TANTRA 2nd ARTICLE: HEARING THE UNSTRUCK SOUND

Kundalini literally means coiling, which conveys the sense of untapped potential energy. This energy; awaiting our command to spring into action, is described as a sleeping serpent coiled at the base of our spine.

Word and symbol

The root of the word is the verb ‘kund’ which signifies ‘to burn’ – it is vital for getting the meaning for kundalini, as kundalini is ‘fire’ in its aspect of burning. There is another explanation of the word in the noun ‘kunda’ which means a hole or a bowl – the reference here is vessel in which ‘the fire burns.’ There is also the noun ‘kundala’ which means ‘a coil’ or ‘a spring’ – giving the idea ‘how fire work.’ An important point to remember is that the word ‘kundalini’ or ‘serpent fire’ as it is sometimes called – the metaphor ‘the curl in the lock of the hair of the beloved’ – signify the feminine creative power which is asleep within a bowl, with in womb, and is awakened to rhythmic movement in uprising and down poring stream of fire. Its symbol with two serpents intertwined around central staff, with wings at the top, represents the rising of energy up two energy channels; known as ida and pingala, around the central column sushumna. The energy moves through ida and pingala, freeing the entire nervous systems. And once this energy is awakened and rises up the central channel of the spine, it activates the pineal gland which results in extraordinary transformation in the body mind system of the individual, including a huge surge in every levels, the healing of chronic diseases and enhanced mental abilities.         

Nadis and cakras

Tantra regards the human organism as the capsule of the whole: micro – human body and macro – universe, i.e. life in one and all its forms are interrelated in a vastly complicated but inseparable whole. The human body is regarded as made up of five envelopes or cosmic folds or sheaths, creating layers of decreasing density. The physical metabolism is known as the ‘Annamay-kosa’ of the gross body. Then there is ‘Pranamaya-kosa’ which is more subtle. The third and fourth sheaths are’ Manomaya-kosa’ and ‘Vijnanamaya-kosa’ of the subtle body. The fifth and the last sheath ‘Anandamaya-kosa’ is the most subtle of all and is identified by human being’s extraordinary capacity for joy and belong to casual body. The Anandamaya-kosa is connected with three of five elements: earth, water and fire, which are represented respectively in the Muladhara, Svadhisthana and Manipura cakras. The Pranamaya-kosa bearing the universal life fore, prana, expresses itself through air and ether elements which are represented in Anahata and Visuddha cakras. The Manomaya-kosa and Vijnanamaya-kosa have the Ajna cakra as their centre. It is the activation of the Ajna cakra that gives the initiate inner vision, as the third eye and cosmic consciousness open at this centre. These subtle envelopes are related to the gross or physical particles at several psychic points and these points are interlinked by numerous subtle channels known as ‘nadis’; root ‘nad’ meaning motion or vibration. The most important of the nadis are the central channel sushumna and its two flanking channels: the white, lunar nadi ida on the left and the red solar nadi pingala on the right. The sushumna nadi runs from just below Muladhara extending to the forehead through the spinal column. And, within the sushumna nadi there are three more subtle channels: vajra, chitrini and brahmani or brahma nadi; through which kundalini moves upwards. Two currents of psychic energy flow through ida and pingala from the perineum at the base of the spine, spiraling in opposite direction around the sushumna, which meets them between the eyebrows.       

Importance of Guru

There are dangers associated with the arousing of kundalini, and they are: first, there is a danger of sexual stimulation so that the individual becomes drained of his/her vitality through sex obsession. Sexual vitality and activity are very closely allied in kundalini, as both are supremely creative in their nature and the development of the one is bound to stir the development of the other. So it is important that all the sexual urges must be under control, at the will of the individual and must be in a condition of what may be called sublimation, i.e. recognized in reverence and in a spirit of dedication. Second, there is also a danger of upsetting the physical rhythmic equilibrium through the uncontrolled stimulation of the various centers of the body, the possibility of injury to the heart, to the nervous system through the solar plexus, the individual becoming a chronic invalid with general physical deterioration of the brain, producing a strain also ending in mental unhingement. It is due to these above mentioned reasons guru; the religious teacher and spiritual guide to whose directions the initiator submits, have such a high status. The ordinary human guru is but the manifestation on the phenomenal plane of the Supreme Guru abiding in Kaliasa. It is said – ‘guru is the root of diksa; initiation, diksa is the root of mantra, mantra is the root of devata, and devata is the root of siddhi.’ It is He who enters into and speaks with the voice of the earthly guru at the time of giving mantra. And it is the guru who initiates and helps in forming the relationship between himself and the disciple. In tantra, a woman with necessary qualifications may be a guru and can give initiation. The process of initiation - is the giving of mantra by the guru. At the time of initiation the disciple must first establish the life of guru in his own body. According to tantra texts, the day prior to initiation the guru should seat the intending candidate on a mat of kusa grass, and he then make japa of a sleep mantra in his ear and ties his crown lock. The mantra chosen for initiation should be suitable and whether a mantra is sva-kula or a-kula to the person about to be initiated is ascertained by the kula cakra; the zodiacal circle called ‘rasicakra’ or other cakras. The qualifications of a good disciple are: be of good birth, purity of soul and capacity for enjoyment combined with desire for liberation. A perfect student is pure minded, whose senses are controlled, who is ever engaged in doing good to all being, and free from false notion of dualism. It is mentioned in the texts that sisyas who are lewd, adulterous, constantly addicted to sin, ignorant, slothful and are devoid of religion should be rejected by the guru. So long as Sakti is not fully communicated to the sisya; disciple’s body from the guru, the guru and sisya relation remain, and when siddhi is attained, both guru and sisya are above dualism and all others disappears.      

Cakras

Cakras are usually without figurative images; however they are represented as lotuses. And as kundalini reaches each cakra, that lotus opens and lifts its flower, and similarly as soon as the energy leaves for a higher cakra, the lotus closes its peats and hangs down, symbolizing the activation of the energies of the cakra and their assimilation of kundalini. The increasing number of lotus petals may be taken as to indicate the rising energy or vibration frequencies of respective cakras. Let’s take each cakra one by one from Muladhara to Sahasrara; the thousand petalled lotus. 

Muladhara     

The root centre of physical experience at the base of the spine, the sacral plexus, carries on each of its four red petals a letter of the Sanskrit alphabet inscribed in shining yellow or gold: ‘va,’ ‘sa,’ ‘sa’ and ‘sa.’ These letters are contained within a yellow square representing the earth element, together with the seed mantra ‘Lam.’ The four letters represents the root vibration and is related to the vital breath known as Apana. This cakra is associated with the qualities of resistance a solidity representing the earth element. The massive elephant with black strip around its neck is its symbol and the principle of smell is experienced at the centre. And the presiding deity is Brahma.

Svadhisthana

This cakra is situated in the spine in the region above the genitals, and carries on its six vermilion petals the six Sanskrit alphabets ‘ba,’ ‘bha,’ ‘ma,’ ‘ya,’ ‘ra’ and ‘la’ and above the mantra is seated the presiding deity Vishnu. The cakra’s associated animal is the light grey or green makar; lord of the sea. The cakra governs the principle of taste and the vital breath; prana. The seed mantra is ‘Vam.’

Manipura

The green centre at the level of the solar plexus, has on its ten blue petals the ten Sanskrit letters ‘da,’ ‘dha,’ ‘na,’ ‘ta,’ ‘tha,’ ‘da,’ ‘dha,’ ‘na,’ ’pa,’ ‘pha.’ The presiding deity is Rudra, and the seed mantra is ‘Ram.’ This cakra’s associated animal is the grey or brick red ram; vehicle of god Agni, and its vital breath is Samana.

Anahata

This cakra is located at the spinal centre of the region of the heart, and has twelve letters ‘ka,’ ‘kha,’ ‘ga, gha,’ ‘ha,’ ‘ca,’ ‘ccha,’ ‘ja,’ ‘jha,’ ‘ta,’ ‘jan,’ and ‘tha,’ are inscribed on its twelve vermilion or deep red petals. Its seed mantra is ‘Yam.’ The presiding deity is Isha. The animal associated with this cakra is black antelope or gazelle; vehicle of god Vayu. Its vital breath is prana. 

Visuddha

This cakra is located at the juncture of the spinal column and medulla oblongata behind the throat. Its sixteen purple petals bears the sixteen vowels ‘a,’ ‘a,’ ‘i’‘i,’ ‘u,’ ‘u,’ ‘r,’ ‘r,’ ‘l,’’l’ ‘e,’ ‘ai,’ ‘o,’ ‘au,’ ‘am,’ and ‘ah.’ The presiding deity is Sadasiva. The associated animal is the celestial moon white elephant without a band, Airavata; vehicle of god Indra, and the vital breath is Udana. The seed mantra is ‘Ham.’   

Ajna

This cakra is situated between the eyebrows, controls the various states of concentration realized through meditation, and command one’s whole personality. Its deity is Paramasiva. This cakra is associated with various cognitive faculties of the mind. The ida and pingala nadis that separate from the sushumna channel at the Muladhara meet in the region of Ajna cakra, and they again separate running into left and right nostrils. The seed mantra is ‘Om.’ Its two white petals bear the letters ‘ha’ and ‘kas.’ 

Sahasrara  

This cakra is located four fingers breaths above the crown of the head. The petal bears the total sound potential represented by all the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet; fifty in each layer. The sahasrara is the centre of quintessential consciousness, where integration of all polarities is experienced and the act of transcendence is accompanied in passing beyond ever changing samsara and emerging from time and space.

Awakening of kundalini

Kundalini can be awakened by pranayama, asana and mudras by Hatha yoga, by concentration and training of the mind by Raja yoga, by devotion and perfect self surrender by bhakti, by analytical will by the jnani, by mantras by the tantrik and by the grace of the guru through touch, sight or mere sankalpa. Here we take the example of awakening of kundalini by pranayama.

Kundalini awakening by pranayama

Concentrate on the Muladhara cakra at the base of the spinal column, which is triangular in form and which is the seat of the Kundalini Sakti. Close the right nostril with your right thumb, inhale through the left nostril till you count three OMs slowly. Imagine that you are drawing the prana with the atmospheric air. Then close the left nostril with your little and ring fingers of the right hand. Then retain the breath for twelve OMs.  Send the current down the spinal column straight into the triangular lotus, the Muladhara cakra. Imagine that the nerve is striking against the lotus and awakening the kundalini. Then slowly exhale through the right nostril counting six OMs. Repeat the process from the right nostril, as explained in the above lines. 

Experiences while kundalini is awakened

Cakras are centers of Sakti as vital force, i.e. they are the centre of pranasakti manifested by pranavayu in the living body, the presiding devata of which are the names for the universal consciousness as it manifests in the form of the centre. The cakras are not perceptible to the gross senses. The mind of a worldly person with base desires and passion moves in the Muladhara and Svadhisthana cakras situated near the anus and the reproductive organ respectively. When the practitioner’s mind becomes purified, the mind rises to the Manipura cakra situated in the navel, and he/she experiences some power and joy. When the mind becomes more purified, it rises to the Anahata cakra situated in the heart, and the practitioner experiences bliss and visualizes the effulgent form of the Ishta devata. When the mind gets highly purified, i.e. when meditation and devotion becomes intense and profound the mind rises to Visuddha cakra situated in the throat, and the practitioner experiences more and more power and bliss. Beware even if the practitioner’s mind has reached this centre, there is a possibility for it to come down to the lower cakras. When the practitioner reaches Ajna cakra situated between the two eyebrows he/she attains Samadhi and realizes the Supreme Self. At this point there is a slight sense of separation between the practitioner and the Supreme Self. When the practitioner reaches the spiritual centre in the brain, the Sahasrara cakra; the thousand petalled lotuses, the practitioner ceases to be a mere practitioner and attains Super Consciousness state, and all senses of separation is dissolved. The kundalini unites with Siva. From this station the yogi may come down to the centre in the throat to give instructions to other disciples and do well to others.      

Important Note: Do not practice the pranayama technique explained in the article without consulting with your guru or without consultation from a yoga expert. It is always better first to learn yoga from an expert before starting to practice it.

NOTE:

Hi guys,

If you find this article useful/informative, then please ‘like’ and ‘share’ it, so that, this article reaches more like minded people.

And, if you like to get information on any topic related to Hinduism, please email ne the topic at (gauravgoswami0412@gmail.com) ,and I will prepare an article on the said topic, and then post it on this blog.

Thank you for your participation.