Kundalini

Kundalini is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning either coiled up or coiling like a snake; there are a number of other translations usually emphasizing a more serpent nature to the word - 'serpent power' or suchlike.

It is a term in yoga, referring to an apparent reservoir of psychic energy at the base of the spine. Kundalini is curled up in the back part of the root chakra in three and one-half turns. Statements such as "It has unlimited energy stored in it and [the] velocity of its energy is... higher than the velocity of light" abound. It is sometimes believed to be an aspect of Shakti, the goddess and consort of Shiva.

It is a popular concept and is widely quoted among various disciplines of yoga and New Age beliefs. The concept was first popularized in the West through the work of C.W. Leadbeater.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini Yoga is a meditative concept - or a system of meditative techniques and movements- within the yogic tradition that focuses on psycho-spiritual growth and the bodys potential for maturation. It gives special consideration to the role of the spine and the endocrine system in the understanding of yogic awakening (Sovatsky, 1998). During the last two decades this concept has also been applied to medical research on somatic conditions such as asthma, heart- rate-variabilty and muscle relaxation, and cognitive/hermenutic factors, such as brain-states and consciousness (references to medical research are given below).

Raising Kundalini

The force of kundalini is supposed to be raised through meditative exercises. As it raises from the root-chakra up it activates each chakra it goes through. The higher it gets, the more spiritual a person is supposed to be. In raising kundalini spiritual powers (siddhis) arise.

An original methodics of raising Kundalini was presented by Shri Mataji Nirmala Shrivastava in her teaching named Sahaja Yoga.

Kundalini in the world's religions

Kundalini as a spiritual experience finds expression in many of the mystical traditions of the world's great religions. The early Christians referred to the energy as 'pneuma', contemporary Christians refer to the experience as being anointed by the 'Holy Ghost'.

Initiation of kundalini activity is often traditionally done by a form of 'laying on of hands', or shaktipat, where physical contact to the body or the forehead of the subject by the guru or initiator, causes an experience of kundalini that then may persist or grow with continuing practice, or fade away if practice is neglected. Eye contact during satsang with the guru may also cause this experience.

Inadvertent kundalini experiences have also been reported when subjects physically contacted powerful gurus, such as Meher Baba, by accident.

The (Physio)-Kundalini Syndrome

The academic fields of Humanistic Psychology, Transpersonal Psychology and Near-Death Studies describe something called The Kundalini-syndrome, a complex psychological and somatic syndrome involving distinct motor, sensory and cognitive/hermeneutic symptoms (for academical discussions on this subject, see Further reading, below). This psycho-motor arousal and excitation is believed to occur in connection with prolonged spiritual or contemplative practice (such as meditation or yoga), or different body-therapies (such as biofeedback). It is also thought to occur spontaneously as a result of intense life experiences, such as giving birth, or a close encounter with death, a near-death experience. If the accompagnying symptoms unfold in an intense manner - that de-stabilizes the person - the process is usually interpreted as a Spiritual Emergency (See External Links below).

Interdisciplinary dialogue within these particular schools of psychology has now established some common reference-points regarding this condition. Motor symptoms are thought to include tremors, shaking, spontaneous or involuntary body-movements and changes in respiratory function. Sensory symptoms are thought to include changes in body-temperature, a feeling of energy running along the spine or progressing upwards in the body, a feeling of electricity in the body, tingling, vibrations and gastro-intestinal problems. Cognitive symptoms are thought to include psychological upheaval, stress, depression, hallucinations (inner visions or accoustical phenomena), depersonalization or derealization, intense mood-swings, but also moments of bliss and deep peace. Within the mentioned acedemic traditions this symptomatology is often referred to as the Physio-Kundalini syndrome (Sannella, 1976, Greyson 1993; 2000). Greyson (1993) developed The Physio-Kundalini Syndrome Index in order to measure the degree of Physio-Kundalini symptoms among Near-Death experiencers. Most researchers within this field believe that the core of the process is not pathological, but maturational, even though the symptoms at times may be dramatic.

According to Transpersonal Psychology the Kundalini-syndrome is largely unknown to Western psychiatry. Possible improvements in the diagnostic system that is meant to differentiate the Kundalini-syndrome from other disorders have been suggested (see Hansen, 1995; Herrick, 1996; Sovatsky, 1998; Lukoff, 1998; Grabovac & Ganesan, 2003).

Kundalini and physiology

Contemporary spiritual literature often notes that the chakras as described in the esoteric kundalini documents bear a strong similarity in location and number to the major endocrine glands, as well as nerve bundles called ganglions. One speculation is that the traditional practices have formalized a method for stimulating the endocrine glands to work in a different mode which has a more direct effect on consciousness, perhaps ultimately by stimulating the release of DMT by the pineal gland, which may be analogous to the 'pineal chakra'.

Within the transpersonal field Sovatsky (1998) has put forward the hypotheses of post-genital puberties. The possibiliy of viewing pranotthana (yogic terminology for intensified life-energy) and the larger Kundalini process as a maturation of body and character beyond conventional psychological growth. He has also made some criticism about the tendency - of much contemporary alternative culture - to frame the concept of Kundalini in a New Age-vocabulary. A tendency that might hinder a mature understanding of the subject. The understanding of Kundalini as a developmental, or maturational phenomena, was first suggested by the Indian Pundit Gopi Krishna, whose autobiography is entitled Kundalini - The Evolutionary Energy in Man (Boulder: Shambhala, 1971).

See also Qi, Qigong, Chakras, clairvoyance

External links

Kundalini

Kundalini Yoga

Raising Kundalini

Kundalini in the world's religions

The (Physio)-Kundalini Syndrome

Kundalini and physiology

Further reading

Books

The Kundalini Syndrome - Clinical and Academic discussions

Kundalini Yoga in medical research

External links