Kuṇḍalinī is not just a force, but Parāśakti Herself in Her subtlest form. It is one of the quickest methods to liberation. Even without practicing kuṇḍalinī, She ascends to higher chakras depending upon one’s level of love (the highest form of devotion) for Her. Ascension of kuṇḍalinī is directly related to the purity level of one’s mind. Yoga Cūḍāmaṇi Upaniṣad talks abou90t the importance of kuṇḍalinī. Verse 37 says, “Kuṇḍalinī rests in the passage of Brahman. If one goes through this passage, Brahman is attained.” Passage of Brahman that is referred here is a tiny nāḍi (often explained as a nerve or an artery or a vein) inside the spinal cord known as suṣumna, where all the three guṇa-s (sattva, rajas and tamas) are present. Within suṣumna, there are two other nāḍi-s, one within the other. Outer nāḍi is suṣumna and within suṣumna there is another nāḍi vajra (literal meaning – impenetrable) and within vajra, there is a very tiny nāḍi known as citriṇi and this citriṇi nāḍi is referred as the pathway to Brahman, who is seated at the top of the head in a tiny orifice known as brahmrandra (the orifice of Brahman). Yoga Cūḍāmaṇi Upaniṣad (39) says, “When kuṇḍalinī is awakened, ascends through citriṇi nāḍi and opens the door for the practitioner to realize Brahman.” We need the help of only mind and prāṇa to awaken this Divine Power Kuṇḍalinī which lies dormant in the base chakra and through practice have to make Her unite with Her Consort of Śiva. When this Divine Union takes place, the yogi is liberated.
How importance kuṇḍalinī is in the path or liberation is explained in Haṭhayoga Pradīpaka in the chapter samādhi. “When kuṇḍalinī is awakened through various means, one enters into the state of samādhi automatically. The one, who knows the path abandons all actions when his prāṇa enters into suṣumna (technically speaking it is through citriṇi nāḍi, which is the inner most nāḍi in suṣumna. He is liberated when kuṇḍalinī enters into sahasrāra.” Therefore, the main purpose of understanding and practicing kuṇḍalinī meditation is only to attain liberation. Some supernatural powers that are attained during practice are to be ignored, if one is able to attain these powers; however, these powers are rarely attained. Kuṇḍalinī Yoga is also known as Mahā Yoga, which itself indicates its importance and supremacy.
Before practicing kuṇḍalinī, we need to have thorough understanding of the subtleties of kuṇḍalinī, which is the subtlest and yet the most powerful form of Parāśakti. As we know, She has three forms, Gross (different forms with which we worship Her, such as Kālī, Ṣoḍaśī etc. Her subtler form is Kāmakalā and Her subtlest form is Kuṇḍalinī. All these three forms are discussed in Lalitā Sahasranāma in detail.
It is always advisable to practice kuṇḍalinī meditation under the direct supervision of a learned Guru, who has experienced the Bliss of kuṇḍalinī and got liberated. Expertise of a Guru is needed in case of wrong practice which could cause serious damage to the whole body, particularly, the nervous system. While practicing kuṇḍalinī meditation, certain biological, hormonal and chemical changes happen in the body and such changes in general do not cause any harm, provided, this meditation is practiced step by step in a slow pace.
This series will discuss all possible angles of kuṇḍalinī meditation, including theory, practice, required āsana-s, prāṇāyāma, mudra-s, bandha-s, yoganidrā, activating and balancing psychic centres apart from discussing spiritual, scientific and biological angles. However, extreme caution should be exercised while practicing these procedures. Most importantly, one should have absolute faith on Her Grace.
(to be continued)
Further Readings:
May 05, 2020 06:49 PM
Sir, during mantra initiations, most of us are asked to concentrate on the Agna chakra and while chanting the mantra. I understand this procedure activated our Agna chakra. But without the lower chakras getting activated, if we concentrate only on Agna chakra, will there be any negative consequences? (OR) Just Agna chakra meditation would take care of all other lower chakras?
May 05, 2020 07:34 PM
This is nothing to do with chakras. The energy of the mantra is placed in ajna chakra, so that its energy is diffused in your body. After initiation, it is up to you activate your chakras through meditation.
May 06, 2020 08:51 PM
Thank you sir. For example, I am initiated into a mantra. I meditate on that mantra on the Agna chakra daily. So, after some time, may be after few months, this mantra meditation helps me in activating the Agna chakra, right? If yes, what about the other chakras, will the Agna chakra take care of the lower ones?
May 06, 2020 09:14 PM
Merely meditating on agnya chakra is not good without practicing pranayama. Sometimes, Kundalini, instead of activating lower chakras may enter into sahasrara, which could create problems. It is better you practice cleansing and energising chakras with this YouTube
https://youtu.be/fAFS2JRr_o4
May 06, 2020 11:56 PM
Thank you sir for your help. You and everyone who's contributing for this website and helping people like me with the spiritual needs, all are blessed ones. I am a beginner now and once I reach the stage where I would be able to contribute, I will do as much as I can. Thanks a lot :) ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः, सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु, मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
January 27, 2023 03:01 PM
Dear Sir, this Cleansing and Energizing video is so effective. I have been taught and practiced some ways of cleansing but none have this effects. The locations of the Moola and Sacral chakras are also different. I feel great gratitude to you for providing and maintaining this very special website. Namaste!
May 23, 2020 03:08 PM
Dear Ravi sir, I have seen that about the kundalini there is a reference in Shri Lalita sahasranama. Infact the colour of particular chakra is also given. In lalitasahasranama the colours of chakras are different. As you stated VIBGYOR is the chakra colours Red is for Mooladhar and voilet for Sahasrara chakra. Like in Lalita Sahaaranama 102-103 Manipur chakra colour of 3 palats is Red but in the artical Red colour for mooladhar chakra is suggested. And almost all the chakra colours are different in Shri Lalita sahasranama . I have two questions regarding this: 1. Whether we can really see these colours while meditating the chakra? 2. Whether one who practice the Lalita Sahasranam really see the different colours? Please explain as per your experience.
May 23, 2020 06:43 PM
Lalita Sahasranama follows entirely different colour pattern for chakras. If we want to meditate on chakras, we have to take only VIBGYOR pattern. We have to meditate on each chakras with respective colours and over a period of time, you realize the colour of a particular chakra. It is only the practice that counts.