Yoga Nidra CD.) Regulating the primitive inclinations: Before treading the later stages of Kundalini Awakening, it is very important to manage the basic urges. Otherwise, the surge of energy may not be handled very well. This means regulating the four primitive fountains of food, sleep, sex, and self-preservation. Spontaneous Kundalini Awakening: The approach of these writings is to describe the systematic process of intentional Kundalini Awakening. However, it may also come spontaneously to people who have done no intentional practices. One may argue that spontaneous awakening may be coming as a result of previous practices that are not remembered, but in either case the perception of the individual may be that nothing was done to bring forward the experience. Integrating the effects: Regardless of whether Kundalini Awakening comes spontaneously or through practices, there may be some amount of time and effort needed to integrate the effects of such experiences into the body and personality. It is a time when stabilizing actions are important, including daily exercise, high quality food, regular sleep patterns, and healthy relationships with other people. During this time is very useful to be around someone who has knowledge of this process, and has experienced it personally. Preparation is most important: Preparation is much more important than the practices of Kundalini Awakening themselves. If one skips the basics and the preparation of body, breath, and mind, then the surge of energy can be more disruptive than beneficial. In the Himalayan tradition Yoga, Vedanta, and Tantra go together, with a solid foundation being built first. The practices of Yoga Nidra and bhuta shuddhi (chakra meditation) can be quite useful.

2 Votes

PARAPSYCHOLOGY Where Science and Magic Meet Dr. Serena Roney-Dougal ARTICLES OF INTEREST On A Possible Psychophysiology of the Yogic Chakra System. S.M. Roney Dougal, PhD, Psi Research Centre, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8HN, Britain. Abstract Recent theoretical research by myself into the pineal gland as the physical locus of ajna chakra, conceived in yogic tradition as being the psychic centre of our being, is extended here to explore the yogic idea of ajna chakra as the command chakra, in command over all the other chakra centres. I have come across multiple references to the importance of melatonin as the off-switch for the endocrine glands output of hormones, working together with the pituitary gland which is considered to be the on-switch. I am suggesting that the pineal gland is the physical aspect of ajna chakra; the thyroid of vishuddhi; the breasts of anahata; the adrenals of manipura; and the gonads of swadhistana and muladhara. These endocrine glands are all positioned at the

traditional points of the chakras and their functions are remarkably equivalent to the traditional descriptions of the chakra functions. I am therefore proposing that the endocrine system is the physiological aspect of the yogic spiritual tradition of the chakras, and that the autonomic nervous system can be equated with the yogic nadis. Introduction Over the last quarter of a century, there has been increasing interest in translating the knowledge of one system into the language of another. For example, 20th century physicists, have been comparing quantum mechanics with mystical knowledge as exemplified by Fritjof Capra in The Tao of Physics (1975). This same process has been occurring in psychology, for example Tarts Transpersonal Psychologies (1975), Paranjpes Theoretical Psychology (1984), both examining Eastern philosophies and religions from a Western psychological standpoint, and research exploring a neurological basis for Near-Death Experiences and their similarity with the kundalini experience (Wile, 1994; Jourdan, 1994). Much of this translation has, of necessity, been in very general terms, since we have to clarify the overall picture first. I seem to be involved in this process from a rather different perspective. I have been researching a specific topic, the pineal as a psi-conducive gland, which has generalized to the endocrine system as the physical aspect of the yogic chakra system. I must stress that what follows is still in a speculative and exploratory stage. The Yogic Chakra System

The yogic chakra system as explained by Swami Satyananda Saraswati (1972), consists of seven chakras which are normally depicted as a sort of spinal column with three channels called nadis (ida, pingala and sushumna) which interweave, the crossing-points being the sites of the chakras (See figure 1). In western terms this can be readily understood as the central nervous system (sushumna) in the spinal cord around which, on either side, runs the autonomic nervous system which has two aspects, the parasympathetic which can be readily correlated with ida, and the sympathetic with pingala, the sympathetic and pingala being the activating aspect of the system and the parasympathetic and ida the relaxing. Where these two cross they form plexuses, or nodes, from which nerves go out to, for example, the heart, lungs, diaphragm, digestive system and the endocrine organs. Satyananda connects this nervous system with the chakras. These chakras are considered to be important points for the channelling of consciousness, energy nodes linking the physical with the spiritual. They have been adopted quite widely into popular usage in the West, partly through the Theosophists at the turn of the century, and partly because of the intense interest in Eastern spirituality birthed during the sixties. There are at present so many differing correspondences and attributes linked to them and therefore this research is presented with the aim of achieving greater clarity. Table 1: Different Correspondences Popularly Linked with the Chakras 1)SwamiSatyanandascorrespondence 2)For Comparison I Show An Alternative Set of Correspondences As Outlined by John Davidson (1989) The Pineal Gland: Ajna Chakra As a parapsychologist I am interested in the Indian lore surrounding ajna chakra which is held to be the psychic centre. This corresponds very closely with our Western lore which considers the pineal gland to be the third eye or the seat of the soul. For example, Swami Satyananda (1972) states that: The name Ajna comes from the root to know and to obey and to follow. Literally the word Ajna means command . . . . Yogis, who are scientists of the subtle mind, have spoken of telepathy as a siddhi, a psychic power for thought communication and clair-audience etc. The medium of such siddhis is Ajna chakra, and its physical terminus is the pineal gland. I have found that his concept of the pineal gland as the psychic chakra and as the command chakra has a sound psychoneuroendocrinological basis. The pineal gland is situated in the centre of the brain and its main function is to make neurohormones which affect both the brain and the body. The pineal works together with the pituitary through the hypothalamus controlling the endocrine system. Basically it is one of the regulators of our circadian rhythm, is implicated in our emotional state, reproductive function, possibly dream sleep and in certain psychoses. Melatonin is the best studied of the pineal neurohormones and was first isolated from cattle in 1963. Before this the pineal was generally considered in the West to be vestigial. Amphibians and reptiles have light sensitive cells in the pineal gland which for them is literally a light sensitive third eye at the top of their brain just below their skull. In humans fibres from the inferior accessory optic tract go to the pineal; these are separate from the main optic tract bundle, which suggests that the light sensitivity of the pineal is not necessarily related to sight (Eichler, 1985). Most people have heard of the pituitary gland, which is often known as the master gland in that the hormones it makes exert a controlling effect on the endocrine organs. Well, we can think of the pituitary as being an on switch and the pineal as being an off switch (the mistress gland) in that it works with the pituitary by switching off the endocrine organs. The form of ajna chakra is traditionally depicted as bilobed and we can understand this to be the joining of the two glands, pituitary and pineal, which makes very good sense from a neuro-endocrinological point of view. To me this makes much better sense than assigning the pituitary to sahasrara, the crown chakra, as some systems do, since sahasrara is better understood as the culmination of everything, the whole rather than any of the parts. Just as muladhara is considered by Satyananda to be the top

chakra of animals and the bottom of humans, so sahasrara can be understood as the top chakra of humanity and the bottom chakra of the next order of being, whatever that may be. The Psychic Chakra: Pinoline There is a large body of neurochemical and anthropological evidence which suggests that the pineal gland may produce a neuro-modulator that enhances a psi-conducive state of consciousness. An abstract of this research was presented at the Parapsychological Association Convention in 1985 (Roney Dougal, 1986). For full details of this research please see Roney-Dougal (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993). In brief, the pineal gland has been found to synthesise various beta-carbolines and peptides, and to contain enzymes that produce psychoactive compounds such as 5-methoxy dimethyltryptamine (5MeODMT) The two precursors that are most likely to be involved in the synthesis of such compounds are serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) and tryptamine (Strassman, 1990). These have wide-ranging effects throughout our brain and body, affecting the gonads, adrenals, pancreas, thyroid, and other emotional and endocrine activities. Of most interest here are the neuromodulators called beta-carbolines which are MAO inhibitors that prevent, amongst other effects, the breakdown of serotonin. This results in an accumulation of physiologically active amines within the neuronal synapses which may lead to hallucinations, depression or mania depending on the amines being affected (Strassman, 1990). Beta-carbolines are also found in the retina of the eyes, in the adrenal glands and in the gut. The pineal contains the greatest concentration of serotonin in the brain, this being accentuated in those who suffer from psychoses. The pineal also contains enzymes that inhibit synthesis of these compounds, thus suggesting a regulating mechanism within this gland. There is a suggestion that it is the action of the pineal beta-carbolines, in particular 6-Methoxytetrahydro-betacarboline (6MeOTHBC, now being called pinoline), on serotonin that triggers dreaming (Callaway, 1988). Spontaneous case collection studies (e.g. Rhine, 1969) have found that most (more than 60%) spontaneous psi experiences occur during the sleeping and dreaming state of consciousness, which suggests that the dream state is a state of consciousness wherebey we are most likely to have psi expereinces, and pinoline is suggested to be the neurochemical that triggers this particular state of consiousness. Further, there is now a considerable body of research into the action of serotonin and melatonin in relation to psychiatric disorders such as manic-depression (Halaris, 1987) and schizophrenia (Miles & Philbrick, 1988). At a psychopharmacological level, carbolines are central nervous system inhibitors via the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA, a neurotransmitter) system. This action is similar to that of benzodiazepines, (e.g. diazepam or Valium), which relieve anxiety, have anticonvulsant action, are hypnotic and muscle relaxants and are used for all these CNS pharmacological actions. Thus pinoline may also act as a physiological tranquilliser and hypnotic, and the latter effect would be in keeping with the nocturnal secretion pattern of pineal activity. Anthropological data also suggest that these beta-carbolines are psi-conducive because their chemical structure is very similar to a naturally occurring group of chemicals called harmala alkaloids which occur in an Amazonian vine, Banisteriopsis caapi, used by Amazonian tribes for psychic purposes (Roney Dougal, 1986 & 1989). The Amazon has a huge variety of psychotropic plants, yet all the tribes throughout that vast area use this same vine mixed with Psychotria viridis (Nai kawa) which contains dimethyltryptamine (DMT) (Ott, 1993 & 1994), for healing, out-of-body experiences, clairvoyance and precognition. It is traditionally used only when psi experiences are desired, though nowadays it is also used for general initiatory purposes. Thus the tribal people make a mixture of harmala alkaloids and DMT which mimics the tryptamine-pinoline mixture ascribed to the night time output of the pineal gland. My speculation is that when the pineal gland is stimulated to produce pinoline we are more likely to enter an altered state of consciousness which is psi-conducive. In the 1960s a Chilean psychotherapist, Claudio Naranjo (1973, 1978) used a variety of hallucinogens including harmaline (one of the harmala alkaloids) in the psychotherapeutic setting, and came to the conclusion that: Harmaline may be said to be more hallucinogenic than mescaline . . . both in terms of the number of

images reported and their realistic quality. In fact some subjects felt that certain scenes which they saw had really happened and that they had been as disembodied witnesses of them in a different time and place. This matches the experience of South American shamans. (Naranjo, 1967). Ott (1993) considers that the harmala alkaloids are not actually hallucinogenic in their own right but that they permit the DMT in the ayahuasca mixture to be absorbed into the blood stream so that these create the entheogenic effects. This is still a matter of debate. There is extensive evidence from many anthropologists which suggests that the Banisteriopsis vine together with Psychotria Viridis is a psi-conducive drug, particularly with regard to remote viewing, clairvoyance and precognition but so far there has been no experimental test of these claims (Kensinger, 1973). Ayahuasca has recently been investigated by Don et al (1996) who suggest that its action is consistent with their other research into brain function and psi experience. Thus, the anthropological evidence suggests that harmala alkaloids mixed with DMT stimulate a psi-conducive state of consciousness; the neurochemical evidence suggests that the harmala alkaloids are an analogue of pinoline which is produced in the pineal gland, noting that in the comparison between the action of the harmala alkaloids and pinoline it must be remembered that a one-position change in methoxy grouping can be profound in its action. The Yogic and occult teachings and common folk lore all say that the pineal gland is the psychic centre and I suggest that the pinoline made by the pineal gland at night time, through its action on serotonin, stimulates a dream type state of consciousness which is psi-conducive. The Command Chakra: Melatonin However, the yogic lore not only equates ajna chakra with the psychic centre of our being, but also as the command chakra. For an understanding of the pineal gland as command chakra we have to look to its main action which is the production of the neurohormone melatonin. Melatonin is found in protozoans, suggesting that it dates back a thousand million years, and is found in all animals. It is important in bird migration cycles, dogs moult cycles, and frog colour change. In this article I refer both to research with humans and with animals in order to obtain as full a picture as possible of the relationship between the pineal gland and the endocrine organs since there has been relatively little research with humans, whilst being very aware that one should not extrapolate too much from animal data as is the tendency so often these days in biological and psychological research. Therefore, as far as possible whenever the data come from animal studies I state this explicitly. The most important function of the pineal gland is maintaining the biological clock, both on a daily basis according to the sun, on an annual basis according to length of day, and on a lunar basis as well. The study of the biological rhythm is called chronobiology and it has been found that there is a genetic connection, a basic inner clock, and an environmental connection through the retina: light stimulates the monosynaptic retinohypothalamic pathway which leads directly to the anterior hypothalamic suprachiasmic nucleus (SCN), pineal and hypothalamus. Within the pineal the circadian rhythm regulation is achieved through the actions of serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is made during the day and melatonin at night. Acute exposure to light at night suppresses melatonin production. The intensity of light required to suppress production varies between species and in humans is 2000 lux. It has been suggested that perhaps rhodopsin is the photopigment that mediates the suppressive effect of light on pineal. Blue light seems to be maximally inhibitory (500 520 nm). Acute exposure to nonvisible, nonionising radiation, e.g. extra low frequency (ELF) 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields also suppresses melatonin production as does pulsed static magnetic field exposure. There is speculation that these effects are also mediated via the eyes (Wetterberg, 1995, Reiter & Richardson, 1992). Serotonin is a very important neurotransmitter in the brain and its action has been linked with mental states such as psychosis, with entheogenic plants, with our mood circuits and therefore with illnesses such as appetite disorders (anorexia and bulimia). It is a very complex neurotransmitter with 5 or 6 different receptor sites, which means it has many different modes of action.

Melatonin is made from serotonin through the action of two enzymes, serotonin n-acetyl transferase (NAT) and hydroxy-indole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT). Melatonin production is determined primarily by neural activity from the hypothalamic suprachiasmic nucleus (SCN) and there is a feedback relationship with the endocrine glands. Gonadal steroids, pituitary gonadotrophins, thyroxine, prolactin and the adrenal hormones intervene in the mechanisms governing meltonin synthesis. All humans have a circadian rhythm though the magnitude of NAT production varies greatly. In general there is good correlation between pineal NAT activity and pineal and plasma melatonin rhythms. The rhythm at birth is linked to that of the mother; maturation of the cycle accompanies growth of sympathetic nerve fibres into the gland; melatonin production peaks just prior to puberty at which time there is a sudden and dramatic drop, and from then on it gradually decreases into old age. In people who suffer from depression the circadian rhythm is disrupted. The most important neuronal function of melatonin is as a sleep inducer. It has been found to ease insomnia because it causes drowsiness, and also to combat jet lag because it helps to reset the biological clock: 5mgs per day helps induce sleep and helps airline workers adjust to new time zones. (Cowley, 1995) Is there a genetic component in early or late risers? Hypophysectomy (loss of the pituitary gland), which causes depressed metabolic activity, and bilateral adrenalectomy blunt the nocturnal melatonin rise though the rhythm stays the same. Being forced to exercise (swim) at night causes a rapid drop in pineal melatonin levels in rats, but not in NAT or HIOMT activity. Melatonin production stays as normal, and blood levels rise dramatically suggesting it is being rapidly released from the gland into the blood system. Removal of adrenals doesnt change this so n ormal stress hormones are not implicated. This finding has profound implications for the health of night workers (Reiter & Richardson, 1992) because melatonin also modulates release of stress hormones, thereby controlling heart attacks and stomach ulcers. Jogging or other exercise is a mood enhancer since it stimulates endorphins. Exogenous opiates increase melatonin levels, and beta-endorphin levels decrease when melatonin is administered. Opiates stimulate basal prolactin secretion. Opioid receptor antagonists also decrease prolactin concentrations although continuous administration does not affect circadian rhythm of prolactin, which is related to melatonin levels. Recent research suggests that melatonin is involved in the aging process and that giving 19 month old mice melatonin each evening in their water improved their weight, their vigour, their activity levels and their posture when compared with the untreated mice and they lived almost 200 days longer on average (20%) (Maestroni et al, 1989). Touitou et al (1989) measured melatonin levels in people in February, March and June and found that old people have half the amount of melatonin that young men do (we make half as much by age 45 as we do when children), that senile people show far less circadian rhythm, with elderly women showing least variation. For all groups, all through the year melatonin production peaks between 2 3am with the largest amplitude in January. Inter-individual variations are large in all groups. Since pinealocytes and enzyme activity are not altered in the pineal of the elderly, the decline of plasma melatonin levels may well be related to a modification in the release of the hormone and/or to an increase in its metabolism or excretion. An increased sensitivity to light could also explain the relatively low levels of plasma melatonin in the elderly. Melatonin production decreases as we age, the thymus gland shrinks and we produce fewer antibodies and Tcells. There are special melatonin receptors on cells and glands of the immune system. A recent controversial speculation is that nightly melatonin supplement boosts the immune system thereby preventing cancer and extending life. Research has suggested that melatonin protects cells from oxidation by free-radicals, which contribute to at least 60 degenerative diseases, including cancer, heart disease, cataract and Alzheimers. In this respect melatonin differs from other natural antioxidants, B-Carotene, vitamin E and vitamin D in that melatonin is absorbed into target cells and exerts its action from that intracellular position with much greater effect (Reiter, 95). Melatonin reduction is linked to the calcification process that starts at puberty. People taking chlorpromazine, an anti-psychotic medication that raises melatonin and prolactin levels have low rates of breast

cancer. Prolonged exposure to high oestrogen levels raises breast cancer levels and melatonin inhibits oestrogen release. It thereby also helps to prevent pregnancy because of its interaction with the reproductive system as a hormone inhibitor. This inhibitory action means that melatonin controls puberty; without it we would be sexually active at 4 5 years old. Parapineal tumours, those that lie next to the pineal, stop the pineal from functioning and lead to percocious puberty and progeria (accelerate aging); while pinealomas, tumours of the pineal gland itself, produce excess melatonin secretion and delayed puberty. Thus melatonin functions to affect the body in ways which are traditionally connected with yogis: yogis are said to live for many years longer than normal; are considered to be relaxed and stress-free people; to be able to control many of their physical functions, such as heart rate, circadian rhythm and metabolic rate; celibacy is linked to the religious life, and within yoga there is also the tantric path; and they are considered to enjoy excellent health. Through the light sensitivity of the pineal gland and its primary role within the biological clock system, regulating the rise and fall of the metabolic system and switching off the endocrine glands, which I am going to expand on next, we can see that the concept of the pineal as the command chakra is as strong as the concept of the pineal as the psychic chakra. The Thyroid Gland: Vishuddhi Chakra According to Satyananda (1972), vishuddhi chakra is located in the throat and is the centre of the nectar of immortality. It is connected with the sense of hearing and thus with the ears, and of course with the vocal cords and with self-expression. The thyroid makes thyroxine which regulates the metabolic rate of the body, i.e., it controls how fast the body runs: an overactive thyroid means that the heart beats fast, one becomes thin, sexual desire increases, and the mind works overtime; whilst an underactive thyroid has the opposite effect. Neurochemically, the thyroid is under the inhibitory control of the pineal gland, removal of the pineal resulting in thyroid enlargement and increased hormonal secretion rate. The pineal is also under feedback control by the glands which it influences. Pineal cells respond to thyroxine, the response being particularly strong at night. Synthetic melatonin has the effect of inhibiting iodine uptake and the secretion of thyroxine, and, given at the correct times, can reproduce the daily and annual biological rhythms since iodine uptake naturally decreases during the night. Thus, evening injections of melatonin are more effective than morning ones, showing that the time of day when hormone supplementation is given is a significant factor, the influence of the circadian rhythm once again. (Johnson, 1982). The effect of synthetic melatonin on the secretion of thyroxine decreases after puberty. The hypothalamus makes thyroid releasing hormone (TRH), which stimulates the pituitary to make thyrotropin (TSH), which stimulates the thyroid to make thyroxine . There is a circadian variation in human TSH levels, TSH beginning to rise several hours before the onset of sleep, reaching maximum levels between 11.00pm and 4.00am, declining gradually with a minimum at 11.00am. People with hypothyroidism also show a seasonal variation and circadian changes in plasma TSH, which suggests that the circadian rhythm of TSH is not related to the negative feedback control exerted by thyroid hormones under normal conditions: serum thyroxine levels show maximum concentration in late morning and minimum concentration in early morning. Sleep deprivation results in larger and broader TSH peaks. Pinealectomy does not result in changes in serum TSH or hypothalamic TRH content, nor does it produce alterations on the diurnal rhythms of hypothalamic TRH so there is little firm evidence for significant interactions between melatonin and rhythmicity of TSH secretion, yet chronic melatonin treatment decreases pituitary TSH content and increases plasma TSH concentration. TSH is, together with melatonin and the adrenals, involved in coping with long term stress. Alpha-adrenergic pathways play a role in the stimulatory control of TSH release. Circadian changes in cortisol levels follow an

opposite pattern to those of TSH. Glucocorticoid administration has an inhibitory effect on TSH secretion and rhythmicity, but there does not seem to be a close relationship between the daily profiles of each hormone and abolition of the circulation rhythm of cortisol does not disrupt the TSH rhythm. Glucocorticoids inhibit TSH release, and so the circadian rhythm of TSH is abolished in patients with hypercortisolism (Johnson, 1982). Stress is intimately connected with metabolic rate, heart rate, an overactive mind, and also with age as an older person cannot cope with stress as well as a younger person. Long term stress is very different from short term stress (which is dealt with by the adrenals) and it is interesting that ajna, vishuddhi and manipura are all concerned with stress which also affects the heart when the mind just wont stop going in circles around the problem (the beta-rhythm mental chatter), which is one of the worst aspects of long term stress. These are all the negative aspects of vishuddhi and we learn through meditation to overcome these aspects and so to become peaceful, still, calm and to live to a ripe old age which is another way of saying that the thyroid is connected with immortality. Relaxation is the first step in meditation; slowing down, letting go, releasing the stress, stilling the endless internal chatter as is exemplified so well by the Chinese symbol of immortality, the tortoise; the slower you go, the longer you live. Yogic lore states that it is perfectly possible to regulate the functioning of the endocrine system, thus learning how to control ones metabolic rate. It is feasible that yogic exercises designed for the ajna chakra do physically regulate the pineal gland and so influence the functioning of the other endocrine organs. The Heart Centre: Anahata chakra According to Satyananda, anahata chakra is concerned with will and with feeling, touch, the skin especially the hands, manifesting in such arts as painting, poetry and music, which are aspects of heart. The Thymus As a result of the writings by Theosophists, many people consider that anahata chakra is connected with the thymus gland, which physiologically is most active in children and is concerned with the immune system. Recent research suggests that there is a connection between the pineal gland and the thymus because of its interaction with the immune system, as mentioned in the section on the pineal gland as command chakra. Functional connections between the immune and the neuroendocrine systems are being increasingly recognized. Thus stressful effects, distress, from psychological or neuro-endocrinological causes may adversely affect the immune system and vice versa. Circadian synthesis and release of melatonin exerts an important immunomodulatory role, in that it appears to be a physiological up-regulator of the immune system and to operate via the endogenous opioid system on antigen activated cells. When given in the evening to mice it increases the primary antibody response to Tdependent antigens, buffers the depression of antibody production and thymus weight induced by the acute restraint of mice innoculated with sheep red blood cells, and confers resistance against injections of a virus, not by protecting the thymus cortex but because it enlarges the thymus medulla. The anti-stress action of melatonin appears to be antagonized by administration of the opioid antagonist naltrexone, suggesting that melatonin operates via the endogenous opioid system (EOS) even though the opioid system is not itself involved in the immunological effect of acute stress. When administered in the morning no effect on the immune system was found (Maestroni et al, 1989). Thus, it is possible to see melatonin as an anti-stress hormone since melatonin reverses the depression of antibody production induced by corticosterone in drinking water. Failure to cope with distress may be dependent on an exhausted EOS and melatonin may restore the EOS. So there is some connection between the pineal and the thymus in animals, and yet whilst there is a certain link between keeping healthy and the normal concept of the emotional aspect of heart in our culture, there is another hormone connected with this region in humans which expresses heart emotion much more strongly: the hormone prolactin which is connected with lactation in the breasts.

Prolactin I have noticed in my research into the pineal that melatonin is the off-switch for a hormone called prolactin which is made by the pituitary, is involved with pregnancy and stimulates lactation, and is implicated in manicdepression. Most of the research with prolactin has been with animals, but there has been some research with humans showing once again the link with the pineal gland. In seasonally breeding species in which both hormones show a seasonal variation, melatonin mediates the influence of light on prolactin release. All ruminants (e.g. cows, sheep) show a marked seasonal fluctuation in plasma prolactin concentration, i.e. high in summer and low in winter, and certain animals become impregnated in autumn at the end of the long day light hours (Wurtman, 1979), this fluctuation being controlled by melatonin. This inhibition of prolactin secretion in ruminants inhibits implantation of the blastocyst during the winter, so that the foetus does not implant into the womb until spring time, even though mating and fertilisation occurred in autumn. Prolactin secretion in women is also controlled by the ovarian steroids, its level being modified by the fluctuating oestradiol levels of the menstrual cycle. Whilst few clinicians would accept a seasonal basis for reproduction in humans, older epidemiological data, and data more recently derived from conditions of borderline fertility, both support a seasonal change. The exact link to melatonin is as yet unestablished but seasonal changes in plasma melatonin have been described (Matthews, 1981) for women, but not for men. Martikuinen et al (1985) found peaks in both summer and winter, and Touitou et al (1984) found differences between young and old people (see Vishuddhi chakra). Webley (1988) worked with 11 young men intermittently over a 9 month period. He found that, like melatonin, prolactin shows a night time peak around 3 4.00 am. and that, whilst inter-individual variations are large, there are no changes in the amplitude of the peaks across the February, March and June samplings. This significant positive correlation between melatonin and prolactin concentrations is greatest at night and strongest in June. Melatonin concentrations decrease earlier than prolactin in the morning and increase before prolactin in the evening (see Table 3). Prolactin concentration increases with sleep. The dependence on sleep is independent of time of day, so night workers will make some of their prolactin during the day, but prolactin also shows a circadian pattern of high levels at night. There were inconsistent changes in the circadian pattern of melatonin for the individuals, which suggests that environmental factors other than the light/dark cycle can influence the circadian pattern in men, and as I am suggesting here, stress/relaxation is one of these factors other factors may be sleep/activity pattern, different social cues and physical exertion. Webley found that melatonin doses given both morning and evening stimulated a significant increase in prolactin concentrations. There is a diurnal rhythm in sensitivity to melatonin: melatonin given in the morning stimulates a constant increase in prolactin concentration across the sampling period, whereas in the evening a peak in prolactin was evident after 90 -120 mins. This leads to the conclusion that it is possible that melatonin may control directly the nocturnal increase in prolactin, but in some cases if melatonin concentration is increased, prolactin concentration is decreased; for example, a decrease in melatonin by pinealectomy results in an increase in prolactin release and the nocturnal increase in prolactin is absent in a pinealectomised human who had no nocturnal increase in melatonin. The observed stimulation of prolactin after melatonin injection in the human is also at odds with the inhibition of prolactin release in seasonally breeding animals this may be indicative of a difference between the response to acute and chronic melatonin administration as is also seen with thyroxine, or may be indicative of the different responses to the hormones between humans and animals. In rats acute administration of melatonin stimulates prolactin, whereas prolactin is inhibited with chronic melatonin. Melatonin can inhibit dopamine release from the rat hypothalamus, the degree of response showing circadian variation. Since dopamine is known to inhibit

prolactin release, the influence of melatonin on prolactin may therefore be via a dopaminergic mechanism. Such a mechanism would provide a central site of action for melatonin on human reproduction (Webley,1988). Like TRH, prolactin secretion during the day follows the opposite pattern to that of cortisol. Glucocorticoid administration reduces pituitary prolactin content and release as well as prolactin responses to TRH, but does not affect circadian rhythm. Oestrogens stimulate prolactin secretion, so women have higher basal levels, particularly during reproductive years and pregnancy. There is a close parallel between plasma oestradiol and prolactin. Women have higher sleep-related prolactin elevations. Further, hypersecretion of prolactin and the related pituitary hormones, luteinising hormone (LH) and human growth hormone (HGH) may be associated with affective (mood) disorders such as manic depression and recurrent depression here we see clearly the link between emotional, physical and psychological state of being through its disturbance. Further, dopamine antagonism is a feature of major tranquillisers which may cause high prolactin levels; dopamine neurotransmitter dysfunction is associated with schizophrenic disorder and Salvador (1988) considers that dopamine is the most important inhibitory regulator of prolactin and TSH synthesis. I am suggesting that the hormones are the physical aspect of the chakras. Every hormone appears to have a physical component which affects the workings of the body. They also appear to have an emotional component, and I am suggesting that prolactin is the hormone of the emotion we associate with love, which most cultures associate with the heart. Prolactin is made in men as well as women and children, for all of our lives, and has functions other than the primary one of lactation. It is intimately connected with melatonin and hence ajna chakra, with TRH and hence with vishuddhi chakra, with glucocorticoids and our stress levels and with oestrogen and hence female sexuality. As the hormone of love this makes perfect sense. The Solar Plexus: Manipura Chakra Satyananda says that manipura chakra is located behind the navel and causes old age, decay and emaciation by burning up the nectar of immortality. It is also connected with the sense of sight and the eyes and it is the organ of action and hence is also connected with walking, the legs and the feet. The solar plexus is the locus for our gut feelings about people and situations, and is connected with digestion and assimilation. It has also been linked with ambition, will, self-assertion, vital energy, power struggles, anger and jealousy. Manipura is the uppermost of the earthly or base chakras. There are two possible endocrine organs in the gut which could be linked with manipura: the pancreas and the adrenals. The Adrenals The adrenals are the endocrine glands I consider are most strongly related to manipura. Most people know these as the fight or flight glands in that adrenaline is produced when we are in a stressful situation and we burn up our body energy in order to cope with a crisis; adrenaline is the hormone of action. We feel the fire in our belly. The pineal is connected with the adrenals, and in particular with adrenaline and the corticosteroids in many ways. The adrenals comprise two parts: the cortex and the medulla. The cortex secretes glucocorticoids such as corticosterone, on a rhythmic light-dark cycle linked with hormones from the pituitary and the hypothalamus. The glucocorticoids are involved with sugar metabolism and as stress protectors; The cortex also secretes mineralocorticoids which are involved in mineral balance, and also anxiety; The third sort of hormones produced by the cortex are the androgenic steroids which include testosterone, are involved in body building and anger; there is a steroid surge in the morning to help wake up. These are the stress-related hormones.

The adrenal medulla secretes adrenaline. The pineal inhibits release of all of these hormones, thus controlling our physical level of immediate short-term stress as it does with the thyroids on a long-term basis. Melatonin is actually found in the gut as are the beta-carbolines. Beta-carbolines interact with adrenaline and noradrenaline uptake and outputs as well as with corticosterone secretion, thus interacting closely with the adrenal functions. Constant administration of small doses of beta-carbolines causes the weight of the adrenals to increase, whilst removal of the pineal gland causes enlarged adrenals. The significance of this enlargement of adrenals, as with the thyroids, when for some reason or other there is no pineal, is that the inhibitory effect on these glands has been removed so that they work overtime. And, as a result, one burns up. This can be understood in the spiritual as well as in the physical sense. The Pancreas Some systems consider that the pancreas, which is involved in digestion and the input of energy and energy maintenance (the Islets of Langerhans within the pancreas make insulin, a glucose using hormone, and glucagon, a glucose saving hormone), is the endocrine organ of manipura chakra. This would make very good sense in terms of our Western concept of the solar plexus, and is certainly to be considered. Davidson (1989) mentions insulin and glucagon in this connection as the food factory of the body, that which gives us our physical energy. However, there is a connection with the adrenals because the pancreas is turned off by adrenaline and noradrenaline, and adrenaline regulates the uptake of glucose. Therefore the pineal is connected with the pancreas via the adrenals. The Root of the Spinal Cord: Swadhistana Chakra Swami Satyananda states that swadhistana is connected with all the phases of the unconscious, the subliminal mind. Swadhistana is made up of all the rubbish which you never wanted, which you never needed, which you never desired but which got in. (Satyananda, 1972). Traditionally it has also been linked with sexuality, sensory pleasure, liquid, taste, procreation, self-indulgence, the kidneys and the prostate gland. I think that swadhistana is connected with the generative aspect of sexuality embodied by the womb in women, with follicle stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone, oestrogen and androsterones as the hormones of this chakra. These hormones are central to the development of the secondary sexual characteristics that which makes a man a man and a woman a woman they define our gender, our selves as sexual people, the pitch of our voice, the shape and strength of our body, whether or not we have a beard, and the differing emotional characteristics related to oestrogen and testosterone that which is the essence of man or woman. There is a strong link between the pineal gland and the generative aspect of sexuality. Melatonin levels in the mother are exceptionally high during pregnancy reaching a peak at birth. The diurnal rise in plasma melatonin appears enhanced as pregnancy progresses, supporting the idea of a role for the maternal pineal in entraining foetal body rhythms. In animals, there is a biological clock oscillating in the SCN during foetal life before circadian rhythms are overtly expressed and before the retino-hypothalamic pathway has innervated the SCN. (i.e. A unique form of maternal communication coordinates the phase of a developing circadian clock until the developing mammal can respond to light directly through its own eyes.) The foetal SCN shows circadian variation in metabolic activity that is in time with the rhythm in the mother and with the external lighting cycle. Research by Reppert et al (1988) has found that this foetal circadian rhythm can be detected in rats as early as the 19th day of gestation. Pineal NAT is the first measurable circadian rhythm evident, accurately reflecting circadian output from the SCN. Pups reared in an environment with no light cues express a NAT rhythm that is in phase with the circadian time of the mother.

In humans circadian rhythms are not obvious until well into the postnatal period. Human SCN neurons are formed by the 28th week. A significant fraction of incident light is transmitted into the uterus of a pregnant woman. It is possible that direct photic entrainment augments or even replaces maternal-foetal coordination of circadian phase since the foetus can synthesise and store melatonin. Also after birth social cues are very important in entrainment of sleep-wake cycle. (Reppert, 1988) Vasopressin messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) can also be used as an intrinsic marker of the oscillatory activity of the SCN during foetal life since a circadian rhythm of vasopressin levels in cerebrospinal fluid originates in the SCN. Vasopressin mRNA levels exhibit a prominent day-night variation in adult rats, which begins in the foetal SCN on day 21 of gestation in phase with the mothers rhythm. In mothers whose SCN has been destroyed on day 7 of gestation, the entraining signal for the foetus no longer works, and the foetal SCN metabolic activity has no day-night rhythm. Also the pineal NAT activity for 10 day old pups born to SCNlesioned mothers and reared in constant darkness is completely disrupted and they have no daily rhythm. But, if the mothers SCN is lesioned after foetal neurogenesis of SCN then foetal synchronization is not disrupted. Destruction of the maternal SCN also eliminates a circadian rhythm to birthing. Possibly also the developing circadian clock is involved in initiating parturition, as different species have different times of day when birth is more likely to happen. When pups are fostered with a mother whose circadian rhythm is opposite to that of their natural mother, their rhythms change to become synchronous to that of the foster mother. In these cases entrainment of rhythm is possibly linked with feeding activity which occurs on a rhythmic basis. One needs to have the pup entrained so that its feeding cycle is in tune with the mother and the other pups. This ensures that its activity cycle is such that it emerges from the burrow at a safe time of day. When litters with many pups are born they need to all be synchronised in their activity. Thus the strong connection between the pineal gland and the gonadal system is very apparent in connection with pregnancy and birth. The glandular connection of swadhistana is with the gonads and related systems so that to some extent it overlaps with muladhara chakra, and so I look to other aspects of our sexuality puberty and the menstrual cycle in the discussion of muladhara. The Coccygeal Plexus: Muladhara Chakra According to Satyananda, muladhara chakra is the root chakra, intimately connected in the male with the testes, and in the female with the cervix, and with the perineum and anus for both sexes. This chakra is connected with the sense of smell, the nose and the earth element, with passion, the animal instincts, anger, greed, excretory functions, secretory and sexual aspects, attachment, material security, survival and materialism. Working on this chakra releases suppressed emotions and unconscious memories, and causes extreme swings in mood. It is the seat of kundalini, and has obvious and direct connections with sexual energy in its most earthy aspect. Some systems link the root chakra with the adrenal glands even though the adrenals are located above the kidneys back of the navel. The only information I have come across which justifies this idea is that in embryology the gonads and suprarenals all start in the same place, and the adrenal cortex makes small amounts of androsterones. However, I consider that the yogic description of muladhara chakra and particularly its connection with kundalini suggests sexuality as its primary physical manifestation and therefore I link this chakra with the gonads, with testosterone in men which is primarily made by the testes (Wilson & Foster, 1992), and with oestrogen and progesterone in women. As we have already seen the pineal and the gonadal system interact extensively. Satyananda considers that there is a special connection between ajna chakra and muladhara, and there are certainly extensive connections between the pineal gland and the gonads. The pineal synthesises antigonadotropic peptides. In their turn the gonadal hormones, inhibit the biosynthesis of the pineal hormone melatonin, although gonadectomy has little influence on magnitude of melatonin increase or on phasing of the rhythm, and prolactin secretion is inhibited

by ovarian steroids, suggesting that there is a physical as well as spiritual, mental and emotional links between mind, heart and sex. Melatonin inhibits gonadal development in children and regulates the onset of sexuality at puberty for humans. There is a fall in plasma melatonin associated with male human pubertal development. The pineal normally becomes calcified at puberty (Ng & Wong, 1986; Vaughan & Reiter, 1986), and there is a sharp decrease in melatonin production at this time. The pineal nighttime melatonin concentration decreases progressively during the menstural cycle, with an increase at ovulation and peak values during menstruation. Melatonin seems to be taken up by the ovaries, testes and uterus. Thus women show a 28 day melatonin rhythm, though many women have a menstrual cycle that is more closely correlated with the 29.5 day lunar cycle and menstruate every full moon. Those using the contraceptive pill have less melatonin since there is a positive relationship between melatonin and progesterone. Melatonin secretion is significantly higher during the late luteal phase than during the preovulatory phase and melatonin levels fall before ovulation: this could be the determinant of the menstrual cycle. The onset of the LH surge is in the early morning when melatonin levels are falling (Brzezinski & Wurtman, 1988). Continuous light, which causes a decrease in melatonin production, also causes a decrease in ovarian melatonin concentration, whilst injections of melatonin result in smaller testes. I consider that these studies linking the pineal gland with the gonadal endocrines aids understanding of the lore surrounding sexuality and psychic functioning. Children and celibates were almost universally those chosen as temple seers and prophets, the oracle at Delphi being an excellent example of this. Some research suggests that children are more psychic when they are younger, and much of the research into poltergeists suggests that adolescents are often the focus for this wild uncontrolled psychokinetic storm. Conclusions Our knowledge of the endocrine system, the chemistry of our body-mind and emotional system, is still meagre. The neurochemists have only just isolated pinoline from the pineal and are still learning about melatonin and serotonin. However, partial as our knowledge may be, it does fit together with what the yogis, scientists of the subtle mind, tell us about the yogic chakra system. Our disciplines, apparently so different in language and method, appear to corroborate each other. In conclusion, pinoline can be seen as the physical aspect of ajna chakra as the psychic chakra, and melatonin as the neurohormone of ajna chakra as the command chakra in that it has an inhibitory role for the endocrine organs, many of which are found physically at the traditional places where the chakras are located. Thus vishuddi at the throat links with the thyroid which is the metabolic regulator, anahata at the heart with the breasts, manipura at the navel with the adrenal glands involved with our reactions to stress, and swadhistana and muladhara at the root of the spinal cord with different aspects of the genital system. There are a bewildering number of versions of the yogic chakra system: attempts to correlate the chakras with Western physiological models may not only help us understand physiology, but also help us find the version of the chakra system that makes the most sense physiologically. Perhaps by linking this spiritual system with Western psychoneuroendocrinology we can create a deeper understanding of the links between mind, body and spirit for the benefit of all of us.