Yoga
Different Styles of Yoga
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Kundalini Yoga
Philosophy and Practice of Kundalini Yoga
The philosophy of Kundalini
yoga is based on the belief that the human body
contains an amazing network of tube like
structures which are made of invisible
cosmological matter. These tubes are called Nadis.
They run throughout the body in a massive network
just like that of veins and arteries. These carry
the Prana or the vital force that is the definite
indication of life in any living creature. They
form a knot like ethereal structure in the course
of their network wherever they cross each other.
These are plexus and are termed as Chakras. These
are not visible so many different types of medical
sciences do not believe in their existence. But
alternate medicine practices of Ayurveda and
practices of Yoga which are ancient ways of
healthy living are based on the foundation of the
concept of Nadis.
The term Nadi is derived from
the Sanskrit word Nad, which means motion. The
word Chakras stands for the meeting or interlacing
of these Nadis. These are considered to be very
high energy zones of the body. Different
practitioners give a different count of Nadis in
the human system. The generally accepted count
ranges from 72,000 to 3,50,000. The main
identified and accepted Nadis are Sushumna, Ida,
Pingala, Gandhari, Hastajihva, Kuhu, Saraswati,
Pusha, Sankhini, Payasvini, Varuni, Alambusha,
Vishvodhara, Yasasvini. It is believed that all the
Nadis emerge from the Kanda. This is the place
where the Sushumna Nadi meets the Muladhara Chakra.
This is situated very near to the anus. This being
the main Nadi, is the most sought after by yogis
and practitioners of Ayurveda. Muladhara Chakra is
also the most sought after because it is believed
that Kundalini when awakened starts its upward
journey from here. The yogis or Sadhaks of
Kundalini yoga try and identify this basic Chakra
and concentrate on it to begin the process of rise
of Kundalini.
The phenomenon of Kundalini is
a very interesting one. Kundalini is considered to
be the cosmic energy that lies dormant at the
Muladhara Chakra and rises in the form of
serpentine wave of energy when it is awakened.
This is the embodiment of Shakti and is pure
cosmic energy which manifests itself in supreme
creativity, wisdom and knowledge. This passage of
rising of Kundalini is accomplished with constant
practice and Dhyana. Pranayama also plays an
important role in arousing the Kundalini.
Ultimately when it rises to the forehead and rests
in the middle of the eyes the person attains
enlightenment. After this its passage towards the
divine continues when it leaves the body through
the head. This is the stage of merger with the
divine. This process of arousal and rising of
Kundalini is termed as Kundalini yoga.
Kundalini is considered Goddess
of speech and wisdom and knowledge. It is the
embodiment of all that is creative, noble and
powerful. When it leaves its dormant station and
starts rising through the back of spine in an
upwards fashion towards the head the person
gradually starts becoming more and more
illuminated in mind, body and spirit. It is a
powerful force that helps a Sadhak or yogi to
attain all that he wishes for and makes him all
that he ever wants to be. This is the origination
and radiance of pure positive energy that makes
its journey throughout the system of the human
body and makes all the systems of the human body
realize their perfect functioning. The astral network of Nadis is
connected to the mind and Chakras are placed at
many levels of the spine. So the mind is connected
to the rest of the body through these Nadis.
Therefore the movement of vital Prana is something
that controls the motion of vitality and vigor
throughout the system and has connectivity with
the mind. In fact Prana is the connecting flow
that keeps the mind alive and in control over the
rest of the bodily functions. The flow of this
vital Prana is the force that makes the static
energy of Kundalini get aroused and change its
form to dynamic form and make it rise through the
spine to create a high energy state of awakening
in the entire body. The practice of arousal of
Kundalini through Kundalini yoga can start only
when the Sadhak is completely pure in mind, body
and spirit. Since it is pure form of high level
energy it should not be attempted to be awakened
without proper cultivation of the purity of
actions and thoughts. If this is done without
theoretical knowledge or properly following the
principles it is possible to get afflicted with
many serious injuries or ailments. The ideal state
of attempting to arouse the Kundalini is the state
of Vairagya when the mind is free of all the
desires and Kama (sexual thoughts), Krodha
(anger), Moha (cravings), Mad (arrogance). After
this with intense concentration the Kundalini is
urged to be woken.
Different styles of yoga awaken
the Kundalini by using different methodologies
available to them as per their chosen form of
practice. Hatha yogis use the path of Pranayama,
Asanas and Mudras. Raj yogis train their minds
sufficiently with thorough practice in
concentration to awaken the Kundalini. The Gyana
yogis use their accumulated wisdom and analytical
thought capability to arouse Kundalini. The
practitioners of Mantra yoga also called Tantric
yogis do this by chanting various mantras or
repeated chanting of 'Om'. Bhakta yogis do it
by the intensity of their devotion. But all the
practitioners of every different form of yoga
believe that attainment of ultimate salvation
through Samadhi is not possible without arousing
the Kundalini. It is also believed that
sometimes simultaneously many practices are to be
utilized in order to arouse the Kundalini. Also
the guru can prescribe a set practice as per the
requirement of the individual Sadhak. Sometimes
the Kundalini in certain persons is awakened
without any extra effort also. The radiance of
such a person is visible in everything that he
does.
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