Kundalini Yoga: Perform With Guidance of Master | Kriya Yoga
The human body is said to be a storehouse of tremendous amount of energy. This is located in various energy centers in the body. It is believed that these energy centers or chakras have unlimited potential energy or kundalini, which if awakened or released, can bring about complete transformation of a person and take him to a totally new level of existence; more powerful than one can imagine and that of utter awareness. Kundalini is graphically represented as a female serpent whose body is coiled three and a half times.
Kundalini yoga is not the typical yoga that one often hears about. It has little to do with yogic exercises and more to do with awakening the energy centers by marinating various body postures, in which the spine is erect, practicing meditation, chanting mantras, and living a strict and disciplined life devoid of vices and attachments. It is not meant for achieving physical fitness and must not be practiced with that intention.
It is a highly powerful form of yoga, which was considered dangerous in ancient times if one achieved mastery over it, since it could empower the person with unlimited energy to bring about any action. It is said that this form of yoga was practiced very discreetly and only after serious consideration would a master pass it on to his disciple.
The kundalini can be awakened by performing various forms of yoga like hatha yoga, raja yoga, and dhyana yoga. However, it is said that the most effective way of awakening it is through kundalini yoga as it is believed that Kundalini herself, when awakened, can bring about total enlightenment and help a person attain complete samadhi (union of the mind and the body with Lord Shiva).
A kundalini yogi performs various kriyas, when awake and in sleep, and constructs a passage in the body, which moves from the base of the abdomen towards the brain. As it travels upwards, the various energy centers which lie in the body are awakened. When the main chakra, the Sahasrara Chakra, which lies in the brain, is awakened, the yogi experiences total bliss and becomes all transcending, crossing the barriers of time, space, and physical existence.
In today’s world, this might seem a bit too far fetched, but ancient Indian texts have written evidence and incidences that the kundalini can indeed be awakened, and a person can attain complete samadhi. The methods of kundalini kriya yoga are described in detail in these texts.
Practice of this yoga requires the guidance of a master and abiding by various rules of kundalini yoga, which often require one to detach oneself from the material world. Not everyone can practice this form of yoga. One needs to be initiated into the process and only a master can tell who is ready for the process. Kundalini yoga classes are available for those who wish to begin their journey into enlightenment; however, most classes are offer kundalini yoga teacher training, and are not meant for everyone.
