The Mysterious Kundalini
Kundalini is a dormant spiritual energy, often described as a
serpent coiled up at the base of the spine. This serpent guards
the entrance of susumna, the central energy channel, keeping
prana energy from
entering and ascending up through the center of the spine through
the
seven chakras.
Kundalini is regarded as the individualized form of cosmic
feminine spirit of Shakti. The opposite pole and pair of Shakti is
Shiva, who resides in the crown chakra.
Yoga has two main paths for achieving enlightenment. The classical
path is through stilling the fluctuations of mind and prana
through inner focus, concentration and meditation. The tantric
path is to uncoil the serpent releasing kundalni to rise up the
susumna channel through all seven chakras to unite Shakti with
Shiva.
Activating kundalini creates an ultimate state of bliss, yet
without adequate preparation releasing kundalni can lead to
disaster. The release of such a powerful source of energy into the
body’s delicate systems can cause intense pain and even lead to
insanity and death.
Before kundalini is activated and released upwards the body and
mind must be prepared through hatha yoga exercises, completed in a
specific order. First, the energy channels (nadis) and physical
body must be strengthened and purified through
pranayama,
meditation and
yoga postures (asanas).
Second, all seven chakras must be slowly awakened using
meditation, yoga postures and mudras. Once the body and nadis are
purified, the chakras are open, and the aspirant has a mastery
over body, breath and prana, only then can kundalini be safely
awakened. Kundalini can be awakened through many yogic techniques:
mantra,
tapas,
meditation,
pranayama, mudra,
shaktipat and self-surrender.
During the activation one can still experience adverse effects as
the kundalini moving through the body and as the nervous system
adjusts to this dramatic increase of psychic energy. Therefore it
is not advised to activate kundalini without guidance of a
qualified teacher and support of a spiritual community.
Once kundalini is activated, the yogi’s life completely changes.
But you need not to follow this path all the way to its ultimate
end. Purifying body and mind, cleansing the energy pathways and
activating the chakras promote consciousness, equanimity,
well-being and inner peace.
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