Kundalini and the Nadis

Nadis play a vital part in Kundalini Yoga.



The term Nadi is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Nad’ meaning ‘motion’. "Nad" means movement. In the Rig Veda, ‘Nad’ means ‘stream’. Nadis are the channels of Kundalini energy.



Composed of astral matter Nadis are the astral tubes that carry Prana, vital force or psychic currents. Again, despite all its highly developed technologies and microscopic instruments, modern science, has not been able to perceive them because they are created from such subtle matter; nor can man perform any test-tube experiments on these phenomena on the physical plane. Further, these Nadis are different from the ordinary Nadis, nerves, arteries and veins known to Ayurvaids. Yoga Nadis are poles apart from these.

Kundalini Shakti, when awakened, flows through the Sushumna Nadi.



However, this is possible only when the other Nadis have been open up through cleansing and purification. So, the first step in Kundalini Yoga is Nadi purification. Hence, a detailed knowledge of Nadis and Chakras, their locations, functions, nature, etc., is imperative.

The three primary Nadis are Sushumna, Ida and Pingala.

1. Sushumna: The major Nadi or nerve channel passing through what corresponds to the spinal column, starting from the Muladhara Chakra at the base to the Sahasrara at the apex of the head. Yogic practices awaken and raise this Kundalini Shakti or energy, lying dormant in the Muladhara, through this channel via each chakra up to the Sahasrara Chakra.

2. Ida: Feminine in nature, this is the channel of physical-emotional energy. It is also known as Chandra ("Moon") Nadi, is pink in color, flows downward and ends on the left side of the body.

3. Pingala: This is the channel of intellectual mental energy and is masculine in nature and. It also goes by the name Surya ("Sun") Nadi, is blue in color, flows upwards and ends on the right side

Actually our system consists of countless Nadis. Authorities on the subject differ on their numbers from 72,000 to 3,64,000.

The subtle Yoga Nadis, have a profound influence on our physical bodies. All the subtle Pranas, Nadis and Chakras have gross manifestations and operations in our physical body. The gross nerves and plexes are closely related to the subtle ones. A point to be well understood, as the vibrations produced in the physical centers have corresponding effects on the astral plane. Hence the benefits of Pranayama, particularly in Kundalini Yoga and Yoga Therapy.