Kundalini is a form of yoga and a metaphor for sleeping divine awareness in every human being. The word "kundalini" comes from the Sanskrit phrase "coiled like a snake" and releasing its power depends solely on your talent for snake charming. This snake or serpent can only be freed once all of the chakras -- energy centers in living beings that connect body, mind and soul experiences -- are cleared of obstacles and are in a state of harmony.
Lonely Serpent
Since ancient times, Indian yogis have believed kundalini represents the infinite creative power, or shakti, that lies at the root of the spine coiled as a serpent until awakened. In his book "Introduction to Kundalini Yoga," Dr. Guru Rattana says the uncoiled serpent represents a consciousness that links shakti with universal energy, called prana. Through this link, the five senses are surpassed by a spiritual dominion sense that transcends siddhis, or ordinary perceptions and powers.
Prana
Kundalini requires a balance of life giving and life eliminating energy for a spiritually awakening effect to occur. The positive and negative energy of prana and virya represent spirituality encased in matter and their combined forces are thought to create the initial charge of kundalini by placing heat and pressure on the eight vertebrae, or pranic center. Kundalini's initial stir begins the full unraveling of the serpent, which travels up the spine until reaching the crown of the head.
Energy Consciousness
As kundalini fully uncoils, psychic energy and enlightenment are said to occur. Kundalini masters are said to be able to keep this energy sustained for lengthy periods of time while novices may only catch a glimpse before it returns to slumber. The effects of prana and virya are made possible through deep breathing techniques called pranayama. Pranayama is said to contain the first breath of the universe or atomic beginning to the natural flow of energy that sustains life.
The Ripple Effect
Kundalini yoga utilizes sequences of body movements, breathing, hand gestures and chanting to create kriyas, or a set of spiritual effects that build upon each other. Kriyas are individualized and often known only between guru and student. All kriyas seek to create harmony within the body and soul that manifests as pre-cognition, telepathy and balance in body processes, according to Rattana. The ultimate purpose of the kriyas is to prepare the human body for the surge of kundalini.
Lasting Impressions
The Kundalini experience has often been described as a prolonged state of orgasm, spiraling of energy or a brilliant light -- all of which require training to achieve. As kundalini unravels, a euphoric state and exalted consciousness are the universal effects described by yogi masters and kundalini students. In her book "Kundalini: Energy of the Depths," researcher Lilian Silburn says that kundalini creates a connection to the divine by revealing the natural order of life and its many rhythms.
References
- "Introduction to Kundalini Yoga: With the Kundalini Yoga Sets and Meditations"; Guru Rattana; 2006
- "Kundalini: Energy of the Depths"; Lilian Silburn; 1988
