Bhagavadgita Pages, Chapters 1 to 18
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Kundalini Chakras-Sat-Chakra-Nirupana
11/08/2008 V.Krishnaraj
Simple Kundalini Pranayama is for the modern man who has no time for contemplation, meditation or the real McCoy, Kundalini Yoga. PrAna + Yama = Breathing Restraint = Breathing Regulation = Control of Breathing. The following is modified and based on the recommendation of Swami Sivananda. (Page xxiii, Kundalini Yoga.) Pranayama consists of Puraka, Kumbhaka and Rechaka: Inspiration, Retention and Exhalation of breath. Swami Sivananda says that positive attitude and dedication (Bhava) are more important than the time ratio of three components of Pranayama. Sit in Padma Asana pose looking East or North. Perform a short prayer in worship of your Guru or Ishta Devata (Personal God = God of your liking). Take a deep breath without snorting, hissing etc. As you inhale, imagine that Kundalini Devi is rising from Muladhara to Sahasrara Chakra through all the intermediary chakras. Retain your breath for five to ten seconds (Kumbhaka Phase). As you retain your breath mentally chant Pranava (OM) or your own chosen Mantra. Feel that you are suffused with LIGHT, POWER AND WISDOM during Kumbhaka phase. Next comes exhalation (Rechaka phase). Imagine that Kundalini is descending stepwise from Sahasrara, to Ajna, to Visuddha, to Anahata, to Manipura and finally to Muladhara Chakra. As you are exhaling imagine that you are exhaling all Tamasic qualities (sloth and slumber) out of your system.
As you take a breath, imagine that you are
inhaling all the auspicious cosmic powers into your system, for the breath
(Prana or power) spreads all throughout your body and takes all the cosmic
powers to each cell. During Kumbhaka phase, all the cosmic powers take their
residence in each cell. In exhalation phase, imagine that you are getting rid
of all unwanted qualities from your system. During Kumbhaka phase, you can
chant in your mind OM or any other mantra and also pray for the welfare of you, your
family, your community, your nation and the world. Kumbhaka phase is the most
important. Hold the breath as long as you possibly can.
Swami Vivekanada recommends the following Pranayama. Pranayama trains the superconscious mind. It consists of inspiration, retention and expiration. Inspiration is done for a count of four through one nostril; the breath is retained for a count of sixteen; exhalation is done through the other nostril for a count of eight. One has to occlude the non-breathing nostril with the thumb. "In time your breathing will obey your mind. Make four of these Pranayamas morning and evening."
A simple Sandhyavandanam Pranayama is performed as follows: block the right nostril by the right thumb, breathe in through the left nostril for the duration it takes to mentally say the Gayatri mantra. Block both nostrils, hold the breath and say the Gayatri; breathe out through the right nostril as you block the left nostril for the duration it takes to chant Gayatri.
Om -- Bhur, Bhuva, Svaha -- tat savitur varenyam -- bhargo devasya dhimahi -- dhiyo yo nah prachodayat-. You may stop to catch the breath after each round. Performing all nine rounds in one session does not usually pose any problem.
When soldiers are stressed out during battle, they are advised to take Pranayama exercises consisting of Puraka, Kumbhaka and Rechaka. If it works for them, it should work for us. You can do this any number of times a day wherever and whenever it is feasible.
There are others who recommend modifications of Pranayama: Viloma Pranayama, Anuloma-Viloma Pranayama.
Anuloma = Natural Direction. Viloma: Turned the wrong way.
Loma is hair; Anuloma is going with the hair or grain; Anuloma is going with the flow.
Viloma is going against the hair or grain; Viloma is going against the flow.
Anuloma -Viloma Pranayama
Assume Padmasana Pose. Think of Hawaiian Hang Loose Pose of the right hand. Extend the thumb, the ring finger and the pinky; fold the index and the middle fingers. The right thumb serves to occlude the right nostril and the combined ring finger and pinky occlude the left nostril. It takes a little practice to get it right.
Occlude the right nostril with the right thumb and take a deep breath through the left nostril until you cannot breath any further.
Occlude the left nostril with the combined ring finger and pinky and breath out slowly through the open right nostril.
The time ratio between inhalation and exhalation is 1: 2. It takes 3-4 seconds (20 to 15 breaths per minute) to complete Inspiration, Inspiratory pause plus Expiration. The IE ratio = 1:2, which is 33-40% of Inspiration and 67-60% of Expiration.
I:E ratio = (inspiratory time + inspiratory pause time):expiration = TI +TP:TE
These numbers vary between individuals.
Now take a deep breath through the right nostril by occluding the left nostril, followed by exhalation through the left nostril.
This completes one cycle of Anuloma-Viloma.
The next step to learn is to hold the breath between Inhalation and Exhalation by occluding both nostrils. This is Anuloma-Viloma with Kumbhaka. Kumbhaka = retention of breath. Inhalation and Retention (Kumbhaka) are of equal duration.
Assume any posture that makes you comfortable. Practice Anuloma-Viloma for a few months and feel at ease with the practice; later you can go on to Anuloma-Viloma with Kumbhaka.
Viloma Pranayama
Viloma Pranayama is against the established order. Assume sitting or lying position, close your eyes and just relax. Breath out completely as much as you can with comfort. With both nostrils open, breath in for a few seconds, take a pause holding the remaining breath, resume breathing in for a few seconds; take a pause as before and repeat the process until you have filled your lungs. This is Staccato Inspiration. (I introduced this foregoing term.) Hold the breath (kumbhaka phase) for a few seconds or as long as you can and breath out in a staccato fashion reversing the process. The pauses in this staccato respiration are about 4 or 5 in each phase of inspiration or expiration. Repeat this staccato respirations for about ten minutes. You may engage in a few normal respirations between Viloma cycles according to your comfort level. (Staccato speech: Enunciation of a word in distinct syllables, example: stac-ca-to instead of staccato. Staccato inspiration: breathing-in in a disconnected fashion. Staccato Expiration: breathing out in a disconnected fashion. Legato as compared with Staccato is smooth and connected without breaks.) When you become comfortable with Staccato respirations, use it with Kumbhaka or retention of breath as long as you can between inspiration and exhalation. Staccato inspiration, (retention), and staccato expiration are recommended to children and adults with respiratory ailments like asthma. It helps to break up the phlegm and expel it. It also helps relax a stiff chest making inspiratory and expiratory mobility of the chest greater. Try this in post-operative patients if it does not cause discomfort.. It can aid in expelling the phlegm especially after saline nebulization. In some patients staccato expiration alone may suffice after saline nebulization and deep inspiration. You may do chest PT (physical therapy or tapping the chest with cupped hands to dislodge the phlegm) in addition to Staccato Expiration.
Sastras say that Gayatri should not be chanted loud. Loud chanting earns low gains (Remember, Senior Bush got into trouble and lost his 1992 reelection bid for saying his Mantra loudly, "Read my lips: no new taxes"); Sotto voce begets greater benefits; mental chanting of Gayatri Mantra earns the highest reward. There are five stops in the course of reciting the Mantras; there are five faces of Gayatri Devi. 1st stop is after Om; 2nd stop after Bhur, Bhuva, Svaha; 3rd stop after tat savitur varenyam; 4th stop after bhargo devasya dhimahi; 5th stop after dhiyo yo nah prachodayat. Chanters get Brahma Varcas (Tejas, power, splendor, brilliance); that is why it is called Brahma Sutra. Gayatri's Tejas gives the Light to Solar, Lunar and Stellar Mandalas and that light has spread to all that shines. It is the Light in the eye and the heart. Gayatri is so supreme that it is beyond the Gunas. It is like the sun casting its light on the high and the low, the pure and the impure, the sacred and the sacrilegious and yet does not take on the character of the object it shines on.
Gayatri Mantra: 1st round of Mantra mental enunciation should span the duration of inhalation; 2nd round with retention of breath and 3rd round with expiration. That means one should mentally recite the whole mantra once with inhalation, once with retention and once with exhalation. Three grand rounds of a total of nine recitations are considered suitable for a person in a hurry. Inhalation and mental chanting take 10 seconds; retention and exhalation take 10 seconds each. If you face the sun and do it, it is even better.
Here are some thoughts expressed by Ramana Maharishi and modified by me. He says that you, the Spirit, are part and parcel of the universe, you are Brahman and you as an individual subside in Brahman thus loosing your individuality. If you insist you are an individual, you are body-conscious and cannot dissolve in the ocean of Bliss. You are the salt and Brahman is the ocean; Brahman is You, He, She, It and That that contain all the souls or solutes.
Control of breath may be external or internal. The internal breath control (antah pranayama) is as follows:- The chanting is done in the mind.
Koham (who am I?) is puraka (inhalation).
Soham (I am He) is kumbhaka (retention of breath).
Naham Chinta (I am not the body ) is rechaka (exhalation).
The pranayama adheres to these words: Breath in the words, Who am I?; Hold the words, I am Brahman; breath out the words, I am not the body. By doing this in sequence, your mind is controlled, spirit rises and body consciousness diminishes and disappears. Hold the breath as long as you can and keep repeating, I am Brahman in your mind. I would recommend that HealthCare Professionals caring for people in chronic pain recommend this modality of pain control, so that they loose body consciousness and gain control over pain.
Doing thus, the breath becomes automatically controlled. You become part of the universe and pervade it through and through; now you are the universe. And why would you want to injure yourself, if you are You, It, That, He, and She? People not in this mode according to Maharishi are suicides.
The external control (Bahih pranayama) is for one not endowed with strength to control the mind. Seek the company of a Sadhu, whose mere proximity confers strength. Otherwise just watch the breath itself. The mind abstracted from other thoughts and applied in watching the breath controls the breath and thus the mind. If one is unable to do it, just hold the breath (Kumbhaka) for a little while in Japa or Dhyana.
For the secular abecedarians, numerologists or any others who do not want to use Mantra, the following is recommended. This method is devised by me for easy transition from Roman alphabets to Sanskrit Alphabets. It is my belief that Roman Alphabets carry same significance and sacredness as Sanskrit alphabets.
Schools: Breath Control exercises in the schools. Children can sit in their chairs with the hands on the laps and perform Pranayama.. Younger children may lay down on the matted floor or sit down in Padma-asana pose (Lotus position on the floor). A ten minute session twice a day will suffice. Pranayama consists again of inspiration, retention and exhalation. Shut your eyes lightly to avoid distractions, say to yourself ABCDEF or 123456 as you breath in, hold the breath for the duration of ABCDEF or 123456 and breath out for the duration of ABCDEF or 123456. Mentally chant the alphabets or the numbers. In the next exercise, you recite the alphabets or numbers only when holding the breath. You may go on to hold the breath for the duration of 2 or 3 of ABCDEF (123456) and then breath out. And repeat the process and make adjustments according to your comfort level. You may do this for 10 minutes or so twice a day. If you wish, you may take normal breaths in-between the cycles whenever you feel the need. The idea is to concentrate your thoughts on the breath so that your mind is not distracted by random stray thoughts. You may do this sitting up or lying down in bed, before you get up and before you retire for the night. It can be done as a group effort in the school class. As you get more proficient (a few days) you should take a deep breath (a few seconds), hold the breath and recite in your mind A to Z as far as you can go during the Kumbhaka phase (retention of breath). Complete mental recitation of Alphabets from A to Z takes 15 seconds without any rush. The cycle (Deep Breath, Complete Recitation of Alphabets and Deep Exhalation) takes about 20 seconds. You may recite numbers from 1 to 26 as you would do with alphabets. Instead of alphabets, one may chant Om, Om, Om... silently in the mind during the breath retention phase as long as one's retained breath (Kumbhaka phase) can sustain the silent chanting.
I would recommend that schools adopt this kind of meditation as depicted above for children of all ages so that they develop ability to focus on the school tasks. They will also be less disruptive in and out of the class. They will be tranquil and develop a good peer relationship.
Office workers, factory workers, hospital workers, and other groups can engage in this kind of breath control and chanting of alphabets or Om, Om, Om... on individual or group basis, so that they are not stressed out, get a drug-free relaxation and regeneration, and get ready to face the job, co-workers and the world with a healthy attitude. This will make you glow so much that the near and dear will draw energy from your super-charged batteries.
Once you have mastered the above technique, you may want to go to the next stage which increases your concentration without the burdening random stray thoughts. This is done staying in bed flat and still and keeping eyes closed. Take a deep breath as before and as you recite the alphabets, draw each one of them in the slate of your mind from A to Z or as much as you can do. You may do the same with numbers. Staying flat and still in bed or mat consumes less oxygen and therefore you can hold the breath for a longer time to accomplish this 'Mental Chant & Draw the Alphabets' exercise during retention of breath. The breath-holding, recitation and mental drawing from A to Z take about 35 seconds. Once you develop the ability to master this, you may use Padmasana pose and recite. You may use the same technique with the numbers. School children can practice this kind of breath control for10 minutes twice a day.
Once you mastered this technique, there are more ways to concentrate your mind. Take a deep breath, hold and mentally draw a Quadrangle with ABCD EFGH IJKL MNOP QRST UVW XYZ. The last two drawings are triangles. Example: As you mentally write the letters and draw the quadrangle, you must connect the D with A to form the quadrangle. In breath control, the most important part is Kumbhaka phase (holding the breath as long as you can). The advantage with this technique is you don't have to keep timing these events. Your time is built in recitation and mental drawing. Once you complete it you know how much time you spent in Kumbhaka phase. You may get the sensation that your eyes are moving, drawing and making the quadrangle. If you feel the fingers are doing the drawing, that is OK too. Doing it without movements is better. Sometimes you may feel that your are drawing a circle with ABCD instead of a Quadrangle, that is OK. Do it slow. If you are out of breath, make adjustments accordingly. Example: You may draw quadrangles up to MNOP. Start again from the beginning and try to go to the very end. Complete recitation and drawing should not be a problem. All these techniques are training exercises for concentration before reciting Sanskrit alphabets and the Bija Mantras, because you are familiar with the Roman letters.
The above is devised especially for children. When it comes to Sanskrit alphabets, the practitioner intonates only one alphabet at a time. Examples AUM or LAM. Take a deep breath and intonate the Mantra in a soft voice as you expel the breath and as long as your breath can sustain the sound and repeat it again.
The aspirants who do not want to use Sanskrit letters can use Roman alphabets as Bija or Root Mantras.
Examples: Aum, Bam, Cam, Dam, Eam, Fam, Gam, Ham, Iam, Jam, Kam, Lam, Mam, Nam, Oam, Pam, Qam, Ram, Sam, Tam, Uam, Vam, Wam, Xam, Yam, Zam. Many of the Roman alphabets correspond to the Sanskrit Bija or Root Mantras.
The following pronunciation is in vogue of the Bija mantras and the alphabets. Example: La is pronounced as lang (it sounds like lung). Follow this kind of intonation for all alphabets. Take a deep breath before enunciation of each alphabet, chant softly first the Bija Mantra of the Chakra starting from Muladhara and go on to chanting the other alphabets in like manner. Intonation of the each alphabet lasts as long as one's breath can sustain it (5-15 seconds for each alphabet). Harish Johari's CD depicts the above kind of pronunciation.
Here is the reason for M terminator in the Mantras.
Take the letter Ka. It is a combination of a generic consonant and a vowel: k + a = Ka. A vowel is interminable and so a terminator M (Chandrabindu) is added; thus Ka becomes Kam. The M sound vibrates intranasally. Here is the anatomy of Aum with M terminator.
Other enunciation is Lam (Bija letter) --Vam, Sham, Sham and Sam for Muladhara Chakra as the letters look. You may follow this convention of enunciation of alphabets for all other Chakras also. For chanting of Bija mantras and the letters, assume Lotus Position.
For the Hindus, the willing and the compliant, here are some suggestions for a fuller life. When you get out of the bed, utter the name of Kesava (destroyer of Kesin, Krishna) several times; this will set the day on a smooth path without obstructions, obstacles and frustrations. Its potency is equal to supplicating to Ganesa with "Om Ganesaya namah." When you go to bed, you count sheep jumping over the fence as a sleep aid. The idea is that you concentrate so much on the sheep that you forget the day's worries; counting eventually puts you to sleep. Mentally chanting Narayana upon going to bed - the Hindu way of counting sheep - and awakening brings benefits; the benefit of uttering the name in sleep though not uttered comes to the devotee; that is the paradoxical Grace of Bhagavan.
Utter the name of Govinda as many times as possible when you are about to eat. This will provide you your next meal and more thereafter. Consider many mishaps that could happen between meals that could prevent you from eating your next meal. Here eating your next meal means that you are alive and well. If you eat less or more, both are bad. In Hinduism, you don't eat for yourself; you eat for the Atman, the Great Soul or the Universal Soul in you. Bhagavad Gita says:
6.16: Yoga is not for him, who either eats too much, or eats too little. It is not for him, who either sleeps too much or stays awake too long, O Arjuna.
9.27:
Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever offerings you make, whatever
you give away, and whatever austerities you perform, O son of Kunti, do that
offering unto Me.
The Christian equivalent is saying the Grace before meals.
Dear Lord, bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and us to thy service. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
The Jews have more elaborate recitation of Grace before (Ha-motzi), after, and between meals. They have Grace for wine, fruits, pastries, beverages, non-earth foods (meat, fish, milk and cheese). A typical Jewish Grace is as follows: Praised be Thou, O Lord (Adonai) our G-d (God), King of the universe who brings BREAD from the earth or by whose word all things came into being.
For each food item substitute the name of that food in the Grace: Fruit of the vine, fruit of the earth (vegetables), pastries..
You may notice in the Jewish Grace that by God's word all things came into being. In Hinduism, God by His Will, thinks the Thinkables, utters the Speakables, and creates the objects, Universe and beings. It is by thought and word, creation comes into being. SUta Samhita says, Supreme Consciousness is Motionless Apada (Stirless word or Brahman), which becomes the four forms of Pada (word), which again can become Apada. That sound is called NADA by the Tantrics, which is the origin of beings and objects. When Bindu explodes, a sound is produced which is called SabdaBrahman (Sound Brahman = Sound Consciousness). Sabdabrahman is Karana Bindu (Causal Bindu) which remains motionless (Nispanda) and that sound is called ParA VAk. When this stirless sound, that remains in Muladhara Chakra, unites with the mind, assumes the nature of Karya Bindu (Action Bindu), exhibits vibration and motion and manifests as Pasyanti (Visual Sound) in Svadhistana and Manipura Chakras. This evolving and stirring Sabdabraman (with the mind) moves to Anahata Heart Chakra, it acquires Buddhi and NAda. (Buddhi = understanding) Now the sound is called Madhyama (middle stage) at the heart level. Anahata sounds heard by the yogis are chini, chini-chini (onomatopoetic sounds), the sound of bell, conch, lute, cymbals, flute, drum, Mridanga (double-drum), and the last thunder. These ten Anahata sounds can be heard at random subsequently and only during meditation. Ahata Sound as opposed to Anahata is the sound that is produced by an external sound producer such as a drum and perceived by an anatomical sensory organ such as ear. Anahata sounds originating in the spiritual heart are perceived by (the non-anatomical spiritual or) subtle ear. So far the sound is not audible by the third person. The next development of the SoundBrahman is audible speech (Vaikhari speech) when it ascends to the voice box in Visuddha Chakra. At this level it acquires Spastatara (more evident, clear or intelligible). As you see, the stirless sound of ParAvAk acquires the faculties of mind, Buddhi and NAda and eventually comes to a VirAt state (manifest state) and blossoms out in words, phrases, sentences, prose, poetry of all languages. ParAvAk is the Incubating Nidus or the Womb of discoveries and inventions. Yogakundali Upanishad says, the speech sprouts in ParA, springs leaves in Pasyanti, buds in Madhyama and blossoms in Vaikhari. Speech is deified as Goddess who goes by the names UttIrnA (rise up) and Pasyanti.
The ancient pre-Christian and pre-Judaic Hindu concept is the body is PINDA made of food; not only you dedicate the body to serve Him but also and more importantly your soul to Him (Atma Samarpanam = Soul dedication). In my humble opinion, there is nothing in this universe that Hindu religion has not fathomed which is present in other religions.
Who doesn't like to hear the sweet nectarian sound of his name uttered by someone else? Among all names, Bhagavan likes to hear his devotees say Govinda in couplets: Govinda Govinda.
In Judaism, out of due reverence for G-d (God), there is a prohibition on the pronunciation of four-letter name (YHVH = Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh) except in prayer or study. The common practice is to mispronounce the name (politely and reverentially called substitution of syllables or letters) so Adonai is mispronounced as Adoshem; Elohaynu and Elohim are mispronounced as Elokaynu and Elokim. (The Hindu Chanters of hymns of 1000 names of Vishnu have a supreme adherence to the proper enunciation of names. Any intentional mispronunciation is sacrilegious and prohibited. Tantrics are very particular about exact and precise pronunciation. When you invoke god or goddess, proper enunciation is important. If the Hindu were to invoke and call god, JOHN SMITH as JOAN SMYTHE, both deities (John Smith and Joan Smythe) get angry with the invoker; consequences may be serious or they may simply forgive him because they know his sincere devotion to both of them. In Hinduism, unintentional mispronunciation does not invite the wrath of God. Here is a quote,
"Even if one were to slip on the proper method of reciting it (with faith and completely surrendered), the Thirumanthra will not slip from its nature, which is providing full protection to those reciting it. The Thirumanthra will protect everyone who recite it, no matter how they do it. That is, it never fails in its nature."
Thirumanthra: Om namo Narayanaya.
In Hinduism there is ONE GOD and many are His or Her names. Hindus believe that God is formless [Brahman] and One; people call Him or Her Brahman, The Lord, Allah, Adonai or any other name if a new Prophet, Messiah or Guru comes along in the future and establishes a new religion entirely unknown and unimagined by us now. Consider the possibility that a new future prophet (Nuo) declares establishment of a new religion, NUOISM AND CALLS HIS GOD NUON and declares that all other Gods are defunct pretenders. Nuon, Nuo, and Nuoism become legitimate because 3 billion people converted to Nuoism. Now I know we should not be fighting with each other in the name of religion.) In writing the word G-d (God) in Judaism, an observant Jew drops the letter O. G-d is often referred to as Ha-Shem (The Name), the Ineffable Name, the Unutterable Name or the Distinctive Name. To the Jew, God is One, both female and male blended in One but He or She comes with many names and flavors. He invokes and thanks Lord Adonai for Her kindness; he invokes God Elohim for being harsh (justice) on him. Simply, Feminine Lord Adonai becomes Masculine God Elohim depending upon dispensation. To him Female Lord Adonai and Male God Elohim are parents--though one-- keeping the children in line first by giving soft love and then some tough love.
Utter the name of Rama in triplets (Rama, Rama, Rama) as many time as you can. The utterance of a triplet once is equal to chanting the Sahasranamam (Vishnu's 1000 names) once and deriving its full benefits. The math is as follows: (Chuckle if you must)
The word Rāma, said three times, begets all the benefits derived from reciting the entire Vishnu Sahasranamam. Rāma = Rā + ma. Rā is the second semivowel in the group-Ya, Ra, La, Va. Ma is the 5th labial among Pa, Pha, Ba, Bha, and Ma. Two multiplied by five is 10; Rāma said three times is 103 = 10x10x10 = 1000. See how a Hindu manipulates numbers!
Bhishma recited one thousand names of Maha Vishnu. Goddess Parvati asked Siva, her Consort whether there is a shorter version of Sahasranamam (1000 names). Think of people or goddess in a hurry! Siva Peruman replied to Parvati:
"Rama Rama Ramethi, Rame Rame Mano Rame
Sahasra Nama Thattulyam Rama Nama Varanane."
Recitation of the one word Rama once will bring benefits equal to recitation of all one thousand names.
Don't forget to supplicate and beg Sita Pirati to confer on you the supreme title of Prapannan* after you surrender yourself (saranagati). She forgives all your minor and major infractions and Pāpams, lines up your head at the feet of Rama and whispers in His ears to grant Raksa (இரட்சிப்பு) to you. இரட்சிப்பு = preservation, protection, salvation. Kakasuran obtained Raksa from Sita abused physically by him, when everyone rejected and abandoned him. Kakasuran is personification and euphemization of abuse by thought, word and deed.
Prapannan* = He who accepts God as his sole refuge.
Breath control and meditation according to Bhagavan Krishna in The Uddhava Gita, Dialogue 9, Verses 32 to 46.
The following is what Krishna says in answer to Uddhava's question on meditation and concentration of the mind.
9.32 Sit in a comfortable position on a level surface with head, neck, and back in one line; palms and hands facing upward on your lap; and gaze directed downward.
9.33 Submerge the senses; focus the mind on your breath; breath in slowly; hold the inhaled breath; exhale slowly; pay attention to the out-breath; hold the out-breath and then inhale slowly.
In cold clinical words:
Inspiration - >Retention of breath - >Expiration - >Hold the residual breath - > Inspiration.
Concentration on an object may be difficult; if you choose one, choose a part of your body, the smallest possible anatomical part, like the finger tip, nasal tip, thumb. More easily, you can concentrate on your breath going in and out.
9.34 Let Prana (breath) go up the lighted path of Susumna Nadi, fine as the Lotus stalk. Upon arrival at the silent Anahata Chakra, peels of Pranava, Om fills the center; chant the Mantra Om on the out-breath. (Solar rays pass up the Susumna Nadi.)
9.35 Chant Pranava Mantra Om ten times at each sitting thrice daily; you will gradually gain control over your breath; you will be ready for meditation.
9.36 Deep in the cave of the heart there is an inverted eight petal lotus bud pointing down from its stalk. (note: heart here refers to spiritual heart, which is present on the right side of the anterior chest--No! it is not an anatomical organ.)
9.37 While meditating, visualize the lotus petals open revealing in its center, Sun, Moon, and Fire. See the Self (Krishna) in whatever native form one likes.
(The three canals of Susumna Nadi are one within the other, a tube within a tube: outer tube is Rajasic Vajra Nadi which is the sun, the middle tube is Sattvic Chitra Nadi (Moon), and the innermost tube is Brahma Nadi signifying passage of Kundali and Kundalini consciousness. The inner tube is more subtle than the outer tube; the innermost is the subtlest. It is said that normal human consciousness becomes a higher consciousness as seen in gifted people like Einstein and Superconsciousness in Yogi who is steeped in Kundalini Yoga.)
Here is what Sri Swami Sivananda says about Susumna 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, Susumna is dropped within the spinal canal and has subtle sections. It is of red colour like Agni (fire).
Within this Susumna 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 Susumna Nadi itself (gross Spinal Cord) is called Brahma Nadi because, Brahma Nadi is within the Susumna. Again the canal within the Chitra is also called Susumna, because the canal is within the Susumna. 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 Susumna, the mind becomes steady. This steadiness of the mind is termed �Unmani Avastha�, the highest state of Yoga. If you sit for meditation when Susumna 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.
9.38 Whatever form of Krishna or Self you choose, let it shine and smile upon you.
9.39 Krishna says, I will be in the center of the lotus as a dark nimbus cloud with eyes and face radiating grace and love and Lakshmi sitting on my chest.
9.40 Visualize me with scintillating jewels, ankle bells, bracelets, and shining lotus feet.
9.41 Let your mind build my image of my body in all its parts and see my complete self as an immanent being there.
9.42 Shut out the external world; withdraw from all sensory stimuli; fix your mind on me in the very center of the heart lotus; keep going towards the epicenter of the lotus (involution).
9.43 As your travel towards the center and concentrate your attention, your mind flows in a continuous stream; hold your attention on the benign face of My being.
9.44 Concentrate on My face for a while; later let My form vanish and what is left behind is the Self; hold on to it and become one with it; now the Self and you are one.
9.45 Remain in that state; it is like fire fusing with fire.
9.46 A person with this attainment is Yogi whose liberation from the world of many forms is very near.
July 21, 2008:
I am recommending the following to Sri Vaishnavas and the willing.
Srivaishnavism is known for its three sacred Mantras. Srivaishnavism has the distinct honor in embracing all castes in its fold; once you are a Srivaishnava, you are equal with all other Srivaishnavas. The humility is the most important asset of a SriVaishnava. He or she always signs off as, 'Adiyen' meaning that the person is your humble servant serving at your feet. That Adiyen may be a physicist, a physician, a musician.... To that person, serving at your feet is serving at the feet of the devotee of the Lord, which is equal or more than equal to serving the Feet of Bhagavan (Lord). For the meaning of the three mantras go to Srivaishnava mantras.
Yours,
Adiyen (That is me.)
It is a common recommendation for a Vaishnava devotee to mentally chant, Sriman Narayana Charanau Saranam, Prapadye Srimathe Narayanaya Nama, anywhere, anytime. Combining this Mantra with Breath control has its advantages. Assume Padmasana pose. Take a deep breath and hold. Kumbhaka is the breath-holding phase, during which mentally chant the Mantra 5 times and breath out deeply. You may perform it for 5-10 minutes twice a day. Other times, you may chant this Mantra without holding the breath.
The other method.
Commit all three Mantras to memory before you proceed. Or write them down and chant in your mind from what you wrote on the paper.
Assume Padmasana posture. Take a deep breath and hold it. Chant the following three Mantras silently in your mind while you hold your breath and exhale at the end. You could do this for a period of about 5-10 minutes twice a day. It will bring you peace and tranquillity. Deep breath for 3-4 seconds, mental chanting of all three mantras for 15 - 20 seconds and exhalation of 3-4 seconds. The whole procedure takes about 20 to 30 seconds in one cycle.
Kunda-lin means coil or snake. Kunda means Coil or a bangle. Kundalini remains coiled when she is at rest. Kundalini is a goddess and her power remains latent in Kanda, urogenital triangle in man between the anus and the genitals. Kundalini is the aggregate of all Saktis in the body . MahaKundali (The Great Coiled Power) is the Cosmic Sakti that is coiled round Supreme Siva. The body-bound Sakti is called Kundalini. Kanda means a bulbous or tuberous root. Kanda is the junctional point or knot (Granthi Sthana), where Susumna channel takes its origin and the gated portal of entry in Susumna for Kundalini is known as Brahma Dvara -Brahma's gate or aperture, which is said to be closed by the mouth of Kundalini. In the female, Kundalin stays at the cervix, the neck of or entry point to uterus from the vagina. Everyone knows there is no actual snake in the Muladhara Chakra. It is a feeling or an experience. Kundalini springs from there, ascends through Susumna Nadi and shows its head in the Sahasrara Chakra. Sadakhas experience Susumna Nadi as a bright rod or pillar along the spinal column or a ten-inch long golden yellow or black snake with red eyes like smoldering charcoal with its waging fiery tongue and shining like a flash of lightning going up the spinal column. All of us at all times function unknowingly at different levels of Kundalini Chakras. We ascend and descend within a lesser range of the Chakras, while accomplished Yogis go up and down the gamut of all chakras. In everyday idiom: Yogi goes the whole nine yards. This is the movement of the soul from the gross plane to a subtle plane. The Chakras ascend from the Gross to the Subtle: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, Mind, Superconsciousness. When the ascent is complete, the individual Sakti (Kundalini = Kundali) unites with Maha Kundali, which is the same as Kundali uniting with Siva.
| Mualdhara | Svadhisthana | Manipura | Anahata | Visuddha | Ajna | Sahasrara |
| Earth | Water | Fire | Air | Ether | Mind | Superconsciousness |
| Pasu | Pasu | Pasu | pasu-man | Man | Man-Yogi | Yogi |
|
Elemental man |
mind-man | Yogi | ||||
|
Duality of Consciousness between man and God |
SamAdhi-nondual.C | |||||
Kundalini is Pinda (the body aspect of all
Saktis = Sakti-Pinda);
Hamsah is Pada (word, mantra); Bindu is RUpa (form); but Cinmaya (made of
Consciousness) is formless. --
Woodroffe. Body of Kundali is made of 50 Sanskrit letters.
This link shows the location of the cervix of the female genitalia: http://www.britannica.com/eb/art-48179
Kunda means anything that has a cavity: a pot, a pit, or ventricles in the brain around which the cerebral cortex is spread out like the coils of a snake. The compressed energy that is contained in Kunda stays dormant and goes by many names upon its manifestation: Devi, Durga, Kundalini, Tripurasundari, Lakshmi, Kali, Sarasvati.
Tantrasara in eulogizing Mother Goddess in the name of Kundali in Hymns to Bhuvanesvari (Verse 9)
O Mother! like the sleeping King of Serpents
Residing in the center of the first Lotus
Thou didst create the universe.
Thou dost ascend like a streak of lightning
And attainest the ethereal region.
Page 34 Hymns to the Goddess and Hymn to Kali translation by Sir John Woodroffe
72,000 Nadis or channels (tributaries) spring from Kanda, which is the point of confluence and branching (distributaries) and where Maya holds its sway. Only fourteen Nadis are important: Susumna, Ida, Pingala, GAndhara, Hastyihvika, KuhU, Sarasvati, Pusa, Sankhini, Payasvani, Vauni, Alambusa, Vishvodari, Yoshasvani. The most important of these are the Yogic Nadis: Susumna, Ida and Pingala. Swami Sivananda lists the following 14 Nadis.
|
1. Sushumna |
8. Pusha |
Nada is flow and Nadi is channel. Energy (Prana) flows in Nadis. 72,000 Nadis pervade the whole body. These are not anatomical like arteries, veins, lymphatic channels or nerves. They are subtle and thus are called Yoga Nadis. What a Nadi for the Yogi is Meridian in English, Pinyin in Chinese Medicine, Keiraku in Japan, and Kyungrak in Korea. Prana and Qi of China flow in the channels or Meridians, which are interconnected. The Chinese call them Acupuncture points along the meridians, the pathways of qi, vital energy.
Indian perspective: Marma is a mortal anatomical point by manipulating which death can be caused. Marma is derived from mara, marana meaning death. (You might have noticed in the TV series, Walker Texas Ranger, a practitioner pressing the Marma point and disabling the victim without use of force.) Marma points are situated along the meridians: the Mamsa (flesh), vessels and nerves (Sira), tendons (Sanyu), Asthi (bones), and Sandhi (joints). Massage, digital pressure, acupuncture, magnets, herbals are applied to these points for curative purposes. Vigorous finger strokes at critical points can cause paralysis, impotence and other unwelcome diabolical events according to practitioners of the art. What Prana is in India is Qi in china. The meridians are positive (Yang of China and Pingala of India) and negative (Yin of China and Ida of India). Ida is Lunar and cool; Pingala is Solar and hot. Marma point is most susceptible to injury when Prana or vital energy flows through it. Ayurvedic practitioners are of the opinion that professional massage of the Marma points (107 in number) releases toxins from Marma and restores optimal health of body and mind by establishing normal energy flow. Qi flows through the subcutaneous tissue, according to the claimants. Nadis pervade the body in every which way they can and do not respect anatomical demarcations. For example: the anterior branch of the Susumna Nadi pierces the palate, passes through the brain upwards in almost a straight line and ends in Brahma Randhra, the anterior Fontanel area.
1) Susumna Nadi: This subtle channel goes through the spinal column. It takes its origin in Muladhara Chakra, courses through the spinal column along the Central Canal of the Spinal Cord, (the anterior branch) perforates through the palate and ends in the Brahma Randhara area of the Sahasrara Chakra. The posterior branch taking off from below the Ajna Chakra goes backwards, pierces through between the two lobes of the cerebellum, goes along the upper layers of cortex anteriorly and ends up in Brahma Randhra. What this means is that energy goes to the cerebrum and cerebellum via the Susumna Nadi's two branches. There is a diagrammatic representation of Susumna Nadi as a set of three tubes telescoped within each other: the central channel is Brahma Nadi, the middle channel is Chitra Nadi and the outer channel is Vajra Nadi. The Brahma Nadi is the most important. Rajasic Vajra Nadi or Vajrini is Solar, Sattvic pale Chitra Nadi (Chitrini) is Lunar and ambrosial, and Tamasic Brahma Nadi is the central one. Chitra means painted picture. Chitra Nadi is the dominant channel in artistic and imaginative professionals: painters, poets... and terminates in Lunar Chakra within Sahasrara Chakra. Swami Sivananda states that Chitra Nadi beginning at Brahma Dvara (the door of Brahman) in Muladhara, goes up the spinal column to Brahma Randhara and ends in cerebellum. Susumna Nadi and other Nadis excepting Ida and Pingala Nadis exhibit reciprocally alternating activity and rest. Flow in one shuts down the others. Elsewhere I spoke about the Nasal Cycle, wherein one nostril is open and the other is blocked for airflow: these are the left Ida Nadi and the Right Pingala Nadi. The practitioners say that when there is a switch in airflow from one nostril to the other in the Nasal Cycle, the airflow through both nostrils are present briefly for the duration of ten breaths, the point in time when Susumna Nadi becomes dynamic with flow of energy. (I note that many times during the day, both my nostrils are open for airflow for a long time; at other times I experience the alternating Nasal Cycle.) One source tells that other Nadis become energy-neutral, when Kundalini goes up the dynamic Susumna Nadi, which is open for energy flow at sunup and sundown, the points in time when meditation is easily advantageous. Yogis by Pranayama (breath control) can activate the Susumna Nadi any time.
Ida and Pingala Nadis are described elsewhere.
These Psychic Nadis convey
Prana Sakti and Manas Sakti (the power of breath and mind). Kundalini lies coiled three
and half times like a serpent at the base of the vertebral column,
ready to spring. The three coils stand for A U M; three gunas, sattva, Rajas,
and Tamas; and three states of consciousness, waking, dream sleep and
deep sleep. The half coil stands for transcendence above all the triads. This
energy goes through nodal points along the spine called Chakra or wheel, which
is represented by lotus petals, which always point towards the goddess
Kundalini where she is active. Where Kundalini sakti is active (dynamic aspect
of Sakti), that chakra is hot and becomes cold when the energy leaves that
chakra or plane. Once the ascent is complete, the whole body except the crown
is as cold and rigid as a corpse.
The nectar
released by the union of Sakti and Siva pervades and sustains the whole body. The energy
(sakti) goes through channels from Muladhara chakra at the base
of the spine (Adhara Chakra or Support) to the Sahasrara plane at the crown by channels known as Nadis,
which are subtle and not physical. Below Muladhara Chakra, there are Chakras
of lower order, responsible for animal and human instinct, and intellect. Kundalini’s
purpose is for the Yogi to attain Samadhi. All the senses including the sexual
impulse are suppressed and sublimated into prana or energy that ascends the
Susumna Nadi from Muladhara Chakra to Sahasrara chakra where goddess Kundalini
and the Yogi
achieve Mithuna (union) with Siva. The Yogi's soul departs the body and
escapes through Brahma Randhra, the anterior fontanel area, to merge with
Brahman. This area is said to be 12 inches above the crown and is called
Dvâtasântam
(Dvatasantam / dvadasanta), where absorption of Yogi's consciousness into the
Pure Consciousness of the Lord takes place. It is Turiya and Turiyatita state,
4th and 5th state of consciousness.
Brahma Randhra (anterior fontanel area on the top
of the head)
in the skull is the entry and exit point for the soul. If you look at the top
of baby's (infant) head, you will see pulsations: that is anterior fontanel
and Brahma Radhra. The Sadhakas or aspirants have to follow the
eight point observance, known as Ashtanga Yoga. Please read TMTM 01-09 for
more details.
( The following is my understanding and interpretation of what Swami Chinmoy says; they are not necessarily his actual words. He says that when, for example, the Anahata heart center opens, heat rises locally accompanied by a revolving disc in the spiritual heart, which is not the fleshy heart, but located in the center and to the right of the chest. He is of the opinion that a sadhaka should open the Anahata center first before the lower centers, which are the repository of strength, power, passion, motion, sexual tension, and other animal attributes. Exercising a control over these awakened attributes, when Muladhara, Svadhisthana and Manipura centers are activated, is difficult; the raw power of these forces can lead a Sadhaka astray; they may leave him addicted to sex, drugs, and aggression, exerting power over the weak and the innocent, and living a roller coaster emotional life.
Starting at the base has its disadvantages, when the Sadhaka is not physically, mentally and spiritually pure and prepared. The Sadhaka can meditate on the heart center first; pure love for self and others will grow on him; purity will envelope him; all baser qualities come to a naught; his world becomes one of joy and peace; he becomes one with the universe and what he sees, hears, smells, and touches. When he sees a flower, he becomes the flower; when he hears music, he becomes the music. At this juncture he can open the lower centers without fear of any adverse effects.)
We are all in various stages of spiritual development (involution) without any particular effort, some in Muladhara, some in Svadhistana, some in Manipura and very few in Anahata and upper Chakras.
Swami Satyananada Saraswati is of the opinion that though people have to find the "sensitive" Chakra that suits them best and go higher from there, eventually the aspirant must awaken the lower chakras and the corresponding brain centers also in order to awaken the whole brain. Page 123, Kundalini Tantra.
Please read more on Dvadasantam at the end of this article.
Note: The bones that you sit on are the Ischial tubercles which form the base; the root of the phallus forms the top of the triangle. See the triangle and the Kanda in the bottom of the diagram.
Susumna = Su + Sumna = Excellent + musical hymn, happiness or joy = perfect harmony.
Woodroffe states, It is not to be supposed that simply because the Serpent Fire has been aroused that one has thereby become a Yogi or achieved the end of Yoga. Though much is here gained, it is not until the Tattvas of this centre are also absorbed, and complete knowledge of the Sahasrara is gained, that the Yogi attains that which is both his aim and the motive of his labour, cessation from rebirth which follows on the control and concentration of the Citta on the Sivasthanam, the Abode of Bliss.
For a beginner, Kundalini fire should be raised gradually from one chakra to the next over years until She reaches Ajna Chaka. It is hot where the kundalini fire is active and this can be verified by external observer. Each chakra (plane) of body, base of spine, genital area, navel area, heart area turn cold as the power leaves that plane. Kundalini fire, if unregulated, is Kali; if regulated, it is Durga, the giver of boons. Unregulated and undirected ravaging Kundalini fire is like Kali trampling on Siva on the burial ground or crematorium.
When the kundalini power reaches the Sahasrara chakra, the whole body is cold like a corpse and the crown is a little warm. The yogi can bring down the Kundalini power from the cerebral plane and snap out of it.
One in a thousand aspirants may succeed in Kundalini yoga; guidance from a qualified Guru-Yogi is a must, for he alone can save you from attendant risks.
Chitra Nadi's lower end is called Brahma Dvara, the aperture or door of Brahman, through which Kundalini enters; it ends in cerebellum.
creation-saiva-view.gif
Note: M1 = Muladhara, S2 = Svadisthana and so on.
Goddess Kundali has two states, one on earth at human level in the body and one at Supreme level. The lower Kundali stays coiled in Muladhara chakra. She is Paramatma (Supreme Soul or Atman) at higher level. When all Tattvas have manifested right down to the last tattva, the earth, Her creative energy ceases to act and She goes to rest and sleep in the Muladhara chakra as Kundalini Sakti (static aspect of Sakti). Tattvas are the building blocks of individual souls, body and the universe (water, fire, air, earth etc.). When one is born he or she is the manifestation of the Tattvas TATTVAS-36, the soul and the elements of the living body. Kundali is the One who constructs your body, mind and soul and She is the One who deconstructs the same. (You have seen proudly and visibly pregnant ladies sporting a T-shirt that says, "Under Construction.") When she settles down in the base of the spine, the construction project is over and you are alive to the world of matter. When you are alive to the world of spirit, she wakes up from sleep, deconstructs, demolishes and absorbs all material elements from your body and mind and takes the pure soul to its source. This is the descent and ascent of Kundalini Sakti. You are taken from matter to spirit in the ascent and Vice Versa.
When she is resting, it is the ascent of the flesh and descent of the spirit. When she is active, spirit is rising and flesh is dying. Let me explain the last statements. Siva's consciousness is like the sun. The earth is at an optimal distance from the sun so that it can sustain life without fear of incineration or freezing. As the sun's rays go through many layers that filter harmful rays, Sakti plays the modulating role. The rays emerge from Siva and go to Bindu (and Nada) which makes the building blocks of the universe and beings with the help of Maya and Sakti. To mention a few, the building blocks (Tattvas) are the soul, the body, the water, earth, air... There are 36 of them. TATTVAS-36. What is out there in the cosmos is present in human body. The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus is a short work which coins the well known term in occult circles "As above, so below." The actual text of that maxim, as translated by Dennis W. Hauck is "That which is Below corresponds to that which is Above, and that which is Above corresponds to that which is Below, to accomplish the miracle of the One Thing."[12] The tablet also references the three parts of the wisdom of the whole universe, to which Hermes claims his knowledge of these three parts is why he received the name Trismegistus (thrice great, or Ao-Ao-Ao meaning "greatest"). - Wikipedia.
The Kundalini Chakras from
Sahasrara to Muladhara centers are the home for the building blocks of the
human body. Ajna Chakra is the home for the mind, Vishuddha for Ether, Anahata
for air, Manipura for fire, Svadhistana for water and Muladhara for earth. All
the elements are assigned a shape and color: Earth is yellow and square; Water
is translucent and crescent-shaped; Fire is red and triangular; Air is blue
and circular; Ether is smoky and oval.
There are presiding deities in charge of the building blocks at each center.
Actually the five elements are the origin of the Chakras. When the Kundali
ascends, she is going back to the source; spirit is rising. The source is pure
Consciousness which cannot be contaminated with matter, the Tattvas. She has to take (consumes) the lock, stock and barrel meaning that
she absorbs all the Tattvas and the presiding deities into her (involution,
destruction of matter).
She absorbs all the elements as depicted in the diagram. The Christian equivalent concept is dying to the flesh
and gaining the spirit. Man is a very dilute form of Siva meaning that there
is a great divide between Siva's pure Consciousness and human consciousness, not
to speak of animal consciousness. Siva's Pure Consciousness is like the
sun and human consciousness is like the candle. Man has Pasas and Malas (bondage and
impurities). Siva does not tolerate or invite impure souls to merge with him.
He is pure metal and we are a slurry. Slurry must undergo repeated
purification process before it becomes pure metal. That removal of impurity
happens as Kundali rises from one Chakra to the next above it.
Sakti has two aspects; Static and Dynamic. A car battery on the shelf is Static Sakti or power. When the battery is connected to the car's ignition and turned on, it becomes dynamic. When Kundalini Devi rests in Muladhara, she is static and when she is roused (turning the ignition keys) she becomes dynamic. Tantras say that the Yogi should use the key to open the lock on the door and force the door open, wake up Kundalini in Muladhara and join her in the voyage of spirit. One source tells that Bhuvanesvari, one of the Mahavidyas, cuts the knots of the Chakras and thus rises with the Sadhaka and Kundalini to merge with Siva.
Cosmic Sakti is an aggregate (Samashti) of all Saktis, while kundalini Sakti in a body is the component part of the aggregate or individual power (Vyashti). Look at the Pomegranate fruit: The whole fruit is an aggregate (Samasthi) of all individual fleshy seeds (Vyasthi). In Hindu religion, Isvara (controller of the universe) is compared to pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum) . The seeds are the individual souls. The whole fruit is an aggregate (Samasthi) of all individual fleshy seeds (Vyasthi) (Each seed is enclosed in red fleshy juicy aril.) Bindu is the aggregate (Samasthi) of Siva-Sakti, Tattvas, matter, people and personalities, while each individual (Vyasthi) is part of that aggregate. Bindu's prolific energy produces all conceivable things in the universe ranging from blade of grass to Brahma. As you notice here, the whole universe is one giant organism, all interconnected. If you hurt one part of the organism, be it matter or a living thing, you hurt yourself and the Supreme Being.
pome·gran·ate
(Random House dictionary description.)1. a chambered, many-seeded, globose fruit, having a tough, usually red rind and surmounted by a crown of calyx lobes, the edible portion consisting of pleasantly acid flesh developed from the outer seed coat.
Accomplished Yogis mention that Siva and Sakti are the Father and the Mother of the Sadhaka or spiritual aspirant. The Mother gives a needed boost from below at the Muladhara level and the Father pulls him by his spiritual power from above in Saharara Chakra. It is left up to the seeker whether he wants to rise and reach the Father at the top. If the sleeping Sadhaka does not heed to the parents, the loss is his in that when he is in spiritual sleep he is awake to the world of happenings and when he is in spiritual awakening, he is inert to the physical world around him. Spiritual awakening confers wisdom, bliss and reunion with the parents. Kundalini power elevates man from mere existence at the pelvic level to peerless heights of spiritual wisdom and Bliss. It elevates human consciousness to superconsciousness. Human consciousness is equidistant (hypothetical) between the consciousness of a worm and the Pure consciousness of Siva-Sakti. Between worm and man there is a big chasm of consciousness; between man and God, the chasm is not any less. When someone reaches the Sahasrara Chakra and the thousand petals blossom out, a new consciousness, unlike human consciousness, dawns, according to Swami Satyananda Saraswati. Once a Yogi obtains this new consciousness, his knowledge does not depend on the senses like the eyes, ears.... You see things with eyes closed; you hear sounds with ears shut.
Man is a microcosm (Kshudra Brahmanda) of macrocosm of the universe. Kshudra = minute, tiny, diminutive. Brahmanda = Brahma's egg, macrocosm. What you see here is out there. All Tattvas that went into the creation of this universe exist in our body. Likewise what is in our body exists in the universe: Bhuloka at Muladhara, Bhuvah at Svadisthana, Svah at Manipura, (You heard the expression: we are made of stardust.). Tapa at Anahata, Jana at Visuddha, Maha at Ajna and Satya at Sahasrara. When the heart Lotus blooms in the Sadhaka, the 24 Tattvas (Asuddha Tattvas) form the stalk, the SuddhaAsuddha Tattvas form the petals, Suddha Vidya Tattva forms the stamens, Sadasiva and Isvara Tattvas form the fruit bud, Sakti forms the Bindu, Nada forms the seed and Sakti Tattva is the lotus bloom. Got to Tattvas-36 for explanation: TATTVAS-36
She is both Avidya Sakti and Vidya Sakti :Ignorance and wisdom. She is above both; she gives wisdom and liberation to Yogi and ignorance to the ignorant who remains in bondage roiling in Samsara. Ignorance refers here to spiritual ignorance.
(Maya according to Ramakrishna Parmahamsa (1836-1886): On attainment of Nirvikalpa Samadhi, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa sees Maya as Brahman in its twofold aspect: Avidyamaya and Vidyamaya. (Avidya = ignorance; Vidya = wisdom) Avidyamaya in terms of Kundalini Chakras is living in the pelvis and abdomen - Muladhara, Svadhisthana and Manipura Chakras of lower order; it is living a life of animal passions, Kama, Krodha, lobha, Raga and Dvesha (lust, anger, greed, passion and hate). One should transcend the lower Chakras and ascend to higher chakras. Avidyamaya keeps man in samsara, a cycle of birth and rebirth. Vidyamaya represents the higher centers and consciousness of Anahata, Visuddha, Ajna and Sahasrara Chakras or stations of life. Once Avidyamaya is conquered with Vidyamaya, the round of birth and rebirth is abolished and one enters a state of Mayatita, end of Maya or freedom from Maya. Maya is the power of Kali who transcends both types of Maya. She shines far above the clouds of Maya, under whose spell man lives. These are not his words but his message.)
She is Prana (breath) Herself for she sustains this world of beings with inspiration and expiration. Prana moves through Susumna because of her. Katha Upanishad describes mother Goddess as follows: She is Aditi, the Boundless. She is born as Prana (breath or life) from the Absolute genderless Brahman, the nameless, and the formless. She is the Devatamayi (Mother of gods) and the soul of all beings. She stands in the inner recesses of the heart. - Verse 2.1.7 Mother Goddess is Prana; thus, taking Prana from Muladhara to Sahasrara Chakra is the goal of Sadhaka.
She is the origin of letters; She is Sabda Brahman and origin of mantras, which rouse her. She is Brahma Vidya (Brahman knowledge, the Highest knowledge). Her body is made of six parts: the six centers, sakti, and Sadasiva, her Lord. As the Supreme Kundali Goddess, MahaKundali, she wraps around the Supreme Siva-Linga (Svayambhu-Linga). Each chakra represents one gross element: Muladhara for earth, Svadhisthana for water, Manipura for fire, Anahata for air and Vishuddhi for ether. Click here>>ETHER THE OPPRESSOR. The sixth chakra, Ajna, is the mind center and is junctional and transitional point between the lower consciousness of the lower Chakras and the highest consciousness and illumination of Sahasrara. Mular states in Verse 952 in Tirumantiram the following. " The center devoid of wakefulness and sleep (Bhru-Madhya): that is where AUM dawns. The ones who realize (Ajna Chakra) see visions of Siva who removes aversion, anger and hatred (¦ºüÈõ), radiates like the effulgent light, remains as the TRUTH and Essence (¦Áöô¦À¡Õû) and blameless, and shines like a golden gem." Sahasrara, which is above all other centers, is at the crown, known as Brahma Randhra, the area of anterior fontanel. It has a thousand inverted lotus petals (going around in a right to left fashion), meaning that the 50 Sanskrit letters are multiplied twenty-fold in here. One thousand here means infinity. The other centers have fewer petals starting from Muladhara: 4, 6, 10, 12, 16, 2 respectively. Each petal is inscribed with a Sanskrit letter, all amounting to 50, which when multiplied by 20 becomes 1000 petals (infinity) of Sahasrara.
Sahasrara Chakra (exoticindia.com)
Svadisthana Chakra with six petals (exoticinidia.com)
As you notice Kundali rises from the earth plane of mundane and sensuous living (unconscious living) to Supreme awareness of Siva in Sahasrara Chakra; this is involution, the centripetal movement of the soul from the rim of Irul and Marul to Arul. Irul = spiritual darkness; Marul = confusion; Arul: Supreme Grace. This is compared to the lotus plant whose roots are buried in the darkness of mud, slime and grime; whose stem stays in waters of the pond with variable light penetration at different depths; whose leaves float in the water and yet do not soak in it; whose bud longs for the sun and whose open blossom exults in sunshine. Explanation of analogy follows in the next paragraph.
The question is why the Chakras or wheels are described in terms of Lotus. The origin of lotus plant is very humble: in the mud where its roots are. The water is its intermediary point and when it pierces the water, it buds and blooms. Thus, the lotus has three levels of existence: mud, water, and sun (flower). In like manner, human existence is at three levels: ignorance, longing and effort, and illumination or awakening. Man's roots are in quagmire of spiritual ignorance. With some longing and effort, he sees some spiritual light, as the lotus plant (stem) penetrates the water and reaches towards the surface, it sees the sunlight. Once man pierces the barrier of ignorance and goes beyond ordinary awareness, he receives illumination in the same manner the lotus receives the sunlight upon piercing the surface of the water. The flower of the lotus is flowering of superconsciousness and spiritual awareness. The roots are in Muladhara Chakra and the prana passes through all the intermediate Chakras via the Susumna Nadi and when it reaches Sahasrara Chakra, full illumination of spiritual knowledge dawns on the Yogi.
Muladhara's four petals of red lotus, Svadisthana's six petals of vermillion lotus, Manipura's ten petals of blue lotus, Anahata's twelve petals of deep red lotus, Visuddha's sixteen petals of smoky purple lotus, Ajna's two petals of white lotus and Sahasrara's one thousand petals of the color of a thousand suns have an ascending quality in their color scheme; the color of the thousand suns is purer than the white lotus, which is purer than smoky purple lotus and so on. The color scheme applies to three levels of human existence in this world: Pasu, Vira and Divya (animal, hero and divine stages). Red, vermillion, and blue are animal colors; deep red, smoky purple are the colors of the Vira; white and sun are the colors of Divya bhava (divine quality). This indicates man's progress from living in the pelvis (animal functions of Muladhara, Svadhistana and Manipura Chakras) going on to the human existence in Anahata and Visuddha Chakras to Divine living in Ajna and Sahasrara Chakras.
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836-1886) says about man and animal in man. Quote 188, Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna. As one mask may be worn by various persons, so also various kinds of creatures have donned the garb of humanity. Some are tearing wolves, others are ferocious bears, and some again are cunning foxes or venomous snakes, though they all look like men.
Quote 189: Men are of two classes - men in name only (Manush) and the awakened men (Man-hush). Those who thirst after God alone belong to the latter class.; those who are mad after 'woman and gold' are all ordinary men - men in name only.
Some of the writers attribute the colors in the rainbow to the petals starting from top down : VIBGYOR.
The comical letters indicate colors of the petals and have nothing to do with the letters.
Sahasrara - White,
Violet,
or purple |
Ajna
- Indigo
blue
 |
Visuddha - bright
blue
 |
Anahata - green
 |
Manipura - yellow
 |
Svadisthana - orange
 |
Muladhara - red
 |
The Big letters show colors and carry no other significance.
Please see the table for the color of the Chakra, the lotus petals, their numbers, the Yantra, Bija Mantra and the Deities. The animals are the reminders of our existence in previous lives.
The Chakras are crossing junctions for the Nadis (Flow Channels) like the highway crossings, so the numbers indicate the number of Nadis that intersect at a particular chakra. The Susumana Nadi, when it reaches the cerebral cortex, divides into multiple channels; that is the reason why the Sanskrit letters in the lower channels are multiplied so many times (20 x 50) in Sahasrara (1K petals = infinity). The base of the brain with half-moon shaped gyri (convolutions) corresponds to Chandrakala. The upper cerebral convolutions correspond to Mount Kailas (the home of Siva). This is Sivasthana (Abode of Siva), Point Bliss and the seat of Sakti also. Ajna Chakra with 2 petals and Manas Chakra with 6 petals represent the cerebellum and sensorium respectively. Soma Chakra with 16 petals forms the middle of the Cerebrum. Sahasrara corresponds to cortical convolutions.
Svayambhu-Linga also means Linga-shaped (obelisk) outcropping from earth in its natural state. They are sacred even before consecration. They served as the nucleus around which temples were built.
Muladhara, Svadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata and Visudhha Chakras are the lower centers (Bhutas). Ajna Chakra is mental Center or Vijnanamaya Kosa. Sahasrara Chakra is the cerebral center which opens the way to Supreme Siva Sakti or Pure Consciousness, which is the first of Suddha Tattvas.
Swami Satyananda Saraswati says that Susumna, Ida and Pingala Nadis come to a confluence at Ajna Chakra and proceed to Sahasrara Chakra. This is where the individual ego is subsumed by the cosmic ego and thereby there is no I and Him; there is no duality. If there is duality, Samadhi and Oneness do not take place. The little individual ego gets absorbed and homogenized and finds oneness with all egos and Cosmic Ego; there is no differentiation between I, You and He. This is an essential prerequisite before Sahasrara Chakra can be awakened in the aspirant.
Awakening of other lower Chakras brings in the wake many psychical experiences, which one should be able to cope with. Those Chakr