Kundalini Power

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Bhagavad-Gita: 18 Chapters in Sanskrit

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Click below for Magnum Opus of Purnananda-Svami (1526

CE) on Kundalini Yoga
Serpent Power
Complete.pdf

This file has the complete book of The Serpent Power plus
illustrations by me with highlights of passages with the
footnotes.
Serpent Power is the English translation of Sat-CakraNirupana (Six-Chakra Investigation) in Sanskrit written by
Purnananda-Svami (1526 CE). This PDF contains:
1: THE SIX CENTRES AND
THE SERPENT POWER
(Kundalini)
2: S A
T-CAKRA-NIRPANA
( Six-Chakra Investigation)
3: THE FIVEFOLD
FOOTSTOOL (PdukPacaka)
4: Illustrations, Tables, and
Highlights...By Veeraswamy
Krishnaraj

Serpent Power Complete.pdf

Other enunciation is Lam (Bija letter)

--Vam am am Sam ( ) for
Muladhara Chakra as the letters look.
You may follow this convention of enunciation of
alphabets for all other Chakras also. For chanting of
Bija mantras and the letters,
assume Lotus Position. The overdots above the
Sanskrit letters indicate the M terminator.

Fall into the Gap (Feb 4, 2009)

There are aspirants who do not want to be bothered with any
Mantras, Stotras, Karikas,Tantras, Yantras, Mental and
Physical Gymnastics, Breath control, Yoga classes and the
like. Is there anything in the world that advocates and
embraces simplicity? Yes, there is. This is where you fall
into the Gap.
You are a running stream of thoughts during awake and
dream states. Between thoughts, there is a gap or silence.
Between movements, there is a stationary gap. Between
forward and backward movements as in a car there is a
moment or gap when there is no movement. You have to
find that gap. That gap is free of thoughts. That is where
tranquility, peace and Universal Consciousness reside. There
is something between two thoughts; one calls it a Gap;
another calls it a connector. It is all semantics. Thoughts
cannot rise or propagate in the mind lake without
consciousness; without the latter, there is no life. This Gap,
this Universal Consciousness is Unmesa, opening of
Spiritual eye or whatever you want to call it. It is the fount,
the fountainhead, the origin, the Essence. This is where you
abide in your tranquil moment.
Once you find that Gap or Universal Consciousness, you
hold on to it and stretch it or stay in it as long as you can.
Your mind is blank; the mind-slate is clean; the mind lake is
tranquil; the mind dies figuratively-- Mana-NAsa; there are
no thoughts; there is peace. In this cacophonic world, how is
one going to find this Gap? The best time for finding this
Gap or opening is between 4 AM and 7 AM. That is when
you are most relaxed. You had the needed rest, sleep and
regeneration. The birds are not chirping; the sirens are not
wailing. The kids are in bed sleeping soundly. Stay in bed
flat and supine. Keep your eyes closed with curtains drawn
the night before. Close your physical eyes; open your
spiritual eyes; and focus them into distant space where there
is no object to perceive to distract your attention. Turn off
your Cerebral Mantle, the generator of thought waves. It is
not that difficult. Find that pristine silent thought-free gap.
Hold on to it and stay in it as long as possible. Your
breathing slows down. Your heart rate goes down. The Gap
is the non-pharmacologic Beta Blocker that slows your
heart. You will live longer. The aspirant has to maintain a

thoughtless state (Nirvikalpa) so that by grace of the Divine

or the Force he gains entry into Universal
Consciousness. You are in touch with your precious and
pristine Self. That is your Essential Self. You don't have to
look for the Force; when you remain free of thoughts, the
Force will find you and embrace you. Your mind lake has no
waves. You dissolve in Universal Consciousness; you have
become identical with it; that is SamAvesa (identical guise
with Universal Consciousness). You overcame the thought
barrier between your individual self and the Universal Self.
Universal Consciousness bathes your mind and prevents
generation of thoughts. This is what Kashmir Saivism
recommends as UpAya or the ways and means to enter the
world of Universal Consciousness. It is called
SambhavopAya. It is Sambhava or SamAvesa or absorption
of individual consciousness in the Divine Consciousness.
Here there is no need for breath control, Mudras, Bandhas,
Meditation or Mantras. End of Gap.
For the Hindus, the willing and the compliant, here are some
suggestions for a fuller life. When you get out of the bed,
utter the name of Kesava (destroyer of Kesin, Krishna)
several times; this will set the day on a smooth path without
obstructions, obstacles and frustrations. Its potency is equal
to supplicating to Ganesa with "Om Ganesaya namah."
When you go to bed, you count sheep jumping over the
fence as a sleep aid. The idea is that you concentrate so
much on the sheep that you forget the day's worries;
counting eventually puts you to sleep. Mentally chanting
Narayana upon going to bed - the Hindu way of counting
sheep - and awakening brings benefits; the benefit of
uttering the name in sleep though not uttered comes to the
devotee; that is the paradoxical Grace of Bhagavan.
Utter the name of Govinda as many times as possible
when you are about to eat. This will provide you your next
meal and more thereafter. Consider many mishaps that could
happen between meals that could prevent you from eating
your next meal. Here eating your next meal means that you
are alive and well. January 2010. Example: Think of the
unfortunate earthquake victims in Haiti, who were hale and
healthy and the next moment.... I can't even think, fathom
and narrate the horror of their suffering. If you eat less or
more, both are bad. In Hinduism, you don't eat for yourself;

you eat for the Atman, the Great Soul or the Universal Soul
in you. Bhagavad Gita says:
6.16: Yoga is not for him, who either eats too much, or eats
too little. It is not for him, who either sleeps too much or
stays awake too long, O Arjuna.
9.27: Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever offerings you
make, whatever you give away, and whatever austerities you
perform, O son of Kunti, do that offering unto Me.

The Christian equivalent is saying the Grace before meals.

All acts are done for Him, which means service to mankind
is service to Him.
Dear Lord, bless this food to the nourishment of
our bodies and us to thy service. In Christ's name we
pray, Amen.
The Jews have more elaborate recitation of Grace before
(Ha-motzi), after, and between meals. They have Grace for
wine, fruits, pastries, beverages, non-earth foods (meat, fish,
milk and cheese). A typical Jewish Grace is as
follows: Praised be Thou, O Lord (Adonai) our G-d
(God), King of the universe who brings BREAD from the
earth or by whose word all things came into being.
For each food item substitute the name of that food in the
Grace: Fruit of the vine, fruit of the earth (vegetables),
pastries....
You may notice in the Jewish Grace that by God's word all
things came into being. In Hinduism, God by His Will,
thinks the Thinkables, utters the Speakables, and creates the
objects, Universe and beings. The Thinkable becomes the
Speakable and the Speakable becomes the Object. I think
and speak Apple; Abracadabra! I have Apple on the palm of
my hand; I wish it is that easy. It is by God's thought and
word, creation comes into being. SUta Samhita says,
Supreme Consciousness is Motionless Apada (Stirless word
or Brahman), which becomes the four forms of Pada (word),
which again can become Apada. That sound is
called NADA by the Tantrics, which is the origin of beings
and objects. When Bindu explodes, a sound is produced

which is called SabdaBrahman (Sound Brahman =

Sound Consciousness). Bindu is like a spontaneously
exploding Wisteria Seed Pod. A German homeowner
called the police and took cover under the table when he
heard a barrage of gunshots outside the house in his
garden. The police responded only to discover the seedmissiles were shooting out of the exploding Wisteria
pods.

Sabdabrahman is Karana Bindu (Causal Bindu) which

remains motionless (Nispanda) and that sound is
called ParA VAk. When this stirless sound, that remains in
Muladhara Chakra, unites with the mind, assumes the
nature of Karya Bindu (Action Bindu), exhibits vibration
and motion and manifests as Pasyanti (Visual Sound) in
Svadhistana and Manipura Chakras. This evolving and
stirring Sabdabraman (with the mind) moves to Anahata
Heart Chakra, it acquires Buddhi and NAda. (Buddhi =
understanding) Now the sound is called Madhyama
(middle stage) at the heart level. Anahata sounds heard by
the yogis are chini, chini-chini (onomatopoetic sounds), the
sound ofBELL , conch, lute, cymbals, flute, drum,
Mridanga (double-drum), and the last thunder. These ten
Anahata sounds can be heard at random subsequently and
only during meditation. Ahata Sound as opposed to Anahata
is the sound that is produced by an external sound producer
such as a drum and perceived by an anatomical sensory
organ such as ear. Anahata sounds originating in the
spiritual heart are perceived by (the non-anatomical spiritual
or) subtle ear. So far the sound is not audible by the third
person. The next development of the SoundBrahman
is audible speech (Vaikhari or articulate speech) when it
ascends to the voice box in Visuddha Chakra. At this level it
acquires Spastatara (more evident, clear or
intelligible). As you see, the stirless sound of ParAvAk
acquires the faculties of mind, Buddhi and NAda and
eventually comes to a VirAt state (manifest state) and
blossoms out in words, phrases, sentences, prose, poetry of
all languages. ParAvAk is the Incubating Nidus or the
Womb of discoveries and inventions. Yogakundali
Upanishad says, the speech sprouts in ParA, springs leaves
in Pasyanti, buds in Madhyama and blossoms in Vaikhari.

Speech is deified as Goddess who goes by the names

UttIrnA (rise up) and Pasyanti.

The ancient pre-Christian and pre-Judaic Hindu

concept is the body is PINDA made of food; not only
you dedicate the body to serve Him but also and more
importantly your soul to Him (Atma Samarpanam
= = Soul dedication). In my
humble opinion, there is nothing in this universe that
Hindu religion has not fathomed which is present in
other religions.
Who doesn't like to hear the sweet nectarian sound of
his name uttered by someone else? Among all
names, Bhagavan likes to hear his devotees say
Govinda in couplets: Govinda Govinda.
In Judaism, out of due reverence for G-d (God), there
is a prohibition on the pronunciation of four-letter
name (YHVH = Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh) except in prayer
or study. The common practice is to mispronounce
the name (politely and reverentially called deletion
and substitution of syllables or letters) so Adonai is
mispronounced as Adoshem; Elohaynu and Elohim
are mispronounced as Elokaynu and Elokim. (The
Hindu Chanters of hymns of 1000 names of Vishnu
have a supreme adherence to the proper enunciation
of names. Any intentional mispronunciation is
sacrilegious and prohibited. Tantrics are very
particular about exact and precise pronunciation.
When you invoke god or goddess, proper enunciation
is important. If the Hindu were to invoke and call
god, JOHN SMITH as JOAN SMYTHE, both deities
(John Smith and Joan Smythe) get angry with the
invoker; consequences may be serious or they may
simply forgive him because they know his sincere
devotion to both of them. In Hinduism, unintentional
mispronunciation does not invite the wrath of God.
Here is a quote,
"Even if one were to slip on the proper method of reciting it
(with faith and completely surrendered),
the Thirumanthra will not slip from its nature, which is

providing full protection to those reciting it. The

Thirumanthra will protect everyone who recite it, no matter
how they do it. That is, it never fails in its nature." It is like
mispronouncing the name of the medication and taking it
internally. The medication still works and brings about its
intended effect, no matter what you call it.
Thirumanthra: Om namo Narayanaya.

In Hinduism there is ONE GOD and many are His or Her

names. Hindus believe that God is formless [Brahman] and
One; people call Him or Her Brahman, The Lord, Allah,
Adonai or any other name if a new Prophet, Messiah or
Guru comes along in the future and establishes a new
religion entirely unknown and unimagined by us now.
Consider the possibility that a new future prophet (Nuo)
declares establishment of a new religion, NUOISM AND
CALLS HIS GOD NUON and declares that all other Gods
are defunct pretenders. Nuon, Nuo, and Nuoism become
legitimate because 3 billion people converted to Nuoism.
Now I know we should not be fighting with each other in
the name of religion.) In writing the word G-d (God) in
Judaism, an observant Jew drops the letter O. G-d is often
referred to as Ha-Shem (The Name), the Ineffable Name,
the Unutterable Name or the Distinctive Name. To the Jew,
God is One, both female and male blended in One
but He or She comes with many names and flavors. He
invokes and thanks Lord Adonai for Her kindness; he
invokes God Elohim for being harsh (justice) on him.
Simply, Feminine Lord Adonai becomes Masculine God
Elohim depending upon dispensation. To him Female Lord
(Lady) Adonai and Male God Elohim are parents--though
one-- keeping the children in line first by giving soft love
and then some tough love. Hinduism also has an
androgynous God by name Ardhanarisvara (Ardha-NaraIsvara = half-man-Lord = Right half is the Lord and the left
half is female Sakti. Androgynous Siva is the same
as Elohim on the right and Adonai on the left of one body.
In Tibetan Buddhism, Dalai Lama is one of the
incarnations of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of
compassion and the fourteenth in the line of succession that
began in 1391. The Male is Compassion and the Female is
Knowledge; this union leads to realization. The sexual

union is symbolism in Tantric Buddhism in Tibet. This

union of Compassion and Knowledge is necessary to win
over MAyA and the false duality of object and subject. This
fusion results in enlightenment. To the Jews God is good
and Lord and God: Lord with Female kindness and God
with Male Justice.

For the Hindus who believe in the following prayers

Utter the name of Rama in triplets (Rama, Rama, Rama) as
many time as you can. The utterance of a triplet once is
equal to chanting the Sahasranamam (Vishnu's 1000 names)
once and deriving its full benefits. The math is as follows:
(Chuckle if you must).
The word Rma, said three times, begets all the benefits
derived from reciting the entire Vishnu
Sahasranamam. Rma = R + ma. R is
the second semivowel in the group-Ya, Ra, La, Va. Ma is
the 5th labial among Pa, Pha, Ba, Bha, and Ma. Two
multiplied by five is 10; Rma said three times is 103 =
10x10x10 = 1000. See how a Hindu manipulates
numbers!
Bhishma recited one thousand names of Maha Vishnu.
Goddess Parvati asked Siva, her Consort whether there is a
shorter version of Sahasranamam (1000 names). Think of
people or goddess in a hurry! Siva Peruman replied to
Parvati:
"Rama Rama Ramethi, Rame Rame Mano Rame
Sahasra Nama Thattulyam Rama Nama Varanane."
Recitation of the one word Rama once will bring benefits
equal to recitation of all one thousand names.
Don't forget to supplicate and beg Sita Pirati to confer on
you the supreme title of Prapannan* after you surrender
yourself (saranagati). She forgives all your minor and major
infractions and Ppams, lines up your head at the feet of
Rama and whispers in His ears to grant Raksa ( ) to
you. = preservation, protection,

salvation. Kakasuran obtained Raksa from Sita abused

physically by him, when everyone rejected and abandoned
him. Kakasuran is personification and euphemization of
abuse by thought, word and deed.
Prapannan* = He who accepts God as his sole refuge.

Breath control and meditation according to Bhagavan

Krishna in The Uddhava Gita, Dialogue 9, Verses 32 to 46.
The following is what Krishna says in answer to Uddhava's
question on meditation and concentration of the mind.
9.32 Sit in a comfortable position on a level surface with
head, neck, and back in one line; palms and hands facing
upward on your lap; and gaze directed downward.
9.33 Submerge the senses; focus the mind on your breath;
breath in slowly; hold the inhaled breath; exhale slowly; pay
attention to the out-breath; hold the out-breath and then
inhale slowly.
In cold clinical words:
Inspiration - >Retention of breath - >Expiration - >Hold the
residual breath - > Inspiration.
Concentration on an object may be difficult; if you choose
one, choose a part of your body, the smallest possible
anatomical part, like the finger tip, nasal tip, thumb. More
easily, you can concentrate on your breath going in and out.
9.34 Let Prana (breath) go up the lighted path of Susumna
Nadi, fine as the Lotus stalk. Upon arrival at the silent
Anahata Chakra, peels of Pranava, Om fills the center; chant
the Mantra Om on the out-breath. (Solar rays pass up the
Susumna Nadi.)
9.35 Chant Pranava Mantra Om ten times at each sitting
thrice daily; you will gradually gain control over your
breath; you will be ready for meditation.
9.36 Deep in the cave of the heart there is an inverted eight
petal lotus bud pointing down from its stalk. (note: heart

here refers to spiritual heart, which is present on the right

side of the anterior chest--No! it is not an anatomical organ.)
9.37 While meditating, visualize the lotus petals open
revealing in its center, Sun, Moon, and Fire. See the Self
(Krishna) in whatever native form one likes.
(The three canals of Susumna Nadi are one within the other,
a tube within a tube: outer tube is Rajasic Vajra Nadi which
is the sun, the middle tube is Sattvic Chitra Nadi (Moon),
and the innermost tube is Brahma Nadi signifying passage
of Kundali and Kundalini consciousness. The inner tube is
more subtle than the outer tube; the innermost is the
subtlest. It is said that normal human consciousness
becomes a higher consciousness as seen in gifted people like
Einstein and Superconsciousness in Yogi who is steeped in
Kundalini Yoga.)
9.38 Whatever form of Krishna or Self you choose, let it
shine and smile upon you.
9.39 Krishna says, I will be in the center of the lotus as a
dark nimbus cloud with eyes and face radiating grace and
love and Lakshmi sitting on my chest.
9.40 Visualize me with scintillating jewels, ankleBELLS ,
bracelets, and shining lotus feet.
9.41 Let your mind build my image of my body in all its
parts and see my complete self as an immanent being there.
9.42 Shut out the external world; withdraw from all sensory
stimuli; fix your mind on me in the very center of the heart
lotus; keep going towards the epicenter of the lotus
(involution).
9.43 As your travel towards the center and concentrate your
attention, your mind flows in a continuous stream; hold your
attention on the benign face of My being.
9.44 Concentrate on My face for a while; later let My form
vanish and what is left behind is the Self; hold on to it and
become one with it; now the Self and you are one.
9.45 Remain in that state; it is like fire fusing with fire.

Here is what Sri Swami Sivananda says about Susumna

Nadi.
Sushumna extends from the Muladhara Chakra (second vertebra of
coccygeal region) to Brahmarandhra. The Western Anatomy admits
that there is a central canal in the Spinal Cord, called Canalis
Centralis and that the cord is made up of grey and white brainmatter. Spinal Cord is dropped or suspended in the hollow of the
spinal column. In the same way, Susumna is dropped within the
spinal canal and has subtle sections. It is of red colour like Agni
(fire).
Within this Susumna there is a Nadi (river, tube, pipe, channel)
by name Vajra (thunderbolt) which is lustrous as Surya (sun)
with Rajasic (passionate, active) qualities. Again within this
Vajra Nadi, there is another Nadi, called Chitra (bright). It is of
Sattvic (vituous) nature and of pale colour. The qualities of Agni,
Surya and Chandra (fire, sun and moon) are the three aspects of
Sabda Brahman. Here within this Chitra, there is a very fine
minute canal (which is known asCanalis Centralis). This canal is
known as Brahmanadi through which Kundalini, when awakened,
passes from Muladhara to Sahasrara Chakra. In this centre exist all
the six Chakras (lotuses, viz., Muladhara, Svadhishthana,
Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha and Ajna).
The lower extremity of the Chitra Nadi is called Brahmadvara,
the door of Brahman, as Kundalini has to pass through this door to
Brahmarandhra. This corresponds to Haridwar which is the gate of
Hari of Badrinarayan in the macrocosm (physical plane). The
Chitra terminates in the Cerebellum.
In a general sense the Susumna Nadi itself (Susumna = gross
substance of Spinal Cord) is called Brahma Nadi because,
Brahma Nadi is within the Susumna. Again the canal within the
Chitra is also called Susumna, because the canal is within the

Susumna. Ida and Pingala Nadis are on the left and right sides of
the spine.
Chitra is the highest and most beloved of the Yogins. It is like a thin
thread of lotus. Brilliant with five colours, it is in the centre of
Sushumna. It is the most vital part of the body. This is called the
Heavenly way. It is the giver of Immortality. By contemplating on
the Chakras that exist in this Nadi, the Yogi destroys all sins and
attains the Highest Bliss. It is the giver of Moksha.
When the breath flows through Susumna, the mind becomes steady.
This steadiness of the mind is termed "Unmani Avastha", the
highest state of Yoga. If you sit for meditation when Susumna is
operating, you will have wonderful meditation. When the Nadis are
full of impurities, the breath cannot pass into the middle Nadi. So
one should practise Pranayama (breath control) for the purification
of Nadis.

July 21, 2008:

I am recommending the following to Sri Vaishnavas and the
willing.
Srivaishnavism is known for its three sacred Mantras.
Srivaishnavism has the distinct honor in embracing all
castes in its fold; once you are a Srivaishnava, you are equal
with all other Srivaishnavas. The humility is the most
important asset of a SriVaishnava. He or she always signs
off as, 'Adiyen' meaning that the person is your humble
servant serving at your feet. That Adiyen may be a physicist,
a physician, a musician.... To that person, serving at your
feet is serving at the feet of the devotee of the Lord, which
is equal or more than equal to serving the Feet of Bhagavan
(Lord). For the meaning of the three mantras go
to Srivaishnava mantras.
Yours,
Adiyen (That is me.)

It is a common recommendation for a Vaishnava devotee to

mentally chant, Sriman Narayana Charanau Saranam,
Prapadye Srimathe Narayanaya Nama, anywhere, anytime.
Combining this Mantra with Breath control has its
advantages. Assume Padmasana pose. Take a deep breath
and hold. Kumbhaka is the breath-holding phase, during
which mentally chant the Mantra 5 times and breath out
deeply. You may perform it for 5-10 minutes twice a day.
Other times, you may chant this Mantra without holding the
breath.
The other method.
Commit all three Mantras to memory before you proceed.
Or write them down and chant in your mind from what you
wrote on the paper.
Assume Padmasana posture. Take a deep breath and hold it.
Chant the following three Mantras silently in your mind
while you hold your breath and exhale at the end. You could
do this for a period of about 5-10 minutes twice a day. It will
bring you peace and tranquillity. Deep breath for 3-4
seconds, mental chanting of all three mantras for 15 - 20
seconds and exhalation of 3-4 seconds. The whole
procedure takes about 20 to 30 seconds in one cycle.
Sri U. Ve Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy

Proper way for initiation and chanting of Mantras:

First you have to get panca samskaram under
an acharyan (teacher) and only then you become
eligible to chant rahasya traya (Secrets three).
Dvayam2 (twofold or two line Mantra) can be chanted
always but not to be heard by others.
Tirumantram1 (sacred Mantra) during morning hours
after bath and during tiruvaradhanam.
Caramaslokam3 (Last couplet) is not a Mantram. It can
be chanted in the morning and not necessary after
that.
Our purvacharyas
have
not
commented
on
Srimad
Bhagavatam. But

later
one
Sri
Veeraragahavach
arya
has
extensively
commented
on
this
based
on
visistadvaita
philosophy. A
person who has
undergonesamasr
ayanam should
chant
dvayam2 always
and
tirumantram1 and
caramaslokam3 oc
casionally.

panca samskaram = - = five-part

purifications. tiruvaradhanam = tiru-vrtaam: Worship of a deity. samasrayanam =
= attaching oneself to... = Initiation by
a teacher.

Krishnan Swamy:
Samasrayanam is
surrendering
to
ones
acharya.
Panca samskara is
the
five
sacraments that
are administered
to the one who
has surrendered
to an acharya
with an objective
of
getting
Ramanuja
sambandham and
eventually
attaining
moksham.

Acharya is
the
one who 1. has
mastered all the

sastras
and
esoteric meanings
for
himself
2.
preaches it to
others and makes
them follow the
same.
Sriman
Narayana grants
moksham
(Vaikuntam = Sri
Vaishnava
heaven) based on
the
recommendation
of an Acarya who
is
Sri
Ramanuja.
WE
get related to Sri
Ramanuja
through the 74
simhasanadhitpat
is
whom
he
established.
Panca samskara is
the
procedure
which an acharya
administers on a
sishya
(pupil,
aspirant) to make
him eligible for
Ramanuja
sambandham
(connection
to
Guru
lineage,
relation)
and
eventually
moksham.

So you want to meditate. Here is the physiology behind

meditation and contemplation. You need
The Inner Organ in tranquil state to engage in
contemplation and meditation. You have to turn
the outer world off to enter
the Inner world.
Go to TANTRA for more preliminary information on
perception, inference, analogy, negative proof, indirect
knowledge, probability evidence and much more. The
following passage is a continuation from Tantric text. For
successful meditation you need a fully functional "Inner
Organ' made of Mind, Buddhi, Ego, Chitta and the soul.
Find out what they mean. Mind is a mechanical meditator;
Buddhi is a fickle meditator; Chitta is a serene meditator.

Soul, the King presides over, directs, and benefits from

Mind, Buddhi, Ego and Chitta. When they all go to battle
for the king, they all die with Chitta merging with the Soul.
What it means is mind the mechanical meditator, Buddhi the
fickle meditator and Ego the I-maker have to die for the
Chittam to meditate and find oneness with the soul. ManasNasa = destruction of mind; Buddhi-Nasa = destruction of
Buddhi; Ahamkara-Nasa = destruction of Ahankara (ego).
When there is destruction of ego, mind, and intellect, there
is tranquility, there is no egotistical 'I' factor, there is no

propagation of thought waves from the mind, and there is

no intellection giving rise to extraneous concepts and
notions. Under these ideal conditions, Chittam can go to
work and meditate on the Indivisible Oneness (Universal
Consciousness) and merge with it.
= Intellect . Buddhi or Intellect is the Prime Minister. a
sifter, a sorter, an analyzer, a collator, and a processor of knowledge
= Egoism. Ahamkaram or I-Doer or I-Maker is

cabinet Minster. I am (Self or my being is) the center of the universe.

= Mind. Manas or Mind is a cabinet minister. A gatherer of
information through sense organs.
= Determinative Faculty. Chitta or DF

is a cabinet

minister. a shuttle that moves knowledge back and forth from the front burner
of consciousness or Buddhi to back burner for storage and vice versa.

Buddhi, Ahamkara and Manas are linear in

that Buddhi14 gives rise to Ahamkara15 which gives rise to
Mind or Manas16. Distal elements such as hearing17 tactile
sense18, vision and color19, tasting20, smell21 report to Mind or
Manas, which reports to Ahamkara, which reports to
Buddhi. Buddhi interacts with Chitta, the shuttle that moves
knowledge back and forth between storage and the front of
consciousness or Buddhi.
The Tattvas.
1
2
3
Siva , Sakti , Sadasiva , Isvara4, Sadvidya5, MyA6, Kla7,
Niyati8, Kal9, Vidya10, Rga11, Purusa12 Prakrti
Tattva13, Buddhi14, Ahamkara15, Manas16, hearing17 tactile
sense18, vision and color19, tasting20, smell21, speech22,
grasp23, ambulation24, evacuation25, procreation26, sound27,
palpation28, form29, taste30, odor31, ether32, air33, fire34,
water35 Earth36.
Explanation of these terms and other perspectives
Perception moves from the sense organs to the mind in the
apprehension of General and Peculiar qualities, from
indeterminate to determinate, from preliminary to specific,
from Nirvikalpam to Savikalpam. Higher need is moving
the perception to the soul. This is Intellectual perception,
which is apprehension by what is called Antakarna or Inner
organ, consisting of Buddhi, Ego, Mind and Chitta serving
the soul. Going beyond General and Peculiar qualities or
perception is Intellectual Perception ( ). In the
West, Mind and Egoism are well discussed and explored;
Buddhi and Chitta are poorly understood.

The following meanings of the words are close

approximations.
Buddhi = = Intellect. Reason, power of discernment or
judgment
Ahamkaram = = Egoism
Manas = = Mind
Chitta = = Determinative Faculty
Sense organs of perception = Seeing, hearing, smelling,
touching, tasting.
Indeterminate perception or knowledge = First Look.
Determinate perception or knowledge = Complete or nearcomplete knowledge.
Experiential Knowledge = Internal experience of love,
hate...
Sense organs project their image on Manas, the mind. This
is called (Indriya-kAtchi = Seeing or
perception through sense organs). The first perception (the
first look) is not complete and not determinate; it
is (Indeterminate perception). ArAgam
( = Rga is desire) and Buddhi Tattva make it possible
for Nivikalpa Indeterminate Perception or knowledge to
become SavikalpakKatchi ( = Determinate
Perception or Knowledge). It means that the knowledge is
complete and determinate. Indeterminate becomes
Determinate perception; the latter becomes an experiential
knowledge, when impacted with desire and Buddhi
( (Tanvetanaik-Katchi). In this state, the
sense knowledge is subjected to psyche's desire, and Buddhi
(Intuitive intellect). Experiential knowledge
() is internal experience of love, hate, pain,
pleasure... brought about by Rga or Desire and experienced
by soul's intellect after the sensory input goes through
Indeterminate and determinate perception.

Indeterminate knowledgeDeterminate
KnowledgeExperiential Knowledge.
You see a form behind a diaphanous screen; you don't know
whether it is a male, a female, or a statue. That is Indeterminate
knowledge. The form moves and comes in view before you. You
apprehend the form as a woman; that is determinate knowledge.
The figure is a statuesque, living breathing young woman and
induces positive feelings and love at first sight; her demeanor is
bewitching; the juices start flowing ; the sensitized pheromonal
receptors are heightened; the adrenaline rush is palpable and causes
palpitation; you without your awareness develop a physical
response to her; she kindles your desire and Buddhi gives a
thorough look-see; you are melting in the heat of passion; you
desire for union; that is Experiential perception or knowledge. This
is the physical side of human response. There is less knowledge
among people with regards to spiritual side of human response. You
hear of ecstasy in seers and sages, when they meditate on God. That
spiritual ecstasy is compared to sexual bliss in Tantric texts. Sexual
bliss is difficult to express in words; so also is Spiritual bliss, but it
is much more intense, when the Yogi experiences what is called
Turiya and Turiyatita, the 4th and 5th state of human consciousness
(the other three are wakefulness, dream sleep and deep sleep). This
is the ultimate human experience in this phenomenal world.
Experiential knowledge = Self-perception of pleasure and pain
brought about by arka-tattuvam ( = Desire).
Direct Perception = Pratyaksha Pramana (= =
KAnadal Alavai) is the knowledge gained by direct perception of an
object by the senses. The first impression is the general appearance
or occurrence and is called Nirvikalpa Pratyyaksha (
), Indeterminate perception. Vikalpam = difference.
Nirvikalpam = undifferentiated or indeterminate. The next
perception in sequence is Savikalpa Pratyyaksha ( ).
Savikalpam is knowledge that comes with perception associated
with appreciation of difference. One comes to know how an object
is different from the rest. It is a definite identification of the object
and its true nature. Savikalpa Partyyaksha is knowledge that
is not tainted with doubt, confusion, and erroneous apprehension
(). Savikalpa Patyaksha is knowledge devoid of stain.
It is indicated that Inner Organ is endowed with functional
polymorphism, the constituent name based on its function. When it
emotes (Manasa-Vrtti) it is called Manas or mind; when it thinks
(Buddhi-Vrrti) it is Buddhi; When it is in memory mode (Chitta
Vrrti), it is Chittam. Thus Mano-Buddhi-Ahamkara-Chitta is one
entity with multiple functions. Each function in the active mode
inhibits the other functions with ever-present Ahamkara humming
in the background..

Soul's intellect, when at work, goes after the objects. It uses the five
sensory organs like the eyes. Its perception is based on and limited
by the organs. Indriya KAtchi (Sense Perception) perceives without
the stain of doubt and erroneous apprehension the object's general
quality without knowing its name and genus. This is known as
sense-knowledge. The first knowledge engendered by and
associated with the five sense-organs takes a foothold in Chitta
(Determinative Faculty) and remains in memory; later Buddhi
(Intuitive Intellect) assigns a name, genus and such attributes to the
object and thus establishes a clear comprehension of the object.
This is known as MAnatha KAtchi (Intellectual
Perception), , Intellectual perception by the soul
through the functioning of the intellect.
External Sense Organs: They are the eyes, the nose, the tongue,
the ears and the skin, which serve to collect disparate sensations
from the outer world. They are outside of the Inner Organ.
Mind = = Manas. Mind is also called Lower mind. Mind is
made of thoughts when it is active (Manas-Vritti). Mind captures
the images and sensory impressions from the sense organs, which
perceive the external world. There is a continuous assault of the
external world on the mind during waking hours. That creates
thought waves in the mind lake. In dream sleep, mind is active
though there is no contact with the external world. These are
thought bubbles in the form of audiovisual presentation rising from
the subconscious mind. Mind suffers from five afflictions. Five
Klesas: avidya1 (ignorance), asmita2 (egoism), raga3 (desire),
abhinivesa4 (tenacity for mundane existence) and
dvesha5 (aversion). These entities arise in a cascade fashion
starting from Ignorance giving rise to Egoism and so on.
Avidya is not knowing that we take the non-eternal as the
Eternal, Impure as pure, pain as pleasure, desire sprouting
from egoism and aversion as real, and not identifying oneself
with the Soul.
Buddhi: = . Reason, power of discernment or judgment,
rational faculty, decision maker, director of Manas, one of the four
species of antakarana. Antakarana = = Inner seat of
thought, feeling, and volition, consisting of four aspects: ,
, , , (Buddhi or Intellect, Egoism , Mind,
Determinative Faculty. = utkaruvi = Inner Organ =
Antakarana = . Buddhi is also called Higher Mind.
(Mind is lower mind.) Buddhi has filters:Sattva, Rajas,
and Tamas (Virtue and goodness-its color is white; Motion and
passion - its color is red; Darkness and sluggishness - its color is
black. Buddhi is the faculty that determines the course of action,
when one is faced with a contingency: trivial, ordinary, lifethreatening. When Buddhi is churning, you call the function
Buddhi-Vritti. Same is true of Manas-Vritti. Manas-Vritti, Buddhi-

Vritti and Chitta-Virrti are controlled by a three-way switch, a case

of reciprocal inhibition; only one switch is operative at a time. It is
like the gears in the car; we use only one gear at a time. Ego Engine
hums in the background and goes silent with others when Chitta is
active. When Manas is churning, Buddhi and Chitta stop churning.
Manas is a gatherer of information; Buddhi is a sifter, a sorter, an
analyzer, a collator, and a processor of knowledge. It is like
gathering intell (intelligence) by Manas, the field agents, and the
analyzer of 'intell' is the Buddhi.
Ego: = = Ahamkaram. It is the I-doer or Imaker. It is all about I, Me, Mine, and Mineness. It is generally
possessive and selfish. Ahamkara identifies itself with the body as if
it is one's own self; it mistakes the body for the self or soul. Body
awareness eclipses and sacrifices soul awareness. One can quell the
Ego or modify it. Ahamkara also has three filters: Sattva, Rajas and
Tamas. One can quell Rajas and Tamas as Yogis do and exhibit
Sattvika Ahamkara. Manas sends its impressions through Ahamkara
and its filters to Buddhi, which is the penultimate arbitrator. But
Chitta supersedes Buddhi and the Soul reigns Supreme.
Chittam ( = ): Citta in Sanskrit. Chittam is a chronicler
and repository of mental impressions and experiences. It is said to
be a seat of consciousness, sub-consciousness and
superconsciousness. Since there is no equivalent word in English,
Chittam is variously called Consciousness, Soul, Memory Bank,
Contemplative faculty, Inner man, Repository of Experiences,
Storehouse of Vasanas (smells from past
life), Samskaras (tendencies from past life) and Gunas (modes or
qualities). One source tells when Sattva, Rajas and Tamas (Virtue,
Motion and passion, and darkness) are in equilibrium, it is Chittam
which in its pristine state gains entry into Universal Consciousness;
when they are in disequilibrium, it is Buddhi. Thus Chittam is a
superior state. Chittam is the corporeal equivalent of Cosmic
Witness. Chittam itself is not a physical entity. Vasana means
fragrance, that clings to the clothes; Vasanas are the impression of
anything remaining unconsciously in the mind, the present
consciousness of past perceptions, and knowledge derived from
memory. It is the fragrance left from the past life that clings on to
our psyche in this birth. Samskaras are impression on the mind of
acts done in a former existence. At present, we are made of Vasanas
and Samskaras meaning that our present life and behavior are a
continuum from the past life remaining true to our past-life
behavior. Our body, mind, soul and psyche follow the script written
by Vasanas and Samskaras. Consider your DNA inherited from your
parents; likewise you inherit your Vasanas, Samskaras and Gunas
from your past life. In the dream sleep, Buddhi, Ego and Mind are
in abeyance because there is no external world but Chittam is
functional and draws images and experiences from its own memory
bank; it is a subjective world; the senses do not perceive; the organs

do not respond; Buddhi does not churn; that is dream.

(Sleepwalking or somnambulism is a sign of CNS immaturity in
children.) If one experiences a dream that is not of this world, it is
from the memory from previous life ( Prva Janma
Smaranam). Chittam is man in his essence. Chittam makes the Inner
Man. It is said that one should keep one's Chittam squeaky clean.
Chittam is the radiating light of the soul of man. Chittam is Sum of
man. You are what Chittam is. When you see an apple, your Inner
Organ (Chittam) has to morph itself to the shape, size, color, odor,
taste... of an apple; then only you see an apple in its completeness.
You see an apple; you (your chittam) become an apple; you hear
music, you become the music. All that happens in your Chittam.
Chittam is the seat of deep contemplation. Whatever is
contemplated in depth in Chittam, that it becomes; that a man
becomes. Chittam becomes the repository of Sattva, Rajas and or
Tamas in one mode or any of its combinations, one becoming more
dominant than others. Chittam is a sage, a warrior, a killer.... If
Chittam becomes the repository of malignant behavior such as
murder, extreme greed etc, they leave a permanent imprint and
never leave a person. Chittam is what makes a man a Buddha, a
Jesus Christ, a Sankaracharya, a Lincoln, a Gandhi, a Hitler, a
Madoff, (Jan 18, 2009) or Rajaratnam. Sattva (Virtue) is in the
dominant mode in the first five people; Tamas or darkness is in the
dominant mode in the last three persons. If you don't give in to the
onslaught of distracting thoughts and keep Siva constantly in your
Chittam, Sivam you become. Thence all your actions are His.
Chittam is Sukshma Sarira or subtle body.
Chittam is not listed as one of the Tattvas TATTVAS-36 along
with Buddhi14, Ahamkara15, Manas16. It is said that Chittam is part
of Prakrti Tattva13 . Vedanta considers Anatahkarana as fourfold,
while Sankhya and and Yoga Sastras consider it as threefold; Siddha
Siddhanta, one of the Inner Religions in Saivism considers
Antahkarana as fivefold: Chaitanya (Higher Consciousness),
Chitta, Buddhi, Ahamkara, and Manas. There are deities who
preside over these faculties: Vishnu-Achuta over Chitta; Brahman
over Buddhi; Siva over Ahamkara; Moon over the Manas.
Tattvas or principles: Siva1, Sakti2, Sadasiva 3, Isvara4,
Sadvidya5, MayA6, Kala7, Niyati8, Kala9, Vidya10, Raga11,
Purusa12 Prakrti Tattva13, Buddhi14, Ahamkara15, Manas16, hearing-Ears17, touch--Skin18, vision and color--Eyes19 , tasting--Tongue
or mouth20, smell--Nose21, speech-Larynx22, grasp-Hands23,
ambulation--Feet24, evacuation--Anus25, procreationGenitals26, sound27, palpation28, form29, taste30 , odor31, ether32, air33,
fire34, water35, earth36.
Saiva Siddhantist says, soul is the ever-awake knowing entity in
wakefulness, deep sleep and dream sleep. The sense organs receive
their respective stimuli (eyes perceive color and form, ears receive

sound.) and pass them on to Antahkarana, the inner organ which

consists hierarchically of Chitta (consciousness), Buddhi (Intellect),
Ahamkara (Ego), and Manas (the Mind) and Chitta supersedes
Buddhi, Ahamkara, and Manas. Perception received by the inner
organ reaches the soul, as the wave rolls to the shore.
Antahkarana (Inner Organ) is the expression of Saksin (Atman,
Soul, Witness) and is compared to a ray which radiates from the
Witness, Atman or Self. This emanation is called Vrttis or ripples.
Perceptions are compared to the waves reaching the Self. Thus the
waves travel to and from the Witness. Chitta = ROM and RAM.
Chitta (Chittam) is like the RAM memory or clipboard,
remembering and forgetting; The forgetting is called Apohana and
recall is known as Smrti. Chitta obtains knowledge from Buddhi
and keeps it in storage. Apohana or forgetting is to move the
knowledge to the back burner from the front of consciousness. It is
not really forgetting; it is in storage (ROM memory). Smrti or
remembering or recollection is to move the knowledge from the
back to the front. Thus Chitta is the storage and the shuttle moving
memory from the forefront to the back and vice versa.
More on Apohana and Smrti. Antahkarana is the inner organ or the
repository of Manas, Buddhi and Chitta. Chitta is a shuttle and
moves knowledge back and forth from the front burner of
consciousness or Buddhi to back burner and vice versa. When
knowledge shuttles via the shuttle-express (Chitta) to the front of
consciousness, you call it Smrti or remembrance; when knowledge
is put in storage and not remembered, it is called Apohana (loss or
forgetting); but it is available upon demand.Impressions; analytical
interpretation; and storage and recall are the respective functions of
Manas, Buddhi and Chitta, which work like gears in the car; when
one gear is on, the other two gears are disabled. The components of
the Inner Organ are functional. It is one entity with many functions.
Example. Father is a son, a husband, an uncle, a father-in-law.... He
is one person; his functions are according to his titles; he cannot
mix his roles; when he plays one role, the other roles are switched
off.
The Buddhi is less subtle than Chitta, makes decisions and instructs
the Mind which works in collaboration with the five Janendriyas
(sense organs = eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin). Mind serves as
the blackboard whereon the sense organs register their impressions,
which are converted as concepts by the mind and presented to
Buddhi, which rejects most of them and keeps some as nuggets of
knowledge. Buddhi keeps moving the knowledge back and forth
between the front and back of the consciousness as Smrti and
Apohana with the help of Chitta.
Antakarana (Inner Organ as depicted below) is operational in two
modes: External knowledge Acquisition (Abhijna) and internal

Self-Knowledge (Pratyabhijna) acquisition. In Abhijna knowledge

acquisition, knowledge proceeds from the gross to the subtle, from
the sense organs to Chitta via Mind, Ego, and Buddhi. Sense organs
report to Mind which reports to Ahamkara, which reports to
Buddhi, which reports to Chitta. As we proceed from Sense Organs
to Witness, we are moving from a world of matter via the Mind,
Ego, Buddhi and Chitta to a world of Self, Pure Consciousness or
Witness. Mind and others are matter, while Witness is Spirit. We are
moving from matter to Spirit. In this centripetal movement, the
perfected one realizes that he (the individual self) is one with the
Witness or Self. Tat Tvam Asi = That Thou Art = That you are.
THAT is God, Witness.... God you are. Don't get carried away. Each
one of us is an image of God; an image is not the Real Thing. A
shadow is not real. God is Supreme Consciousness. Human
consciousness is an infinite dilution (one part in a gazillion) of the
Supreme Consciousness of God. When the individual soul sheds all
impurities, it (you) becomes one with God. That is when 'Tat Tvam
Asi' applies to you.
That Knowledge is Pratyabhijna (Spontaneous
Recognition). Bhijna is cognition and Pratyabhijna is
Recognition. Pratyabhij refers to the spontaneous recognition of
the divine nature hidden in each human being (atman)
More on Pratyabhijna. Pratipam and Jna are the constituent words.
Pratipam is 'facing oneself and what is forgotten'. Jna is
'Knowledge'. Tagare--Pratyabhijna Philosophy. The present
experience is identical and in total conformity with what was
experienced in the past; that is 'Recognition'. It is seeing or
cognizing an experience, an object or a person presently before you.
You know Mr.XYZ from the past. He remains in stored memory
and yet that memory is not in the forefront of your consciousness.
When you see him suddenly before you in Niagra Falls, you
experience Pratyabhijna or Recognition. The knowledge has moved
from storage to the storefront, from the back burner to the front
burner.
You have knowledge of God from Sacred texts, from experience,
from inference and from apprehension that one's own self is God.
When an experience impinges on you that says, 'I am that very
Lord', you have come to Isvara Pratyabhijna or Recognition of the
Lord.
We need the Mind, Ego, Buddhi and Chitta to arrive at Saksin,
Witness, Universal Consciousness... These are aids or way stations.
Each entity churns and propels knowledge from one to the next.
This churning is called Vritti. Once all entities have performed their
functions, they undergo autolysis, self-destruction, immolation, a
sort of psychic apoptosis (programmed death) for the time being.
They do regenrate. By the way, these four entities are functional and

not anatomical entities. You cannot have matter enter the realm of
Spirit. The matter has to die; Mind has to die; Ego has to die;
Buddhi has to die. The flesh dies and Spirit rises. Chitta has the
remembrance power (smrti, Recognition). All Vrittis dissolve and
matter is reabsorbed by Kundali as the Kundalini Sakti rises
through the Chakras. This is the power needed for the Yogis to
dissolve in the Witness (God or Universal Consciousness, Inner
Abider) and become one with It. As Sakti moves from one matter to
the next to go to the Spirit, each encounter with matter evokes a
response, 'Neti Neti, Not this, Not this. Once each entity is studied
and rejected, Sakti arrives at the Real Thing, Witness or Self. This is
It. This is ultima Thule. In Pratyabhijna mode, it turns itself inward
and obtains Self-Knowledge. Abhijna is outbound, while
Pratyabhijna is inbound.
Bhijna is to know God exists by knowledge; Pratyabhijna is to
know Him by direct experience, knowing, Tat Tvam Asi and
recognizing Him. I am that Siva. It is realization of the ever-present
Reality. It is finding Anuttara (), the One not having a superior
or the Ultimate Reality.
December 16, 2012
Jesus Christ experienced Pratyabhijna and said, Tat Tvam Asi (That
thou art = God You Are = That I am.) That = God.
John 8:58. Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before
Abraham was born, I am.
Exodus 3:14
14 God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM; and He said, Thus you
shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.
I AM = Aham ( = I being such) as said by Siva.
How coincidental is it that both the God of Abraham and Siva said
the same word(s)?
Pratyabhijna mode, it turns itself inward and obtains SelfKnowledge. Abhijna is outbound, while Pratyabhijna is inbound.
Abhijna is to know external objects; Pratyabhijna is to know oneself
as the Self, Witness or the Universal soul.
In Kashmir Saivism, Pratyabhijna means Spontaneous Recognition.
You are in spiritual search; your Guru says what you are searching
is you; you and the object of your search are one; you and Self are
one; Individual self and the Universal Self are one; You and Siva
are one. One's true self is nothing but Siva. The caveat is that the
claimant should be pure to claim such a medallion.

It is the individual soul becoming one with the Universal Soul.

What is the purpose of all this discussion? It is all about meditation.
It is becoming one with the object of your meditation. It is
becoming one with your God. Remember you came from him; you
are a fragment (amsa) of Him or a spark according to Ramanuja.
When you reintegrate with Him, that is finding the fountainhead;
that is like salmon going back to the redd (= the spawning area or
nest of trout or salmon).
In successful Mantra meditation, Mind dissolves in Buddhi and
Buddhi dissolves in Chitta. Chitta dissolves in the Self or Witness.
This is essential for proper meditation. This sequential process has
four parts to it: meditation by the mind, chanting of mantra by
Buddhi, contemplation by Chitta, eventual dissolution in the Self. It
goes from thought-initiation to application to contemplation to
dissolution. Chitta keeps you in the 'groove' . You need Chitta to
keep meditation, concentration and contemplation in sync. Mind is
a mechanical meditator; Buddhi is a fickle meditator; Chitta is a
serene and steadfast meditator. Your aim is to graduate to and
dissolve in Chitta meditation and the self. Mind meditation and
Buddhi meditation are out-bound meaning the thoughts are outbound in the world of happenings; you are in the world of Nama
and Rupa, names and forms. Chitta meditation is inbound in the
sense it is in step with the Atman, the Inner Soul, the Witness. At
this juncture the Chitta goes into Smrti mode (remembrance) and
engages in deep contemplation. In remembrance mode, it is
pratyabhijna. It sees and recognizes God (Siva).
For successful Mantra Meditation, an aspirant must have the
following qualities.
Santi = Serenity. Mind must be brought under control and trained
not to chase after sense-objects under the false belief that they
provide happiness.
Dantah = Control of Sense-organs. One must strive to prevent the
sense organs from exploring the world of sense objects and
imprinting on the mind the sensual experiences.
Param uparatah = Withdrawal of mind. Mind is trained to forget
the sense enjoyments of the past and desist from fancied sensual
imageries.
Shanti Yuktah = Tranquility + Absorbed in = forbearance. One
should train oneself not to be disturbed and distracted by
frustrations of daily living.

December 17, 2012.

According to Yoga Sutras, there are personality types, fit for
yoga. You heard about personality types like type A and type

B. Yogis studied the minds of people and divided them into

five kinds:
Kshipta Chitta: This mind is subject to distraction or
absent. Rajasic personality is the underlying characteristic
meaning there is motion and passion. If you know what a
motor-mouth is, this qualifies as a motor-mind: There is no
focus; it is not an ideal mind for yoga. Kshipta = scattered,
distracted. Kshipta Chitta = Addlehead, Scatterbrain.
Mudha Chitta: This is a dull and forgetful mind dominated
by Tamasic personality, meaning darkness, sluggishness,
and general malaise. Mdha = stupid, dull. Mudha chitta
= Muddlehead.
Vikshipta Chitta: This is a distraught and agitated mind
with periods of calmness and Sattva. Vikshipta =
bewildered, agitated. Vikshipta Chitta = Rattlehead.
Ekagra Chitta: This is a one-pointed and trainable mind,
which can practice yoga. EkAgra = one-pointed, having one
point. Ekagra Chitta = Laser head.
Niruddha Chitta: This is a restrained mind, most suitable
for yoga practice. Niruddha = restrained. Niruddha Chitta
= Good head.
(Epithets are for entertainment only and no insult is
intended.)

In the diagram below, you will notice that the Soul occupies
the center; Mind, Ego, and Intellect serve Chitta or
Determinative Faculty,
which serves the Soul.

In the diagram above, you will notice that the Soul occupies the
center; Mind, Ego, and Intellect serve Chitta or Determinative
Faculty, which serves the central Soul. Sense organs report to the
Mind, which submits the mental impressions to Ego, which
analyses them from selfish point of view of the experiencer and
forwards ego-colored impressions to Buddhi (Intellect).
Manas = Mind. Buddhi = Intellect. Chitta = Citta = Determinative
faculty.
When Buddhi is churning, you call the function Buddhi-Vritti.
Same is true of Manas-Vritti and Chitta-Virrti. Manas-Vritti,
Buddhi-Vritti and Chitta-Virrti are controlled by a three-way
switch, a case of reciprocal inhibition; only one switch is operative
at a time. When Manas is churning, Buddhi and Chitta stop
churning. Manas is a gatherer of information; Buddhi is a sifter, a
sorter, an analyzer, a collator, and a processor of knowledge. It is
like gathering intell (intelligence) by Manas, the field agents, and
the analyzer of 'intell' is the Buddhi. Buddhi is intelligence, reason,
power of discernment or judgment. Its intrinsic memory is
evanescent (has only short-term memory like RAM.). Antahkarana
is the inner organ or the repository of Manas, Ego, Buddhi and
Chitta. Chitta is a shuttle that moves knowledge back and forth
from the front burner of consciousness or Buddhi to back burner
and vice versa. When knowledge shuttles via the shuttle-express
(Chitta) to the front of consciousness, you call it Smrti or
remembrance; when knowledge is put in storage and not
remembered, it is called Apohana (loss or forgetting); but it is
available upon demand. Impressions; analytical interpretation; and
storage and recall are the respective functions of Manas, Buddhi
and Chitta, which work like gears in the car; when one gear is on,
the other two gears are disabled. Ego or Ahamkaram is the 'I-doer',
which looks at its own important self from the self of others and the
world and is a mediator between the id and the world of objects and
beings.
Vritti or vrtti in this context is churning of the mind, Buddhi and
Chitta, meaning they are engaged in their respective activities. Yoga
is to turn off this churning of the restless entities, so that he can
abide in his self (svarupa) with ablation of mind, Ego and Buddhi
and subside in Tranquil Chitta-Atma. Only Chitta communes with
the effulgent Soul.
Mind, Buddhi, and Chitta are one entity with three different
functions (functional polymorphism) and so named individually
based on its function at that moment in time; Chitta is hierarchically
the most superior element of the three and has the privilege of
communicating with the Self or the Soul which occupies the center
of a human being (and the diagram). When Chitta communes with

the Soul, Mind, Ego and Buddhi vanish (autolysis); peace and quiet
prevail; communion with the Soul is effective.
Soul, the King presides over, directs, and benefits from Mind,
Buddhi, Ego and Chitta. When they all go to battle for the king,
they all die with Chitta merging with the Soul. What it means is
mind the mechanical meditator, Buddhi the fickle meditator and
Ego the I-maker have to die for the Chittam to meditate and find
oneness with the soul. Manas-Nasa = destruction of mind; BuddhiNasa = destruction of Buddhi; Ahamkara-Nasa = destruction of
Ahankara or ego. When there is destruction of ego, mind, and
intellect, there is tranquility, there is no egotistical 'I' factor, there is
no propagation of thought waves from the mind, and there is no
intellection giving rise to extraneous concepts and notions. Under
theses circumstances there is only one EGO, that of God. Under
these ideal conditions, Chittam can go to work and meditate on the
Indivisible Oneness and merge with it. You know how two big Egos
fight it out in the Presidential debates. You do not knock on the door
of Universal Consciousness with a mother lode of human ego. You
will not be allowed to enter and there is no union of the individual
self with the Universal Self. In Hindu temples, there is a flagstaff in
the front of the temple, wherein the devotee deposits his ego before
he or she enters the temple. When you board the plane, you take
your American Express and leave the firearm at home.
It is indicated that Inner Organ is endowed with functional
polymorphism, the constituent names based on their functions.
When it emotes (Manasa-Vrtti) it is called Manas or mind (lower
mind); when it thinks (Buddhi-Vrrti) it is Buddhi (higher mind);
When it is in memory mode (Chitta Vrrti), it is Chittam (Tranquil
Mind). Thus Manas-Buddhi-Ahamkara-Chitta is one entity with
multiple functions. Each function in the active mode inhibits the
other functions.

The location of the Kanda is 12 angulis

(or about 9 inches) above the anus and 3
inches long and 3 inches in breadth. It
is the shape of a bird's egg and covered
with a soft white piece of "cloth."-Rishi Singh Gherwal.
Kunda-lin means coil or snake. Kunda means Coil or a
bangle. Kundalini remains coiled when she is at rest.
Kundalini is a goddess and her power remains latent
in Kanda, urogenital triangle in man between the anus and
the genitals. Kundalini is the aggregate of all Saktis in the
body . MahaKundali (The Great Coiled Power) is the
Cosmic Sakti that is coiled round Supreme Siva. The body-

bound Sakti is called Kundalini. Kanda means a bulbous or

tuberous root. Kanda is the junctional point or knot
(Granthi Sthana), where Susumna channel takes its origin
and the gated portal of entry in Susumna for Kundalini is
known as Brahma Dvara -Brahma's gate or aperture, which
is said to be closed by the mouth of Kundalini. In the
female, Kundalin stays at the cervix, the neck of or entry
point to uterus from the vagina. Everyone knows there is no
actual snake in the Muladhara Chakra. It is a feeling or an
experience. Kundalini springs from there, ascends through
Susumna Nadi and shows its head in the Sahasrara Chakra.
Sadakhas experience Susumna Nadi as a bright rod or pillar
along the spinal column or a ten-inch long golden yellow or
black snake with red eyes like smoldering charcoal with its
waging fiery tongue and shining like a flash of
lightning going up the spinal column. All of us at all times
function unknowingly at different levels of Kundalini
Chakras. We ascend and descend within a lesser range of the
Chakras, while accomplished Yogis go up and down the
gamut of all chakras. In everyday idiom: Yogi goes the
whole nine yards. This is the movement of the soul from the
gross plane to a subtle plane. The Chakras ascend from the
Gross to the Subtle: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, Mind,
Superconsciousness--going from matter to Spirit. When the
ascent is complete, the individual Sakti (Kundalini =
Kundali) unites with Maha Kundali, which is the same as
Kundali uniting with Siva. kundal51.jpg deleted--is
replaced with kundal690.jpg

Mual
dhar
a

Svadhi
sthana

Mani
pura

Ana
hat
a

Visu
ddh
a

Aj
na

Sahasrara

Earth

Water

Fire

Air

Ethe
r

Mi
nd

Superconsc
iousness

Pasu

Pas
u

pas
uma
n

Man

Ma
nYo
gi

Yogi

Pasu

m
in
dm
an

Elemental man

Yogi

Duality of Consciousness between man and

God

Anim
al
man

Animal
man

Ani
mal
man

Ani
mal
ma
n

Man
man

Mi
nd
m
an

SamAdhinondual.C

Divine Man

Kundalini is Pinda (the body aspect of all Saktis = SaktiPinda); Hamsah is Pada (word, mantra); Bindu is RUpa
(form); but Cinmaya
(made of Consciousness) is formless. -Woodroffe. Body of Kundali is made of 50 Sanskrit letters.
This link shows the location of the cervix of the female
genitalia: http://www.britannica.com/eb/art-48179
Kunda means anything that has a cavity: a pot, a pit, or
ventricles in the brain around which the cerebral cortex is
spread out like the
coils of a snake. The compressed energy that is contained in
Kunda stays dormant and goes by many names upon its
manifestation:
Devi, Durga, Kundalini, Tripurasundari, Lakshmi, Kali,
Sarasvati.
Tantrasara in eulogizing Mother Goddess in the name of
Kundali in Hymns to Bhuvanesvari (Verse 9)
O Mother! like the sleeping King of Serpents

Residing in the center of the first Lotus

Thou didst create the universe.
Thou dost ascend like a streak of lightning
And attainest the ethereal region.
Page 34 Hymns to the Goddess and Hymn to Kali
translation by Sir John Woodroffe

72,000 Nadis or channels (distributaries) spring from

Kanda, which is the point of confluence and
branching (distributaries) and where Maya holds its
sway. Only fourteen Nadis are important: Susumna,
Ida, Pingala, GAndhara, Hastyihvika, KuhU,
Sarasvati, Pusa, Sankhini, Payasvani, Vauni,
Alambusa, Vishvodari, Yoshasvani. The most
important of these are the Yogic Nadis: Susumna,
Ida and Pingala. Swami Sivananda lists the
following 14 Nadis.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Sushumna
Ida
Pingala
Gandhari
Hastajihva
Kuhu
Saraswati

8. Pusha
9. Sankhini
10. Payasvini
11. Varuni
12. Alambusha
13. Vishvodhara
14. Yasasvini

Nada is flow and Nadi is channel. Energy (Prana) flows in

Nadis as in the electrical system. 72,000 Nadis pervade the
whole body. These are not anatomical like arteries, veins,
lymphatic channels or nerves. They are subtle and thus are
called Yoga Nadis. What a Nadi for the Yogi is Meridian in
English, Pinyin in Chinese Medicine, Keiraku in Japan, and
Kyungrak in Korea. Prana of yogis and Qi of China flow in
the channels or Meridians, which are interconnected. The
Chinese call them Acupuncture points along the meridians,
the pathways of qi, vital energy.
Indian perspective: Marma is a mortal anatomical point by
manipulating which death can be caused. Marma is derived
from mara, marana meaning death. (You might have
noticed in the TV series, Walker Texas Ranger, a practitioner
pressing the Marma point and disabling the victim or the
culprit without use of force.) Marma points are situated
along the meridians: the Mamsa (flesh), vessels and nerves
(Sira), tendons (Sanyu), Asthi (bones), and Sandhi (joints).
Massage, digital pressure, acupuncture, magnets, herbals are
applied to these points for curative purposes. Vigorous
finger strokes at critical points can cause

paralysis,IMPOTENCE and other unwelcome diabolical

events according to practitioners of the art. WhatPrana is in
India is Qi in china. The meridians are positive(Yang of
China and Pingala of India) and negative (Yin of China
and Ida of India). Ida is left, Lunar and cool; Pingala is
right, Solar and hot. Marma point is most susceptible to
injury when Prana or vital energy flows through it.
Ayurvedic practitioners are of the opinion that professional
massage of the Marma points (107 in number) releases
toxins from Marma and restores optimal health of body and
mind by establishing normal energy flow. Qi flows through
the subcutaneous tissue, according to the claimants. Nadis
pervade the body in every which way they can and do not
respect anatomical demarcations. For example: the anterior
branch of the Susumna Nadi pierces the palate, passes
through the brain upwards in almost a straight line and ends
in Brahma Randhra, the anterior Fontanel area. Remember
that Susumna Nadi is not an anatomical entity.
1) Susumna Nadi: This subtle channel goes through the
spinal column. It takes its origin in Muladhara Chakra,
courses through the spinal column along the Central Canal
of the Spinal Cord, (the anterior branch) perforates through
the palate and ends in the Brahma Randhara area of the
Sahasrara Chakra. The posterior branch taking off from
below the Ajna Chakra goes backwards, pierces through
between the two lobes of the cerebellum, goes along the
upper layers of cortex anteriorly and ends up in Brahma
Randhra. What this means is that energy goes to the
cerebrum and cerebellum via the Susumna Nadi's two
branches. There is a diagrammatic representation of
Susumna Nadi as a set of three tubes telescoped within each
other: the central channel is Brahma Nadi, the middle
channel is Chitra Nadi and the outer channel is Vajra Nadi.
The Brahma Nadi is the most important. Rajasic Vajra Nadi
or Vajrini is Solar; Sattvic pale Chitra Nadi (Chitrini) is
Lunar and ambrosial; and Tamasic Brahma Nadi is the
central one. Chitra means painted picture. Chitra Nadi is the
dominant channel in artistic and imaginative professionals:
painters, poets... and terminates in Lunar Chakra within
Sahasrara Chakra. Swami Sivananda states that Chitra Nadi
beginning at Brahma Dvara (the door of Brahman) in
Muladhara, goes up the spinal column to Brahma Randhara
and ends in cerebellum. Susumna Nadi and other Nadis
excepting Ida and Pingala Nadis exhibit reciprocally

alternating activity and rest. Flow in one shuts down the

others.
Elsewhere I spoke about the Nasal Cycle, wherein one
nostril is open and the other is blocked for airflow: these are
the left Ida Nadi and the Right Pingala Nadi. The
practitioners say that when there is a switch in airflow from
one nostril to the other in the Nasal Cycle, the airflow
through both nostrils are present briefly for the duration of
ten breaths, the point in time when Susumna Nadi becomes
dynamic with flow of energy. (I note that many times during
the day, both my nostrils are open for airflow for a long
time; at other times I experience the alternating Nasal
Cycle.) One source tells that other Nadis become energyneutral, when Kundalini goes up the dynamic Susumna
Nadi, which is open for energy flow at sunup and sundown,
the points in time when meditation is easily advantageous.
Yogis by Pranayama (breath control) can activate the
Susumna Nadi any time.
Ida and Pingala Nadis are described elsewhere.
These Psychic Nadis convey Prana Sakti and Manas Sakti
(the power of breath and mind). Kundalini lies coiled three
and half times like a serpent at the base of the vertebral
column, ready to spring. The three coils stand for A U M;
three gunas, sattva, Rajas, and Tamas; and three states of
consciousness, waking, dream sleep and deep sleep. The
half coil stands for transcendence above all the triads. This
energy goes through nodal points along the spine called
Chakra or wheel, which is represented by lotus petals, which
always point towards the goddess Kundalini where she is
active. Where Kundalini sakti is active (dynamic aspect of
Sakti), that chakra is hot and becomes cold when the energy
leaves that chakra or plane. Once the ascent is complete, the
whole body except the crown is as cold and rigid as a
corpse. The nectar released by the union of Sakti and Siva
pervades and sustains the whole body. The energy (sakti)
goes through channels from Muladhara chakra at the base of
the spine (Adhara Chakra or Support) to the Sahasrara plane
at the crown by channels known as Nadis, which are subtle
and not physical. Below Muladhara Chakra, there are
Chakras of lower order, responsible for animal and human
instinct, and intellect. Kundalinis purpose is for the Yogi to
attain Samadhi. All the senses including the sexual impulse

are suppressed and sublimated into prana or energy that

ascends the Susumna Nadi from Muladhara Chakra to
Sahasrara chakra where goddess Kundalini and the Yogi
achieve Mithuna (union) with Siva. This is not a physical
union. As you go up the Chakras, you leave behind the body
made of earth, water, fire, air, and ether. It is the Spirit that
unites with Siva. Siva is the purest of the pure and does not
allow contamination by matter. The Yogi's soul departs the
body and escapes through Brahma Randhra, the anterior
fontanel area, to merge with Brahman. This area is said to be
12 inches above the crown and is
called Dvtasntam (Dvatasantam / dvadasanta), where
absorption of Yogi's consciousness into the Pure
Consciousness (Universal Consciousness) of the Lord takes
place. It is Turiya and Turiyatita state, 4th and 5th state of
consciousness. Brahma Randhra (anterior fontanel area on
the top of the head) in the skull is the entry and exit point
for the soul. If you look at the top of baby's (infant) head,
you will see pulsations: that is anterior fontanel and Brahma
Randhra. The Sadhakas or aspirants have to follow the eight
point observance, known as Ashtanga Yoga. Please read
TMTM 01-09 for more details.

There is one simple test whether

the Shakti is actually aroused.
When she is aroused intense heat
is felt at that spot but when she
leaves a particular centre the part
so left becomes as cold and
apparently lifeless as a
corpse. The progress upwards
may thus be externally verified
by others. When the Shakti
(Power) has reached the upper
brain (Sahasrara) the whole body
is cold and corpse-like; except
the top of the skull, where some
warmth is felt, this being the
place where the static and kinetic aspects of Consciousness
unite. Woodroffe, page 22, Introduction, Serpent Power.
Those who wish to go farther, and to put into actual process
this Yoga, must first satisfy themselves of the value and

suitability of this Yoga and then learn directly of a Guru

who has himself been through it (Siddha). His experience
alone will say whether the aspirant is capable of success. It
is said that of those who attempt it, one out of a thousand
may have success. If the latter enters upon the path, the
Guru alone can save him from attendant risks, moulding and
guiding the practice as he will according to the particular
capacities and needs of his disciple. Whilst, therefore, on
this heading it is possible to explain some general
principles, their application is dependent on the
circumstances of each particular case. Woodroffe, Serpent
Power page 25.

(The following is my understanding and interpretation of

what Swami Chinmoy says; they are not necessarily his
actual words. He says that when, for example, the Anahata
heart center opens, heat rises locally accompanied by a
revolving disc in the spiritual heart, which is not the fleshy
heart, but located in the center and to the right of the chest.
He is of the opinion that a sadhaka should open the Anahata
center first before the lower centers, which are the
repository of strength, power, passion, motion, sexual
tension, and other animal attributes. Exercising a control
over these awakened attributes, when Muladhara,
Svadhisthana and Manipura centers are activated, is
difficult; the raw power of these forces can lead a Sadhaka
astray; they may leave him addicted to sex, drugs, and
aggression, exerting power over the weak and the innocent,
and living a roller coaster emotional life.)

Starting at the base has its disadvantages, when the Sadhaka

is not physically, mentally and spiritually pure and prepared.
The Sadhaka can meditate on the heart center first; pure
love for self and others will grow on him; purity will
envelope him; all baser qualities come to a naught; his
world becomes one of joy and peace; he becomes one with
the universe and what he sees, hears, smells, and touches.
When he sees a flower, he becomes the flower; when he
hears music, he becomes the music. At this juncture he can
open the lower centers without fear of any adverse effects.)
We are all in various stages of spiritual development
(involution) without any particular effort, some in
Muladhara, some in Svadhistana, some in Manipura and
very few in Anahata and upper Chakras.
Swami Satyananada Saraswati is of the opinion that though
people have to find the "sensitive" Chakra that suits them

best and go higher from there, eventually the aspirant must

awaken the lower chakras and the corresponding brain
centers also in order to awaken the whole brain. Page 123,
Kundalini Tantra.
Please read more on Dvadasantam at the end of this article.
Note: The bones that you sit on are the Ischial tubercles
which form the base; the root of the phallus forms the top of
the triangle. See the triangle and the Kanda in the bottom of
the diagram. The Susumna Nadi is a cluster of three
channels one inside the other, a tube within a tube; of these,
Brahma Nadi is the most important, through which the
Goddess Kundalini and prana rise.
Susumna = Su + Sumna = Excellent + musical hymn,
happiness or joy = perfect harmony.
kundal34.jpg replaces kundal6.gif.

Woodroffe states, It is not to be supposed

that simply because the Serpent Fire has been
aroused that one has thereby become a Yogi or
achieved the end of Yoga.Though much is here
gained, it is not until the Tattvas of this centre are
also absorbed, and complete knowledge of the
Sahasrarais gained, that the Yogi attains that which is
both his aim and the motive of his labour, cessation
from rebirth which follows on the control and
concentration of the Chitta on the Sivasthanam,
the Abode of Bliss.
For a beginner, Kundalini fire should be
raised gradually from one chakra to the next over
years until She reaches Ajna Chaka. It is hot where
the kundalini fire is active and this can be verified
by external observer. Each chakra (plane) of body,
base of spine, genital area, navel area, heart area
turn cold as the power leaves that plane. Kundalini

fire, if unregulated, is Kali; if regulated, it is Durga,

the giver of boons. Unregulated and undirected

ravaging Kundalini fire is like Kali trampling on Siva

on the burial ground or crematorium.
When the kundalini power reaches the Sahasrara
chakra, the whole body is cold like a corpse and
the crown is a little warm. The yogi can bring down
the Kundalini power from the cerebral plane and
snap out of it.
One in a thousand aspirants may succeed in
Kundalini yoga; guidance from a qualified GuruYogi is a must, for he alone can save you from
attendant risks.

chakra-nadi.gif (deleted) = kundal65.jpg

chakra-nadi.gif ------> kundal1.gif kundal65.jpg

Chitra Nadi's lower end is called Brahma Dvara, the

aperture or door of Brahman, through which Kundalini
enters; it ends in cerebellum.
The diagram shows the origin of the Ida and Pingala Nadis.
The Right testis is the origin of Ida Nadi; the left testis for
the Pingala Nadi. It eventually end in the respective nostrils.
Note right testis channel ends in the left nostril and left testis
channel ends in right nostril. The prana in these channels
join the Susumna Nadi and the energy travels up. You may
ask the question what has testis to do anything with these
channels? The explanation is as follows:
Orgasm is for the flesh; Beatitude is for the spirit. Rise from
orgasm to Ecstasy (Spirit). Transmute your orgasm to
beatitude. Go from testis to Brahmarandhra. In Tantric
terms, man moves from Pasu Bhava to Divya Bhava
(Animal man to Divine man.)
Tantra says that purification of soul begins by accepting the
existence of desires. Once they are accepted and practiced
within the social norms, one by one they must be transmuted
or sublimated and eventually eliminated from one's life, if
one wants union with the Supreme. Nada (thrill) enjoyed by
sexual union (note the Ida and pingala Nadis originate in the
testes.) is the counterpart of beatitude or Bliss. One needs to
supplant the earthly pleasure with spiritual Bliss. By
sublimating and conserving sexual energy, it is said that the
vital fluid (semen) rises to Sahasrara, becomes Soma, the
nectar of immortality and spreads through the lymphatic
system eventually finding its way to the brain where it
becomes Ojas and Tejas (Vigor and splendor), which are
essential for obtaining Superconsciousness. This ascent of
conserved energy is called Urdhvaretas. The message is
orgasm is for the flesh, beatitude is for the spirit; between
the two, beatitude is superior and eternal. Physical union is a
weak emulation of union of Siva and Sakti. Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa says in his book Sayings of Sri
Ramakrishna (a genuine Yogi) Saying 244, page 82-83 the
following. The soul that has tasted the sweetness of Divine
bliss finds no happiness in the vulgar pleasures of the world.

The trodden lovers living and conjugating in the pelvis

(Muladhara and Svadhisthana planes) can control their
senses to reach Brahmarandhra with the grace of
Chinnamasta who lives in Ajna Chakra. The testicular man
can ascend to the level of spiritual man via the Ida, Pingala
and Susumna Nadis.
Bindu is Vindu in Tamil meaning dot or point, drop, semen,
sperm, mercury, a flaw in the diamond, the middle portion
of the forehead between the eyebrows; circle, Sivatattva-sphere of knowledge presided over by Siva Jnana Sakti;
Pure Maya (Suddha Maaya) according to Tamil Lexicon of
Madras University. Bindu in its supreme state is the nucleus
of the universe (Singularity), from which everything
proceeds. Compare it to the nucleus of the cell. When the
cell and its nucleus undergo apoptosis, they degenerate and
become mushy, waiting for scavenger cells to remove them.
Likewise when the cerebral-dwelling Supreme Bindu
undergoes "apoptosis or lysis = Sanskrit Laya" it becomes
the (testicular) semen or (ovarian) ovum at a lower level of
existence. Don't expect a scientist to prove or disprove such
a hypothesis. Bindu as a point and semen have creative
potentialities; the former (Bindu) is at a cosmic level; the
latter at microcosmic level. Gurus are of the opinion that
Rajas Guna (motion, passion) makes the Bindu degenerate
into sperm or ovum. The Apotheosis of Bindu undergoes
apoptosis. (Every cell has a lifespan; it has to die its
programmed death; otherwise, the cells accumulate and give
rise to a tumor, cancer, leukemia or malignant growth.
Apoptosis is programmed cell suicide; if this happens too
efficiently, there is grave cell damage leading to
neurodegenerative diseases
like Alzheimer, Huntington and Parkinson. Normal body
has a balance between dying cells and new cells. When the
cells degenerate but not renewed or removed, the debris
accumulates and compromises its function.)
Urdhvarets: (Urdhva + reta) = (ascending +
stream) Semen, according to Hindu belief, exists in a subtle
state throughout the body. Sukra = White, Silver, Vital fluid,
Essence, Semen. Yogis are said to have the ability to
channel the principle of the seminal fluid up the Susumna
Nadi to reach the A-Ka-Tha Triangle. The Yogi goes with
Kundalini to the Triangle, wherein she meets KAmesvara
(Siva) for union. The Yogi enjoys both Bhoga and Yoga

upon reaching the Triangle in the Soma Chakra. All this

sexual connotation is the only analogical way to simplify an
idea of union of individual soul with Supreme Soul. (It is
similar to the nuns who become the brides of Jesus Christ.)
All this is happening inside the head. It is all an inner
experience. This union results in the flow of Amrta
(Ambrosia) that can be conserved or allowed to trickle down
to Manipura Chakra (via the upper Chakras), wherein it is
used for digestive process. They, who conserve this
Ambrosial flow and prevent its descent, enjoy physical,
mental and spiritual health. This sexual analogy is parlayed
to give us an idea of the Bliss that the Yogi enjoys uniting
(Yoga) with the Universal Soul.
When sexual urge finds expression, the subtle substance
gathers at the gonads (testes) and prostate and assumes a
gross form as opposed to the subtle form of existence
throughout the body. To rise to the level of Urdhvaretas is to
prevent emission and facilitate reabsorption into the body of
the stored seeds for in the perfected one it remains subtle for
ever with atrophy of the gonads and involution of phallus -signs of Urdhvaretas. Because of the subtle nature of Sukra
and its pervasion throughout the chaste body in Urdhvaretas
and lack of it in the gonadal and prostatic fluid, he smells
like a lotus. (On the other hand, ordinary mortals (men)
smell like goats for obvious reasons.) In perfect ones, the
seminal energy rises to become the nectar (Amrta) of Siva
Sakti, according to Tantric Texts. This diffuse radiant energy
(Tejas) circulating in the body of the perfected ones, it is
said, they, when cut, bleed not blood but Tejas in the form of
semen.
This ascent of conserved energy is called
Urdhvaretas. The message is orgasm is for the flesh,
beatitude is for the spirit; between the two, beatitude is
superior and eternal. Physical union is a weak emulation of
union of Siva and Sakti. Some testicular Gurus recommend
prolonging the sexual act without ejaculation; thus
conservation of the seed is maintained. Some of the modern
pseudo-Gurus of the East and the West have used this kind
of information to build a clientele with a promise to
transform one into a marathon love-machine.
Ramakrishna paramahamsa says the following in his
book: Sayings of Ramakrishna.

536. Unless one practises absolute continence, one cannot

comprehend the subtle truths of spirituality.
537. Sukadeva was an Urdhvaretas (a man of complete and
unbroken continence); he had never any emission of semen.
There was another class called Dhairyaretas, who had
discharge of semen at one time but subsequently practised
absolute continence. If a man remains a Dhairyaretas
continually for twelve years he acquires a superhuman
power. A new nerve is developed in him. It is called the
'nerve of intelligence' (Medhanadi), and he can remember
everything and know everything.
538. If a man practises absolute continence for twelve years,
the Medhanandi will open i.e. his powers and understanding
will blossom. His understanding will become capable of
penetrating and comprehending the subtlest of ideas. With
such an understanding man can realise God. God can be
attained only through a purified understanding of this type.
539. Waste of the vital fluid entails loss of energy.
Involuntary emission, however, is not of much consequence.
That is due to food. But still one (a truly spiritual man)
should not know any woman carnally.
540. He who has relinquished sexual enjoyment
has indeed renounced the world! God is indeed
very near him!
The transformation of the Spirit, Pure Consciousness, or
Paramatma (Supreme Atma or Soul) through a cascade of
Tattvas from Spirit through knowledge to lesser
consciousness to matter is depicted as an evolutionary
process and the Tattvas measure the distance between matter
and individual soul on one side and Pure Consciousness on
the other end. In this instance, the human consciousness
ascends to Parasiva or Atattva: an instance of involution.
Chinnamasta facilitates that ascent from the prurient world
to a world of Pure transcendental Consciousness and Bliss.

Chinnamasta: sanguine interpretation and

parallels in the Bible. Decapitation and blood are
symbolism.

Chinnamasta is associated with Kundalini Chakras; there

is reference to that in her hymnal names:
Susumnasvarabhasini, Sahasradalamadhyastha and
Sahasradalavarttini.
Susumnasvarabhasini = She who understands Susumna
Nadi sound.
Sahasradalamadhyastha = One who is in the
middle of a thousand-petalled lotus.
Sahasradalavarttini = She who abides in the thousandpetalled lotus.

John 6.53-57, 62,63

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Exceptyou eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood,
you have no life in you.

He who eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and
I will raise him up at the last day.

For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I

in him.

As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father; so he
who eats me, shall live by me.

What and if you shall see the Son of man ascending where he
was before?

It is the Spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words
that I speak to you, are spirit and life.

The New Oxford Annotated Bible offers the following

explanation.
53. The separation of the blood from the flesh emphasizes
the reality of Jesus' death. 54: To eat and drink is to believe,
to appropriate, assimilate and ABIDE by Christ. 62-63: The
ascension by which Jesus will be taken away as regards

Chinnamasta is Cut Head. Chinna + Masta = Cut + Head.

She is Tantric form of Durga with a severed head, fifth in
line of Mahavidyas. The western students regard
Chinnamasta as an adopted goddess from Buddhist faith and
Tantrics inducted her in (the gallery) Hall of Mahavidyas,
though they were afraid to alter her Buddhist Mantra for
fear of reaping the wrath of Chinnamasta. Buddhists call
Chinnamasta, Chinna-Munda. Munda = head. Chinnamasta
and Dhumavati along with other bevy of goddesses are
regarded by the west as sinister goddesses bent on
Abhicaara; thus, they are worshipped in Abhicaara rites for
the express purpose of harming the enemies. Abhicaara =
employment of spells for malevolent purposes. (In the
movie "Loc Kargil" the soldiers were invoking Kali,
Krishna and Durga while they were attacking the rockfortified positions of the enemy soldiers. They failed to
invoke Chinnamasta; no Abhicaara rites were performed.)
Some experts call Chinnamasta by other epithets: Vidya and
Tara.
Chinnamasta is portrayed against the background of
mountains, rivers, verdure, flowers, thunderclouds, and
lightning. All look pleasant and appealing except the
thunder and lightening and the central figure who holds her
own severed head dripping blood on her left hand; three
streams of blood are spouting out of the severed neck, the
right and the left stream going into the mouths of two
females and the central stream going into the mouth of the
severed head; scimitar is held by the right hand. Indophobes
(and Indophiles) have a field day spouting diagnostic
opinions ranging from psychosis, personality disorder,
displaced anger, dissociation, destructive impulse behavior,
self-mutilation. They forget conveniently the sayings of
Jesus Christ. Everyone including some big names "oralized
and analized" the perturbing points in the portrait; none had
the qualification of the insider. The one thing that they
lacked was the wisdom evinced by the Tantrics who were in
the thick of it. After studying the sanguine opinions of
pseudo-pundits of all hues and nations on this subject of
sanguine nature, I came to the conclusion that the Tantrics in
the know had the best explanation. Insert: Chinnamasta;
credit exoticindia.com

The goddess of red hibiscus complexion with the severed

head is Chinnamasta; she holds a scimitar on the right hand
and her own severed head on the left hand; the severed head
with three eyes and headless sprinkler-body are living units.
Three streams emanate from the severed neck, two streams
go into mouths of two goddesses, Varnini on her right side
and Dakini on her left side and one stream falls into the
mouth of the severed head. Naked Varnini of Raja Guna is
white in color with cascading black hair, holds an upright
sword on her left hand and a skull-bowl on her right hand,
moves her right foot forward in a walking stance so as to
receive the right stream into her mouth. Naked Dakini of
Tamas Guna with cascading black hair holds the sword on
her right hand, the skull-bowl on her left hand and moves
with the left foot forward so as to catch the left stream into
her mouth. Chinnamasta is sitting (standing) on a pair of
lovers engaged in Viparita Mithuna (reverse coition),
involving supine Manmatha and prone Rati, who were
stretched out on a open blossom of lotus flower floating in a
body of water (the older and original version of waterbed).
In the background are the mountains...What do all these
disparate elements of a portrait mean?
Chinnamasta is associated with Kundalini Chakras; there is
reference to that in her hymnal names:
Susumnasvarabhasini, Sahasradalamadhyastha and
Sahasradalavarttini.
Susumnasvarabhasini = She who understands Susumna
Nadi sound.
Sahasradalamadhyastha = One who is in the middle of a
thousand-petalled lotus.
Sahasradalavarttini = She who abides in
the thousand-petalled lotus.
Manmatha and Rati are the archetypical lovers, living a life
of sexual indulgence in Muladhara and Svadhisthana planes,
which is not condemned by Tantrics. They have dominant
oral, anal and genital traits--deglutition, defecation,
excretion, recreation and reproduction. Chinnamasta walks
on them on this private moment and stands on them, which
is rather discomforting to the lovers. The flesh is put on
notice; the flash of lightning sword severs the head and the

spirit rises. The head has all the sensory and motor organs
(needed for a successful sexual encounter), such as the
brain, the motivator and the ultimate enjoyer; nose, the
purveyor of delicate aromas; mouth and tongue for creative
osculation and tactile pleasures; ears for subtle sounds of
music; and eyes, the imbiber of visual delights. The head of
senses has to come off for the spirit to rise. Standing or
sitting on Kama and Rati in Viparita Mithuna (Reverse
Coition), Chinnamasta demonstrates that she has overcome
the sexual urges; self-decapitation with streams of blood
points to fearlessness, feeding and nurturing and sacrifice to
her devotees. (Consider this statement: "Be sure you
distinguish (discern) the Body (bread) and Blood (wine) of
Christ from the other food at the meal. Treat it reverently, do
not just gulp it down.") Her hymnal names, Yogini,
Yoganirata, and Madanatura, indicate that she is a female
Yogi, a disciplined and controlled practitioner of Yoga, and
the one who cannot be conquered by Love god. Her nudity
is a sign of truthfulness because Truth when clothed is no
longer Truth. One who has the courage to stand decapitation
for sacrifice, Truth, devotion, and in war is a hero with
discipline and self-control; he is the battle-ready hero, a true
devotee of Chinnamasta.
Some point out that willing participation of Siva and
Chinnamasta in Viparita Mithuna, portray an image of
Tantric worship where the dominant pivotal performer is the
female; there is no suppression or degradation of sexual
desire or energy. As further proof of glorification of Tantric
sexual practice, Chinnamasta's Mantra incorporates in it the
common seed Syllable (Seed Mantra) of the Great Lovers,
Krishna and Kama: klm. Chinnamasta's Mantra is "Srm
hrm klm aim Vajravairocaniye hum hum phat svh". This
Mantra, some say, attracts and holds woman in their sway
(in man's clutch). Her hymnal names point to her sexual
energy, enjoyment and desire: Kmarpa (her form is
desire), Ratirgavivrddhini (Rati = sexual enjoyment) +
(Rga = passion) + (Vivrddhini = enhancer) No, it not
Viagra....
Other explanations.
Chinnamasta is an object lesson for the amorous couple. The
three streams are the Nadis: the lateral ones are the Ida and
Pingala (left and right) Nadis; the central one is the

Susumna Nadi. Head is cortex and brain, the seat of desires.

Susumna Nadi rises through the brain which receives
nourishment from central stream of blood. Spirit (Kundalini
goddess) rises to the top of the head via the roof of the
mouth; severed head represents severed mind-Amanaska, a
state of paucity of mental function (mana-nAsa =
destruction mind), conducive to higher states of
consciousness, whose destination is Atattva or Parasiva
(absolute Reality). The Nadis break through the Grantha
(knot) in the Chakras and lift the head, the seat of human
consciousness, off. Chinnamasta represents Susumna Nadi,
Varnini Pingala Nadi, and Dakini Ida Nadi. Kundalini
Power
Chinnamasta is in a state of Amanaska devoid of all human
foibles, distractions, and senses but not dead; the proof is
she is sitting or standing holding her own severed head; the
nourishing Susumna Nadi in the form of blood is keeping
the head alive. This is called Kapaala moksa--liberation by
the skull. The confluence of Bindu and Nada (Light and
Sound / Lightning and thunder, Siva and Sakti, Seed and
ovum / Sveta Bindu and Sona Bindu) creates a cascade of
Tattvas which result in matter and life; what Chinnamasta
does on the cosmic scale, the recumbent couple do it on a
smaller microcosmic scale. The amorous couple are on the
physical plane (orgasm), while Chinnamasta is on the
spiritual plane (Beatitude); Prana has risen from the genital
triangle to Ajna Chakra and beyond through Susumna Nadi
to Sahasrara Chakra where the union of Siva and Sakti
produces nectar which suffuses throughout the body. In the
amorous couple, the flesh is rising and the spirit is sinking.
In Chinnamasta, the flesh is falling and the Spirit is rising.
Imbibing blood in this instance is nourishing of spiritual
hunger as is the case in Christian tradition.
The trodden lovers living in Muladhara and Svadhisthana
planes can control their senses to reach Brahmarandhra with
the grace of Chinnamasta who lives in Ajna Chakra.
The transformation of the Spirit, Pure Consciousness, or
Paramatma (Supreme Atma or Soul) through a cascade of
Tattvas from Spirit through knowledge to lesser
consciousness to matter is depicted as an evolutionary
process and the Tattvas measure the distance between matter
and individual soul on one side and Pure Consciousness on

the other end. In this instance, the human consciousness

ascends to Parasiva or Atattva: an instance of involution.
Chinnamasta facilitates that ascent from the prurient world
to a world of Pure transcendental Consciousness and Bliss.
Chinnamasta, as Tara, was adopted from Buddhist Tantrics
who called her Vajra Yogini. There are a few stories
associated with Chinnamasta.
Parvati went to Mandakini River for bathing with two
attendants, Jaya and Vijaya. When she finished bathing, the
attendants asked her for food for which she said that they
had to wait until they reached home. They kept persisting in
their request and she, the merciful goddess, cut her own
head and the attendants on either side along with the severed
head drank from the three streams coming out of her
headless body. They all came back home satisfied in their
hunger. Since then Parvati was known as Chinnamasta. The
attendants were hungry for spiritual food, which can only be
given by Chinnamasta. Only Jesus Christ can offer spiritual
food to his disciples.
This was told by Siva himself. When Siva and Parvati were
in Viparita Mithuna (Reverse coition or Parvati in superior
position); this act was called Mahavrata (Great Religious
vow). At the end of emission, Parvati became very fierce
and emanated two saktis from her body, Dakini and Varnini.
You see what happens when the flesh rises and the spirit
falls; you have two persons longing for spiritual food. One
day Parvati/Chandika and her two attendants went to
Pasubhadra River. At noon, the attendants became hungry
and Parvati/Chandika cut her head and fed them and her
own head with the streaming blood from her headless body.
That is spiritual nourishment. Once the feeding was over,
she put her head back on the body and headed back home.
Siva noticed pallor on Parvati/Chandika and thought that
she was injured by someone. He became very angry which
made a part of him arise as Krodha Bhairava (Krodha =
anger; Bhairava = terror). That day was designated as
Viraratri, the day Chinnamasta was born.
Dakini and Varnini are interchangeable names for
Jaya and Vijaya.
John 6:54

John
6:54

He who eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life;

and I will raise him up at the last day.

We the people have a combination of three

qualities: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas (Virtue, Passion and D
arkness). The combination of these three qualities is called
Prakritic (nature-related, vulgar). The gods and liberated
human beings have a constitution made of A-prakritic
Empyreal Para-kritic Suddha Sattvam--simply put
Pure Virtue uncontaminated by Passion and darkness. For
us to become a being with Pure Virtue (Suddha Sattvam),
we have to give up Rajas and Tamas. Saivites who are
liberated while alive (Corporeal liberation or Jivan Mukti;
Eternal Life) have shed Rajas and Tamas. Jesus Christ is
100% virtue (Sattva). One can "eat JC's Flesh and drink his
blood" to displace Passion and darkness and substitute
them with more Virtue. That is the meaning of the verse
John 6:54, according to Hinduism's point of view. A person
with 100% of virtue in him (JC, The Buddha) are the purest
of the pure and 100% spiritual beings. The constitution of
Jesus Christ is made of Suddha Sattvam (Pure Empyreal
Goodness and Virtue).
To give an analogy, water in room temperature is
Sattva; Steam is Rajas; Ice cube is Tamas.
In the above two episodes, some wonder why
Chinnamasta did not nurse to satiate the hungry
attendants as Kali nursed Siva when she found him
on the battlefield. Instead she gave them her
lifeblood.

Another version tells that she (Pracandachandika)

was engaged in war with the demons at the request of
gods. Once she won over them, she continued to be in
rage and so cut her head off and drank her own blood.
Here some experts feel that her rage was so huge that
she cut her head off to throttle down the rage.
Another story tells that Chinnamasta drank the demon's
portion of Amrta (nectar, ambrosia) churned out of milk
ocean by gods and demons. The demons demanded Amrta
and she cut her head off to deprive the demons of their
portion of Amrta. This enabled the gods to remain dominant.
Here the some experts feel that she wanted the gods to
succeed and the demons to fail. The act of self-beheading is
an act of sacrifice.
All these to some experts mean that they are acts of
destruction and regeneration.
Chinnamasta, according to Buddhists, was Chinnamunda in
Tantric Buddhism. Chinna = severed + Munda = shaven
head. A similar story of self-decapitation appears in their
writings. Interpreters of Buddhist and Hindu writings say
that decapitation is symbolic and not actual. It means a
spiritual awakening and ascent beyond the head of senses. It
is variously described as symbolic of enlightenment, rising
of Kundalini Sakti, compassion for the companions,
nourishing of the fellow human beings, advancement of
peace, fearlessness. Severing the head and walking around
with the severed head in hand without actually dying is a
magical and spiritual ability, according to Buddhist
interpreters. Severing of the head is also symbolic of
excising of ego from one's psyche, which is a preliminary
step before Nirvana or Mukti. Head is the seat of human
(false, not spiritual) consciousness, which is several notches
below superconsciousness and spiritual consciousness.
There is only One who can claim the distinction of "I" and
that is goddess (god). People who go around calling
themselves "I" come into conflict with the Supreme "I."
There can be no two "I-s" in front of the Supreme; the
arrogance of human "I" challenges the authority of the
goddess. Anava Mala which falsely regards the soul as
different from the Supreme soul and identifies with the body
is a recalcitrant obstruction to obtaining liberation.
Symbolic severing the head and the egotistic "I" are the first

step towards merging with the goddess. Once merging takes

place, all merged souls are a homogeneous mass; there is no
individuality in that mass; there is no ego in that.
Worship of Chinnamasta follows the same rituals as that
of other Mahavidyas; the Mantra and the Yantra are different
and special to Chinnamasta, who confers many boons to her
devotees: health; wealth; freedom from fear; ability to
influence family, friends, women, enemies, and rulers; and
liberation. Chinnamasta's hymns mostly talks about the
following aspects: fierceness, anger, rage, sanguivorous
guzzling, dispensation of death by sight, deification of fear
and terror, human flesh eating binges. The most notable
temple of Chinnamasta is part of the Durga temple in
Ramnagar adjoining Varnasi, worshipped by Tantrics.
Chinnamasta appears in white marble sitting on a couple in
Viparita Mithua and flanked by two women. She wears a
garland of skulls, and holds her severed head in her left
hand and the sword on her right hand. She is worshipped by
left-handed Tantric worshippers (Vamachara Vira). Go
to Kularnava Tantra for more details. End Chinnamasta.

Siva induces in the Yogi the feeling of Prakasa and

Ananda by jumpstarting the flow of energy in the Ida
and Pingala Nadis and by arousing SamAna Sakti
which brings about equilibrium between left-nostrilNegative-Inspiratory-ApAna-Ida-Soma-Lunar
and right-nostril-Positive-Expiratory-Prana-PingalaSurya-Solar Nadis. Ida is Lunar and cool; Pingala
is Solar and hot. Both the Lunar (Soma-Apana) and
the Solar (Surya-Prana) should be functional for the
Susumna Nadi to become active in the Yogi, which is
necessary for Samadhi or union with the
Divine. Agni and Soma (Fire and Moon) are symbols
of Prana and Apana Saktis and breaths. SuryaSoma (Sun and moon) are symbols
of Prana and ApanaSaktis and breaths. In SaktopAya
(Sakti's path for union) Lunar Soma is symbolic
of Jnana or knowledge and Solar Surya, Kriya Sakti
(Action power). In relation to SAmbhavopAya SuryaSun is PrakAsa and Soma-Moon is Vimarsa. When
Yogi dreams, Siva appears in Susumna-Madhya Nadi
and reveals Yogi's desired objects according to his
wish. In the waking hours, the Yogi prays to Siva to
perceive desired objects. When the Yogi immerses
himself in Samadhi, PrAna and ApAna come to a
standstill. When he emerges out of Samadhi, he
regains Prana and Apana and realizes his desired
objects fulfilled by his union with Siva. By this union
the Yogi gains supernormal powers.
Swami Satyananda Saraswati says that Susumna
(Madhya NAdi), Ida and Pingala Nadis come to a
confluence at Ajna Chakra and proceed to Sahasrara
Chakra. This is where the individual ego is subsumed
by the cosmic ego and thereby there is no I and Him;
there is no duality. If there is duality, Samadhi and
Oneness do not take place. The little individual ego
gets absorbed and homogenized and finds oneness
with all egos and Cosmic Ego; there is no
differentiation between I, You, He and They. This is
an essential prerequisite before Sahasrara Chakra can
be awakened in the aspirant.

Note: M1 = Muladhara, S2 = Svadisthana and so on.

Goddess Kundali has two states, one on earth at human level
in the body and one at Supreme level. The lower Kundali
stays coiled in Muladhara chakra. She is
Paramatma (Supreme Soul or Atman) at higher level. When
all Tattvas have manifested right down to the last tattva, the
earth, Her creative energy ceases to act and She goes to rest
and sleep in the Muladhara chakra as Kundalini Sakti (static
aspect of Sakti). Tattvas are the building blocks of
individual souls, body and the universe (water, fire, air,
earth etc.). When one is born he or she is the manifestation
of the Tattvas TATTVAS-36, the soul and the elements of
the living body. Kundali is the One who constructs your
body, mind and soul and She is the One who deconstructs
the same. (You have seen proudly and visibly pregnant
ladies (Lordosis of pregnancy) sporting a T-shirt that says,
"Under Construction.") When she settles down in the base
of the spine, the construction project is over and you are
alive to the world of matter. When you are alive to the
world of spirit, she wakes up from sleep, deconstructs,
demolishes and absorbs all material elements from your
body and mind and takes the pure soul to its source. This is
the descent and ascent of Kundalini Sakti. You are taken
from matter to spirit in the ascent and Vice Versa.
When she is resting, it is the ascent of the flesh and descent
of the spirit. When she is active, spirit is rising and flesh is
dying. Let me explain the last statements. Siva's
consciousness is like the sun. The earth is at an optimal
distance from the sun so that it can sustain life without fear
of incineration or freezing. As the sun's rays go through
many layers that filter harmful rays, Sakti plays the
modulating role. The rays emerge from Siva and go to
Bindu (and Nada) which makes the building blocks of the
universe and beings with the help of Maya and Sakti. To
mention a few, the building blocks (Tattvas) are the soul, the
body, the water, earth, air... There are 36 of
them. TATTVAS-36. What is out there in the cosmos is
present in human body. TheEmerald Tablet of Hermes
Trismegistus is a short work which coins the well known
term in occult circles "As above, so below." The actual text
of that maxim, as translated by Dennis W. Hauck is "That
which is Below corresponds to that which is Above, and that
which is Above corresponds to that which is Below, to

accomplish the miracle of the One Thing."[12] The tablet also

references the three parts of the wisdom of the whole
universe, to which Hermes claims his knowledge of these
three parts is why he received the name Trismegistus (thrice
great, or Ao-Ao-Ao meaning "greatest"). - Wikipedia

The Kundalini Chakras from Sahasrara to Muladhara

centers are the home for the building blocks of the human
body. Ajna Chakra is the home for the mind, Vishuddha for
Ether, Anahata for air, Manipura for fire, Svadhistana for
water and Muladhara for earth. All the elements are
assigned a shape and color: Earth is yellow and square;
Water is translucent and crescent-shaped; Fire is red and
triangular; Air is blue and circular; Ether is smoky and oval.
There are presiding deities in charge of the building blocks
at each center. Actually the five elements are the origin of
the Chakras. When the Kundali ascends, she is going back
to the source; spirit is rising. The source is pure
Consciousness which cannot be contaminated with matter,
the Tattvas. She has to take (consumes) the lock, stock and
barrel meaning that she absorbs all the Tattvas and the
presiding deities into her (involution, destruction of matter).
She absorbs all the elements as depicted in the diagram. The
Christian equivalent concept is dying to the flesh and
gaining the spirit. Man is a very dilute form of Siva meaning
that there is a great divide between Siva's pure
Consciousness and human consciousness, not to speak of
animal consciousness. Man is Mini-Siva. Siva's Pure
Consciousness is like the sun and human consciousness is
like the candle. Man has Pasas and Malas (bondage and
impurities). Siva does not tolerate or invite impure souls to
merge with him. He is pure metal and we are a slurry. Slurry
must undergo repeated purification process before it
becomes pure metal. That removal of impurity happens as
Kundali absorbs them and rises from one Chakra to the next
above it.
Sakti has two aspects; Static and Dynamic. A car battery on
the shelf is Static Sakti or power. When the battery is
connected to the car's ignition and turned on, it becomes
dynamic. When Kundalini Devi rests in Muladhara, she
is static and when she is roused (turning the ignition keys)
she becomesdynamic. Tantras say that the Yogi should use
the key to open the lock on the door and force the door
open, wake up Kundalini in Muladhara and join her in the
voyage of spirit. One source tells that Bhuvanesvari, one of
the Mahavidyas, cuts the knots of the Chakras and thus rises
with the Sadhaka and Kundalini to merge with Siva.
Cosmic Sakti is an aggregate (Samashti) of all Saktis, while
kundalini Sakti in a body is the component part of the

aggregate or individual power (Vyashti). Look at

the Pomegranate fruit: The whole fruit is an aggregate
(Samasthi) of all individual fleshy seeds (Vyasthi). In
Hindu religion, Isvara (controller of the universe) is
compared to pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum) . The
seeds are the individual souls. The whole fruit is an
aggregate (Samasthi) of all individual fleshy seeds (Vyasthi)
(Each seed is enclosed in red fleshy juicy aril.) Bindu is the
aggregate (Samasthi) of Siva-Sakti, Tattvas, matter, people
and personalities, while each individual (Vyasthi) is part of
that aggregate. Bindu's prolific energy produces all
conceivable things in the universe ranging from blade of
grass to Brahma. As you notice here, the whole universe is
one giant organism, all interconnected. If you hurt one part
of the organism, be it matter or a living thing, you hurt
yourself and the Supreme Being.

pomegranate (Random House dictionary description.)

1. a chambered, many-seeded, globose fruit, having a tough,
usually red rind and surmounted by a crown of calyx lobes,
the

edible portion consisting of pleasantly acid flesh developed

from the outer seed coat.
Accomplished Yogis mention that Siva and Sakti are the
Father and the Mother of the Sadhaka or spiritual aspirant.
The Mother gives a needed boost from below at the
Muladhara level and the Father pulls him by his spiritual
power from above in Saharara Chakra. It is left up to the
seeker whether he wants to rise and reach the Father at the
top. If the sleeping Sadhaka does not heed to the parents, the
loss is his in that when he is in spiritual sleep he is awake to
the world of happenings and when he is in spiritual
awakening, he is inert to the physical world around him.
Spiritual awakening confers wisdom, bliss and reunion with
the parents. Kundalini power elevates man from mere
existence at the pelvic level to peerless heights of spiritual
wisdom and Bliss. It elevates human consciousness to
superconsciousness. Human consciousness is equidistant
(hypothetical) between the consciousness of a worm and the
Pure consciousness of Siva-Sakti. Between worm and man
there is a big chasm of consciousness; between man and
God, the chasm is not any less. When someone reaches the
Sahasrara Chakra and the thousand petals blossom out, a
new consciousness, unlike human consciousness, dawns,
according to Swami Satyananda Saraswati. Once a Yogi
obtains this new consciousness, his knowledge does not
depend on the senses like the eyes, ears.... You see things
with eyes closed; you hear sounds with ears shut.

Man is a microcosm (Kshudra Brahmanda) of macrocosm

of the universe. Kshudra = minute, tiny,
diminutive. Brahmanda = Brahma's egg, macrocosm.
What you see here is out there. All Tattvas that went into
the creation of this universe exist in our body. Likewise
what is in our body exists in the universe: Bhuloka at
Muladhara, Bhuvah at Svadisthana, Svah at Manipura, (You
heard the expression: we are made of stardust.). Tapa at
Anahata, Jana at Visuddha, Maha at Ajna and Satya at
Sahasrara. When the heart Lotus blooms in the Sadhaka, the
24 Tattvas (Asuddha Tattvas) form the stalk, the
SuddhaAsuddha Tattvas form the petals, Suddha Vidya
Tattva forms the stamens, Sadasiva and Isvara Tattvas form
the fruit bud, Sakti forms the Bindu, Nada forms the seed

and Sakti Tattva is the lotus bloom. Got to Tattvas-36 for

explanation: TATTVAS-36
She is both Avidya Sakti and Vidya
Sakti :Ignorance and wisdom. She is
above both; she gives wisdom and
liberation to Yogi and ignorance to the
ignorant who remains in bondage roiling
in Samsara. Ignorance refers here to
spiritual ignorance.
(Maya according to
Ramakrishna Parmahamsa (18361886): On attainment of Nirvikalpa
Samadhi, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
sees Maya as Brahman in its twofold
aspect: Avidyamaya and Vidyamaya.
(Avidya = ignorance; Vidya =
wisdom) Avidyamaya in terms of
Kundalini Chakras is living in the pelvis
and abdomen - Muladhara, Svadhisthana
and Manipura Chakras of lower order; it
is living a life of animal passions, Kama,
Krodha, lobha, Raga and Dvesha (lust,
anger, greed, passion and hate). One
should transcend the lower Chakras and
ascend to higher chakras. Avidyamaya
keeps man in samsara, a cycle of birth and rebirth.
Vidyamaya represents the higher centers and consciousness
of Anahata, Visuddha, Ajna and Sahasrara Chakras or
stations of life. Once Avidyamaya is conquered with
Vidyamaya, the round of birth and rebirth is abolished and
one enters a state of Mayatita, end of Maya or freedom from
Maya. Maya is the power of Kali who transcends both types
of Maya. She shines far above the clouds of Maya, under
whose spell man lives. These are not his words but his
message.)
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa describes Samadhi
(Ascent to Sahasrara) as follows.
Saying 905. Again referring to the different ways in which
the Kundalini rises to the brain, the Master would often say,
"Well, that which rises to the brain with a tingling sensation
does not always follow the same kind of movement. The
scriptures speak of its having five kinds of motion. First, the

ant-like motion: one feels a slow creeping sensation from

the feet upwards like a row of ants creeping on with food in
their mouths. When it reaches the head, the Sadhaka
(spiritual aspirant) falls into Samadhi. Second, the frog-like
motion: just as frogs make two or three short jumps in quick
succession and then stop for a while to proceed again, in the
same way something is felt advancing from the legs to the
brain. When this reaches the brain, the man gets Samadhi.
Third, the serpentine motion: as snakes lie quiet, straight or
coiled up, but as soon as they find a victim in front, or get
frightened, they run in a zigzag course, in like manner the
'coiled up power' rushes to the head, and this produces
Samadhi. Fourth, the bird-like motion: just as birds in their
flight from one place to another take to their wings and fly
sometimes a little high and sometimes low without however
stopping till they reach their destination, even so that power
progresses and reaches the brain, and Samadhi ensues. Fifth
and last, the monkey like motion: as monkeys going from
one tree to another take a leap from one branch to another
and thus clear the distance in two or three bounds, so the
Yogi feels the Kundalini going to the brain, and Samadhi
ensues."
906. These experiences he would detail at other times from
the Vedantic standpoint, as follows: "The Vedanta speaks of
seven planes, in each of which the Sadhaka has a particular
kind of vision. The human mind has a natural tendency to
confine its activities to the three lower centres the highest of
these being opposite the navel and therefore is content with
the satisfaction of the common physical appetites, such as
eating and so forth. But when it reaches the fourth centre,
that is, the one opposite the heart, the man sees a divine
effulgence. From this state, however, he often lapses into the
three lower centres. When the mind comes to the fifth centre
opposite the throat, the Sadhaka cannot talk of anything but
God. While I was in this state I would feel violently struck
on the head if anybody raised worldly topics before me. I
would hide myself in the seclusion of the Panchavati where
I was safe from these inflictions. I would flee at the sight of
worldly-minded people, and relatives appeared to me like a
yawning chasm, from which there was no escape if I once
fell into it. I would feel suffocated in their presencealmost
to the point of death, and I would feel relieved only when I
left the spot. Even from this position a man may slip down
to the three lower centres. So he has to be on his guard. But

he is above all fear when his mind reaches the sixth centre
opposite the junction of the eye-brows, He gets the vision of
the Paramatman and remains always in Samadhi. There is
only a thin transparent veil between this place and the
Sahasrara or the highest centre. He is then so near the
Paramatman that he imagines he has merged in Him. But
really he has not. From this state the mind can come down
to the fifth, or at the most, to the fourth centre, but not
below that. The ordinary Sadhakas, classed as 'Jivas' cannot
come down from this state. After remaining constantly in
Samadhi for twenty-one days they break that thin veil and
become one with the Lord for ever. This eternal union of the
Jiva and the Paramatman in the Sahasrara is known as
getting into , the seventh plane."

Spurious Ecstasy

907. Referring to a man who used to have a kind of

emotional excitement that looked like Samadhi externally,
the Master said: "In real ecstasy one dives into the deeper
realms of one's being and becomes perfectly still. But what
do we find here! Be quiet; calm yourself. (To the others
present.) Do you know the nature of this ecstasy? It is like
boiling one ounce of milk in a big pan. The pan seems to be
full of milk, but remove it from the stove and you would not
find a single drop. Even the little quantity that was there
would have all stuck to the pan."

Perception of Divine Forms and Sounds

908. The realisation of God is of two kinds-one consists in

the unification of the Jivatman and the Paramatman and the
other in seeing Him in His personal manifestation. The
former is called Jnana, and the latter Bhakti.

909. Really God can be seen, my boys. As we are sitting and

talking together, in the very same way God can be seen and
conversed with. Truly and sincerely I say so.

910. The manifestation of the Personal God is often a

Spiritual Form, which is seen only by a purified human soul.
In other words, these forms of God are realised by the
organs of spiritual vision belonging to the spiritual body
(Bhagavati-tanu) which is derived from the Lord. So the
perfect man alone can see these Divine Forms.

911. On being questioned whether those who see God see

Him with the ordinary fleshy eyes, the Master replied:

"No, He cannot be seen with the physical eye. In the

course of Sadhana a 'Love-body' is created in you, with
eyes and ears of Love, and with them you see and hear
Him."

912. The Anahata sound is always going on of itself.

This is the sound of Pranava (Om). It comes from the
Supreme Brahman and is audible to the Yogis. The ordinary
worldly men cannot hear it. The yogis can understand that
the sound rises on one side, from the 'region of the
navel', and on the other, from the supreme Brahman.

250 Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna

Samadhi and Realization of Brahman

913. What is the state of one's mind in Samadhi? It is like

the state of bliss that is experienced by a live fish which,
after being kept out of water for some time, is again put into
it.

914. Mysterious is that sacred state which recognizes neither

teacher, nor pupil. Brahma-jnana is so mysterious that when
one attains it there remains no distinction between the Guru
and the disciple.

915. As a lamp brought into a room that has been dark for a
thousand years illumines it immediately, the light of Jnana
illumines the Jiva, and dispels his age-long ignorance.

916. On being questioned as to whether he was conscious of

the gross world in the state of Samadhi, the Master replied,
"There are hills and mountains, dales and valleys under the
sea, but they are not visible from the surface. So in the state
of Samadhi one sees the broad expanse of Sachchidananda
only, and the individual consciousness lies in a latent
condition."

917. In true Jnana not the least trace of egotism is left.

Without Samadhi, Jnana never comes. Jnana is like the

midday sun, in which one looks around but finds no shadow
of oneself. So when one attains Jnana or Samadhi, one
retains no shadow of egotism. But even if there be some ego
left, know for certain that it is now composed of Vidya
(purely divine elements) and not ignorance or Avidya.

918. When the question was raised whether the Buddha was
an atheist, the Master said: "He was no atheist; only he
could not speak out his realizations. Do you know what
'Buddha' means?- To become one with 'Bodha', the
'Supreme Intelligence-through deep meditation, to become
Pure Intelligence Itself. The state of self-realization is
something between 'Asti' and 'Nasti'-'being' and 'non-being'.

Spurious Ecstasy

907. Referring to a man who used to have a kind of

emotional excitement that looked like Samadhi externally,
the Master said: "In real ecstasy one dives into the deeper
realms of one's being and becomes perfectly still. But what
do we find here! Be quiet; calm yourself. (To the others
present.) Do you know the nature of this ecstasy? It is like
boiling one ounce of milk in a big pan. The pan seems to be
full of milk, but remove it from the stove and you would not

find a single drop. Even the little quantity that was there
would have all stuck to the pan."

Perception of Divine Forms and Sounds

908. The realisation of God is of two kinds-one consists in

the unification of the Jivatman and the Paramatman and the
other in seeing Him in His personal manifestation. The
former is called Jnana, and the latter Bhakti.

909. Really God can be seen, my boys. As we are sitting and

talking together, in the very same way God can be seen and
conversed with. Truly and sincerely I say so.

910. The manifestation of the Personal God is often a

Spiritual Form, which is seen only by a purified human soul.
In other words, these forms of God are realised by the
organs of spiritual vision belonging to the spiritual body
(Bhagavati-tanu) which is derived from the Lord. So the
perfect man alone can see these Divine Forms.

911. On being questioned whether those who see God see

Him with the ordinary fleshy eyes, the Master replied:

"No, He cannot be seen with the physical eye. In the

course of Sadhana a 'Love-body' is created in you, with
eyes and ears of Love, and with them you see and hear
Him."

912. The Anahata sound is always going on of itself.

This is the sound of Pranava (Om). It comes from the

Supreme Brahman and is audible to the Yogis. The ordinary
worldly men cannot hear it. The yogis can understand that
the sound rises on one side, from the 'region of the
navel', and on the other, from the supreme Brahman.

Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna

Samadhi and Realization of Brahman

913. What is the state of one's mind in Samadhi? It is like

the state of bliss that is experienced by a live fish which,
after being kept out of water for some time, is again put into
it.

914. Mysterious is that sacred state which recognizes neither

teacher, nor pupil. Brahma-jnana is so mysterious that when
one attains it there remains no distinction between the Guru
and the disciple.

915. As a lamp brought into a room that has been dark for a
thousand years illumines it immediately, the light of Jnana
illumines the Jiva, and dispels his age-long ignorance.

916. On being questioned as to whether he was conscious of

the gross world in the state of Samadhi, the Master replied,
"There are hills and mountains, dales and valleys under the
sea, but they are not visible from the surface. So in the state
of Samadhi one sees the broad expanse of Sachchidananda
only, and the individual consciousness lies in a latent
condition."

917. In true Jnana not the least trace of egotism is left.

Without Samadhi, Jnana never comes. Jnana is like the

midday sun, in which one looks around but finds no shadow
of oneself. So when one attains Jnana or Samadhi, one
retains no shadow of egotism. But even if there be some ego
left, know for certain that it is now composed of Vidya
(purely divine elements) and not ignorance or Avidya.

918. When the question was raised whether the Buddha was
an atheist, the Master said: "He was no atheist; only he
could not speak out his realizations. Do you know what
'Buddha' means?- To become one with 'Bodha', the
'Supreme Intelligence-through deep meditation, to become
Pure Intelligence Itself. The state of self-realization is
something between 'Asti' and 'Nasti'-'being' and 'non-being'.

She is Prana (breath) Herself for she sustains this

world of beings with inspiration and expiration. Prana
moves through Susumna because of her. Katha
Upanishad describes mother Goddess as follows: She
is Aditi, the Boundless. She is born as Prana (breath
or life) from the Absolute genderless Brahman, the
nameless, and the formless. She is the Devatamayi
(Mother of gods) and the soul of all beings. She
stands in the inner recesses of the heart. - Verse 2.1.7
Mother Goddess is Prana; thus, taking Prana from
Muladhara to Sahasrara Chakra is the goal of
Sadhaka.
She is the origin of letters; She is Sabda Brahman and
origin of mantras, which rouse her. She is Brahma
Vidya (Brahman knowledge, the Highest
knowledge). Her body is made of six parts: the six
centers, sakti, and Sadasiva, her Lord. As the
Supreme Kundali Goddess, MahaKundali, she wraps
around the Supreme Siva-Linga (Svayambhu-Linga).
Each chakra represents one gross element: Muladhara
for earth, Svadhisthana for water, Manipura for fire,

Anahata for air and Vishuddhi for ether. Click

here>>ETHER THE OPPRESSOR. The sixth
chakra, Ajna, is the mind center and is junctional and
transitional point between the lower consciousness of
the lower Chakras and the highest consciousness and
illumination of Sahasrara. Mular states in Verse 952
in Tirumantiram the following. " The center devoid of
wakefulness and sleep (Bhru-Madhya): that is where
AUM dawns. The ones who realize (Ajna Chakra)
see visions of Siva who removes aversion, anger and
hatred (), radiates like the effulgent light,
remains as the TRUTH and Essence ()
and blameless, and shines like a golden
gem." Sahasrara, which is above all other centers, is
at the crown, known as Brahma Randhra, the area of
anterior fontanel. It has a thousand inverted lotus
petals (going around in a right to left fashion),
meaning that the 50 Sanskrit letters are multiplied
twenty-fold in here. One thousand here means
infinity. The other centers have fewer petals starting
from Muladhara: 4, 6, 10, 12, 16, 2 respectively. Each
petal is inscribed with a Sanskrit letter, all amounting
to 50, which when multiplied by 20 becomes 1000
petals (infinity) of Sahasrara.

Sahasrara Chakra (exoticindia.com)

Svadisthana Chakra with six petals (exoticinidia.com)

As you notice Kundali rises from the earth plane of
mundane and sensuous living (unconscious living) to
Supreme awareness of Siva in Sahasrara Chakra; this
is involution, the centripetal movement of the soul
from the rim of Irul and Marulto Arul. Irul =
spiritual darkness; Marul = confusion; Arul:
Supreme Grace. This is compared to the lotus plant
whose roots are buried in the darkness of mud, slime
and grime; whose stem stays in waters of the pond
with variable light penetration at different depths;
whose leaves float in the water and yet do not soak in
it; whose bud longs for the sun and whose open
blossom exults in sunshine. Explanation of analogy
follows in the next paragraph.
The question is why the Chakras or wheels are
described in terms of Lotus. The origin of lotus plant
is very humble: in the mud where its roots are. The
water is its intermediary point and when it pierces the
water, it buds and blooms. Thus, the lotus has three
levels of existence: mud, water, and sun (flower). In
like manner, human existence is at three levels:
ignorance, longing and effort, and illumination or
awakening. Man's roots are in quagmire of spiritual
ignorance. With some longing and effort, he sees
some spiritual light, as the lotus plant (stem)
penetrates the water and reaches towards the surface,
it sees the sunlight. Once man pierces the barrier of
ignorance and goes beyond ordinary awareness, he
receives illumination in the same manner the lotus
receives the sunlight upon piercing the surface of the
water. The flower of the lotus is flowering of
superconsciousness and spiritual awareness. The
roots are in Muladhara Chakra and the prana passes
through all the intermediate Chakras via the Susumna
Nadi and when it reaches Sahasrara Chakra, full
illumination of spiritual knowledge dawns on the
Yogi.
lotusplant.flo = kundal66.jpg. replaces kundal16.jpg

Muladhara's four petals of red lotus, Svadisthana's six petals

of vermillion lotus, Manipura's ten petals of blue lotus,
Anahata's twelve petals of deep red lotus, Visuddha's sixteen
petals of smoky purple lotus, Ajna's two petals of white
lotus and Sahasrara's one thousand petals of the color of a
thousand suns have an ascending quality in their color
scheme; the color of the thousand suns is purer than the
white lotus, which is purer than smoky purple lotus and so
on. The color scheme applies to three levels of human
existence in this world: Pasu, Vira and Divya (animal, hero
and divine stages). Red, vermillion, and blue are animal
colors; deep red, smoky purple are the colors of the Vira;
white and sun are the colors of Divya bhava (divine quality).
This indicates man's progress from living in the pelvis
(animal functions of Muladhara, Svadhistana and Manipura

Chakras) going on to the human existence in Anahata and

Visuddha Chakras to Divine living in Ajna and Sahasrara
Chakras.
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836-1886) says about man
and animal in man. Quote 188, Sayings of Sri
Ramakrishna. As one mask may be worn by various
persons, so also various kinds of creatures have donned the
garb of humanity. Some are tearing wolves, others are
ferocious bears, and some again are cunning foxes or
venomous snakes, though they all look like men.
Quote 189: Men are of two classes - men in name only
(Manush) and the awakened men (Man-hush). Those who
thirst after God alone belong to the latter class.; those who
are mad after 'woman and gold' are all ordinary men - men
in name only.
Some of the writers attribute the colors in the rainbow to
the petals starting from top down : VIBGYOR.
The comical letters indicate colors of the petals and have
nothing to do with the letters.
Sahasrara - White, Violet,
orpurple

Visuddha - bright
blue

Ajna - Indigo blue

Anahata - green

Manipura - yellow

Svadisthana - orange

Muladhara - red

The Big letters show colors and carry no other significance.

Please see the table for the color of the Chakra, the lotus
petals, their numbers, the Yantra, Bija Mantra and the
Deities. The animals are the reminders of our existence in
previous lives.
The Chakras are crossing junctions for the Nadis (Flow
Channels) like the highway crossings, so the numbers
indicate the number of Nadis that intersect at a particular
chakra. The Susumana Nadi, when it reaches the cerebral
cortex, divides into multiple channels; that is the reason why
the Sanskrit letters in the lower channels are multiplied so
many times (20 x 50) in Sahasrara (1K petals = infinity).
The base of the brain with half-moon shaped gyri
(convolutions) corresponds to Chandrakala. The upper
cerebral convolutions correspond to Mount Kailas (the
home of Siva). This is Sivasthana (Abode of Siva), Point
Bliss and the seat of Sakti also. Ajna Chakra with 2 petals
and Manas Chakra with 6 petals represent the cerebellum
and sensorium respectively. Soma Chakra with 16 petals
forms the middle of the Cerebrum. Sahasrara corresponds to
cortical convolutions.
Svayambhu-Linga also means Linga-shaped (obelisk)
outcropping from earth in its natural state. They are sacred
even before consecration. They served as the nucleus around
which temples were built.

Muladhara, Svadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata and

Visudhha Chakras are the lower centers (Bhutas). Ajna
Chakra is mental Center or Vijnanamaya Kosa. Sahasrara
Chakra is the cerebral center which opens the way to
Supreme Siva Sakti or Pure Consciousness, which is the
first of Suddha Tattvas.

Swami Satyananda Saraswati says that Susumna, Ida and

Pingala Nadis come to a confluence at Ajna Chakra and
proceed to Sahasrara Chakra. This is where the individual
ego is subsumed by the cosmic ego and thereby there is no I
and Him (He); there is no duality. If there is duality,
Samadhi and Oneness do not take place. The little individual
ego gets absorbed and homogenized and finds oneness with
all egos and Cosmic Ego; there is no differentiation between
I, You, He and She. This is an essential prerequisite before
Sahasrara Chakra can be awakened in the aspirant.
Awakening of other lower Chakras brings in the wake
many psychical experiences, which one should be able to
cope with. Those Chakras are the repository of Samskaras
and Karmas which may be good or bad, pleasant or
unpleasant. Awakening results in the expression of
Samskaras and Karmas, the cause of duality of feelings. A
purified mind goes a long way in coping with these feelings.
Ajna Chakra of pure white color has two petals
bordering a circle. The petal on your left has HAM inscribed

on it and the right petal KSAM. They are the Bija Mantras
of Siva and Sakti, and represent the Moon or Ida Nadi and
the Sun, the Pingala Nadi. Ida, Pingala, and Susumna Nadis
come to a confluence here. The circle is the Sunya or Void.
The down triangle is Sakti; perched on its top is the black
Lingam (Itara Lingam), which represents the Astral body
of the aspirant. It is worthwhile to remember that down
triangle represents the escutcheon of the female. (The up
triangle is the symbol of male, Siva) The Astral body is a
storehouse of one's personality and attributes. The Lingam is
known as Jyotir Lingam indicating its effulgence as opposed
to the smoky Svayambhuva Lingam of Muladhara Chakra.
The color changing from smoky to black to luminous
indicates the progressive awakening of Spiritual
Consciousness and Awareness. Superimposed on Siva
Lingam is OM with Chandra Bindu (Crescent with a dot)
on top of it. Om is the Bija Mantra. Paramasiva is the
deity of Ajna Chakra. This is the seat of the mind. Aspirant,
attaining this Chakra enters Tapo Loka, where Karmas are
expunged. The Sadhaka sees visions of shining lamp like the
morning sun and resides in the domains of Fire, Sun and the
Moon. He attains Siddhis: ability to enter other bodies,
omniscience and all seeing.
Pranava =
. = AUM = OM. See the
crescent with a dot = Moon Dot = ChandraBindu
OM with ChandraBindu (Crescent with a dot) on
top of it: See Ajna Chakra with the crescent with a
dot.
Chandra Bindu means Mo
on dot, a diacritic sign. It
means that the previous
vowel is nasalized.

Bija Mantra = Seed Mantra = One syllable Mantra

= by convention Bija Mantra is one syllable Mantra.
Sometimes compound letters form the Bija Mantras
(Hreem)
(Once a Pundit asked Ramakrishna Parmahamsa about
Mahatmas, Astral, Devayanic, solar, lunar planes of

existence for the subtle body. The Master replied that all
these spheres and planes are trivial and one should develop,
practice and intensify one's Bhakti (devotion), pray to Him
with intense devotion and practice Sadhanas.) - adapted
from Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna page 25.
Each Chakra has its own dominant tattva and animal that
represents the tattvas and gunas of that center.

Chakra

Muladhar
a1

Svadhistha
na 2

Manipura 3

Anahata 4

Visuddha 5

Ajna 6

Ksetram

None

pubic bone

navel

heart

throat

glabella
(Bhrumadya)

Causal
Regions

Causal
Bhurloka

Causal
Bhuvarlok
a

Causal
Svarloka

Causal
Maharlok
a

Causal
Janaloka

Chandraloka
(Tapa)

Vaishnavi

Kaumari

Paramesvari

Sahasrara Chakra corresponds to Satyaloka. (infinite space)

Presiding
Mother
goddess

Chamund
a

Indrani

Varahi

Saharara Chakra: presiding Mother goddess of all 7 chakras. Paramesvari rules Ajna and lower chakras;
Kaumari Visuddha and lower chakras; Vaishnavi Anahata and lower chakras; Varahi Manipura and lower
Chakras; Indrani Svadhasthina and Muladhara; Chamunda rules only Muladhara chakra.

Resident
deity

Brahma

Vishnu
(also
Mahesvara
and
Saudamani)

The
planes

Bhurloka
earth

Bhuvarloka

Rudra
(Samvartes
vara and
Samayamb
a

Isvara
(Hamsesva
ra and
Hamsesvar
i)

Sadasiva
(Vyomanesv
ara and
Vyomanesva
ri)

Sambhu
(ParaSambhuNtha and
Cit-Parmb.

Svarloka

Janaloka

Tapoloka

Maharloka

The resident deity of Sahasrara Chakra is Paramasiva who is hierarchically superior to Siva, one of the

Triumvirate (Holy Trinity).

Animal

Elephant

Makara

Ram

Black
Antelope

White
Elephant

Tanmatra

Smell

Taste

Form

Touch

Sound

Buddhi
(Sanklpa
Vikalpa)

Kosas

Annamya
kosa or
food
sheath

Pranamya
kosa or
Vital air
sheath

Manonmay
a Kosa or
mental
sheath

Vijnanama
ya Kosa,
Knowledg
e sheath

Anandamaya
Kosa, Bliss
sheath

Subtle Soul

Mandala/
element

Earth,
Bhu
Mandala

Water, Jala
Mandala

Fire, Vahni
Mandala

Air,Vayu
Mandala

Ether, Nabho
Mandala

Mind

Presiding
element

Prithvi (In
dra)

Varuna

Agni

Vayu

Akasa (Saras
vati)

Manas (Guru)

Manipura 3

Anahata 4

Visuddha 5

Ajna 6

Pasyanti. Vi
sual Sound

Madhyam
a, mental
Sound

Vaikhari,
Articulate
speech

The presiding Devata in Sahasrara chakra is Siva.

Chakra

Muladhar
a1

Sound

Para Vani,
Transcend
ental
Sound

Spiritual
entity

Spiritual
Sun

Avastha

wakefulne

Svadhistha
na 2

Spiritual
Moon

Dream

Deep sleep

Turiya-

Turiya-

Turiya-

ss

sleep

Jagrat

svapna

Susupti

Avastha or state of consciousness for Sahasrara is Turiya-Turiya, 7th higher level of consciousness. Turiyajagrat - awakening to higher consciousness - the fourth state;
Turiya-svapna - the fifth state of mystical visions; Turiya-Susupti is the 6th higher state of Consciousness
of Sa-Vikalpa Samadhi-Duality between yogi and Brahman present;
Turiya-Turiya - Nir-Vikalpa Samadhi, No duality, merger between yogi and Brahman.

8 spears

Sign/for
m/color

Squareyellow

Petals

10

12 occup
ied by
12
Saktis KAlarAtris
(Night of
disolutio
n).

Bija
Sound

Lam

Vam

Ram

Yam

Ham

OM

Letters (
50)

4:

v:
S: \:
s:

6:b:

10:

12:

16:

B: m:
y: r
l:bam,

4:

bham,
mam, yam,
ram, & lam

R Z
N: t:
T:

k K:
g: G:
{ c:

A A: E
I u U ?
@

2: h
x: ham
ksam.

d D:
n: p:
P dham,

C j:
J: W:
X Y

; = O
O
A:
A: A
AH

nam, tam,
tham, dam,
dham, nam,
pam, &
pham

kam,
kham,
gam,
gham,
gnam,

16

am, aam,
im,eem,um,o
om, rim,

cham,
chham,
jam, jham,
jnam, tam,
& tham.

reem, lrim,
lreem, em,
aim, om,
aum, am, &
ah. (vowels)

color of
letters

gold

color of
lightning

blue

vermilion

crimson

silver

Chakra

Muladhar
a

Svadhistha
na

Manipura

Anahata

Visuddha

Ajna

Red &
orange

Vermillion;
violet,
blue,
green, yello
w,
orange, red
mostly.

Cloudcolor, gree
n mostly,
orange and
pink

Vermillion
, bbright
golden;

Purple (blue
&
green); indig
o

White or rose

Triangle

Triangle

Color of
petal

Blue

Yantra

Square

Circle

Triangle

2 Triangles

God

Brahma
with
Savitri

Vishnu wit
h Radhika

Vishnu

Isa

Goddess

Dakini

Rakini

Lakini (Lak
shmi)

Kakini

Sakini/Gauri

Hakini

resides in

Skin

Blood

Flesh

Fat

Bone

Marrow

Apana,
expelled air
(flatus)

Samana,
the prana
that drives
heart and
intestines
and moves
the joints.

Prana,
Respiratio
n

Udana,
expiratory
air

Prana or
Vital air

Vyana,
diffused
air

Sadasiva/Ard
ha

Sadasiva/Ardh
anarisvara

Narisvara

Bija
Sound

Lam

Vam

Ram

Yam

Ham

OM

When the Bija Mantra is uttered, that Bija-specific Chakra center is brought alive.

Bija Mantra for Sahasrara Chakra is Soham

Lokas

bhu

Bhuvar

Svar

Mahar

Janar

Tapo

Nadis

Ida &
Pingala

I-PSusumna

I-P-S

I-P-S

I-P-S

I-P-S

Linga

Svayambh
u Linga
withKulak
undalini

Para Linga

Divine
Couples

Brahma
with
Savitri

Vishnu wit
h Radhika

Rudra with
Bhadrakali

Isvara
with
Bhuvanesv
ari

Ardhanarisv
ara

Parasiva with
Siddha Kali

Site

Kanda

Genitals

Navel

Heart

Throat

Glabella

Plexus

Sacrococc
ygeal

Sacral
plexus

Solar

Cardiac

cervical

Cavernous sin
us

Chakra

Muladhar
a1

Svadhistha
na 2

Manipura 3

Anahata 4

Visuddha 5

Ajna 6

Saguna
Brahman

Indra

Prajapati

Brahma

Vishnu

Rudra

Daksini

Isa

Ardhanarisv

Sambhu

Baana

Itara

Parasiva is the Brahman in Sahasrara Chakra.

Siva

ara

Granthi (
Knot)

Brahma G
ranthi

Vishnu Gr
anthi

Musical
note

ni (ti)

dha (la)

pa (so)

ma (fa)

ga (mi)

ri (re)

Musical
Note

Sa (Do)

Ri (re)

Ga (Mi)

Ma (Fa)

Pa (So)

Dha (la)

Rudra Granthi

There is a disparity above. SAhasrara's note is Ni (Ti). Again a disparity.

Musical note for Sahasrara is Sa (do). Top down: SaRiGaMaPaDhaNi - DoReMiFaSoLaTi

Godd
ess

Dakini (go
ddess holds
the earth)

Rakini (procre
ative)

Lakini
(Digest
ion)
(Laksh
mi)

Kakini (Respir
atory)

Sakini/Gauri (S
peech)

The presiding goddess for Sahasrara is Sakti katyayani.

Notes on the table:

Sambhu emanates Sadasiva (Creation, Preservation,
Destruction, Anugraha-favor, Nigraha-disfavor) who
emanates Isa and right down the line as
follows: Rudra, Vishnu, and Brahma. Linear emanations:
SambhuSadasivaIsaRudraVishnuBrahma in
charge of Mind, Ether, Air,
Fire, Water, and Earth.
Emanations from Sambhu from left to right

Hakini (Tho
ught)

Sambhu

Sadasi
va

Isa

Rudra

Vishnu

Brahma

Maharlol
oka

Tapolo
ka

Janarl
oka

Svarlo
ka

Bhuvarlo
ka

Bhurlok
a

Mind

Ether

Air

Fire

Water

Earth

Ajna

Visudd
ha

Anahat
a

Manip
ura

Svadhisth
ana

Muladh
ara

Note on Tanmatra = that merely. Sound is the First subtle

creation and Tanmatra. Tanmatras namely sound, touch,
color, taste, and smell are the subtle, supersensible,
rudimentary and nonspecific particles from which the gross
elements namely akasa, air, fire, water, and earth evolve
respectively. There are two divisions in the gross (great)
elements (Mahabhutas): Amurtta and Murtta, the formless
and the formed. Akasa and air are formless elements, while
fire, water and earth formed. Go to BG13. for more
information on Tanmatras.
Note on the Bija sound Mantras (Om, Ha, Ya, Ra, Va, La
= ) corresponding to Ajna, Visuddha, Anahata,
Manipura, Svadhisthana, and Muladhara Chakras) stand for
the power of the Tanmatras in each Chakra and are deities
themselves. Deities (reside in Bija Mantras and) are invoked
and aroused by the utterance of the Mantras. The resident
deity of Bija Mantra of the chakra is assimilated or absorbed
by the rising Kundalini Devi as She pierces the particular
Chakra. The reason for this is that Kundali Devi has to
absorb and assimilate all deities, all tanmatras, all elements,
all mundane human qualities... of all chakras in the act of
purification so that only the pure soul goes to Sahasrara
Chakra for union with Siva-Sakti. Each Chakra is a
repository of human desires, aspirations, frailties and
strengths. Kundali acts as a divine filter, putting all Tattvas
in storage. When She descends from the Sahasrara Chakra,

all the elements in storage are restored to the respective

Chakras.
Bija Sound Mantra has three parts to it: Sphota, Dhvani,
and Bindu. Sphota is derived from the world Sphut meaning
to burst or to open like a bud. When a latent mental sound is
intonated or explodes from the glottis or voice
box, Sphota happens and we hear the sound (Dhvani) which
is registered by the ear because Dhvani carries vibration,
frequency and decibel. Once the sound explodes in Sphota,
attains the quality of sound in Dhvani, there must be
something that can register the sound in consciousness via
the ear; that something is Bindu, which is deified as
deity, Sabdabrahman. For Dhvani or sound to acquire its
qualities, Sattva, Rajas, and or Tamas pervades the sound.
When the latent mental sound acquires Rajas (motion and
passion), she is called Dhvani (sound). Go to Sabda or
Sound for more information.

Note: Only Lakshmi (Kamala) is one of the Mahavidyas; the

rest are not.
Granthi: knots. There are fourteen granthis for
kundalini to pierce before she reaches Sahasrara:
three Lingas, six Chakras, and five Sivas. In
Sahasrara, she effects union with Niskala Brahman.
(see below.) Nirvana-Sakti is the resident goddess of
Sahasrara as Dakini of Muladhara Chakra.
There are three Granthis (Junctional points, Knots,
Junctions, hurdles): Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra
Granthis. Granthis are equated to the levels of
consciousness. Brahma Granthi of Muladhara (and

Svadhistana and Manipura) Chakra is physical

consciousness; Vishnu Granthi of Anahata Chakra is
the Sphere of the Sun and therefore of Light, the
beginning of Spiritual Consciousness; The Rudra
Granthi of Ajna Chakra is the sphere of the Moon, the
center of Spiritual Consciousness. The Moon
Mandala is above Ajna Chakra.
Above the Sahasrara Center, the inverted thousandpetaled Chakra, is the Saadaakhya kalaa (Sadakhya
kala), also known as Jyotir Mandala, whose
consciousness transcends the physical plane
(awakening, dream sleep, and deep sleep).
Granthis:

Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra Granthis.

Think of Granthi as the kink or knot in the Susumna

Nadi which prevents energy flow. Granthis, hurdles
in the ascent of Kundalini, are in the form of spiritual
ignorance, Maaya, and desire.
Brahma Granthi manifests as attachment to physical
objects, earthly pleasures, inordinate selfishness (ego,
Ahamkara) and exhibits the enslaving power of
Tamas, darkness, lethargy, ignorance. Its habitat is the
pelvis, dominant in pelvic functions. It is the sensual
world. It is the phenomenal world that we live in. It is
the World that Brahma created. Kundali is sleeping;
the spirit is not moving; we are awake to the world of
happenings. One has to become oblivious of the
world of forms and names, awaken Kundali and
allow Her to take you to higher Chakras.
Vishnu Granthi at Anahata Chakra manifests motion
and passion of Rajas Guna in that the prospective
Sadhaka is attached to family, friends and objects. Its
habitat is the heart (Anahata Chakra), dominant in
emotion, mistakenly called love. Love in its pure
form is love for God for Love's sake. Faustian love is
the operating principle of earthly love. Vishnu is the
preserver and thus this knot wants to preserve earthly
love, compassion, service and all other socially
laudable qualities in a person. That is what the
religion teaches you. It is a very hard kink or knot to
overcome. This knot tells you that you are the good

citizen that everyone should emulate. You want to

remain the decent man of the world and it is fine to
stay that way. You are serving your family, your
community, and the world. You like the world and the
world likes you. It is like a powerful aphrodisiac to
resist. You have to break this genomic imprint on
your psyche to realize higher Chakras. That is why in
India, people give up their attachment to the world,
receive funerary rites from family members and
become Sannyasis (Relinquishers), so that they can
go past the Heart Chakra and move from the
phenomenal world to Spiritual World.
Love () is defined the best in Tamil: Thannai
maRandha nilaiyil uruvaagum unarvu =
= A spontaneous feeling of
(overpowering earnest longing) attachment to a being, an
object or an idea (God) that shapes up while you are in a
state of forgetting yourself and contemplating on the beauty
and perfection of the object, being or an idea (God). True
love is a surge in feeling of becoming one with a being, an
object or an idea so much so there is no delineation between
the subject, object and the feeling; all three become
one. This is the kind of love the Alvars had for Krishna, and
Nayanars for Siva.

Rudra Granthi localized in Ajna Chakra, the

Command Lotus and the lotus of spiritual wisdom.
When the Yogi attains Ajna Chakra, he acquires
Siddhis, special powers, which are the symptoms of
spiritual attainment but are not the goal. Savoring the
special powers (reading the mind of others, being in
more than one place at a time, entering the bodies
others, knowing the past, present and the future etc) is
an impediment to further spiritual progress. Siddhis
augment one's ego (Ahamkara) which is the major
impediment for progress. Once this obstacle is
overcome, the Yogi is ready for union with Universal
Consciousness.
Banal Faustian love as opposed to Love of God is
always tenuous, feeble and frail and always looks for
displacement to a higher affinity. Rudra Granthi
manifests clinging to newly-attained Siddhis, other
psychical dependencies, and is a remnant of ego. Its
habitat is Ajna Chakra, a point above human

consciousness and below transcendental

Consciousness. This border crossing is made more
difficult because the neophyte Yogi wants to enjoy
vicariously the newly-obtained Siddhis (special
powers); in order to go further he has to give up his
power to exercise his Siddhis, like reading thoughts
of others and the rest. The special powers are
symptoms of higher Consciousness and should not be
used for personal gain or inflicting injury.
Muladhara Chakra is the point of confluence of Nadis
and the highest Chakra for animals and yet it is the
common Chakra both for man and animal.
Descending animal Chakras are in the legs starting
from the Pelvis: Muladhara, atala, vitala, sutala,
talatala, mahatala, and the lowest and the last, patala.
They also correspond to the various levels of the
netherworld. It is a progressive deepening darkness of
Tamas Guna..
As Muladhara Chakra is the highest for animals,
Sahasrara Chakra is the highest for man. Above that,
there are worlds or lokas which surpass human
consciousness and represent divine
consciousness. Tamas is the dominant Guna of all
Chakras up to Muladhara Chakra; therefore, the being
is shrouded in Avidya (spiritual ignorance); since
ignorance is the guiding principle, they operate at
instinctual level: eating, excretion, evacuation; fight,
flight, and or fear; sleeping; reproduction. Man in
Muladhara is just that; he exhibits Rajasic Guna from
Svadisthana to Ajna Chakra; from Sahasrara and
above he is of Sattvic nature. Rajas = motion and
passion. Tamas = Darkness. Sattva = Light,
Virtue.
According to gurus, not all men are born with
Kundalini in Muladhara Chakra. The level of
achievement is according to evolution of an
individual; a particular person may have evolved to
Manipura Chakra in his previous life; he just picks up
where he left and makes progress. By concentrating
on Muladhara, one will easily find out where he
belongs and that will be his true starting point.

Itara: literally means this, that, the one, the other. In

this context it refers to Linga, which helps one to
cross from the world of wandering or Samsara.
LETTERS (SANSKRIT):
Lingas: Svayambhu in Visuddha, Baana in Anahata ,
and Itara (phallic form in Ajna).
Makara = A cross between alligator and fish.

For proper pronunciation of the Bija and Petal Mantras, I

bought for $12.95 Sounds of Chakras by Harish Johari. I
have no financial interest in this.
Sivas: Isa at Anahata, Mahesvara
Sadasiva, Ardhanarisvara at
Visuddha, Sambhu (Paramasiva), Rudra and Paramasiva at
Ajna (Rudra Granthi),
This list includes Brahma at Muladhara and Vishnu at
Anahata among the Sivas. (Parasiva at
Sahasrara.) Sambhu = Sam + Bhu = Auspicious
Being or existence. Just remember that Siva has many levels
of Consciousness; there is an internal hierarchy among
many Sivas (Suddha Tattvas).
Why so many levels? Siva comes in clones with various
levels of Consciousness depending upon His portfolio. Each
one is a separate Siva. An
example. Take a company. There are top down, CEO 1,
CFO2, COO3, CMO4, CIO5, CAO6, CTO7. Let us assume the
first four office positions
are assumed by one person; it is like Siva taking the first
four positions with different responsibilities. It is one person
occupying four hierarchical
positions with four different names and with four different
job descriptions. Now you get the idea.
Mount Meru is the Axis Mundi of the universe; Spine is
the Axis Mundi or Skambha of the universe of human body
and so it is called
Merudanda. Meru + danda = Meru + Pole. Meru is a
mountain, the pole around which the earth spins.

The Six Chakras (credit Swami Sivananda Radha) Click on

thumbnail for enlargement.

These six centers generally correspond to anatomical

centers: Muladhara and Svadisthana centers to
Sacrococcygeal plexus, Manipura to Celiac, Anahata to
Cardiac, Visuddha to Laryngeal, Ajna to Cavernous plexus
and cerebellum, and Sahasrara to cerebrum itself. There are
7 Cervical vertebrae, 12 Thoracic vertebrae, 5 Lumbar
vertebrae, 5 fused Sacral vertebrae and 4 fused Coccygeal
vertebrae: In all there are 24 presacral movable vertebrae,
and the immovable sacrum and coccyx. They curve in the
opposite directions alternately, cervical curvature forward,
thoracic curvature backward, lumbar curvature forward and
sacrococcygeal curvature backward. (The number of
Cervical vertebrae are constant in mammals, including the
giraffe which has the longest cervical vertebrae. Coming to
the owl, it has fourteen vertebrae to aid 270 degree
movement of its head because its eyes are fixed in the eye
socket, unlike human's.) The notches in the adjacent
vertebrae line up and form a foramen and the dorsal spinal
root ganglia are in the foramina. The spinal canal runs
down the vertebral column housing the spinal cord. The
spinal cord is narrow in the upper cervical region, bulges in
the lower cervical and upper thoracic regions, narrows in the
lower thoracic region and again bulges in the upper lumbar
region and narrows down in the lower lumbar region to a
fine cord called Filum Terminale. The major enlargements

are Cervical and lumbar and have more gray matter at those
points. The end of the spinal cord, conus medularis provides
the sacral and coccygeal roots. The spinal cord is protected
by the vertebral column, the ligaments, the meninges and
fluid. It is 1 cm in diameter, 45cm long in adult males and
42cm in adult females and ends at the level between L1 and
L2 (lumbar) vertebra. It begins at the foramen magnum in
the skull. There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves (8C, 12T, 5L,
5S, 1Coccygeal). Each spinal nerve has two roots, one
motor ventral and one sensory dorsal (back). The cross
section of the cord shows H-shaped butterfly gray matter
surrounded by white matter. The gray matter is
unmyelinated (no insulation) nerve fibers and white matter
is myelinated nerve fibers. Gray matter integrates the
incoming sensory and outgoing motor impulses. The
Ventral gray horns (the front end of the wings) are larger
than the dorsal horns. The Ventral rootlets (motor) leave the
cord, while dorsal (sensory) rootlets enter the cord. The
ventral (outgoing ) rootlets are connected to the nerve cell
bodies of gray matter of the ventral horn, but the incoming
sensory nerves have nerve cells in the dorsal root ganglion
outside the spinal cord, and later come to posterior horns.
The white matter surrounding the gray matter are
myelinated nerve fibers that transmit impulses up and down
the spinal cord. The white matter has on either side three
columns: anterior, posterior and lateral. They are ascending
and descending tracts carrying afferent nerves to the brain
and efferent nerves from the brain to various parts of the
body. The posterior columns carry only afferent nerves to
the brain. There are twelve cranial nerves. Just outside the
intervertebral foramen, distal to the ganglion,
the afferent dorsal and the efferent ventral roots join to form
the mixed spinal nerve, which divides into ventral and
dorsal rami carrying both afferent (in) and efferent (out)
nerves. The lumbosacral and coccygeal nerve roots are the
longest forming a horse's tail (cauda equina) caudal
(downward) to the Filum. The dorsal rami carries the motor
and sensory nerves to the back of the body and the ventral
rami carry both motor and sensory fibers and form nerve
junctions called plexus, named according to the area they
supply: the cervical plexus, the neck region; the brachial, the
arms; the lumbar, the mid-back area; and the sacral, the
lower back and legs.
Tibetan Thangka Painting

The spinal cord continues upwards as medulla oblongata

and pons behind which is the fourth ventricle into which the
central canal of the spinal cord opens. Behind the fourth
ventricle is cerebellum. Going past the mid brain, Susumna
Nadi goes to the cerebral cortex. When it reaches the top of
the neck, Susumna supports herself on the stalk of Sankhini
(A Nadi and goddess) and goes towards the region of
Brahman (Brahma Randhara) but does not actually end up
there. It ends near the twelve petalled lotus. Sarasvati and
KuhU (nadis) are on either side of Susumna. Sankhini
originates at Kanda Mula and courses between Sarasvati and
GAndhArI and ends in the throat; Sankhini emerges from
the nasopharynx proceeds obliquely to the forehead, winds
around Chitra Nadi (Citrini Nadi) and goes to the head. One
of her channels goes to the left ear and the other goes to the
top of the head. The head channel of Sankhini Nadi is the
passageway for nectar and Soma to go from the head to the
throat.
Autonomic Nervous System
makes adjustment in the
function of the organs
depending upon the
situation: heart quickens
with fear or excitement, the
mouth becomes dry with
fear, the skin becomes flush
with anger. It consists of
sympathetic and
parasympathetic divisions,
one antagonizing the other,
thus fine-tuning the action
of an organ they supply. The
sympathetic cells are located
in the spinal cord from T1 to
L3. From here, the
preganglionic fibers proceed
along the anterior roots, winds through the white rami
communicantes to the sympathetic ganglion. Let me
explain this routing of the preganglionic fibers. As
you see, the anterior roots carry both motor and
sympathetic fibers away from the spinal cord, the
sympathetic fibers have to branch off to reach the
sympathetic ganglion and that is why nature provides
the exit ramp (White Rami Communicantes) for the

sympathetic fibers to reach the sympathetic ganglion.

There are 21 or 22 pairs of ganglia on each side of the
vertebral column, 3 in the cervical region, 10 or 11 in
the thoracic region, 4 in the lumbar region, 4 in the
sacral region, and one ganglion lying in front of
coccyx-ganglion impar. Once the sympathetic fibers
synapse, the post ganglionic fibers exit the
sympathetic ganglion and join the mixed spinal
nerve. The sympathetic and parasympathetic system
supplies the organs with nerve fibers for their
function and a balance is kept between these
opposing systems. The demands of the human
organism is met by either modulation of both or
stimulation of one or the other system: homeostasis.
The sympathetic system meets the demands of stress
on the body by sending more blood to vital organs
like heart and muscles by dilating their blood vessels
and concurrently constricting blood vessels going to
less vital organs like skin. Its currency is nor
adrenaline. Parasympathetic system helps secrete
digestive juices, constricts the pupil and stimulates
the vagus nerve supplying the heart, bronchi and
gastrointestinal tract, resulting in slowing of the heart,
constriction of the bronchial tubes and the propulsion
of the stomach and intestines except the lower two
thirds of the colon. Its currency is acetylcholine at the
terminals.
(Parasympathetic ganglia receive fibers from the
brainstem and spinal segments, S2 to S4. They are
juxtamural or intramural, meaning they are in the
substance of the organ itself. Acetylcholine is the
mediator substance released at the preganglionic and
postganglionic endings of parasympathetic fibers.)
For more details
consult: http://www.bartleby.com/107/214.html

Ganglion.jpg

G: Sympathetic Ganglion showing the Rami.

V: Vertebral Body
C: White and Gray Rami Communicantes
MN: Mixed nerve carrying sensory, motor and
Sympathetic fibers. Ventral or Anterior
Ramus.
PRG: posterior Root Ganglion, way station for the
sensory nerves before they enter spinal cord.
PC: Posterior or Doral Ramus (Mixed nerve)

Muladhara Chakra and Svadhisthana chakras correspond to

Sacrococcygeal plexus, Manipura to Celiac plexus, Anahata
to cardiac plexus, and Visudhha to laryngeal plexus. The

vital functions of the body are associated with the Chakras,

meaning that the Nadis, the nerves and plexuses
communicate with one
another. We are all aware of our physical body. That is
Gross body (Sthula); we have two more bodies, Subtle and
Astral (Sukshma and Karana)
The Nadis are channels; they are not physical but subtle.
They are compared to the minute sap channels in the leaf
(Leaf veins) of the Asvatta tree.
Click the thumbnail to enlarge.

The Ida, Pingala, and Susumna Nadis come together at the

Muladhara Chakra (Yamuna River is Ida,Sarasvati* is
Susumna , and Ganga is Pingala) and form a confluence,
Yukta Triveni. The Ida and Pingla Nadis correspond to the
sympathetic chain on both sides of the vertebrae. Ida Nadi
(Moon) controls the mind and its functions; Pingala Nadi
(Sun), all the vital functions. Susumna Nadi (Brahma Nadi,
see cross section of Susumna Nadi) runs along the central
canal of the spinal cord and the Prana travels in Susumna
Nadi and leaves the crown by Brahma Randhra, the area
corresponding to anterior fontanel, also known as Sahasrara
Chakra. Susumna is associated with the awakening of
spiritual consciousness. These three essential Nadis, which
everyone has in various degrees of development and
function, are in charge of Mental functions (Ida), vital
functions (Prana from Pingala) and spiritual functions
(Susumna). Based on these three Nadis, some people
function at the level of Pingala Nadi, meaning it is mere
breath (Prana); most have Pingala and Ida in place in that
they have not only breath but also a life. Normal functions
of Ida and Pingala Nadis are necessary for normal mental
and physical health.

N
ad
i

mea
ning

nature

Energy

Ther
m

origin

Termi
nus

River

Brain

psych
ology

Id
a

Co
mfo
rt

Lunar

Female
Energy

Cool
whi
te

Rt
testicle

left
nostri
l

Yamu
na

Rt.
Brain

Introv
ert

Pi
ng
al
a

Taw
ny

Solar

male

Red
-hot

left
testicle

Rt
Nostri
l

Ganga

lt.Brain

Extro
vert

N
a
di

Col
or

mod
e

Meta
bolis
m

ey
e

mode

min
d

Sens
e

psych
osoma
tic

pers
onali
ty

Id
a

Whit
e

Tran
quilit
y

anab
olic

Lef
t

Sattvic
/Tamas

Emo
tiona
l

Intui
tive

Mind

obv
erse

Pi
ng
al
a

Red

Actio
n

Catab
olic

Rig
ht

Rajasi
c

Rati
onal

Verb
al

Body

Reve
rse

N
ad
i

dom
inan
ce

Polari
ty

Polari
ty

Sta
te

Organs

Nect
ar

body

SivaSakti

Brai
n

Id
a

Chit
a

Nega
tine

Yin

Sta
tic

Janend
riyas

Nect
ar

nouri
shme
nt

Sakti
Form

Righ
t
brain

Pi
ng
al
a

Pra
na

positi
ve

Yang

Dyn
ami
c

Karme
ndriyas

Nonnect
ar

diges
tion

Rudra
Form

Left
brain

heari
ng/vo
cal

Bija
Ma
ntr
a

ANS:Au
tonomi
c
nervou
s
system

ANS

Locu
s

Domi
nance

N
ad
i

pers
onal
ity

In or
Out

Id
a

Typ
eB

Intro
specti
on

Pi
ng
al
a

Typ
eA

Extro
versi
on

listen
er

talker

Tha

parasy
mpathe
tic

Rela
xatio
n

Occip
ital
lobe

Senso
ry

Ha

Sympat
hetic

Fight
/Frig
ht

Front
al
corte
x

Motor

Various sources have a profusion of confusion with

regards to River associated with Ida and Pingala
Nadis. I follow the writings from Swami
Sivananda: Yamuna runs in Ida, Ganga in
Pingala, and Sarasvati in Susumna.

A mnemonic device (is a memory aid). Pinga rhymes

with Ganga. Sa goes with Su = Sarasvati andSusumna.
Functioning Susumna Nadi takes you to higher realms of
existence. Susumna Nadi is said to pass along the central
canal of the spinal cord through the fourth ventricle and
ends up in the cerebral cortex and does not reach Brahma
Randhra. The confluence of Ida, Pingala and Susumna

Nadis (Yamuna runs in Ida, Ganga in

Pingala, and Sarasvati in Susumna) called Mukta Triveni
separate at Ajna Chakra; Ida goes to the left nostril, the
Pingala goes to the right nostril and Susumna (Brahma
Nadi--anterior branch) after piercing through the palate
(talu) goes to Sahasrara Chakra (Brahma
Randhra). Susumna Nadi bifurcates into anterior and
posterior branches below Ajna Chakra. The anterior branch
courses through Ajna Chakra and has almost a straight
upward course to Brahma Randhra (anterior fontanel area)
and the posterior branch takes a detour backwards from
below the Ajna Chakra possibly between two cerebellar
lobes, courses anteriorly along the upper crest of the
cerebrum and ends in Brahma Randhara. Remember that
these branches are subtle and not physical. Susumna Nadi
has connection with sympathetic nerves of the Celiac Plexus
(Solar) - Manipura Chakra, the third chakra around the
navel area. Susumna Nadi is Jnana Nadi because the Yogi
who channels his Prana through Susumna gains Brahman
knowledge. As the Ida and Pingala Nadis spiral around, they
meet Susumna Nadi at the base, navel, heart and throat
corresponding to Muladhara, Manipura, Anahata, and
Visuddha Chakras. Pingala diverges from the throat and
ends up in the right nostril and Ida in the left nostril. Ida and
pingala Nadis work alternately just like the alternating
autonomic patency of the nostrils. When the left Ida Nadi is
patent it is the flow of lunar energy; it is the flow of solar
energy through the patent Pingala Nadi. Susumna Nadi
heads upwards. The right brain function is connected to and
dependent on the patent lunar Ida Nadi and the left brain
function to the patent solar Pingala Nadi. The Yogi can
make all Nadis function simultaneously; the result is
enlightenment. Right Pingala Solar energy controls prana
(breath) and life; left Ida Lunar, consciousness; Susumna,
spiritual awakening. Swami Satyananda Sarawati says that
the dormant areas of the brain are awakened in intellectually
gifted people. Most people are right-handed and left-brain
and Pingala-Nadi dominant. Left brain functions are seen in
all language skills, memory, math, science, safe
conventional behavior, object-naming. Right brain and Ida
Nadi dominance is seen in global thinking, philosophy,
religion, spatial perception, knowing object function,
fantasy, impetuousness, risk-taking.
The following table was lifted from internet.

Left and right brains have cross-over fibers to control contralateral

side.
left brain and right nostril
Pingala Nadi

Right brain and left nostril Id

Nadi.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTION

---PINGALA NADI

RIGHT BRAIN
FUNCTIONS--IDA NADI

uses logic

uses feeling

detail oriented

"big picture" oriented

facts rule

imagination rules

words and language

symbols and images

present and past

present and future

math and science

philosophy & religion

can comprehend

can "get it" (i.e. meaning)

knowing

believes

acknowledges

Appreciates

order/pattern perception

spatial perception

knows object name

knows object function

reality based

fantasy based

forms strategies

presents possibilities

practical

impetuous

safe

risk taking

Before the ENT doctors discovered Nasal Cycle, the

Yogis of India had a pretty good idea of what it was.

The nose is innervated by Autonomic Nervous system

(ANS) and olfactory nerves. The former alternately
increases and decreases nasal resistance to air flow;
the latter helps identify smells. The sympathetic and
parasympathetic nerves (ANS) have control over the
venous sinusoids in the nasal mucosa. When the
sympathetic fibers gain upper hand, that nostril has
the least resistance to airflow because there is
shrinkage of nasal mucosa allowing the passage open
for airflow and the fellow on the other side is under
the influence of parasympathetic nerves increasing
airflow resistance from blockage of the nostril by
boggy mucosa. This is Nasal Cycle. This does not
happen to everybody; one study indicates that it
exists in 80% of the population. The side you sleep
on is the side with blockage; older you get weaker it
gets. Hypothalamus is said to be the center for the
alternation in Nasal Cycle. Nobody knows why it
happens. The cycle alternates once in 1 to 4 hours.
Most of the time one nostril has good airflow and the
other nostril has bad airflow.
Ida (left) and Pingala (right) Nadis = left and
right nostrils - allow airflow alternately; left one
allows passage of lunar energy; right one, the solar
energy. The right and left hemispheres of the brain
function contralateral to the patent nostril: Solar
energy flow on the right nostril controls the left
hemisphere and Lunar energy flow on the left nostril
the right hemisphere. Physicians think that the ANS is
the primary controller rather than the medically
nebulous solar and lunar energies. Medicine loses its
footing on the slippery slopes of energies of which
the doctors are not familiar with. Susumna Nadi
functions well when both Ida and Pingala Nadis are
open and functioning. Yogis can open Susumna Nadi
at will for the passage of Prana or energy.
Each of six Chakras has its corresponding plexus
and organs, having functions of evacuation,
excretion, reproduction, digestion, blood circulation,
and respiration. The higher centers such as Ajna and
Sahasrara discharge the functions of muscle
coordination, sensory and motor functions, cerebral
function and Pure Consciousness. There are students

of Kundalini, who consider these centers as subtle

centers having nothing to do with anatomical parts
and corresponding functions. The lotuses at the
respective Chakras are inside the Susumna Nadi
which is a subtle and not a physical channel or Nadi.
The chakras are subtle and have physical
counterparts: Anahata chakra's physical counterparts
are the heart and cardiac plexus. The Lotus flower
blooms as Kundalini passes through it. On the petals
are inscribed the 50 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet.
When the letters are uttered, each sound "touches" its
respective petal and the respective Chakra, which
becomes active. The Yogi or Sadhaka claims to see
and feel the vibrations of these letters inscribed on the
petals during his meditative practice. The sounds of
Sanskrit letters are organized according to the organs
used in their articulation: Kantha (throat, guttural),
TAlu (palatals), MUrddhA
(cerebrals), Danta (dentals), Ostha (labial).
Brahmabijas (Ha and Ksa) are in Ajna Chakra. When
Ha is uttered, the head is touched by Ha. Va to Sa,
when uttered, touch the Muladhara Chakra. The first
16 vowels (Am to Ah) touch the Visuddha Chakra;
Ka to Tha, the Anahata Chakra; Da to Pha, Manipura
Chakra; Ba to La, Manipura Chakra; and Va to Sa,
Muladhara Chakra. The numbers at each chakra also
indicate the number of intersecting Nadis at that
center.
('Fifty Sanskrit letters make a string of her instrument
to sing her song, out of which are woven all the forms
of the worlds.')
Note the two words: Danta and Ostha are cognate
with Dental and Os (opening), another evidence that
Sanskrit is the origin of words.

Sarasvati* River does not flow now. Its existence

thousands of years ago were confirmed by satellite
images which appear like pentimento below the
surface. The archeologists say that Sarasvati River
dried up around 1900 BCE
All Chakras have resident Devatas in hiding
(Avarana Devatas), without propitiation of whom it is
not possible for Kundalini to go up the Chakras.
There are 360 Devatas, named after the rays of the
the Sun (106), Moon (136) and Agni (118), who

illumine the world and make the 360 days of the year.
Sakti is the source of billions of rays of which 360
belong to sun, Moon, and Agni. Muladhara,
Svadhistana, Manipura, Anahata, Visuddha and Ajna
Chakras have 56, 62, 52, 54, 72, and 64 rays of Sakti
respectively. The numbers in pairs belong to Agni 118,
Sun106, and Moon136 divisions. The Sahasrara plane
has countless rays.
.

The Yogi goes from lower to higher centers; he takes

Sakti with him until he reaches Sahasrara chakra,
which may take many years of practice and
dedication. Once he reaches a center, it is easier for
him to reach the center next time. With the successful
arrival at each higher center, he experiences Samadhi,
bliss and new powers. The bliss attained in Sahasrara
is the same as in liberation; he attains many
supernatural powers. When Kundalini is stimulated
by Asanas, Kumbhakas, Bandhas, Mudras and
Mantras, she enters Susumna Nadi after piercing the
chakras defended by Maya Sakti. When Kundali is
forced to enter Susumna Nadi, she remains there for

the duration of Kumbhaka or retention of breath only.

Once Kumbhaka phase is terminated, Kundali comes
back to Muladhara. Maintaining and prolonging the
duration of Kumbhaka come from constant practice.
Once this is achieved, the aspirant concentrates his
mind and meditates on the conjoined dual deity in
each center or plane. (Conjoined dual deity Kundali unites with the center-specific deity in each
center. Though they are two before union, the
combined form is one deity.) When the aspirant
becomes perfect in Kumbhaka and meditation on the
combined deity and is able to hold his Prana and
Kundali in Susumna, he becomes the master of the
gross element of that particular center (example,
water element in Manipura Chakra). When he
becomes the master of all five gross elements of the
material world (Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether), he
exercises his power over them by choice. Some
examples are levitation, clairaudience, clairvoyance,
prophecy, omnipotence and omniscience. Levitation
means that he can overcome the pull of the earth. By
meditating on the united deity, the aspirant's human
consciousness becomes one with the pure
consciousness of the combined entity; in this process,
the Sadhaka rises from the material plane to the plane
of Suddha Tattva or Pure Consciousness. He is
untouched by wealth, prestige, carnal desire, passion,
and power. Ajna center is the seat of Nada and Bindu
(Bindu.htm), which are the material cause of the
universe. Others say that Bindu exists in the back of
the head (brain) which corresponds to the area of the
head where the Brahmins and Hare Krishnas keep
their tuft of hair. When he unites with the combined
deity of the center (Parasiva and Siddha Kali), he is
for ever free from the dualities of the world, and
becomes master of Vikrtic elements such as Mind,
Ego, and Intellect. Vikriti = transformed elements
derived from Prakrti, matter.) He is no longer
required to perform exoteric worship (external
worship). When Kundali reveals herself to Sadhaka
and introduces him to Saguna Brahman, Isvara or
Clinical Brahman he attains Sayuja mukti or union
with God. He gives up his Subtle and Causal body.
He found VasakaSakti, Isvara, the fruit of his pursuit
and he is very near in finding the Vakya sakti, the

very seed or essence of it. Vakya Sakti is Brahman

and the Sadhaka becomes one with Brahman. (Go to
Tantra.htm for details on Vakya and Vasaka saktis.)
This is Brahman Knowledge, the ultimate goal of
Jnana Yoga; he is in eternal bliss, he swims in the
ocean of Cit instead of ocean of Samsara and there is
no return to the mundane world. The aspirant must be
in excellent physical, mental, and moral condition to
undertake the strenuous aspects of Yoga, such as
Kumbhaka, Asanas, Mudras and Bandhas. On the
contrary, Bhakti Yoga is total surrender to God and is
not the preferred Yoga for the Tantrics. Jnana Yoga is
so arduous that the aspirants start practicing it at very
young age. Bakti Yoga can be a starter because Jnana
Yoga is built on Faith. Yama and Niyama are the
foundation on which these disciplines are built.
Bhakti Yoga is fit for all age groups, all physical
types, all pursuits, all inclinations. The end result is
the same for both disciplines: Liberation.
There are two routes for attaining oneness with
Siva-Sakti: Vedantic and Tantric. In both the Sadhaka
has to face the lower forces of pelvic region at some
point in time during his or her journey. The Tantric
takes on and fights these lower forces at the outset of
his journey, while the Vedantic (Vaidic) Sadhaka
develops a higher consciousness before he faces the
pelvic forces. His inner purity, maturity and higher
consciousness become strong enough to overcome
the pelvic forces. (Pelvic forces: Living in the pelvis
means mere animal existence that involves eating,
drinking, defecating, urinating, procreating, animal
passions). These are powerful forces which need to
be addressed and sublimated: One eats to live. For a
greenhorn in Tantric Sadhana, a guru is necessary for
proper guidance. A Tantric Sadhaka struggles to
overcome the base forces before he gets illumination;
a Vaidic Sadhaka acquires the necessary illumination
to easily fight the lower pelvic forces. Vaidic route is
painless, long, and safe, while Tantric route is fast
and fraught with danger and demands a guide and
guru to traverse the path.
The battle between Kundalini and Maya Sakti may
result in discomfort, disease and disability in Yogi.

He should have a thorough knowledge of Kundalini

Yoga in its entirety before the Sadhaka tries to
awaken Kundalini at Kanda (shape like a bird's
egg). Kali is Kundalini in Muladhara Chakra. When
Kundalini is roused, she becomes active: the desire
for her consort, Paramasiva. The Yogin of yogins
becomes intense and rises through all chakras. As
Kundalini rises and pierces through each chakra, she
takes into her body the resident tattvas at each center,
which enter into a Laya state (Laya Krama). Laya
= lysis = dissolution = involution. At
Muladhara plane, she was the sakti of all physical
tattvas and as she ascends, they involute and dissolve
in her, her consciousness gets purer by each ascent
through the chakras and at Sahasrara, she is pure
consciousness. Along with the tattvas, the resident
devatas in the chakras dissolve in her. The devata
(the purveyor, modulator, and controller), is the
organ's resident godling. This ascent is from a
physical plane to the spiritual plane. When Mithuna
(union) takes place between Sakti and Siva
at Bindu in the body of the Yogi, nectar (Amrta)
flows down and pervades all Chakras and gratifies
the devatas (godlings, gods and goddesses) in each
center with the resultant immersion of Yogi in
Bliss. Bindu corresponds to the area of brain that
underlies the tuft of a practicing Brahmana. This
Mithuna is allegorized as follows: a married woman
(Kundalini) takes the royal road (Susumna), makes
periodic stops at the sacred places (Chakras), runs to
embrace her Supreme Husband, Para Siva, after the
last leg of her ascent, and causes nectar to flow from
Sahasrara to Muladhara, appeasing all the resident
Devatas in the chakras and immersing the Sadhaka in
bliss. (Bindu is located approximately at the posterior
fontanel area of the brain, which roughly corresponds
to the site of origin of long tuft of hair (kudumi) worn
by the priestly Brahmins on the scalp.)
Kundalini goddess, having traversed the fourteen
Granthas (knots), six Chakras, three Lingas and five
Sivas on her way to Para Siva, makes a return trip
down the chakras restoring everything that she
absorbed into her and reaches Muladhara chakra. The

ascent is Laya Krama (Absorption) and her descent is

Srsti Krama (creation).
The jivatma (embodied soul) that tags along with
Kundalini up and down the chakras benefits from the
experience of samadhi (bliss/ecstasy) at the highest
level and the mundane nature of life at Muladhara.
The creation cascade with the last tattva being
earth undergoes involution as the Sadhaka goes up
the chakras; the descent restores the cascade again;
thus, the Sadhaka is a microcosm of the divinity. As
the Sadhaka makes the ascent and the fire of
Kundalini ascends through Tapas, mantras and more,
the lower stations and the corresponding parts of the
body become cold and rigid while the crown only is
warm to touch as the Sadhaka is in ecstasy. When the
descent is complete, and Kundalini comes to rest at
Muladhara, the Yogi snaps out of superconsciousness
and regains the normal body temperature, suppleness
and consciousness. The reason why the body part is
cold is that the Devata of the particular center has
been absorbed by Kundali on her ascent to Sahasrara;
on her descent the Devatas are restored to their
former status thus the organs become warm again.
Kundalini goddess stays in Sahasrara for a brief
period only; her natural tendency is to come down to
her home base, Muladhara. An accomplished
Sadhaka can hold her in Sahasrara as long as he
wants (the most is three days and three nights), thus
enjoying ecstasy. Some bring Kundali goddess down
to Anahata (heart) and offer worship there; thus the
heart is her elevated abode in that particular Sadhaka.
The Sadhaka now takes Kundali to Sahasrara from
her heart station or chakra. Kali Kundalini at the heart
station is called Hamsa.
When Kundalini Goddess is at sleep in Muladhara,
man is awake to the world (Jagrat or wakefulness);
that is lower consciousness. When She is awake
(Higher Consciousness) Pasu (man in bondage) is
asleep to world consciousness and rises to higher
consciousness. The sensual man moves in Muladhara
and Svadisthana chakras. (In animals, kundalini

goddess stays for ever in Muladhara and Svadisthana

chakras because their consciousness and sentience are
not at par with human levels; they are guided by
instinct and subconsciousness; (manifestation of)
Sabda Brahman (Sound Brahman) is unmanifest or so
miniscule that Jnana, Iccha, and Kriya, speech,
mantras, asanas cannot be carried out by animals
- my opinion.)
Jung says, As long as you live you are in
Muladhara naturally. It is quite self-evident that you
cannot live in meditation, or in trance condition. You
have to go about in this world; you have to be
conscious and let the gods sleep. He adds that once
you reach a plane, and return back to Muladhara, it is
only an apparent return for the Sadhaka has left
something of himself in the unconscious
(Superconscious state). Once the Sadahaka reaches
the Ajna center, the consciousness is all-inclusive in
the sense you know You are That (Tat Tvam Asi),
and more - every tree, every stone, every breath of
air, every rat's tail - all that is yourself; there is
nothing that is not yourself. one experiences all
Chakras simultaneously. Ajna is the highest state of
consciousness, and it would not be highest if it did
not include all the former experiences. Kali
Kundalini at the Ajna station between the eyebrows
goes by the name of Bindu. Psychology of Kundalini
Yoga, Page 59.
As Sadhaka ascends under his own effort with
Kundali goddess to a higher plane, the material world
is withdrawn into the body of the goddess; the Sadaka
ascends from world-consciousness of Kundali at
Muladhara to Universal Consciousness and
SatChitAnanda or Pure Bliss in Samadhi. Kundali is
thus the resident delegate of Siva Sakti in Jivatma
(embodied soul). It is She who accompanies the jiva
to Siva for absorption and liberation (Mukti).
As long as Prana (energy) exists and moves, there
is Vritti (continuation of mental function); Tattva
Jnana does not dawn on the aspirant and the clinging
Vasana from previous births compels rebirth. When
energy flows outwards (Pravrtti), it is material

energy; when it flows inwards (Nivrrti) it is Spiritual

Energy.
When Prana and manas dissolve in Sahasrara, Tattva
jnana is obtained by experiencing merger with Siva:
the jiva attains to the state of lysis. With the onset of
Supreme knowledge (Tattva Jnana or knowledge of
Brahman), Vasanas and mind are destroyed and a
state of Nivrtti (cessation, involution) is obtained.
Tattva Jnana draws parallels with the knowledge of
the Self and realization of Brahman discussed in
Bhagavad Gita. Kundali is the key to the house of
various Chakras; the Yogi forces open the door into
the house of chakras and this is repeated until he
reaches the higher centers. As the Sadahaka goes
higher and higher, his effort has to rise
proportionately stronger and the rewards are higher in
terms of acquisition of powers: Anima, Mahima,
Gharima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Isatva,
Vashistva, (and Kmarutattva). Go to Tantra Three
Tirumantiram for details.
What is more important, acquisition of occult
powers as above or god realization? Ramahkrishna
Parmahamsa once made an offer to Swami
Vivekananda to choose between occult power as a
gift from him or god realization. Vivekananda chose
to acquire god realization which is an eternal asset,
while occult powers are of transient nature. He
admitted that if God chose to give him occult powers
for the benefit of humanity, he had no objection.
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa says the following on
occult powers in his book Sayings of Ramakrishna.
Saying 374 page 112: Krishna once said to Arjuna, "If
you desire to attain Me, know that it will never be
possible so long as you possess even a single one of
the eight psychic powers (Ashta Siddhis).)" For
occult powers increase man's egotism and thus makes
him forgetful of God.
Above the Sahasrara plane is Niraalamba
pradesam, a place without support. It is a state where
jiva exists without support, props and
such. Niralamba = hanging without support. Just

imagine the moon hanging out there in space. It

means that the mind, having attained realization of
the Brahman, is free from connection with material
world. Woodroffe calls it cessation of Chitta (mental
functioning) and Karma (action), on which there
arises freedom from alternating joy and sorrow and
changeless state (NirvikAra). Some of the other terms
express equivalent state: Advaita, Advaitama,
Amanaska, Amaratvam, Jivanmukti, laya,
Manonmani, Niralamba, Niranjana, Paramapada,
Sahaja, Samadhi, Suddha Sattva, Sunya, Sunyaasunya, Tattva, Turiya, Unmani. For more details
on Turiya go to <<< POTPOURRI
ONE>>> POTPOURRI 1 The Stem Substance,
ksa
Advaita = Monism, Advaitama = oneness of
soul, Amanaska = suspension of mental function,
Amaratvam = Immortality, Jivanmukti =
Liberation in body while living, Laya = Lysis-absorption Into Purusa, Manonmani = State of
mindlessness, Niralamba = without support -separation of the mind from the external world,
Niranjana = Stainless, Paramapada = Supreme
Abode, SahajavasthA = natural state of Soul,
Samadhi = Ecstasy from realization, Suddha
Sattva = Pure Goodness, non-material Goodness,
Transcendental plane of Goodness, Sunya = Void,
Sunya-Asunya = Void and yet non-void. Tattva
Principle, Turiya = 4th state of
Consciousness, Unmani = State of mindlessness.
Unmani is a state when mind ceases to exist and
ceases to entertain thoughs; in other words the
manasness of the Manas or mind ceases to exist.
Unmani is mandatory state for Yogi; no Unmani, no
Yogi. When Unmani state is attained, the Chitta is
free from the mind (that keeps it attached to the
world) and floats freely in ether. Imagine the freefloating astronauts; the Yogis are "Ethernauts" with
no fear of cosmic radiation.
When moksa or liberation is attained while alive it is
Jivan Mukti, the belief and goal of Saivaites.
Ramanuja believes in Videha Mukti when the Yogi's

Jivatma leaves the body by Brahma Randra

(Anterior Fontanel) and becomes bodiless. Though
a Sadhaka has achieved Jivan Mukti, there is no
guarantee that he will not suffer from illness or
injuries until his soul leaves the body; death puts an
end to miseries and obtains liberation to Jivan and
Videha Muktas. The soul of man with a bag of karma
(most of us) leave by one or more of the seven
apertures: mouth, nostrils, eyes, and ears. The soul of
the animal leaves the body by genitals or anus. It is
said by believers that the mark of departure is a stain
in the gate and or a open gate: example, blood in the
nostrils, open mouth.
Susumna Nadi is the most important one and the
Sadhaka redirects the Prana from Ida and Pingala
Nadis to Susumna which goes to Sahasrara where
Prana dissolves (laya). Ida Nadi is the conduit for
mental functions, Pingala Nadi for vital functions and
Susumna Nadi for spiritual
consciousness. Knowledge of Brahman or Tattva
Jnana has three steps before it is acquired: first,
the knowledge of Pranas, Chakras, Nadis, and
Kundalini; second, the conscription of Kundali
goddess and third, merging with Brahman by laya
brought on by Iccha (Will), Knowledge (Jnana), and
Action (Kriya) of Kundali goddess. Iccha, Jnana, and
Kriya are sequential events in case of Kundali
goddess, while Jnana, Iccha and Kriya (knowledge,
will, and action) are those of a Sadhaka. The reasons
are as follows: The goddess (or Siva) exercises her
Will or Desire (Iccha Sakti) first to create, because
She has the Knowledge (Jnana Sakti) or wherewithal
to create and thereafter She acts (Kriya) setting
creation in motion. For earthbound jiva aspiring to
merge with Siva, the sequence is Jnana, Iccha and
Kriya (knowledge, will, and action). Knowledge of
Kundalini Yoga is the first; arousing the power of
Kundalini Sakti is the second and represents the will;
practicing the Asanas, Mudras, Pranayamas, Bandhas
is the third and represents the action.
Man cannot will an action without knowledge. Gain
the knowledge, then exercise the willand later put it
into action. Siddhiar says that all souls taking origin
from Goddess (Brahman) receive Sakti (power) of

knowledge, will and action like heat takes origin from

fire, which (fire) is different from heat; the fire
(firewood) is the source and substance and heat is an
attribute and a derivative of fire. Iccha, Jnana, and
Kriya (fire and heat) are intrinsic and self-generating
in the Goddess, while in man they are of external
(from Goddess) source.
Kundali (or God) exercises the Will first, uses
the Knowledge second, that She already has and third
She put her knowledge-based plan
into action (motion).
The Sadahka forces the prana (Up Breath)
downwards and the Apana (Down Breath) upwards
and the collision and friction generate heat that wakes
up Kundali from her sleep; later he channels the
Prana-Apana breath into Susumna Nadi. The
Sadhaka's jiva unites with Kundali who absorbs and
replaces all tattvas in all chakras with her own energy.
Kundali in the lower Chakras is a physical energy; as
She goes up absorbing all the physical tattvas (Virat
state, manifested state), an involutional
transformation takes place at Ajna center, where she
is the sakti of subtle body (Hiranyagarbha), a state
subtler than Virat state; in Sahasrara, she becomes
Isvara (Sakti) who contains and conceals all that were
absorbed so far in a potential state. As she ascends,
she goes into the state of Parabindu (Supreme Bindu,
Causal or Karana Bindu, Supreme Sakti, Nirguna
Siva and Void [Sunya]). Nirguna Siva is equal to
Nirguna Brahman without attributes. From
Muladhara to Ajna Chakra, Kundalini goddess has
absorbed all Asuddha Tattvas and now she is
Consciousness. The united Prana-Apana breath elicits
Anahata sounds. Later Prana, Apana, Nada and Bindu
unite and offers the Yogi Bliss. (Parabindu is in
Sahasrara Chakra.)
Certain groups are satisfied with worshipping
Kundalini Sakti at Muladhara plane alone, desire
worldly pleasures and do not seek liberation. Some
groups take the goddess to a Chakra compatible with
their ability. They give equal status to Siva and
Kundalini at lower Chakras in all respects: Abode,

position, functions, forms, and names. Both (Siva and

Sakti) of them have their abode in Muladhara,
perform dances, engage in creation, sport red color
and have names, Bhairava and Bhairavi. On the same
note, it is recommended that beginners should
worship Kundalini in the lower plane, until they get
proficiency to go to higher centers.
There are protagonists of Gayatri Sadhana, who
recommend getting the senses under control first,
then going straight to Ajna Chakra, and concentrating
the mind on Isvara.
There are others who
recommend Bhukti and Mukti, as long as Bhoga is
done with propriety. Bhoga = enjoyment. When
Bhoga is experienced in the name of goddess or
Siva, it is goddess or Siva enjoying it through the
jivatma. The same principle applies to Bhoga and
Yoga. When propriety is observed over a long time,
Jnana Tattva dawns on the Sadhaka, who gets to
enjoy liberation. Others (Kaula) advocate that Yoga,
Bhoga and Samadhi can coexist in Kundalini Yoga,
while invoking the goddess Kundalini.
What are the indicators that tell you of awakening
of Kundalini Sakti?
K-U-N-D-A-L-I
K: Kinesis: muscular jerks of limbs and
trunk. Kinetic flow of electrical currents up and
down your nerves. Kevala Kumbhaka (retention of
breath) comes as automatic reflex without much
effort
U: Utterance and repetition of OM
automatically. Unable to open eyes though you try
hard.
N: No physical awareness of people around you. No
thoughts of the world.
D: Divine Visions, Divine smell, Divine Anahata
sounds, Divine touch, Divine taste.

A: Arrival of Bliss, Arborization of nerve currents

through the body.
L: Lightness of body.
I: Inspiration, Insight into nature, Inexhaustible
energy, Intoxicated (divine) feeling,
Involuntary
performance of Asanas, Mudras, Involuntary
compositions,
Instructions from God,
Involuntary performance of Bhandas (Bindings):
Mulabhanda etc.

Notes:

These are the Vrttis (mental propensity, tendency) of the Chakras. Woodroffe
Muladhara Chakra: Parama, Sahaja, VirAnanda, YogAnanda.

Svadhisthana Chakra: Prasraya (Credulity), AvisvAsa (Suspicion), Avajna (disdain), MUrcch

(Pitilessness). All Vrttis are bad. (Sexual feelings, lassitude, stupor, cruelty, suspicion, contem

Manipura Chakra: Lajja, PisunatA, IrsA, TrsnA, Susupti, VisAda, KasAya, Moha, GhrnA, B
worldliness, ignorance, aversion, fear. All Vrttis are bad. (Also connected with thirst, sleep, jea

Anahata Chakra: Asa, CintA, CestA, SamatA, Dambha, ViklatA, AhamkAra, Viveka, LolatA
mineness, arrogance or hypocrisy, sense of langour, egoism, discrimination, covetousness, dup
hope, anxiety, doubt, remorse, conceit, egoism)

Soma Chakra: Krpa, Mrduta, Dhairya, Vairagya, Dhrti, Sampat, HAsya, RomAnca, Vinaya,
EkAgratA. (Mercy, Gentleness, Patience or composure, dispassion, Constancy, Spiritual Prosp
propriety, Meditativeness, Quietitude or restfulness, gravity of demeanor, Enterprise or effort
Concentration.

LalanA Chakra: Certain Moral qualities appear in this Chakra. Lalana

nectar and separates the pure form from the poison. Vrttis are mostly good.
regard, pride, affection, grief, regret, respect, reverence, contentment.

Visuddha Chakra: NisAda, Rsabha, GAndhAra, SAdja, Madhyama, Dhaivata, Pancama. Cer
on the 8th petal; Nectar on the 16th Petal. Visuddha Chakra processes the product of Lalana
of speech and abode of the Goddess of speech (BhAratI).

Ajna Chakra: represents motor cortex and motor tract. Sensory Cortex is concerned with affe

Manas Chakra: Sensorium. Sabda-JnAna, Sparsa-JnAna, Rupa-JnAna,

the sensoriums--hearing, touch, sight, smell, taste, and centrally initiated sensations in

Soma Chakra: found in the Pericarp of Sahasrara Chakra. See the diagram

February 27, 2013

His Holiness Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
of Hawaii Adheenam explains the planes of
existence below Muladhara Chakra. Page 134135 Loving Ganesa.

The Souls Evolution through the Chakras

Devotees sometimes ask, "Why is it that some souls
are apparently more advanced than others, less prone
to the lower emotions that are attributes of the lower
chakras?" The answer is that souls are not created all
at once. Lord Siva is continually creating souls. Souls
created a long time ago are old souls. Souls created
not so long ago are young souls. We recognize an old
soul as being rened, selfless,
compassionate, virtuous, controlled in body, mind and
emotions, radiatinggoodness in thought, word and
deed. We recognize a young soul by his strong
instinctive nature, selshness, lack of understanding
and absence of physical, mental and
emotional renement.
At any given time there are souls of every level of
evolution. My satguru, Sage Yogaswami, taught that
The world is a training school. Some are in
kindergarten. Some are in the BA class. Each soul is
created in the Third World (Causal world) and
evolves by taking on denser and denser bodies until it
has a physical body and lives in the First World, the
physical plane (the world we live in). Then as it
matures, it drops off these denser bodies and returns
to the Second and Third Worlds, the astral and causal
planes.
1st world = The physical universe where five senses are the portals.
2nd world = Astral World =

Subtle World or Antar Loka

extending from Visuddha Chakra
down to Patala Chakra in the soles
of the feet. Includes Maharloka1,
Svarloka2, Bhuvarloka3, Naraka4.

1. the world of saints; 2. Celestial

plane, the heaven of god Indra; 3.
Plane of atmosphere, 4. seven hells.

3rd World = Sivaloka = the world of Siva, the Spiritual plane,

the Causal plane.
This process of maturation, occurring over many, many
lifetimes, is the unfoldment of consciousness through
the chakras. First the young soul slowly matures
through the ptla, mahtala, rastala and
thetaltala chakras. Such individuals plague
established society with their erratic, adharmic ways.
Between births, on the astral plane, they are naturally
among the asuras (beings with devilish
qualities),making mischief and taking joy in the
torment of others. When lifted up into jealousy, in
the sutla chakra, there is some focus of
consciousness, and the desires of malice subside.
Finally, the ptlachakra sleeps.
Later, when the sutla forces of jealousy are thwarted,
the young soul arises into anger, experiencing fits of
rage at the slightest provocation. As a result of being
disciplined by society through its laws and customs,
the individual slowly gains control of his force; and a
conscience begins to develop. It is at this stage that a
fear of God and the Gods begins to manifest. Now,
totally lifted up into the atalachakra, seventh of the
fourteen force centers, the individual emerges into the
consciousness of the mldhra, the seat of the
elephant God; and several of the chakras below cease
to function.
Here begins the long process of unfoldment through
the higher chakras, a process outlined in aiva
Siddhanta as the progressive path of chary, kriy,
yoga and jna.
The diagram depicted below is from the book

merging with Siva by Satguru Sivaya

Subramuniyaswami

Cp Jalal-uddin Rm

'I died a mineral and became a

plant,
I died a plant and rose an animal,
I died an animal and I was man.
Why should I fear' When was I
less by dying?
Yet once more I shall die as man,
to soar
With the blessed angels, but even
from angelhood
I must pass on All except God
perishes
When I have sacrificed my angel
soul,
I shall become that which no
mind ever conceived.
O, let me not exist' for Nonexistence proclaims,
"To him we shall return. "'

Feb 20, 2013. There are seven levels (17) below the Muladhara Chakra with
increasingly undesirable qualities. the

seventh is the lowest one.

Source: Loving-Ganesa by Sivaya
Subramuniyaswamy, a Realized Guru.
-1. Fear, lust. (Atala Plane of existence)

-2 raging anger, despair, angry with god.

(Vitala Plane of existence)

-3. Retaliatory jealousy, pride and

arrogance, feeling of inadequacy,
inferiority and helplessness. Atheistic
views. Cure: Karma yoga or Seva, selfless
service. (Sutala Plane of existence)

-4. Confusion and instinctive willfulness,

takers rather than givers. Prime mover is
material wealth. Hatred with build-up of
unwholesome vasanas (unconscious
imprinting of unwholesome impressions in
the mind.) (Talatala Plane of existence)

-5. selfishness, cruelty, paucity of

conscience. well-being of oneself at all
costs. attitude of I, me and mine.
(Rasatala Plane of existence)

-6. paucity of conscience, theft, fraud,

dishonesty. A feeling of entitlement from
others and the world. (Mahatala Plane of
existence)

-7 malice, absence of Conscience,

revenge, enjoyment of torture, murder,
destruction of other's property, mind,
emotion and or body. (Patala Plane of
existence)

Graneville Penn looked at the milestones in the life of

man from an existential point of view.

When Kundali ascends in a Yogi, the bad Vrttis (mental

tendencies) disappear.

Laya yoga takes the Yogi to Savikalpa Samadhi (duality is

present between the Yogi and Brahman), while Raja yoga takes
the Yogi to Nirvikalpa Samadhi (Nondual state, oneness with
Brahman).

Cauda equina has its astral center in Kanda, the confluence of

Nadis and the seat of Kundali goddess.

Dakini goddess in Muladhara Chakra confers Suddha Buddhi,

Tattva Jnana. Suddha Buddhi - Pure Intelligence.

Contemplation on Svadhisthana Chakra dispels Kama (lust),

Krodha (anger), lobha (greed), Moha (delusion), Mada (pride),
Matsarya (envy), Dambha (hypocrisy), and Asuya (displeasure
at the merits or happiness of others), which have their origin
from Ahamkara.

The animals in the Chakras:

Muladhara: Elephant

Svadhisthana: Makara

Manipura: Ram. Ram and fire go together

Anahata: Black Antelope

Visuddha: White elephant

Kundalini Experience
Excerpt from the book, Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa (1836-1886)

Psychology of Man with reference to God

Realization

899. This body which is made of the 'five

elements' is called the gross body. The subtle
body consists of Manas, Buddhi, Chitta and
Ahamkara. The body by which one realizes the

bliss of God-vision and continues to enjoy His

union, is the causal body. In the Tantras it is called
Bhagavati-tanu. Beyond all is the Mahakarana--the First Cause.

900. When the mind is attached to the

consciousness of the external world, it sees gross
objects and abides in the Annamaya-kosa, the
physical sheath of the soul, which depends on
food. When the mind turns itself inward; it is like
shutting the door of a house and entering its inner
apartments; that is to say, it goes from the gross
into the subtle, thence into the causal, till it
reaches the final causal state. In that state the
mind is merged in the Absolute and nothing can
be said of it.

Kundalini and Spiritual Awakening

901. Lord Chaitanya used to have three sorts of 'states': (I) the
conscious state in which the mind dwelt on the gross and the
subtle bodies, (2) the semiconscious state in which the mind
soared to the causal body and felt the 'causal bliss', and (3) the
state of in-turned consciousness (superconscious state) in which
the mind used to merge completely in the Mahakarana-the great
First Cause.

There is a great similarity between this and the 'five sheaths' or

Kosas of the Vedanta--the Annamaya and Pranamaya Kosas
(together forming the gross body), the Manomaya and
Vijnanarnaya Kosas (together forming the subtle body) and
Anandamayakosa (forming the causal body). The First Cause is
beyond all these Kosas. When the mind used to merge in this
First Cause, he (Sri Chaitanya) used to fall into Samadhi; this is
known as the Nirvikalpa or Jada Samadhi.

902. Unless the Kundalini1 is roused, spiritual awakening

never takes place. The Kundalini lies dormant in the
Muladhara. When She is roused, She enters into the Sushumna
and passes through Svadhisthana, Manipura, and other centres,
and finally reaches the cerebral centre, and then comes
Samadhi. I actually saw all these.
Kundalini1, sometimes translated as 'Serpent Power' is the

dormant spiritual potentiality of man, located in the root Chakra

(force-centre) known as Muladhara, This power is the Divine
Sakti in man. Spiritual progress is sometimes described in terms
of the rousing up of this latent energy and elevating it along the
spinal channel called Sushumna, through the five centres,
Svadhishthana, Manipura, Anahata, Visuddha and Ajna, until it
reaches the crown centre known as Sahasrara. As the Kundalini
ascends, man gains higher and higher spiritual experiences.

903. One of the signs of God-realization is that the Great

Energy (Maha-vayu) wakes up with a sudden start and goes to
the 'head.' Then one falls into Samadhi and gets God-vision.

Experience of Kundalini by Sri Ramakrishna

904. Describing his experience of the rise of the Kundalini, the
Master once said: "Something rises with a tingling sensation
from the feet to the head. So long as it does not reach the brain,
I remain conscious, but the moment it does so I am dead to the
outside world. Even the functions of seeing and hearing come
to a standstill, and talking is then out of the question. Who is to
speak? The very distinction between 'I' and 'you' vanishes.
Sometimes I think I would tell you everything about what I see
and feel when that mysterious power rises up to this, or even
this (pointing to the heart and the throat). At that stage it is
possible to speak, which I do. But the moment it has gone
above this (pointing to the throat), somebody stops my mouth,
as it were, and I am off my moorings. I make up my mind to
relate to you what I feel when the Kundalini goes beyond the
throat, but as I think over it, up goes the mind at a bound, and
there is an end of the matter!" Many a time did the Master
attempt to describe this state, but every time he failed. One day
he was determined to tell those present about these experiences
and went on with his description of them up to the stage when
the energy rises to the level of the throat. Then pointing to the
sixth centre, opposite the junction of the eyebrows, he said,
"When the mind reaches this point, one catches a vision of the
Paramatman and falls into Samadhi. Only a thin, transparent
veil intervenes between the Jiva and the Paramatman. He then
sees like this ... " And as he attempted to explain it in detail, he
fell into Samadhi! When his mind came down a little, he tried it
again, and again he was immersed in Samadhi! After several
fruitless attempts like this, he said with tears in his eyes, "Well,
I sincerely wish to tell you everything without concealing a bit,
but Mother won't let me do so on any account. She gags me!"

905. Again referring to the different ways in which

the Kundalini rises to the brain, the Master would often say,
"Well, that which rises to the brain with a tingling sensation
does not always follow the same kind of movement. The
scriptures speak of its having five kinds of motion. First, the
ant-like motion: one feels a slow creeping sensation from the
feet upwards like a row of ants creeping on with food in their
mouths. When it reaches the head, the Sadhaka (spiritual
aspirant) falls into Samadhi. Second, the frog-like motion:just
as frogs make two or three short jumps in quick succession and
then stop for a while to proceed again, in the same way
something is felt advancing from the legs to the brain. When
this reaches the brain, the man gets Samadhi. Third, the
serpentine motion: as snakes lie quiet, straight or coiled up,
but as soon as they find a victim in front, or get frightened, they
run in a zigzag course, in like manner the 'coiled up power'
rushes to the head, and this produces Samadhi. Fourth, the
bird-like motion: just as birds in their flight from one place to
another take to their wings and fly sometimes a little high and
sometimes low without however stopping till they reach their
destination, even so that power progresses and reaches the
brain, and Samadhi ensues. Fifth and last, the monkey like
motion: as monkeys going from one tree to another take a leap
from one branch to another and thus clear the distance in two or
three bounds, so the Yogi feels the Kundalini going to the brain,
and Samadhi ensues."

906. These experiences he would detail at other times from the

Vedantic standpoint, as follows: "The Vedanta speaks of seven
planes, in each of which the Sadhaka has aparticular kind of
vision. The human mind has a natural tendency to confine its
activities to the three lower centres the highest of these being
opposite the navel and therefore is content with the satisfaction
of the common physical appetites, such as eating and so forth.
But when it reaches the fourth centre, that is, the one opposite
the heart, the man sees a divine effulgence. From this state,
however, he often lapses into the three lower centers. When the
mind comes to the fifth centre opposite the throat, the Sadhaka
cannot talk of anything but God. While I was in this state I
would feel violently struck on the head if anybody raised
worldly topics before me. I would hide myself in the seclusion
of the Panchavati where I was safe from these inflictions. I
would flee at the sight of worldly-minded people, and relatives
appeared to me like a yawning chasm, from which there was no
escape if I once fell into it. I would feel suffocated in their
presence---almost to the point of death, and I would feel
relieved only when I left the spot. Even from this position a

man may slip down to the three lower centers. So he has to be

on his guard. But he is above all fear when his mind reaches
the sixth centre opposite the junction of the eye-brows, He gets
the vision of the Paramatman and remains always in
Samadhi. There is only a thin transparent veil between this
place and the Sahasrara or the highest centre. He is then so near
the Paramatman that he imagines he has merged in Him. But
really he has not. From this state the mind can come down to
the fifth, or at the most, to the fourth centre, but not below
that. The ordinary Sadhakas, classed as 'Jivas' cannot come
down from this state. After remaining constantly in Samadhi for
twenty-one days they break that thin veil and become one with
the Lord for ever. This eternal union of the Jiva and the
Paramatman in the Sahasrara is known as getting into , the
seventh plane."
Spurious Ecstasy
907. Referring to a man who used to have a kind of emotional
excitement that looked like Samadhi externally, the Master said: "In
real ecstasy one dives into the deeper realms of one's being and
becomes perfectly still. But what do we find here! Be quiet; calm
yourself. (To the others present.) Do you know the nature of this
ecstasy? It is like boiling one ounce of milk in a big pan. The pan
seems to be full of milk, but remove it from the stove and you would
not find a single drop. Even the little quantity that was there would
have all stuck to the pan."

Perception of Divine Forms and Sounds

908. The realization of God is of two kinds-one consists in the
unification of the Jivatman and the Paramatman and the other in seeing
Him in His personal manifestation. The former is called Jnana, and the
latter Bhakti.
909. Really God can be seen, my boys. As we are sitting and talking
together, in the very same way God can be seen and conversed with.
Truly and sincerely I say so.
910. The manifestation of the Personal God is often a Spiritual Form,
which is seen only by a purified human soul. In other words, these
forms of God are realized by the organs of spiritual vision belonging to
the spiritual body (Bhagavati-tanu) which is derived from the Lord. So
the perfect man alone can see these Divine Forms.

911. On being questioned whether those who see God see Him with
the ordinary fleshy eyes, the Master replied:
"No, He cannot be seen with the physical eye. In the course of
Sadhana a 'Love-body' is created in you, with eyes and ears of
Love, and with them you see and hear Him."
912. The Anahata sound is always going on of itself.
This is the sound of Pranava (Om). It comes from the Supreme
Brahman and is audible to the Yogis. The ordinary worldly men cannot
hear it. The yogis can understand that the sound rises on one side,
from the 'region of the navel', and on the other, from the supreme
Brahman.

Samadhi and Realization of Brahman

913. What is the state of one's mind in Samadhi? It is like the

state of bliss that is experienced by a live fish which, after being
kept out of water for some time, is again put into it.

914. Mysterious is that sacred state which recognizes neither

teacher, nor pupil. Brahma-jnana is so mysterious that when one
attains it there remains no distinction between the Guru and the
disciple.

915. As a lamp brought into a room that has been dark for a
thousand years illumines it immediately, the light of Jnana
illumines the Jiva, and dispels his age-long ignorance.

916. On being questioned as to whether he was conscious of the

gross world in the state of Samadhi, the Master replied, "There
are hills and mountains, dales and valleys under the sea, but
they are not visible from the surface. So in the state of Samadhi
one sees the broad expanse of Sachchidananda only, and the
individual consciousness lies in a latent condition."

917. In true Jnana not the least trace of egotism is left.

Without Samadhi, Jnana never comes. Jnana is like the midday

sun, in which one looks around but finds no shadow of oneself.
So when one attains Jnana or Samadhi, one retains no shadow
of egotism. But even if there be some ego left, know for certain
that it is now composed of Vidya (purely divine elements) and
not ignorance or Avidya.

918. When the question was raised whether the Buddha was an
atheist, the Master said: "He was no atheist; only he could not
speak out his realizations. Do you know what 'Buddha' means?To become one with 'Bodha', the 'Supreme Intelligence-through
deep meditation, to become Pure Intelligence Itself. The state of
self-realization is something between 'Asti' and 'Nasti'-'being'
and 'non-being'.

The 'being' and the 'non-being' are modifications of Prakriti.

The Reality transcends them both."

Get to the other side of both knowledge and

ignorance. Ignorance is the consciousness of the many, i.e.,
the Knowledge of diversity without knowing the Unity, without
knowing the one God. The egotism due to erudition proceeds
from ignorance. The conviction that God is in all objects--that
there is unity in variety--is called knowledge of Oneness.
Knowing Him intimately is realization (Vijnana).

Suppose your foot is pricked with a thorn. Well, you want a

second thorn to take it out. When the first thorn is taken out,
you throwaway both. So, in order to get rid of the thorn of
ignorance, you bring in the thorn of knowledge. Then you
throwaway both ignorance and knowledge with a view to
getting the complete realization of the Absolute. For the
Absolute is beyond knowledge as well as ignorance.

Lakshmana once said to his Divine brother Rama: "O Rama, is

it not strange that a God-knowing man like Vasishtha Deva
should have wept for the loss of his sons, and would not be
comforted?" Thereupon Rama replied:

"Brother, bear in mind that whoever possesses relative

knowledge of Unity (God) must at the same time have relative

ignorance also."

Such a person is not, in the nature of things, free from

ignorance as to God, for knowledge and ignorance in this case
are as correlatives. For a knowledge of Unity in the universe
presupposes a concurrent knowledge of diversity. One who
feels the existence of light has also an awareness of the
existence of darkness.

The Absolute is beyond knowledge and ignorance, beyond sin

and virtue, 'good works and bad works, cleanliness and
uncleanliness--as understood by the limited faculties of man.

An enquirer: Sir, may I ask what remains after you have thrown
away both the thorns as you call them knowledge and ignorance
.

The Master: Well, what remains is the eternally pure and

absolute Consciousness (Nitya-suddha-buddha-rupa). But how
can I make it clear to you? Suppose some one asks you what is
the taste of clarified butter? Is it possible to make the matter
perfectly clear to him? The utmost one may say in reply to such
a question is, "The taste of butter is precisely like the taste of
butter." A girl who was
unmarried, once asked a friend, "Your husband is come. Do tell
me what sort of joy you feel whenever you meet him."
Thereupon the married girl said in reply, "My dear, you will
know everything when you have got a husband of your own.
How can I make it clear to you now?"

Psychology of Samadhi

920. When the nest of a bird is destroyed, it betakes itself to the

sky. Similarly, when the consciousness of the body and the
outer world is effaced from the mind, the Jivatman (individual
Spirit) soars into the sky of the Paramatman (Supreme Spirit)
and merges itself in samadhi.

921. Humanity must die before divinity manifests itself. But

this divinity must in turn die before the higher manifestation of
the Blissful Mother (Brahmamayi) takes place. It is on the

bosom of the dead divinity (Siva) that the Blissful Mother

dances Her celestial dance.

922. When camphor is burnt, no residue is left. When

discrimination ends and the highest Samadhi is attained, there is
neither 'I' nor 'thou' nor the universe; for the mind and the ego
are merged in the Absolute Brahman.

923. When the ego is effaced, the Jiva dies and there follows
the realization of Brahman in Samadhi.

Vijnana after Samadhi

924. When it was contended by a devotee that God is 'beyond

the comprehension of words, thoughts and senses, and that the
mind cannot reach Him, the Master remarked, "That is not quite
so. It is true enough that the conditioned mind cannot realize
God. But He can be realized by the pure mind (Suddha-manas),
which is the same thing as the pure reason (Suddha-buddhi),
which again is the same thing as the pure unconditioned Spirit.
He cannot indeed be realized by the finite reason, or by the
finite, relative and conditioned mind that has a sensuous nature
due to its attachment to 'woman and gold.' The mind may
however be rid of its sensuous nature and may be purified by
culture. When freed from all worldly tendencies, desires and
attachments, it becomes one with the unconditioned Spirit. Was
it not thus that the sages of old saw God? God, the
unconditioned Spirit, they saw by means of the purified mind,
which they found to be the same as the Atman or the
unconditioned Spirit within.

925. God is beyond both mind and intellect as long as they are
bound within relativity; but He manifests Himself to them when
they are purified. It is lust and greed which make the mind
impure. So long as Avidya (ignorance) reigns in the heart, the
mind and the intellect can never be 'pure. Ordinarily, mind and
intellect are known to be different from each other; but in their
purified state, they become one, and are resolved into Chaitanya
(Pure Consciousness). Then God, the Chaitanya, becomes
manifest to the Chaitanya.

926. Jnana is the realization of the Atman by the elimination of

all phenomena. By eliminating the phenomena 'through the

process of discrimination, one attains Samadhi and realizes the

Atman.

And Vijnana means knowing with greater fullness. Some have

only heard of milk, some have but seen it, while others have
tasted it. He who has only heard of it is an ignorant man. He
who has seen it is the Jnani. But only he who has tasted it has
attained Vijnana, that is, has known it in its entirety. To see
God and have intimate relation with Him as with a near
kinsman, is what is called Vijnana.
First you have to follow the process of 'Neti, Neti'-'not this, not
this'. He is not the five elements. He is not the senses, nor the
mind, nor the intelligence, nor the ego--He is beyond all
categories. To get up to the roof you have to leave below all the
steps of the staircase one by one. Of course the steps are not the
roof. But when you reach the roof, you find that the roof is
made of the same brick, lime, mortar and sand as the staircase.
That which is the Supreme Brahman, has become the Jiva and
Jagat--the twenty-four categories of the philosophers. That
which is the Atman has become the five elements. You may ask
why the earth is so hard if it has come out of the Atman.
Through His will everything is possible. Are not flesh and bone
made out of blood and semen? How hard becomes the foam of
the ocean?

After attaining Vijnana a man can live in the world as well. For
then he clearly perceives that He Himself has become the world
of living and non-living substances, that He is not outside the
world. When Ramachandra attained Jnana and refused to
remain in the world, Dasaratha sent Vasishtha to instruct him.
Vasishtha said to Ramachandra:

"Rama, if the world is outside God, you may give it up."

Ramachandra remained silent, for he well knew that nothing
exists without God.

927. In music the notes gradually rise from the lowest to the
highest pitch and again come down in the reverse order;
smilarly, after experiencing non-duality in Samadhi one
descends to a lower plane and lives with the egoconsciousness. After divesting the banana plant of all its
sheaths one after another, one reaches its pith and takes that
alone to be the essential part. But later he considers that the
sheaths also are of the plant itself. Both of them are necessary

to make the stem a complete whole.

928. While examining a Bel fruit (Aegle marmelos; in

Tamil, favorite of Lord Siva ) one analyses it into its constituent
parts, the shell, the seed and the pulp. Now, which of these is
the Bel? First one rejects the shell as nonessential, then the
seeds, and lastly takes the pulp separately and considers that
alone as the real fruit. But then the after-thought comes that the
same fruit which has the pulp, has the shell and the seeds as
well. All these together make the whole fruit. Similarly, after
having directly perceived God in His attributeless aspect, one
realizes that the same Deity Who is eternal by nature has
assumed the form of the world in a playful mood.

929. Once Sri Ramakrishna asked Narendra (Swami

Vivekananda) what his ideal in life was. "To remain absorbed in
Samadhi," replied Narendra. "Can you be so small-minded as
that?" the Master said, "Go beyond Samadhi. Samadhi is a
trifling thing for you!"

To another he said, "Bhava (divine ecstasy) and Bhakti --these

are not final."

930. On another occasion Sri Ramakrishna asked the same

question to Narendra, and received the same reply as before. To
which the Master remarked: "Why! I thought you were made of
better stuff. How can you be satisfied with such a one-sided
ideal? My strength is all-sidedness. I would like to enjoy fish,
for instance, in a variety of ways fried and boiled, made into
soup, pickled, etc. I enjoy the Lord not only in His
unconditioned state of Oneness, as unqualified Brahman, in
Samadhi, but also in His various blessed manifestations through
sweet human relationship. " So do you likewise. Be a Jnani and
a Bhakta in one."
End of excerpt from Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna.

Jung admits that he encounters a paradox in that the west holds

the head as the seat of consciousness, while in the East (India),
Pelvis (Muladhara) is the seat of consciousness, from where
one has to ascend through the Chakras to reach Higher
Consciousness. The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga, page 62. In
consciousness we are in Ajna, and yet we actually live in

Muladhara. That is the Sthula aspect. It is as if we viewed our

psychology and the psychology of mankind from the standpoint
of a fourth dimension, unlimited by space and time. The Chakra
system is created from this standpoint. It is standpoint which
transcends time and the individual. IBID page 64-65.

Jung (July 26, 1875 to June 6, 1961) goes on to put people and
nations in various Chakras: ...in England, everything below
diaphragm is taboo. Germans always go a little below it and
hence easily become emotional. Russians live altogether below
the diaphragm - they consist of emotions. French and Italians
behave as if they were below it but they know perfectly well,
as so everyone else, that they are not. IBID page 63.

Jung continues: Naturally we see the East quite differently. In

comparison with our conscious Anahata culture, we can
truthfully say that the collective culture of India is in the
Muladhara.For proof of this we need only think of the actual
conditions of life in India, its poverty, its dirt, its lack of
hygiene, its ignorance of scientific and technical achievements.
Looked at from the Sthula (external appearance, Gross, not
fine, not Subtle) aspect the collective culture of India really is
in Muladhara, where as ours has reached Anahata. But the
Indian concept of life understands humanity under the Suksma
(subtle) aspect, looked at from that point of view everything
becomes completely reversed. Our personal consciousness can
indeed be located in Anahata or even in Ajna, but nonetheless
our chic situation as a whole is undoubtedly in
Muladhara. IBID, Page 65.

Author's comment: The last phrase speaks for itself. Jung is

clever in that he puts the Sthula of western culture on the top
only to bring it down, because their Suksma (subtle, fine)
culture is no better than anybody else's, including Indians. The
Outer Being of the west is appealing, rich, beautiful and
decorous but the Inner Being of humanity with very few
exceptions (Yogis) seems to be universally the same - we are
all in Muladhara Chakra; our habitat is pelvis; it takes an effort
to move and rise to other habitats (Chakras). On one hand he
puts the west on a higher physical (Sthula) plane; that is the
reflexive thinking, but soon reflective thinking takes over. He
manipulates our psyche very adroitly: he slaps on the face one
moment and pats the back the next moment. It appears that he
grudgingly appreciates the psychophysical concepts in
Kundalini Yoga conceived thousands of years ago in India

(actually it is revealed wisdom), but it did not shut his eyes to

the dirt and grime of Indian life (the Sthula, External aspect).
Car and currency do not necessarily run parallel with the
Susumna Nadi of higher Consciousness above the pelvis. His
justification for praising the Sthula of western culture, is that (in
his words) without personal life, without the here and now , we
cannot attain to the suprapersonal. Personal life (profession,
bank accounts, family, social connections) must first be fulfilled
in order that the process of the suprapersonal side of the psyche
can be introduced, (IBID, page 66). My comment: An
avadhuta = Avadhuta is the one who has shaken off the world
and practices Kundlini, though he is mired in dirt, grime and
rags; there are multitudes of them, that we do not hear of, in
India. Then Jung riles himself by saying: our Anahata Center is
Anahata in Muladhara,...it is only our personal consciousness
that has attained Ajna, but we, from the aspect of the cosmic
Chakra system, are still in Muladhara... a personal culture,
where gods have not yet awakened from sleep.

This is what Jung says: We in the west are in Anahata Chakra,

3 steps below from merging with God's consciousness, but
judging from the Kundalini perspective we in the west live in
thepelvis (Muladhara plane).

What Jung says is an impossible situation: living in

the pelvis and at the same time, claiming to be a step or two
away from merging with God.

Jung: our Anahata Center is Anahata in Muladhara. our

personal consciousness has attained Ajna Reading Jung:
My heart is in the pelvis. Our personal (read: aspiring and
overreaching) consciousness is in Ajna Chakra (Mind Center),
but the real locale of our consciousness is in the pelvis. Jung
aspiring to reach the Mind Center (Ajna) moves the western
heart (Anahata) to the pelvis, a transplantation of a curious
kind. My feeling is that Jung confuses human intelligence with
spiritual intelligence, and material attainment with spiritual
attainment, when he says that our personal consciousness
((higher standard of living) has attained Ajna (Mind Center).

Anahata = Heart Center. Ajna = Mind Center.

When his reflective thinking takes over, Jung pronounces, We

have a culture, it is true, but our culture is not suprapersonal; it
is a culture of Muladhara. IBID, page 67.

He is very right in his observation: Hindu thinking begins with

Brahman (top down, my words) and ours (west) with
ego (bottom up, my words).

Author: He is very perceptive in this statement: Everything

radiates from I and Mine (ego).

Author: The Hindu is told that ego, one of the Tattvas, is

handed down to him from God; when he comes face to face
with God, there can be only One Ego, that is His. The True
Hindu leaves his infinitesimal ego at the doorstep of the temple
or place of worship. Breaking of the coconut in the temple is
symbolic of breaking one's ego (Ahamkaram) in the presence of
God. Man's ego is like a lighted candle at High Noon; it serves
no purpose except to tell it exists. The man's infinitesimal ego is
the cause of all miseries in this world. A true Hindu
regardsAhamkaram (I-doer or ego) is an inimical force and
one best to be without. Self-effacement esp. in the presence of
God (under all conditions and places) is a welcome trait.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------More on Dvadasanta. There are dhra centers in the

body; Nirdhra centers are above Sahasrara Chakra. Adhara
= support. Niradhara = without support; centers above the
sixth Chakra. There are six Adhara Centers in the body:
Muladhara, Svadisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Visuddhi, and
Ajna each one presided by a deity, Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra,
Mahesvara, Sadasiva, and Apara Bindu. Adhara yogam is
accomplished by Kundalini yogi who ascends all the six centers
to reach the seventh Sahasrara center in the crown presided by
Paranada where he unites with Siva. Kundlini yoga is Adhara
yogam. Beyond the Sahasrara Chakra is the Niradhara center
without any apparent support; reaching it is Niradhara yogam.
Jnana and Prana ascend beyond the seven centers and course
through eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh sthanas (posts), presided

respectively by Parabindu, Paranada, Parasakti and

Parasiva. Beyond these eleven centers is the 12th and furthest
ultimate point of yogic journey (the ultima Thule), Dvadasanta.
This journey from Sahasrara chakra to the 12th point in space
is Niradhara Yogam which is the state of the soul, when it loses
its self-consciousness, attains Sivahood and remains without
any attachment. Reaching Dvadasanta Siva (Paraipara) in Jnana
form is Bliss. (Please note that there are several variants of the
theme in different texts.) Many other texts say that this center is
12 inches above the crown as opposed to the above description.
Realization from the 8th to 12th is progressively deeper and the
12th is ultimate experience.

Dvdasntham / Tvdasntham (Tamil)

1. (Yoga.) A mystic centre which is believed to be 12 inches

above crown;

2. (Yoga.) The 12th and last stage of experience of the soul in

yoga practice;

Notes:

It is said that only in Yogis Susumna Nadi is open and

functional; in ordinary people the Pingala and Ida Nadis are
open and functional and distribute the energy throughout the
body.

When Susumna Nadi opens and the current flows upwards, the
yogi transcends the senses and the intellect and become
supersensuous and superconscious.

The highest of all energies in the body is Ojas, abundance of

which is the sine quo non of high intellect and spiritual
strength. Ojas makes the Yogi with poor or passable diction
stand out against the erudite scholar with facile speech and
language. Man is measured by the levels of Ojas he possesses.
Ojas = vigor, vitality, energy, power distributed throughout

the body.

When Kundalini power reaches the brain at the Sahasrara

Chakra, body and mind of the Yogi are detached, setting the
soul free to communion with God.

Samadhi is the result of union of Siva and Sakti at Sahasrara;

the Yogi in Samadhi remains in Turiya state of consciousness
and duality does not exist. He sees oneness in all objects and
dualities; his behavior is infant-like, not knowing the difference
between man and woman, heat and cold, rope and snake. When
he resurfaces into normal consciousness, dualities become
apparent and the world comes into focus. Samadhi is oneness
of Manas and Atma as salt in water. It is Amrtananda = Eternal
Bliss. It is Parasamvit or Pure Supreme Consciousness. It is
Savikalpa Samadhi, when duality exists between Subject and
object. In Nirvikalpa Samadhi, there is merger, oneness with
One. Three states have been described in Savikalpa Samadhi:
1) RtambhrA, 2) PrajnAlokA, and 3) PrasAnta VAhitA.

Rtambhara (Patanjali Yoga Sutra 1.48) Rtam + Bhara =

Truth + Bearing. The Truth here is innate, intrinsic, intuitive
and within itself, though it is camouflaged by Mental Vrtti.
Truth has no need for augmentation; it is Whole by itself. The
only device it needs is is lifting or abolition of Chitta Vrtti
(Mental Vrtti = Mental function, thoughts, waves). Once the
mind-lake is still without waves and thoughts, the mind comes
into its own true Self (Svarupa) under the influence of Spiritual
Experience. This Pure Self-Mind is depleted of all previous
imprints and the slate is clean. This Mind devoid of Samskaras
and Kleshas (imprints and afflictions) is ready to become one
with Self. Kleshas: Afflictions like Avidya (ignorance), AsmitA (egotism), RAga (desire), Dvesha (Aversion), Abhinivesa
(Tenacity of mundane existence) Still there is a dichotomy
between subject and object.

Prajnaloka (Patanjali Yoga Sutra 3.5) Prajna + Aloka =

Wisdom + Spiritual World = Light emanating from the Great
Void. SAksAtkAra BrahmajnAna (Realization, Evidence of
intuitive perception) takes place.

Prasanta-Vahita (Patanjali Yoga Sutra 3.10) PrasAnta +

VAhitA = Traquillity + Endeavour. All Mental Vrttis are

erased and the self of the Yogi exists as Brahman.

Credit: exoticindia.com. The seven Chakras.

Matter consists of four (individual and) cumulative

stages 1: Matter (Anna) 2: Life (Prna) 3: Mind
(Manas) and 4: Intelligence (Jnna). Bliss (nanda)
is the spirit. These are Kosas sheaths: The four
sheaths, layer upon layer veil the self. Self stands
alone when the kosas fall; Self is King and likes his
nakedness without all these sticky layers or Kosas.
Self is self-supporting and self is Bliss. Self is the
light of Purusa's consciousness by which we
become aware of the insentient Prakrti (nature)
and its gunas (modes). The AnandaMaya kosa or
theBliss-Body or Pure Consciousness or the
Absolute is Self itself, and is a chronicler and a
repository of karma of this and past lives. This is
the sheath of Consciousness and Bliss (Cinmaya)
and made of Nada and Bindu. Self is the
companion of jivatma the individual self and the
Greater Self in the spiritual heart are like the two
birds on a tree. The Self by itself is bliss, but man
needs realization to find the light that is bliss. Man
has four cumulative features but does not reach
his inherent potential that is bliss, illumined
Consciousness, if he does not strive for it. As you
see, matter becomes finer from one stage to the
next. Here is an illustration of evolution from the
gross to subtle via Food sheath, Vital breath
sheath, Mind sheath, Knowledge sheath and
eventually to the Bliss sheath. When man strives
for and gains perfection, he receives Ananda
(Bliss); God according to the Vedas is Sat-ChitAnanda Satchidananda Being, Consciousness,
and Bliss. Bliss comes to man in Deep Sleep, when
there are no mental Vrittis, modifications or
thoughts. It is as if the individual self plugs into
the Power Grid of the Universal Self (the origin of
the individual self) every night in deep sleep.
Without this infusion of nightly bliss, we are
zombies. This temporary life-sustaining nightly
Bliss should not be mistaken for the Eternal Bliss
that comes with liberation. The first four outer
sheaths are matter; Matter and Mind have to come
to a standstill for the individual self wrapped in
Anandamaya Kosa to enjoy the Bliss of the
Universal Self.

Kosas or sheaths and their origin.

Entit
y

AnnamayaKos
a

Pranamaya
Kosa

ManomayaK
osa

Vijnanamaya
Kosa

Anandamaya
Kosa

Shea

Food Sheath(a

Vital

MindSheath

KnowledgeS

Bliss Sheath

ths

nnam = food

Orig
in

Earth, Water
and Fire.
Lower three
Chakras

Saiv
a
Vie
w

Brahma shines
in Food
Sheath.

AirSheath
& Ether
Prana =
breath

Manas =mind

heath

Anahata
and
Visuddha
Chakras

Ajna Chakra

Nada and
Bindu
Chakras

Sahasrara
Chakra

Vishnu
shines in
Breath
Sheath.

Rudra shines
in the Mind
Sheath.

Mahesa
shines in the
sheath of
Consciousne
ss.

Sadasiva
shines in the
sheath of
Bliss.

Saiva view is expressed by a real-life sage-poet by name Umapati Sivacharya (around

1300 C.E.) in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu.

Sakti as Prakrti first evolves mind (Buddhi, Ahamkara, Manas)

and senses (Indrya), and then sensible matter (Bhuta) of fivefold form ("
ether" "air" "fire" "water" "earth ")1 derived from the supersensible
generals of the sense--particulars called Tanmatra, When Sakti has entered the
last and grossest Tattva (" earth ")--that is, solid matter--there is nothing further
for Her to do. Her creative activity then ceases, and She rests. She rests in Her
last emanation, the "earth" principle. She is again coiled and sleeps. She is now
Kundali-Sakti, whose abode in the human body is the Earth centre or
Muladhara-Cakra. As in the supreme state She lay coiled as the
Mahakundali round the Supreme Siva, so here She coils round the

Svayambhu-Linga in the Muladhara. This last centre or Cakra and the four
above it are centres of the five forms of Matter. The sixth centre is that of Mind.
Consciousness and its processes through Sakti prior to the appearance of Maya
are realized in the seventh lotus (Sahasrarapadma) and centres intermediate
between it and the sixth or Ajna Mind centre. Woodroffe.

Feb 22, 2013. Low self-esteem, loneliness, fear, unfounded

guilt and remorse all are symptoms of the abyss of
consciousness so feared by devas and humans alike, and
described in scripture and protected against by spiritual
preceptors. It is plain to see that the doors of the chakras below
the mldhra must be rmly closed, sealed off, before serious
yoga practice is sought for or performed.-SivayaSubramuniyaSwamy, Himalayan Academy.

Muladhara Chakra: This Chakra is the transitional and

common point where the animal reached the top of its existence
and human existence begins. Animal seeks its food
by smell and therefore it follows its nose to the food. The next
urge for the animal is sex also served by smell, pheromones,
sight, touch... One associates certain smells with certain objects.
In the same way, flowers, sandalwood, burning incense sticks
increase one's sensitivity to the divine presence. (Some people
say that all cultures introduced and used incense in the place of
worship for the simple reason that it overwhelms the smell of
people.) Once the animal eats and digests, it eliminates the
waste. All this says that smell is Muladhara's important
attribute; nose is the sensory organ; anus is the motor organ. It
has four petals with four letters: letters: va = va = ; a = am
= ; a = s am = ; sa = sam = ( ) in golden
color. Petals also represent the four forms of bliss: Yogananda

(Yoga Bliss), Paramananda (Supreme Bliss), Samaj or Sahaja

Ananda (Natural Bliss), and Virananda (Vira Bliss). Vira =
hero. Go to The Saktas. Others attribute four qualities to the
four petals: joy, pleasure, ability to controlling passions, and
bliss.

It is said that the swastikas right-angled arms reflect the fact

that the path toward our objectives is often not straight, but
takes unexpected turns. They denote also the indirect way in
which Divinity is reachedthrough intuition and not by
intellect. Symbolically, the swastikas cross is said to represent
God and creation. The four bent arms stand for the four human
aims, calledpurushrtha: righteousness, dharma; wealth, artha;
love, kma; and liberation, moksha. Thus it is a potent emblem
of Santana Dharma, the eternal truth. It also represents the
world wheel, eternally turning around a xed center, God. The
swastika is associated with the mldhra chakra, the
center of consciousness at the base of the spine, and in some
yoga schools with the manipra chakra at the navel, the center
of the microcosmic sun (srya). --Satguru
Sivayasubramuniyaswami, Book: Loving Ganesa, page 128.

Kauai's Hindu Monastery and Himalayan

Academywww.himalayanacademy.com

The letters, the Mantras of Kundalini, stay latent on the petals

and become active and manifest when vibrations of four Nadis
take place during meditation. The active petals turn towards
Kundalini. The Yogi who has penetrated Muladhara Chakra has

succeeded conquering the 36th Tattva, the Earth. TATTVAS-36.

The practitioners say that awakening of Kundalini Sakti at
Muladhara precipitates perianal itching and heightened sense of
smell and intolerance to foul odors. The resident breath is
Apana and the seat of Annamaya Kosa and Tamas (darkness,
sloth, slumber) is situated here, serving the purpose of eating,
assimilation and evacuation. The three Nadis start from here:
Ida of the cool Moon, Pingala of hot Sun, and the Susumna, the
subtle spiritual Nadi. When the cool Ida and the hot Pingala are
balanced, Kundali is awakened and rises up to Manipura
Chakra; this is transient. For a sustained rise of Kundalini,
Hatha Yoga (esp. pranayama, breath control) should be
practiced. Hatha = ha + tha = Pingala + Ida. When the Ida
and pingala are balanced, the sustainable energy produced
makes Kundalini rise in Susumna Nadi. Ida = left. Pingala
= right. moon-cool Ida Nadi and sun-hot Pingala Nadi.

The following write-up is consistent with the recommendations

of Yogis and Tantrics. Luxurious easy living is centered around
the ideals of Muladhara Chakra; it is nothing more than an
epicurean lifestyle: sexual desires, wealth, luxuries. The Gurus
recommend that we, for good, get out of the Pelvic Floor.
Living in the Pelvic Floor hurts physical and mental health.
There is a corresponding brain center of Tamasic nature that
controls the Muladhara Chakra, placed appropriately between
the root of the phallus and the anus or the appropriate
corresponding parts in the females. We suffer much from sexual
and material pursuits; that is not Life, Liberty and Pursuit of
Happiness, whose true venue is above the perineum. Tantrics
are of the opinion that sexual energy should be used
appropriately, and when possible, transmuted and sublimated
from sexual bliss (procreation, recreation, and sexual practices
under Tantric injunctions) to Spiritual Bliss. Attaining Spiritual
Bliss through sex involves procedures like Vajroli
Mudra. Kularnava Tantra. Yoga and Bhoga (Yoga and
enjoyment of life) are not antithetical to each other; they can
coexist as long as one keeps the goal in sight. When the
Kundalini Chakra is awake and ascendant spiritual Bliss takes
the place of sexual bliss, there is no comparison. The Sadhaka
gets out of body experiences. Clairvoyance, clairaudience, heat
in the perineum, a sensation of lightning up the spine are some
of the manifestations of awakened Sakti.

The seven trunks of the white elephant (name: Iravatham) in the

golden yellow square (the earth element) represent the seven
minerals, seven negative and seven positive qualities in man,

seven forces in man, seven forces in nature, seven principal

substances in man (chyle, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow,
semen). Seven negative qualities:
pride, covetousness, lust , anger ,gluttony, envy,
and sloth. The six enemies or sins of the human race
are lust (Kama), anger (Krodha), greed (Lobha), delusion (Mo
ha), pride (Mada), envy (Matsarya), which are the six divisions
of the army, that is Samsara (life on earth). Lord Krishna lists
the following as demonic qualities in the Bhagavad
Gita: 16.4: Fraud, arrogance, self-conceit, anger, rudeness, and
ignorance are the qualities of those born of demonic nature.
Krishna lists the following positive qualities. 16.2-3: Ahimsa,
truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, tranquillity,
abstaining from slander, compassion to all creatures, absence of
greed, gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness (absence of
agitation), vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, absence of
malice, and absence of pride: These are the qualities of the one
born of divine nature. The qualities associated with Muladhara
Chakra are passion, sexuality, illusion, anger, greed, hatred,
delusion, avarice, and sensuality. The qualities, manifest as an
expression of karma from previous births, may force
themselves on a person as one's persona. It is difficult to
confront and cope with an overt Muladhara-dominant
personality.

Sakti, represented by the inverted red triangle, is the source of

all Tattvas and manifold appearance of beings and universe.
Inverted triangle is always a representation of female gender.
This Triangle is the Sthula (gross) aspect of Suksma (subtle)
Kamaraja Triangle in Sahasrara Chakra. Note the
superimposition of Lingam over the triangle. Inside the triangle
is Dhumra Linga (Dhum = smoky) with Kundalini in three
and half coils and a crescent moon at the top of the lingam. It is
said that Lingam is the icon of maleness. It is of the color of
molten gold with the down-pointing head. He is revealed by
Jnana and Dhyana (knowledge and meditation). He is
Svyambhu Lingam because by knowledge we know He is
without attributes (transcendence); by Dhyana we know He is
Isvara with attributes. The lingam is of the appearance of a leaf
bud broad at the base, tapering at the tip and blue green
(Syama) in color. Meditate upon the beautiful blue-green Siva.
The crescent on top of the Lingam represents Sakti. The three
coils represent three Gunas: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. BG02.
The half a coil represents transcendence of the Gunas by
Kundalini, who sleeps when our spirit sleeps and we are awake
to the material world. When our spirit is awake, Kundalini is
awake and our flesh goes to sleep. There are two deities,

Brahma and Dakini, on the right upper hand corner of the

yellow square. Child Brahma represents creation, and brings
solace and freedom from fear. Dakini plays the role of creator,
sustainer, and destroyer. Ganesa is the Devata of this Chakra.

Meditate on the beautiful Trikona (triangle) with Kundali in her

self-effulgence equal to ten million lightning flashes in the dark
blue nimbus clouds. The cool light of the radiant moon, the
lightning, and the Lingam bring gladness to the hearts of men.
Svyambhu is as happy to abide in Muladhara as He is happy
abiding in Kasi (Banaras) as Visvesvara. Svyambhu is placed
on Kama Bija, Lam, which is the seed mantra and the seed
sound of Muladhara Chakra. See the diagram. The Universe
and beings proceed from the seed. Inside the round pericarp
(the seed-vessel of the lotus flower) of the lotus flower of
Muladhara Chakra is a square, DharA-Bija Mandala. DharA
= womb; Bija = seed; DharA-Bija = seed in the womb.
There are eight spears going outwards from the square. The two
circles inside the square are red-colored Child Creator
Brahma with five faces and red-colored Sakti DAkini, who sits
on a lotus flower, and bears weapons. Brahma holds a staff, a
gourd, and a Rudraksha rosary, and makes an Abhaya Mudra
pose with his hand (no-fear gesture). Inside the square, there is
an inverted triangle containing KAma VAyu and KAma Bija
and above them is the Lingam which shows the three and half
coils of the Kundlini serpent. See the elephant in the bottom of
the square. Explanation is already given. The arrows depict
different directions and the pull of the mind by different senses.
The central tube is Susumna Nadi that connects all the Chakras,
through which Kundali rises.

Towards the top of the inverted triangle, there is Bija

mantra, Lam l. Bija = seed.

(Iravatham (Airavata) the elephant, came out of the Milk Ocean

as a by-product of churning of the ocean for the main purpose
of getting ambrosia and became the possession of Indra, the
chief of gods, thunder, rain and lightning. It is one of the eight
male and eight female elephants, which came out of the Golden
Egg and act as the guardians of directions. Krishna, speaking of
his divinity, says to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita, 10.27, "Know
Me: Among horses to be Ucchaisravas born along with the

nectar. Of the elephants, I am Airavata. Of men, I am king." )

Most of the children (1-7 yrs of age) operate on Muladhara

plane. They are worried about their immediate needs like
eating, playing, sleeping, excretion, evacuation, possessing.

There are exceptions: child prodigies in music, painting, arts,

sciences, religion. These exceptional children operate at Ajna
level. Thiru-Gnana-Sambandar (643 C.E.- 659 C.E.) was a
child-saint-poet-prophet and sang devotional songs at a tender
age of three in praise of Siva and Parvati.

Thodudaiya seviyan vidai-yerioor thoo-ven-mathi-soodi-k

Kaadudaiya-sudalai-p-podi-poosi en ullam Kavar kalvan

Edudaiya-malaraan munai-nal panintheththa arul-seitha

peedudaiya Brahmapuram meviya pemmaan ivan anre.

He, with an ear that has a rolled palm leaf (as an ear ornament),
the Rider of bull (Nandi), the Wearer of pure white moon (in his
locks),

The Wearer of hot ashes of cremation grounds, the Stealer of

my heart, mind and soul (Ullam),

The One who bestowed grace on adoring Brahma seated on

many-petalled lotus on a day in the past,

He, the Great God, abides in Brahmapuram of great fame.

The following paragraph contains material from

Woodroffe, The Serpent Power.

More on Kunadalini: She is slender like the lotus stalk; She is

the creator of this world by Her Mayic Sakti. She is
Jaganmohini, the world-bewilderer. She covers the opening of
Brahma Dvara by her mouth (the gated portal of entry into
Susumna NAdi) and drinks the nectar that flows out. She (Her
snake-like form) winds herself three and half times around
Siva-Lingam. She is effulgent like a silvery lightning. She hums
like bees; She is the source of all sounds and words in the
universe in all languages. She makes poetry in Sanskrit,
Prakrita and other languages. She writes pictorial poetical
compositions that appear like a lotus flower or horse. (PadmaBhanda or Asva-Bhanda). Men and beings breath on account of
Her. She appears like a row of lights in Muladhara Center. The
Supreme Bindu pops and out pours the unmanifested sound
(Avyakta-rava), which assumed the form of Kundali in men and
women and manifests itself as alphabet, prose and poetry. This
sound undergoes change as Pasyanti in Svadhistana Chakra,
unites with Buddhi-Tattva in Anahata Chakra (Anahata sound),
becomes Vaikhari speech in throat (Visuddha Chakra), goes to
the rest of the speech apparatus in the mouth and nose and
produces the intonation of all Sanskrit letters. She is the
worship-worthy Damsel of sixteen by name Devi Kundalini in
full bloom of her youth with beautiful well-formed breasts. She
is adorned with jewels, effulgent like a moon, red in
complexion, and mesmerizing with her roving eyes: all
indicative of a woman of passion. She is the Ishta-devata (deity
of one's liking). She is lightning and Syama, warm in winter,
cool in summer and lustrous always like molten gold. Before
entering Brahma Dvara of Susumna Nadi, She is Brahman,
radiating like millions of moons, all rising at the same time; She
sports four arms and three eyes, holds a book, and a Vina
(stringed musical instrument), sits on a lion, dispels fear in Her
devotees and confers boons by Abhaya and Vara Mudras. She
is Para (Supreme), BrahmAnI (creatrix), Sri Paramesvari
(Supreme ruler and controller), and KalA (Nada Sakti). She is
the Ambrosial lake which draws from Nityananda - Eternal
Bliss. Her radiance illumines the whole universe and the

Cauldron of Brahmanda. Meditate on Cit-KalA united with

Lakshmi whose form is like the tapering flame of light.
Kundalini is within the flame, above and below as Brahma,
Vishnu, Siva, Sun, Moon, Prana (life-breath), and the Fire of
Dissolution (KAlAgni = Time-Fire). The following is the
lineage of Nityananda Parampara. From Nityananda (Nirguna
Brahman), comes Saguna Brahman; from Saguna Braman
Sakti; from Sakti, NAda; from NAda, Bindu; from Bindu,
Kundalini. Ambrosia is produced by the union of Kundalini
with Brahman (Nityananda, the attributeless Brahman).
Nityananda is the Supreme repository of Ambrosia from whom
it goes to Para-Bindu and further on to Ajna, Visuddha,
Anahata, Manipura, and Svadhisthana and eventually reaches
Muladhara Chakra.

What is the utility of all that is said so far in the last paragraph?
He who meditates on Her becomes the Supreme wordsmith, the
leader (king) among men and Master of arts and learning. His
body is free from diseases; his spirit becomes one big
Happiness (Maha Ananda). Pure of body, spirit, and disposition,
and blessed with musical words, he worships and serves
Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, the foremost among gods.

The Bija Mantra is pronounced as Lang and the petals sounds

are Vang, Shang, Kshang and Sang.

Svadhisthana = Sva + adhisthana = one's own + abode.

Svadisthana is in the area of reproductive and urinary excretory

organs of the body served by the sacral plexus. It is a six-petal

locus of vermillion or orange-red lotus. Starting at 1 O' clock

position, and going clockwise it has the following six Bija
letters: -- Bam, Bham, Mam, -- Yam,
-- Ram, and Lam. The first three letters are labial
and the other three are semivowels. The petals indicate the
number of Nadis (six) arising from here. The resident element
is water represented by the white crescent moon, which appears
at the bottom of the two osculating circles of different diameter.
see picture. This Chakra is contained in the Susumna Nadi at
the root of the genitalia.

The larger outer circle petals open outwards and the inner circle
petals open inwards; the larger one represents the conscious
element of living and the smaller one the storehouse of
theunconscious karmic element. The crescent-space between
the circles houses a crocodile, which represents the silent
subsurface movement of karma in the flow of life. The crescent
is compared to Kunda flower. The back of the crocodile carries
the Bija Mantra Vam. The Bindu Mantra houses two deities:
Vishnu and Rakini. Vishnu of blue color sports four arms and
yellow robe (Pitambaram). Rakini is of the color of blue lotus,
decorated with ornaments and raiment. Her hands hold
weapons; her mind and mood are high from drinking nectar.
She is the deity of vegetable kingdom. The world of
Svadhisthana Chakra is Bhuvarloka, just above Bhu (the world)
and the second level of spiritual awareness. It also has control
over taste. Vegetarians realize this Chakra.

The Yogi who meditates on this Chakra has control over and no
fear of water. Taste and tongue are the Tanmatra and the sense
organs connected with Svadhisthana. The organs of action
(Karmendriyas) are the kidneys, ureters and bladder and sexual
organ. Among the Prana, Vyana is the prana of this Chakra.
Pranamaya Kosa of the subtle body resides in the Svadhisthana
and Manipura Chakras. Some regard that Pranamaya Kosa
resides in Anahata and Visuddha Chakras. See the chart below.

The meditator on this Chakra conquers the six enemies or sins

of the human
race, lust (Kama), anger (Krodha), greed (Lobha), delusion (
Moha), pride (Mada), envy (Matsarya), which are the six

division of the army, that is Samsara (life). He becomes very

felicitous with words, prose, poetry and discourse and removes
the darkness of Avidya by his luster.

Svadhisthana represents the unconscious mind in the brain. All

of Id, much of the ego and the superego are unconscious. Part
of the ego and the superego sitting on top of it are at conscious
level. These three components can be compared to an iceberg
floating at an angle, where the Id is completely submerged, but
only part of the ego and the superego are seen above the water
level or consciousness. There are three states of consciousness
or awareness: the Conscious, the Preconscious, and the
unconscious one below the other. The conscious state is general
awareness and thoughts. The Preconscious state is just under
the surface and is the warehouse of information that we can
recall at a moment's notice: names of a person and the rest.
Below that, the unconscious state is a repository of lost,
suppressed, repressed, preverbal, infantile thoughts, ideas and
experiences, and (dont get jolted) memories from the previous
lives. Just like the iceberg, the whole of Id, a good deal of ego
and superego are unconscious or under the water level or below
conscious level. Samskaras, Vasanas, and Karma reside in the
Svadhisthana Chakra and influence the corresponding brain.
That is why some of our actions and reactions to situations are
automatic, robotic, and unexplainable, unless we make a
conscious effort to react to it in a conscious manner. This is the
root of the unconscious being, instinctive behavior and SVKdriven actions. Samskaras, Vasanas, and Karma form the
innate character of a person for better or worse and are the
reminders of the past lives.

Vaasanaas: Vasana is fragrance that clings to the clothes. In like

manner, the subtle body carries the fragrance of past actions,
impressions, and karma in previous life. The example given is
the unbaked clay pot carrying the smell of whatever it
contained. Another example is the baked pot carrying the smell
of smoke. Vasanas are subtle; Samskaras are scars left behind
by the above experiences. (VASANA, knowledge derived from
memory; an impression remaining unconsciously in the mind
from past good or evil actions, and hence producing pleasure or
pain.)

Samskaras: Every experience leaves an impress (footprint) on

the mind in the present (and past life) and modulates future
behavior. These impressions from former and present life

establish a behavior pattern colored by the imprints. Samskr

= transform + kr = to make = Samskara = predisposition,
inclination. Since predisposition translates in to an established
behavior, it is like a scar on the psyche and behavior carried
from one life to another. Samskara (Sanskrit) = Tendencies
(both physical and mental), former impressions, former
dispositions.) You can't claim immunity for your SVK-driven
actions in the court of law! You can't tell the judge, "Your
Honor, It is my Samskara from past life that made me do it. I
am not responsible". That defense doesn't work in India and it
doesn't work in the west.

None of us with a few exceptions can recall our past lives. This
memory loss for the past life experiences is a gift from God for
its persistence is a handicap for the new you. Just like we
inherit the genetic load from our parents, we inherit
tendencies / Vasanas, behavior patterns / gunas, knowledge,
skills etc from our past lives. If your parents have the trait for
Cystic Fibrosis and if you happen to inherit the recessive genes,
you suffer from Cystic Fibrosis. Our Karma chooses our parents
(the genes), the environment and heredity. The very fact that
we do not remember our experiences from our infancy does not
negate the existence of such experiences. It is reported that
Buddha remembered and recalled the experiences from his
previous lives. Ask a five year old what he remembers when he
was a month old; he gives you blank stare and a quizzical look.
It is the same with our experiences of the past life; they
happened and are not remembered.

Svadisthana Chakra harbors the latent seeds

of Samskaras, Vasanas, and Karma (SVK). The seeds
germinate under appropriate conditions. (It is like the milk
(lactose) intolerance. One is fine until one drinks milk. The
milk gives a bloated abdomen and diarrhea from undigested
lactose which is fermented by bacteria in the bowel.) This
Chakra and its associated brain are the repository of
impressions gathered in everyday life situations, which register
different imprints: high-impact, low-impact or indifferent.
Getting into a car accident is a high-impact imprint. Your hair
getting mussed up in a sudden gust of wind is a low-impact
imprint. A person passing by you causes an indifferent imprint.
All this is tucked away in the unconscious and our behavior
shows that imprint in various ways without our conscious
awareness; that action, reaction, or behavior is the proof of
germination of dormant seeds of Karma. All these dormant
Karmas waiting for germination prevent the ascent of Kundalini

past Svadhisthana. Awakening of Svadhisthana chakra brings

on the latent dormant impressions from the unconscious to the
surface, causing difficulties in his behavior towards the world
around him and his reactions to external events. It is somewhat
similar to midlife crisis; it was a spiritual crisis for Buddha
when he faced the temptress Mara and Jesus Christ when he
faced the tempter Satan. It is a test of your mettle; it is a hurdle
to onward spiritual progress. If one goes through this
purification, the journey is that much easier. After the aspirant
overcomes all the temptations of flesh, greed, anger, hate, and
jealousy in his mind, he still cannot subjugate the acute sense of
taste. As you may have noticed from the media that so many of
our fellow citizens (Gov. Eliot Spitzer) succumb to the
temptations and adversity of Svadhisthana Chakra, they take a
hard fall from which they may not recover fully-- March 2008.
2013: He lost his election bid. Once you have control over and
transcend the base elements, you will go to Manipura Chakra.
One is a Pasu (animal-man) in Muladhara and Svadhisthana
Chakras. Now he is on his way to becoming a Vira (Hero or
man-man) in Anahata, and Divya (god-man) in Ajna and
beyond. He needs a Guru to guide him through this vulnerable
period.

Cp Jalal-uddin Rm

'I died a mineral and

became a plant,
I died a plant and rose an
animal,
I died an animal and I was
man
Why should I fear' When
was I less by dying?
Yet once more I shall die
as man, to soar

With the blessed angels,

but even from angelhood
I must pass on All except
God perishes
When I have sacrificed my
angel soul,
I shall become that which
no mind ever conceived.
O, let me not exist' for
Non-existence proclaims,
"To him we shall return "'
From The Principal
Upanisads by Dr.
Radhakrishnan
page 57.

Chakras-sites-plexuses = kundal67.jpg below

Bhakti (devotion), Prapatti and Saranagati (surrender to God),

absorption, and union are all transmuted sexual energy, which is
not really dead in a Sadhaka but stays as a dormant seed, ready
to sprout under right (here read it as wrong) conditions. Swami
Satyananda Saraswati says that sexual energy manifests as
Avidya (ignorance) at its lowest level, sex at physical level,
love in emotional level and spiritual experience at the highest

level. Page 154, Kundalini Tantra.

Manipura Chakra means Jewel City or City of Jewels (Mani

= jewel; Pura = city). It represents motion, passion, will
power and desire to excel. It exhibits Rajasa Guna. Those who
are dominant in the output of energy are compared to the heat
and light of the sun; they who have attenuation in their energy
levels are the dying ash-laden embers, whose light and heat are
subdued. They are the walking dead, devoid of energy reserve,
optimum health, ebullience and enthusiasm, drive and fire. All
this light and heat must be properly channeled by Sattva Guna
(virtuous conduct); otherwise it is a lot of heat without light.
The Gunas, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas (Virtue; Motion and
passion; darkness) are three compared to a three-wheeled
vehicle with Buddhi (intellect) as the driver and Atma (the
individual soul) as the supreme passenger. The steering front
wheel is Rajas full of motion and passion and the fixed rear
wheels are Tamas and Sattva; Buddhi directs the three-wheeled
cart to go to the Sattvic side or Tamasic side or may keep it in
an aimless Rajasic direction. Dominance of Rajasic guna
indicates intense activity and acquisitive tendency. Fire is the
dominant element and the Prana is Samana of equal breath.
Both help in the digestion of the food, distribution of fuel to the
body and sustenance. In its Cosmic dimension, Rajas is the
creative power of Brahma; Sattva is the preservation of living
beings by Vishnu; Tamas is the destructive quality of Siva for
the express purpose of the next cycle of creation, preservation
and destruction. Back to the three wheeler. When the front

wheel turns left, the Tamasic left wheel follows the spinning
front wheel and man lands in the dark ditch. When the front
wheel turns right, the Sattvic rear right wheel follows it and
takes the royal road. When both Sattvic and Tamasic rear
wheels are off the axle and the front Rajasic wheel is in motion,
there is aimless unproductive hyperactivity. Man is in the
driver's seat at the front wheel.

Kosas and their origin

Entity

Annamaya
Kosa

Sheath
s

Food
Sheath

Pranamaya
Kosa

Vital Air
Sheath &

Manomaya
Kosa

Vijnanamaya
Kosa

Anandamaya
Kosa

Mind
Sheath

Knowledge
Sheath

Bliss Sheath

Ether

Origin

Earth,
Water and
Fire.
Lower
three
Chakras

Anahata
and
Visuddha
Chakras

Ajna
Chakra

Nada and
Bindu Chakras

Sahasrara
Chakra

Saiva
View

Brahma
shines in
Food
Sheath.

Vishnu
shines in
Breath
Sheath.

Rudra
shines in
the Mind
Sheath.

Mahesa shines
in the sheath of
Consciousness.

Sadasiva
shines in the
sheath of
Bliss.

Saiva view is expressed by a real-life sage-poet by name Umapati Sivacharya (around

1300 C.E.) in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu.

Manipura Chakra has its subtle location in the spinal column behind
the navel, while its field of action (Kshetram) is the navel. It is
functionally connected to the Solar or Celiac Plexus. AsSolar suggests,
it is connected to the digestive fire. It is the largest network of
autonomic nerve fibers, nerve cells and connective tissue behind the
stomach below the diaphragm in the vicinity of Celiac Artery. It
modulates the vital functions: Adrenal Gland secretion and intestinal
contraction.

= am, ha
m, am, tam, tham, dam, dham, nam,
pam, pham
The Manipura Lotus is variously described as bright yellow or

nimbus cloud-colored. Each petal has a letter inscribed on it,

ten in all: am, ham, am, tam, tham, dam, dham, nam, pam,
pham. In the hollow central swirl of the lotus, there is an
inverted fiery red triangle of the color of the rising sun. There
are three T-shaped Bhupuras (Earth-Cities) separating the
Yantra from the outside world. The Bhupuras have guardians in
defensive positions. Near the lower angle there is the vehicle of
Manipura, ram standing for action, patience and endurance. The
Bija Mantra Ram is the inscription on the animal ram (Ram on
ram, where the first Ram is Bija mantra and the second ram is
the animal; what a coincidence and true play on words). The
resident deities of the Bija Mantra Ram are Rudra and Lakini.
Three-eyed Rudra is red in color with smearing of white ash all
over his body. Dark-colored Lakini, having imbibed Nectar of
Eternity is a beneficial deity with four hands, an effulgent body,
yellow raiment, and many ornaments. The Tanmantra of
Manipura is seeing with eyes serving as Jnanendriya (sensory
organ) and feet as Karmendriya (motor organ). These Indriyas
(organs) serve the animal function of fright by sight
accompanied by flight by feet or fight with hands. Manipura is
in the realm of Swaha Loka, heavenly world.

The Moon at Bindu elaborates the Nectar of Eternity; the sun

in Manipura consumes it; that is a downfall resulting in old age,
infirmity, disease and death. Preservation and conservation
functions of Bindu domain are neutralized by Manipura with
expending of the nectar. This conservation should be immune
from dissipation in the worldly activities; its use for spiritual
pursuits is the main aim. Manipura is a stepping stone for
spiritual highs. Activation, purification and meditation on this
center lead to healthy life and prevents further fall into lower
Chakras. (The up-breath in the Shuttle diagram includes
Samana also.)

The Prana or Up Breath shuttles between the throat and the

navel (Visuddha and Manipura Chakras). It is the air that moves
up and down the air passages, and that sustains life; because
that, it is the Prana of Heart and Lungs.

The Apana or Down Breath shuttles between the Muladhara and

Manipura Chakras (anus and navel). It is the air that expels the
waste products of digestion. It is the air of lower abdomen and
pelvis such that it expels the fetus down the birth canal (Prasava
Vayu), and is involved in functions of pelvic basin such as
intromission, emission, defecation, urination and expulsion of
flatus. It is the same Vayu or energy that opens the Brahma

Nadi and propels Kundalini up the Nadi.

As the Apana Shuttle moves from the Muladhara Chakra to

Manipura, the Prana Shuttle leaves the Manipura Chakra. They
do not meet each other. The Yogic effort is to reverse their
natural flow and bring the Apana and Prana breaths to meet
each other at the Manipura Chakra. This results in the
awakening of the Manipura Chakra. It is pushing down the
Prana and pushing up the Apana breath; when they collide at
the navel, heat is generated which travels backwards to the
Manipura Chakra Lotus in the spinal column, awakens the
Manipura Chakra and opens the Manipura lotus. The Guru
teaches the aspirant as to how to force the breaths to come to a
collision in the Navel. The seven Chakras are seven levels of
consciousness and perception. The basement consists of
Muladhara and Swadhisthana Chakras, the pelvic region or the
domain of the animal. Manipura plane serves as the glass
sealing from which an aspirant can view the upper Chakras and
also the lower Chakras. Manipura is the animal-human
transitional zone according to some yogis. When the aspirant
arrives at the Anahata plane, he is in a sense a human. This
collision of the breaths results in destruction of all animal
qualities and acquisition of self-protection, healthy body and
mind, freedom from fear of Fire, and ability to partake of the
Tejas (power) from Sahasrara.

Anhata means unstruck and by extension Anhata Nda

is Unstruck Sound, a sound produced without two objects
striking each other. It generally means OM. In this context it
means that the sound is potentially existent, as in thought,
preverbal in its evolution and expression. It is latent sound,

ready to unwind from the mind and find expression. Analogy

used to hear the unstruck sound is to occlude both your ears and
hear the buzz. Here it is not really an unstruck sound, because
the blood flow in the capillaries and other blood vessels striking
the vessel walls create that sound which is perceived by the
auditory apparatus and interpreted as buzz by the hearing area
of the brain. Anyhow that conveys the idea what an unstruck
sound is. In Yogis practicing meditation, it is a mystic sound
whose origin is assumed to be transcendental. It is not
hallucination, which, if it is, is welcomed by Yogis. It is also
heard by the dying, whose origin is unknown. For Buddhists, it
is a sound of goldenBELL . In Kundalini Yoga (the fourth
Chakra or plane, Anahata or heart Chakra), it is a sound of
Sabdabrahman, which needs no clanging of two objects (to
produce the sound). It is the sound not of the tongue or larynx,
but of the spiritual heart. Twelve Saktis of Kali (KAlarAtri to
TankAri) populate the twelve petals of Anahata lotus. Anahata
has nothing to do with the physical, physiological, chemical and
electrical aspects of the physical heart. Devotees (Bhakta)
attention is focused on Anhata plane of the heart, while Yogis
concentrate on Ajna Chakra of the glabella (forehead) and the
Vedantists seek the Para Nada in Hiranya Garba, the Golden
Egg of the inverted thousand-petaled Sahasrara Chakra on the
crown. Brahma (Sivas surrogate or manifestation for
creation) is the source of all Sounds. In Egyptian mythology,
the heart is the center of consciousness. Thoughts in the heart
morphed into words on the tongue which when uttered by Ptah
became gods, people, cities, temples, and places of Egypt. Such
is the power of words of the God Ptah of Memphis. Brahma had
mind-born sons along the same lines as Ptah had thought and
word-born beings. Egyptian god thinks in his heart while
Brahma thinks in the head, though sound has its origin in
Muladhara plane and as the sound evolves from the Muladhara
through Swadhisthana, Manipura and Anahata, it finds
expression in Visuddha Chakra located in the Larynx. Atum,
the God of Heliopolis, the creator coexisted with Ptah in their
creative process. There is an agreement between Egyptian and
Indian view that the sound has its seat in the heart. According to
Indian belief sound exists in all Kundalini Chakras. In the heart
it exists as Anahata (unstruck sound).

The anatomical locations of the Sound Centers:

Go to Sabda or Sound for more details.

The subtle Chakra or Lotus is present in the spinal column. Its

Kshetram is the spiritual heart. This Heart Lotus is connected to
the right brain, the seat of creative thinking and areas of the
brain involved with music, dance, drama, poetry.

The twelve-petal lotus (of crimson or blue color) has letters

inscribed on the petals in vermilion: kam, kham, gam, gham,
cham, chham, jam, jham, nyam, tam, and tham. It has two
superimposed triangles with up and down apices, the up one
representing Siva and the down one Sakti, symbolic of union of
Siva and Sakti. The antelope stands for alertness and agility.
Above the antelope is the Bija Mantra yam. The presiding deity
of this Mantra is sa who shines like a thousand suns. Goddess
Kakini projects the energy with yellow robes, three eyes and
four arms, the posterior arms holding the noose and a skull on a
stake, the anterior arms offering boon, protection and no-fear
reassurance (Varam and Abhaya Mudras). There is a down
(inverted) central triangle with a flame with its perimeter
symbolizing Akhanda Jyotir (eternal flame / unbroken flame)
which stands for the Jivatma (individual soul). Some say that it
is a Banalinga (pebble Linga) rather than a flame. Below the
12-petalled Primary Lotus is a secondary lotus of eight petals
enclosing a Kalpa Taru, Wish-tree. Within the six-angled shape
is seen in the mind's eye of Yogis a lake (Manasarovar) with a
blue Lotus.

Anahata Chakra goes with Mahar Loka; Prana is its dominant

breath; its tanmatra is touch; its sensory organ is skin; its motor
organ is hand. Vishnu granthi (see table elsewhere) is present in
Anahata Center. Any knot is an obstruction to flow, thus Vishnu
granthi's dominance shows its undercurrent in emotion-based
thought and actions. Once the knot is removed, the obstruction
in the spiritual flow eases, the aspirant becoming tranquil and
spiritually inclined, has control over his emotions, performs
sattvic deeds, meditates, speaks inspired words and obtains the
yogic ability to perform Parakaya Pravesanam, (to transmigrate
into another's body). Sankaracharya (800CE) and Agasthya
Muni were known practitioners of this art.

Prarabhda Karma is operative at Manipura and below. Once

the Anahata center is pierced, the aspirant is not under its iron
hand. His actions are his and not dictated by Prarabdha karma.
Man is buffeted by events beyond his control because
Prarabdha karma is the operating principle in all three lower
chakras and levels of consciousness: Manipura, Swadhisthana

and Muladhara; all three and the chakras below them keep the
aspirant at earth level roiled by external events, not of his
making. At Anahata Center, he controls the events and events
do not control him. At Anahata, he rises above the physical
world, mind, body and senses.

The lower Chakras of lower consciousness form the base

from which the Sadhaka takes off in a spiritual journey beyond
the gravitational pull of earthbound thoughts, emotions, and
deeds and passes through Troposphere of Anahata Chakra,
Stratosphere of Visuddha Chakra, Mesosphere of Ajna Chakra,
ionosphere and Exosphere of Sahasrara Chakra into the outer
space of Dvadasanta, where there is no gravitational pull of the
lower chakras. This example serves well in that all six Chakras
are known as Adhara Chakras, meaning that they have support
in the human body while Dvadasanta has no support: it simply
hangs there without any apparent support like the stars, sun and
the moon.

As an object streaking beyond the grasp of the earth defies its

gravity, the consciousness rising from animal to human to
superconsciousness defies the mundane gravitational pull of the
senses and passion, Prarabdha Karma, and Samskaras. An
aspirant or Yoga practitioner is one who lives in the lower three
chakras, while a real Yogi lives in Anahata or higher center.
Anahata center is the defining demarcation between an ordinary
human and a Yogi. Yogic Consciousness defies the
gravitational pull of the senses, Karma and Samskaras of the
lower centers. The idea of gravitational pull is expressed by
Swami Satyananda Saraswati. Yogic Consciousness is
independent of human consciousness and thus is not burdened
with it and its limitations.

Dvadasanta. There are dhra centers in the body

and Nirdhra centers are Sahasrara Chakra and
above. Adhara = support in the human body. Niradhara =
without support, centers above the sixth Chakra. There are six
Adhara Centers in the body: Muladhara, Svadisthana,
Manipura, Anahata, Visuddhi, and Ajna each one presided by a
deity, Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Mahesvara, Sadasiva, and Apara
Bindu. Adhara yogam is accomplished by Kundalini yogi who
ascends all the six centers to reach the

seventh Sahasrara center in the crown presided by Paranada

where he unites with Siva. Kundlini yoga is Adhara yogam.
Beyond Ajna center, Sahasrara Chakra and other centers are the
Niradhara centers without any apparent support; reaching it as a
group is Niradhara yogam. Jnana and Prana ascend beyond the
seven centers and course through eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh
sthanas (posts), presided respectively byParabindu, Paranada,
Parasakti and Parasiva. Beyond these eleven centers is the 12th
and furthest ultimate point of yogic journey (the Ultima
Thule), Dvadasanta. This journey from Sahasrara chakra to the
12th point in space is Niradhara Yogam which is the state of
the soul, when it loses its self-consciousness, attains
Sivahood and remains without any attachment. Reaching
Dvadasanta Siva (Paraipara) in Jnana form is Bliss. (Please note
that there are several variants of the theme in different texts.)
Many other texts say that this center is 12 inches above the
crown as opposed to the above description. Realization from
the 8th to 12th is progressively deeper and the 12th is ultimate
experience.

Yogic Consciousness independent of human consciousness is

self-propelling with no external controls and limitations. On the
other hand human consciousness has limitations. The Yogis can
levitate, transmigrate, read and shape the minds of others
among other yogic feats. But a Yogi practicing such feats is not
a Yogi but a yogic practitioner. It is the Yogic power and not the
practice which matters here. The Yogic power is a measure of
his higher consciousness and its practice a degradation of his
higher consciousness. The old saying: it is how you exercise
your power that matters and not the power itself.

Anahata has Kalpataru (Wish-tree) that yields fruits of desire.

Wishing and getting are a reality for the perfect Yogi. This is a
Yogic asset, misuse of which can be disastrous. Here wishing is
for Moksa and not any other worldly things. Once you ascend
to the Anahata Center a fall because of earthly desires is a big
fall. Desire is a like a coin; its other side is anxiety to fulfill the
desire. Once the Yogi attains the Anahata Center any mundane
desire with its attendant anxiety bears fruit. It means the
following. If your wife is out shopping and has not returned by
dusk and you wonder whether she had an accident. That
thought will fructify and bring on an accident. Now one can see
the power of thought in the Anahata Yogi. Anahata center, and
mundane desires and anxieties are strange bedfellows. Anahata
Yogi should maintain positive thoughts, associate only with
Sattvic people and yet treat all people equally. A prince and a

pauper, a tyrant and a democrat, a murderer and a savior are

equal to him. Bhagavan says in Bhagavad Gita (5.18 - BG05)
says, "a learned humble Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog,
and even a dog-eater are seen with an equal eye by a Punditah
(sage)." The universe and the Anahata Yogi are one and in
peace with each other. Examples of a hypothetical selfless
service and true love: a True Physician works so hard that he
eliminates all diseases and puts himself out of business. A
mother loves her child not for any ultimate gain. Loving God
for love's sake is superior to loving him for material gains: that
is Bhakti (devotion).

Ego is antithetical to attaining Anahata center and spiritual

development. When one goes to a party, one checks the
umbrella and the coat at the coat stand. In like manner, before
one enters the temple to offer Seva to God, one should leave his
ego at the doorstep. Breaking the coconut is symbolic of
breaking one's ego before God. Since God is omnipresent, one
should erase ego completely and for good. Remember: There is
only One Ego in the universe: that is God's. If your
infinitesimal ego tries to clash with the Divine EGO, you are
asking for trouble: it is a train wreck.

kundal10.gif replaces space-gif

Vishuddha Chakra also bears the name Kantha

Chakra named after its location, the throat area. It
is Sodasa (16) Chakra because it has sixteen
smoky purple petals. There are several other
names based on these main features. Sisuddha is
purification and thus all purifications take place
here. Purification means removal of all dualities
and coming to the realization of Para Brahman.
The petals facing you are configured clockwise
with sixteen Sanskrit letters in red: am, aam, im,
eem, um, oom, rim, reem, lrim, lreem, em, aim,
om, aum, aam, ahm. These letters constitute the
vowels (life letters) in Sanskrit and have the Bindu
(dot) above them. Sixteen Nadis (channels) are
associated with Vishuddha Chakra. The white
(golden) circle of the pericarp is the gateway to
liberation and the ethereal region enclosing the
Chandra Mandala (Moon circle). The Bija Mantra,
the seed sound of Visuddha Chakra within the
triangle is Ham (Ambara Mantra or Bija of Ether),
white in color and seated on an ethereal white
elephant (Airavata) with four probosces, holding
Psa (noose) and Ankusa (goad), and posing Vara
Mudra and Abhaya Mudra (Boon sign and Fear-not
sign). The two smaller circles to your right above
the base of the down triangle are Sadasiva (the
giver of anugraha and grace) on your left and
Kakini (Sakini / Gauri) on your right. White
Sadasiva sports three eyes in each head, five
faces, ten arms and a tiger skin as his raiment. His
body is awash in ash. He wears a snake on his
neck, and holds in ten hands noose, goad, Abhaya
Mudra, Nagendra the snake king, trident, fire,BELL
, diamond scepter, sword, and battle-axe. Nectar
drops from the moon on his head. Goddess Gauri
abides in the Lunar Sphere within the pericarp, sits
on a pile of bones, wears yellow raiment, and
sports five heads and four hands holding a bow, an
arrow, a noose and a goad. The central tube
represents Susumna Nadi and also the Ida and
Pingala Nadis. Gauri the female aspect of energy
or Sakti claims the left half of the body of Sadasiva
who, because of it, becomes androgynous
Ardhanarisvara.

Credit: www.timeless.org
Sadasiva sits on a lion-seat perched on the bull in his
Androgynous form; the male half is snow and the
female half is golden.
Vishuddha and Ajna Chakras form the Vijnanamaya
Kosa, the sheath of spiritual knowledge. Vishuddha
Chakra is in charge of
hearing sense and the speech organ (voice box or
larynx). What is out there in the cosmos is in the body
and thus, it is the realm of Janah loka. Udana Prana,
the life-sustaining up breath is the breath of
Vishuddha Chakra and the breath of speech.

The sounds originate in various chakras as depicted

below. When they reach the Vaikhari stage, the
consonants acquire life-giving vowels
and become intelligible speech.
The following cascade depicts origin of sound.

In Nada yoga, Muladhara is the seat of Paravani. The sound

goes through modification and augmentation from a soundless
sound (to the human ears) to its fifth level at Vishuddha chakra,
when it blossoms into human speech. The intermediary stages
of sound are Pasyanti or visual sound of Svadhistana and
Manipura Chakras and the Madhyama mental sound (Anahata)
of the spiritual heart (Anahata Chakra). The sound progresses
from primal high-frequency sound of Para Nada to gradually
lower frequency of Pasyanti and Madhyama sounds and
expresses in Vishuddha Chakra as Vaikhari (articulated speech).

Madhyama (middle, intermediateMental Sound): Its seat

is the heart (Anahata Chakra). The sound is of the heart and
not of the tongue, associated with Buddhi. The yogis experience
flashes of transcendental knowledge from the Source. Its
frequency is in the hearing range. Anahata sounds heard by the
yogis are chini, chini-chini (onomatopoetic sounds), the sound
ofBELL , conch, lute, cymbals, flute, drum, Mridanga (doubledrum), and the last, thunder. These ten Anahata sounds can be
heard at random subsequently and only during
meditation. Ahata Sound as opposed to Anahata is the sound
that is produced by an external sound producer such as a drum
and perceived by an anatomical sensory organ such as ear.
Anahata sounds originating in the spiritual heart are perceived
by the non-anatomical spiritual or subtle ear. Para Brahman is
attained, when one hears the tenth sound; that is lysis or
absorption; you and the sound become one; one enters into
Bliss. As the Yogi hears these sounds, he becomes adept in
knowing hidden things, hears Para Vak, develops divine eye
and eventually becomes one with Para Brahman. There are
treatises and Gurus who are experts in Nada Yoga. Sound has
influence over the mind. Melodious sound absorbs the mind
like a sponge so much so that the mind is lost in the sound,
loses its identity, becomes one with it and does not pursue
distracting sense objects. Doing Ajapa Japa (Mantra.htm)
Pranayama, concentration in Bhrumadya and meditation will
help you hear the sounds of the spiritual heart starting from
Chini to the tenth sound of thunder. The external sounds drown
on hearing these internal sounds. On hearing the tenth sound,
one attains Para Brahman. You should listen to music as you do
meditation and gradually the internal sounds take over your
attention so that you have no need for the external music, which
actually you would not hear in the advanced state. In the
advanced aspirant, the sounds cease and Turiya state takes over
and all dualities of the mind, body and gunas disappear; the
aspirant dies to his flesh with the rise of spirit; the mind
becomes pure; he is just a piece of wood (no body awareness)
according to Swami Sivananda.

The accomplished ones feel the flow of Amrit (Nectar or

ambrosia) from the Bindu center at the back of the head
corresponding to the tuft of the priests or the posterior fontanel
(which is barely open in infants and closed in adults). Inside
Bindu, Moon secretes Amrta or nectar. This nectar comes down
from Bindu Visarga and has its origin in Sahasrara Chakra, the
abode of Cosmic Consciousness. The Universal Pure
Consciousness becomes dilute as it comes down and individual
consciousness takes shape in Bindu Visarga. Between Bindu
and Vishuddha Chakra, there is a repository for the nectar in the

vicinity of nasopharynx. This nectar should not be mistaken for

postnasal drip. This reservoir, Lalana Chakra or Talumula is
stimulated by the long tongue (Kechari Mudra) that folds back
into the nasopharnx and can occlude the Ida and Pingala Nadis
(posterior Choanae). The stimulation helps the Lalana Chakra
empty the nectar into the Vishuddha Chakra, which processes
the nectar and separates the pure form from the poison. The
pure form promotes health, longevity, and regeneration of the
body. Vishuddha Chakra neutralizes the poison. Kechari Mudra
involves folding back of the tongue released from its anterior
anchor by cutting the frenulum at the bottom of the tongue and
pulling the tongue over many months to elongate it so that it
can fold back and reach the openings at the back of the nose.
This Mudra helps the tongue taste the nectar from the Bindu
Visarga and Lalana reservoir. Yogis say that they can live on air

and nectar.

Let me give you an idea how a product can be both beneficial

and poisonous. Pharmaceutical companies make drugs that
have stereoisomers which are mirror images of each other. One
member of the pair is pharmacologically safe, useful and
curative and the mirror image may be toxic. FDA has asked the
drug companies to remove the toxic isomer andMARKET the
useful one. When you take medications, the good effects are
from the good isomer and the side effects are from the bad
isomer.

The gods and demons wanted to live eternally and so

churned the Ocean of Milk for the nectar of immortality. Both
poison and Nectar came up from the depths of the ocean.
Poison made them sick. Siva came to the rescue and swallowed
the poison and retained it in his throat because swallowing
meant death. That is why Siva is called Nilakantappa, the One
with the blue throat. As you see, the ocean is the same but the
products are the exact opposites. Vishnu did not think that the
demons deserved to live eternally and gave the nectar to gods.
Thus, the throat of Siva had the ability to neutralize the poison.
Vishuddha Chakra at the throat level has the ability to purify the
mixed nectar and destroy the poison. Gods and Demons in
Hindu mythology have one father (Kasyapa) and two mothers:
Aditi, the mother of gods and Diti the mother of demons.
Interestingly the mothers are sisters married to Kasyapa. What
all this means is that all of us (man) are part god and part
demon. Which part is dominant makes us different, one from
the other. Hindu mythology had the solution to kill the demons.
All the male gods could not kill a demon and his clones (the
idea of clones existed in ancient India) by themselves
individually. They donated their individual saktis and weapons
for a common cause; the saktis (Tejas) coalesced, congealed
and morphed into an agglomerate female goddess, Durga, who
eventually killed the demons, the male gods could not. When
Durga was killing the demon, drops of blood fell on the
battlefield and each drop became a demon; there were millions
of demons, all clones of one demon. (Now you know that the
idea of clones have existed in ancient India.) She sucked the
bone marrow dry and ate all the demons: end of story. Durga is
the One who kills the demons in us, when we pray to Her and
She shows Her Grace to us.

At higher levels of consciousness, the yogi reconciles the

good and the bad, the nectar and poison and the polar
opposites. Forrest Gump: My momma always said, "Life was
like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna

get." Yogis, in whom the Bindu Visarga and Vishuddha Chakra

are awake, claim that they can neutralize poisons.

We know Vishuddha Chakra is connected to hearing and

speech; it is also connected to the mind of other people so much
so that the Yogi can read their mind. It is like the antenna
implanted in the throat relaying messages to the brain. Patanjali
Sastra says that an accomplished yogi can go without out food
and water for an indefinite period.

Bindu is Vindu () in Tamil meaning dot or point, drop,

semen, sperm, mercury, a flaw in the diamond, the middle
portion of the forehead between the eyebrows; circle, Sivatattva
- sphere of knowledge presided over by Siva Jnana Sakti; Pure
Maya (Suddha Maaya) according to Tamil Lexicon of Madras
University. Bindu in its supreme state is the nucleus of the
universe, from which everything proceeds. Compare it to the
nucleus of the cell. When the cell and its nucleus undergo
apoptosis, they degenerate and become mushy, waiting for
scavenger cells to remove them. Likewise when the cerebrumdwelling Supreme Bindu undergoes "apoptosis or lysis" it
becomes the (testicular) semen at a lower level of existence.
Don't expect a scientist to prove or disprove such a hypothesis.
Bindu as a point and nucleus of the Universe, and semen its
degenerate product have creative potentialities; the former is at
a cosmic level; the latter at microcosmic earthly level. Gurus
are of the opinion that Rajas Guna (motion, passion) makes the
Bindu degenerate into sperm. Apotheosis of Bindu undergoes
apoptosis. (Every cell has a lifespan; it has to die its
programmed death and be removed; otherwise, the cells
accumulate and give rise to a tumor, cancer, leukemia or
malignant growth. Apoptosis is programmed cell suicide; if this
happens too efficiently, there is grave cell damage leading to
neurodegenerative diseases
like Alzheimer, Huntington and Parkinson. Normal body has a
balance between dying cells and new cells. When the cells
degenerate but not renewed or removed, the debris accumulates
and compromises its function.)

Bindu + Visarga = Drop; Globule + emission, discharge,

flow or fall. Bindu Visarga is Bindu emission, discharge, flow
or fall of Bindu or the organ that secretes. In this context it
means the flow of Bindu from the Bindu Visarga via Lalana
Chakra located in the palate and uvula to Vishuddha Chakra,
where it is purified of its poison. Bindu is the progenitor of the

Tattvas (building blocks) of the world, from which the universe

and beings proceed and to which they return and
subside. BINDU. TATTVAS = 36.

Yogis are of the opinion that the Bindu Visarga (the secretory
organ), Lalana (storage organ) and Vishuddha Chakra
(processing organ) are interconnected and communicate with
the cranial nerves and the organs they serve. Thus they attest to
supremacy of Bindu in the functioning of all these systems
under its purview. The Yogis say that the Bindu Visarga is an
anatomically elevated point with fluid around it on the surface
of the cortex adjoining the Posterior Fontanel area of the skull.
It is a point that was never identified or dissected out or
delineated by the anatomist. Bindu is the origin of nectar and
the building blocks of the universe. They also claim that Ajna
Chakra and pineal gland are connected.

Bindu (derived from Parabindu) is one compact, superdense

power pack (Sakti), ready for blossoming out into the building
blocks of the universe in an orderly fashion through its
intermediaries (AND NOT WITH A BIG BANG). Maya Sakti
brings about blossoming, actualization and unfolding of this
universe from Bindu in this cosmic choreography. Para Bindu
resides in Sahasrara or thousand petalled Lotus, the seat of
Isvara. Empty void (sunya) is in Para Bindu and is Nirguna
Siva. Jiva and Kundali are part of Para Bindu. In Sahasrara,
the seat of Para Bindu, Sakti of Nirvana, and kalas of Nirvana
and Ama and fire of Nibodhika reside. Kalaa / kala generaly
means "part." KalA also means the Inner Force in the Tattvas.
36 Tattvas, categories, products or building blocks came out of
Supreme Bindu. Some are Pure products, some are Impure
products and some are half Pure and half Impure: Suddha
Tattvas, Asuddha Tattvas and Suddha - Asuddha Tattvas.

At the end of this article you can see the diagrammatic

representation of Nirvana Sakti, Nirvana Kala, AmA KalA.

Sahasrara plane is the aggregate sum of all planes. Let me

present to you the configuration of Sahasrara; though it is not a
Chakra, by convention it is called a chakra.

Avyakta (Unmanifested) is Paramesvara who is the united Siva-

Sakti, from whom the First Emanation (AadyA) Bhagavati or

Tripurasundari (TPS) came into existence. TPS is the origin of
Nada. From Nada originates Vayu (Air), so important to all airbreathing beings (sarva prAnamaya). Bindu is Siva-SaktiMaya, NAdAtmaka or Sivatmaka and is placed above the
forehead.Void (Ether, Gagana) originates from Bindu, is
empty and yet is a container of Sound. From these came the
twenty five Tattvas (TATTVAS 36) which have qualities
(Guna). Sakala Siva (the one united with KalA) as opposed to
Niskala Siva, is Sat, Cit and Ananda and is the origin of Sakti,
which in turn originates NAda, which again gives rise to Bindu.
(See the diagram). Nada, Bindu, and Bija are his three aspects.
Bija is Bodhini Sakti.

Here is some information from other sources.

Bhagavati is Devi who has Bhaga. Bhaga envelopes 6 qualities:

Creation, destruction, origin of beings, end of beings, Real
Knowledge, and Avidya or ignorance.

Devi has nine manifestations:

1) Time KAla): from blinking of the eye to Pralaya time. KAla

2) Form (Kula): All things having color and form. Kula.

3) Name (NAma): All things with name. .

4) Cit (Jnana) or intelligence Changing (Savikalpa) and

unchanging (Nirvikalpa) Jnana

5) Mind (Chitta): consists of Ahamkara--ego, Chitta, Buddhi,

Manas, Unmanas

6) Sound (NAda): a) RAga--desire , b) Iccha --developed

desire, c) Krti--active desire, d) Prayatna--endeavor to achieve
the desired object. These four items correspond to sound: a)

ParA super-subtle sound emanating from Muladhara, b)

Pasyanti, Visual sound from Svadhisthana, c) Madhyama sound
from Anahata, d) Vaikhari, articulate sound from Visuddha
Chakra.

7) The Spiritual Germ (Bindu): the six Chakras from Muladhara

to Ajna.

8) Knowledge (KalA): variable aptitude of the soul to spiritual

knowledge. Cognition. Kalai is an evolute of Maya, the 6th
principle. The word is derived from Kal (= to learn). It refers
to the acquisition of knowledge of surroundings and all other
categories of Tattvas, arts and sciences and spiritual knowledge.
Here it refers to fifty Sanskrit letters.

9) Embodied soul (Jiva): souls in bondage of matter and

Malams (impurities).

Prapanchasara Tantra says Parabindu splits into two parts: the

right side is Bindu (male, Purusa or Ham) and the left is Visarga
(female, Prakrti or Sah. The union of Bindu and Visarga is
Hamsah which is the universe. Siva is androgynous: union of
Visarga and Bindu (=Ardhanarisvara).

Anatomy of Omkara: The Sanskrit letter has a crescent and a

dot on top of it. The crescent and the dot are known as
Chandrabindu (moon with dot /
Moon-Dot).

OM is the progenitor sound of all Bija Mantras. Nada and

Bindu are two saktis (power). Naada (Nada) is sound and Bindu
is dot, or point. Nada and Bindu are the progenitors of Tattvas,
the building blocks of the universe. Nada is Sakti and Bindu is

Siva (Siva-Sakti); Nada is action and Bindu is static; Nada is

white and Bindu is red. Nada (Chandrabindu/ Nadabindu) over
the Omkara is the couch, on which Paramasiva in his Bindu
form is reclining. Chandrabindu is Nada and Bindu, Sakti and
Siva in one unit.
The crescent moon with the dot is Chandrabindu (Nadabindu)
or the couch of Tripurasundari in union with Paramasiva. The
icon presents five components: A, U, M, Nada (the Crescent),
and Bindu (the dot). Just imagine the crescent moon being the
couch! Nada is Sound, Bindu is the derivative of Nada and the
source of the universe. Nada is called Visvamata or Mother of
the Universe; Bindu is Duhkha Hara, Pain Killer or remover of
pain. All Bija Mantras have three, four or five components: one,
two or three syllables, Nada and Bindu. Nada is generally
Mother Goddess and Bindu is Siva, remover of pain.

Bija Mantra has no meaning; it is neither a language, nor a

word, nor a character; it is Dhvani (unlettered vocalized sound);
it is Deva.

Ajna Chakra and Sahasrara Chakra are described

elsewhere in this article.

In verse 41, Sankara talks about Maha-bhairava

and Mahabhairavi (the dance and Siva) being the
father and mother who came together in the
creation of the world after the Great Conflagration.
- Verse 41 Saundarya Lahari.

Meditation on Siva-Sakti in the six chakras,

according to Sankaracharya

Verse 36: I pay homage to Sambhu (Siva) who

abides in His Ajna Chakra, effulgent as millions of
suns and moons together and whose left side is
the Supreme Consciousness in the form of Devi
(Ardhanarisvara = Androgynous Siva). Votary
with deep devotion attains the Self-conscious and
Self-effulgent state which is not in material plane,
goes beyond the relams of the light of the moon,
sun and fire and is beyond the beyond.

This is the descritption of the Sadhaka of Samaya

cult who kindled the fire of Kundali and rises with
her to Ajna Chakra. Sahasrara Chakra at the level
of midbrain is Jyotir mandala (The Luminous
Realm), above the reach of the moon, sun, and
fire, which illumines only the Ajna, Anahata, and
Svadhisthana Chakras respectively. The Moon in
Sahasrara Chakra is different and partless
(Niskala) meaning it has no tithis or digits, always
a Full Moon and an eternal Spiritual Light of BlissConsciousness. The resident deities adored and
worshipped in Ajna Chakra are Para Sambhunatha
and Cit-paramba.

Verse 37. In Your Visuddha Chakra, I meditate on

Pure crystal-like Siva, the creator of Vyoman (Sky,
heaven and atmosphere) and Devi who is equal to
Siva in every way. In the Lunar splendor radiationg
from both, devoid of darkness of Ignorance, the
universe is joyous like a Cakori (female
partridege).

In the Hindu mythology the Cakori bird delights in

and imbibes the moonlight. As the Kundali comes
to rest in Vishuddha Chakra, the darkness of
ignorance dissipates with the descent of Light of
Consciousness and Bliss. The adored and
worshipped deities here
are Vyomanesvaran and Vyomanesvari. Some
Yogis beleive the resident deity is Ardhanaaresvara
or Sadasiva (form of Siva).

Verse 38. I worship the great pair of swans (Ham

and Sa Siva and Sakti) which enjoy only the tasty

sap of the full-blown lotus of knowledge, which
glide in Manasa Mind Lake of great men, whose
conversations are contained in the eighteen
systems of knowledge which separate virtue from
evil (as the swan separates the milk from water).

The full-blown lotus of knowledge, the blossoming

of which is proof of Kundalini arriving there, refers
to the Anahata heart Chakra. The eighteen
disciplines of knowledge refer to Atharvan,
Ayurveda, Chandas, Danurveda, Dharmasastra,
Gandharva Veda, Jyotisha, Kalpa, Nirukta, Niti
Sastra, Nyaya, Purva, Rg, Saman, Siksa, Uttara
Mimamsa, Vyakarana, and Yajus. These are the
sacred scriptures that separate the virtue from
evil. This separation is compared to the mythical
ability of the swan to separate the milk from water.
Siva-Sakti worshipped in Anahata Chakra are
Hamsesvara and Hamsesvari

Verse 39. O Genetrix, You abide in the fire

element in your Svadhisthana Chakra; I eulogize
the Fire of Dissolution (Rudra = Siva) and the
Great Samayaa (Sakti). The angry looks of Rudra
incinerates the worlds; your compassionate looks
brings about the cooling affability.

Siva-Sakti (Samaya-Samayaa) worship in

Svadhisthana Chakra is touched upon in this
verse. In the descending order of Chakras,
manipura Chakra and water element should have
been described in this verse. Sankara chose to
describe the Samaya-Samyaa worship and the Fire
element. Verse 40 touches on manipura Chakra.
Siva burns in Svadisthana chakra and Sakti
extinguishes it with the water element in Manipura
Chakra. Samvarta (The Great Fire at Deluge =
Rudra-Siva), known also as Kalagni figures in close
proximity with Janani (Genetrix, the creator, the
Mother Goddess). Samvarta destroys with his
angry eyes and the Mother creates with Her
compassionate affable looks. The deities are

Samvartesvara and Samayamba.

Verse 40. Sakti as Lightning is the foe of darkness.

With Her flashing and shining jewels studded with
many-colored gems Sakti appears like a rainbow. I
worship the incomparable dark clouds which rain
on the three worlds burnt by the fire of dissolution,
which has Manipura Chakra, as the sole place of
surrender.

Manipura, Svadhisthana and Muladhara Chakras

are whorls of darkness, which dissipate from the
Light of Sakti as lightning rends the nimbus clouds
with accompanying rains. The deities of Manipura
Chakra are Mahesvara and Saudamani. What
Rudra-Siva destroys by the look of angry eyes,
Mother counterbalances with the compassionate
cool eyes.

Verse 41. In Muladhara Chakra, I meditate on

Samayayaa (Sakti = Samayaa) performimg Lasya
dance and Nava Atman (Siva-Rudra) with nine
sentiments performing Maha Tandava dance. In
these twosome dances, the object is creation by
the Father, and Mother with compassion.

The nine sentiments of Rudra-Siva are sringra,

love; vra, heroism; bibhatsa, disgust; raudra,
anger; hsya, anger; bhaynaka, terror; karuna,
pity; adbhuta, wonder; snta, tranquility or
contentment; vatsalya, paternal fondness.

Siva in the name of Adinatha and Sakti in the

name of Lasyesvari perform the Tandava (the
masculine dance) and Lasya, the female dance.
The universe undergoes involution when they
stop the dance and the all the elements (Tattvas
= building blocks) come to repose in Siva-Sakti.
When Siva-Sakti begin their dance again at the
end of dissolution, the elements come back to
build the universe of matter and beings under the
guidance of and contribution from Siva-Sakti. This

dance brings to life beings according to their

karmic deeds, so that the soul matures, sheds all
the impurities (malas), and attains Moksa. Siva
directs Sakti to create the universe and beings ;
thus Siva-Sakti are the parents. The two-part
unity is integral with each other as in
Ardhanaresvara (Androgynous Siva); Siva is
consciousness and Sakti is His power. Siva is
Samaya and Navtman. Sakti is Samay (feminine
form of Samaya). Sama means equal. They are
equal and similar (sama and samtavam)
in Adhisthna, Avasthna, Anusthna, Rpa, and
Nma (abode, condition, action, form, and name).
Verses 36-41 talks about Ajna, Visuddha, Anahata,
Manipura, Svadhistana, and Muladhara Chakras
from top down. This reflects the subtle becoming
the gross from the Ajna to Muladhara Chakras:
Mind, Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth.
Samayachara cult believes in the equality of Siva
and Sakti.
Navtman is so-called because he has nine Vyhas
or manifestations: Kla = Time; Kula =
colors; Nama = names; Jnana =
knowledge; Chitta = mind; Nda = four forms
of sound = Sabda or Sound; Bindu = the
Chakras, BINDU; Kal = the fifty letters of
Sanskrit alphabet; and Jiva = the individual
soul. Samayacharins call Goddess The Saktas as
Samayaa, while Kaulas call Siva as
Navatman Kularnava Tantra. Siva and Sakti of
Kaula sect in Muladhara Chakra are nanda
Bhairava and nandabhairavi and of
Samaychrins are Samaya and Samay. Swami
Tapasyananda says that Sakti worship is of three
types: Samaya, Kaula and Misra. Samaya worship
is neither exoteric nor esoteric but internal as in
Kundalini Yoga. Those who cannot do Kundalini
Yoga perform mixed (misra) form of worship (both
external and internal). External worship is of two
types: Esoteric worship with rituals and exoteric
worship. Chariya's recommendations (idol
worship) are external worship (exoteric) suitable to
the ordinary devotees, and not confined to a
chosen few. Kriya is worshipping of Siva with rites
and ceremonies (esoteric rituals and practices)
recommended in Agamas. Samaya worship is
mental worship in the sky of the mind and heart
(Hrdayksa = spiritual sky of the heart). Others

worship Sri Chakra which contains all Chakras

within it and is Siva-Sakti in their bodily form.
Adoration or reverent homage of Sri Chakra is
equal to worship of Siva-Sakti in all Chakras.

Book report on The Chakras by C.W. Leadbeater.

His exact passages are high-lighted.

Chapter 1 The Force-Centers

There are two entities: Dense entity that is visible

to the eye and Etheric Physical Entity not visible to
the eye. The Etheric Entity is the bridge between
the Astral and the Physical, which is essential for
the flow of streams of vitality, thought and
feelings from the former to the latter; thus it keeps
the body alive. Here Ether is not the substance
that occupies space and helps propagation of
electromagnetic radiation through space. Without
this Ethereal Entity an individual (Ego) cannot
make use of his brain. A clairvoyant can see Ether
penetrating the substance of the body and forming
a shell around it. This shell is called the Etheric
Double. To the clairvoyant the Chakras appear as
miniature suns which project beyond the body and
show on the shell. They appear as open saucershaped flowers with vortices on stems attached to
the spine on the surface of the Etheric body. These
Chakras or wheels are rotating with the energy
received from one of the seven forces. In
undeveloped person the rate of motion is slow. In
a developed person, the wheels glow and pulsate
and move faster; the flow of energy gives the
person additional faculties. These chakras have
the circular image facing the onlooker as if they
were mounted on a horizontal axis at the hub.
These moving wheels appear to have spokes
which convey the astral energy to the wheels and
the Etheric body.

Clairvoyance:

1. the supernatural power of seeing objects or

actions removed in space or time from natural
viewing.

2. quick, intuitive knowledge of things and people;

sagacity.

Diagramatic representation of the Chakras look like Pizza

pies with slices.

The light dances on the discs as undulations and oscillations.

The Sahasrara Chakra radiates golden rays, the intensity
depending on the development of the individual; sometimes
there is variations at different times in the same individual. He
calls the Chakras, lower physiological, middle personal and

higher spiritual.

The Muladhara Chakra receives two forces, the serpent fire

from the earth and the vitality from the sun. One's personality is
the medium of reception of forces for the 3,4, and 5th Chakras.
He says that 6 and 7 are connected to pituitary and pineal
glands and developed in spiritually enlightened persons. Moral
standing of a person has no relevance with the unfoldment of
Chakras. This is in sharp contrast with the commonly held view
that Yama and Niyama and the rest of the Ashtanga Yogam are
very important in the realization of the upper Chakras. He
suggests though that the petals are associated with moral
qualities. The Muladhara Chakra with four quadrants appear to
him as divided by a flaming cross of the serpent fire with a fiery
orange-red color petals.

The Svadhisthana Chakra in the splenic area (as opposed to

commonly held opinion in genital area). The six petals are of
different colors like the radiant glowing sun. He sees red,
orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. The force is derived
from the sun.

The Manipura Chakra with ten petals, spokes, undulations,

vibrations, and radiations is associated with feelings and
emotions. The colors of the radiation are alternately shades of
green and shades of red.

The Anahata Chakra is a glowing golden color along its 12

spokes.

The Visuddha Chakra has 16 spokes with blue light looking like
a moon on rippling water. Blue and green alternate in its
sections.

The Ajna Chakra has one half rose and yellow and the other
half purplish blue. He speaks from his experience that each
half has 48 spokes or undulations; in all there are 96 though the
Indian texts describe only two petals.

The Sahasrara Chakra has a predominantly violet hue, though it

is "the most resplendent with indescribable chromatic effects"

and rapid vibrations. He puts a precise number of spokes to a
number 960. Another special experience reveals to him a
"central subsidiary whirlpool of gleaming white flushed
withGOLD in its heart having 12 undulations of its own." The
radiations cover the head like a cap. Its initial size is that of
other Chakras; it increases in its circumference so as to cover
the whole top of the head; the epicenter of the disc is the
receiving area of the extraneous force for all Chakras; once the
practitioner is mature and accomplished , the Chakra is no
longer receiving but radiating energy.

He believes that there is a force deep down in the earth; he calls

it the laboratory of the Holy Ghost, the place of the terrific fire
of the underworld, which is in contrast to the fire of vitality that
comes from the sun.

The initiation of a Twice-born boy into thread ceremony, its

integration with Kundalini Yogam.

Yagnopavitam or Sacred thread ceremony and Gayatri

In Hinduism, all ceremonies need initial purification; the

sacred Thread (yagnopavitam or Punnul in Tamil) ceremony
(Yajnopavita Samskara, Pavitra Aropahanam - Upanayanam of
the Brahmin boys is one example. The cord has three strands,
which stand for Cit, Acit, and Isvara; three knots represent the
trilateral relationship of these three Tattvas; each strand has nine
filaments, which represent Prithvi (earth), aap (water), tejas
(light), vayu (air), ether, prana (breath), atman (individual soul),
antaratman (Inner Soul), Paramatman (Supreme Atman, God).
The cord is made of cotton hand picked by a Brahmin of the
same sect and spun into the sacred thread. Once the Brahmin
boy is married, six to nine strands take the place of three
strands. The three strands with mandatory knots indicate that he
has gained control over his body, mind and speech. The
ceremony is Upanayanam, a purificatory rite by which the
young Brahmin boy (some other castes too) is purified, attains a
second birth, and is allowed to study Vedas. It takes place 8
years after conception for a Brahmin, 11 years for
a Ksatriya (warrior class) and 12 years for a Vaisya TRADE
and agriculture). The day following the ceremony witnesses the

investiture of the cord.

During the ceremony, the boy's mother wraps a loincloth

around his waist and gives him the following advice.

My son, you should regard all woman up to the age of 24 as

your mother; you should maintain celibacy, study sacred
scriptures, and meditate on Gayatri Mantra which will be
given to you today. May the Universal Mother Gayatri give you
protection.

The GuruINVESTS him with the sacred thread and chants the
Mantra.

This holy thread is of Supreme sacredness. Prajapatis

(primary progenitors) have blessed this thread. Wearing it over
your body and shoulder confers longevity.
The Yajnopavitam(sacred thread) will endow you with strength
and radiance.

This ceremony of initiation and investiture gives him the

privilege of second birth and thus makes him the twice-born
(Dvija) at the age of eight, which in essence tells him that a
transformation has come upon him rendering him eligible to
study Vedas, the revelations. The three threads and or knots
stand for many triunes or triads: Brahma, Vishnu and Siva;
Sarasvati, Lakshmi, and Kali; the three attributes of nature and
people, Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas; three letters of Om, A, U, M;
past, present and future; three states of the body, gross, subtle
and causal; three states of consciousness, wakefulness, dream
sleep and deep sleep; three worlds, heaven, earth and
netherworld; three Nadis, Ida, Pingala and Susumna and three
feet ofGayatri. The three important Nadis in the body are
Susumna, the most important and the other two, Pingala (right)
and Ida (left) Nadis. Kundalini Devi along with Prana rises
through Susumna Nadi to reach Sahasrara Chakra for union
with Siva. Kundalini Power. Since ego is sacrificed, the thread
derives its name from Yajna and is called Yajnopavita.

The Brahmana boy wears white cotton thread; the Ksatriya,

red hemp; Vaisya, yellow wool. White Cotton may satisfy all.

(Brahmachari [student bachelor] wears one set of three

strands; Grahastha, (householder) two sets of 3
strands; Vanaprastha (forest recluse), three sets of three
strands; and Sannyasi (the renouncer), one or four sets.) The
thread is worn on the left shoulder and goes diagonally to the
right side of the chest under the right arm: this pattern of wear
is Upavita, which (the lower loop) should not descend below
the navel line or ascend above the nipple line. The thread
should be hung over the right ear while answering calls of
nature, so that it is kept pure.Praciniviti: The sacred thread
hangs over the right shoulder and under the left arm, when the
Brahmana performs libations (Tarpanam) to forefathers
(pitrs). Niviti: The sacred thread is worn on the neck like a
chain or garland when he performs Tarpanas for human beings.

Tarpana = libations of water to gods, rishis and manes;

satiation of gods and deceased persons.

The priest dons him with the thread and gives him
the Gayatri Mantra. GAYATRI The affair is more elaborate
than what I mentioned here. The young initiate goes to beg for
food, while the fire of Yajna continues. He approaches woman
and says, "Om bhavati bhikshaam dehi." (O good woman,
please give me alms (food.) To the male donor he says,
Om bhavaan bhiksaam dehi." Once the alms are given, the
recipient says, "Om Svasti." Svasti = may it be well with
thee.

The knots in the sacred thread and their Kundalini

significance.

The primary knot is Brahmagranthi, the knot of Brahma.

There are three Granthis (Junctional points, Knots, Junctions,
hurdles): Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra Granthis. Granthis are
equated to the levels of consciousness. Brahma Granthi of
Muladhara (and Svadhistana and Manipura) Chakra is physical
consciousness; Vishnu Granthi of Anahata Chakra is the Sphere
of the Sun and therefore of Light, the beginning of Spiritual
Consciousness; The Rudra Granthi of Ajna Chakra is the sphere
of the Moon, the center of Spiritual Consciousness. The

Brahmana boy with his initiation, study and practice of

kundalini Yoga goes from human consciousness, strives
towards spiritual consciousness and blossoms out in spiritual
consciousness.

The thread is exchanged for a new one once every four

months and in case of death or birth in the family with attendant
purificatory rites. The old thread is removed after the new one
is in place.

Gayatri Mantra:

Om Bhr Bhuvah Svah

Tat Savitur Varenyam

Bhargo devasya dhmahi

Dhiyo yonah pracodayt

Bhr Bhuvah Svah represent the Kundalini Chakras at three

levels of existence of the human: at the lowest human of
existence in the lower chakras, the middling existence in
intermediate Anahata and Visuddha chakras and the highest
spiritual existence in Ajna and Sahasrara Chakras. They
represent body, mind and soul. Tat Savitur Varenyam: That
adorable Light is present always and beyond
Time. Bhargo devasya dhmahi: Its radiance and effulgence
are so powerful that it can lift the darkness of the
soul. Dhiyo yonah pracodayt: Let the Divine Light dispel the
spiritual darkness and bring in intelligence, wisdom,
discrimination, and awareness. Sun, Light, splendor, darkness
are used as analogy. When the sun rises at dawn it removes
darkness; likewise when meditation brings on the Inner Light, it
dispels the darkness of the soul and augments intelligence.
Gayatri mantra cures diseases of the body, mind and soul;
removes all three miseries, exogenous, endogenous, and
Theogenous (Adibautika, Adiatmika, and Adidaivika);
fructifies all desires; bestows grace and boons; and confers
intelligence, wisdom and discrimination. The word Theo-

genous is coined by me. Gayatri instills all good qualities and

eradicates all bad ones.

Exogenous misery: Adibautika: Evil proceeding from external

things or beings. Exogenous miseries and obstacles come from
the outer world of beings and matter. Lifestyle change can help
ameliorate this misery.

Endogenous misery: Adiatmika: Evil proceeding from

Self. Endogenous miseries and obstacles come from the body,
mind and soul; they need mending from proper specialists.

Theogenous misery: Adidaivika: (Adidhaiva = god-sent

= Arising from the gods. Theogenous miseries and obstacles
are god-sent and include natural disasters like floods,
hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis.... They could be part of
karmic baggage of an individual.

Exogenous misery: Adibautika: Evil proceeding from external

things or beings

Endogenous misery: Adiatmika: Evil proceeding from

Self. colds, cancers, diseases of body and mind.

Theogenous misery: Adidaivika: (Adidhaiva = god-sent

= Arising from the gods, or accidents)

Kundalini Sadhakas and Yogis ascend from Adhara Chakras to

Niradhara Chakras. Adhara Chakras are body = dependant:
Muladhara, Svadhistana, Manipura, Anahata, Visuddha and
Ajna Chakras located in the base of the spine, genital area,
navel, heart, throat and forehead. Niradhara Chakra has no

physical support.

Tirumular gives time lines piercing the various Chakras. Go

to Kundalini Power for details. These are the time lines for
piercing the nine Centers: sixth center on the 20th day, seventh
Center at Fire Mandala on the 25th day, eighth Center at Solar
Mandala on the 26th day, ninth Center at Lunar Mandala on the
27th day. (It takes Prana 27 days to travel from Muladhara
Chakra to the Lunar Mandala in Kundalini Yoga.)

On the twenty = eighth day, you obtain vision of the three

Mandalas, each separately; on the thirty = third day, you obtain
one panoramic view of all Mandalas. Extend your vision and
see the twenty = four Tattvas, the earth and other elements in
that order. (This is like the astronaut's view of the earth; but the
Yogi's prana and Consciousness travel greater distances.)

Material obtained from Woodroffe. Diagram is based on the

written material.

Ajna Chakra is 6th Chakra. Between the 6th Chakra and

Sahasrara Chakra are minor chakras, Manas and Soma (Moon).
Manas (Mind) lotus of 6 petals is the seat of sensation of
hearing, touch, sight, smell, taste, and experiencing of dream
and hallucination. Above these centers is Adya Sakti, 12petalled Chakra within the pericarp of Sahasrara Chakra. Above
these are Sun, Moon, Maha = Vayu and Brahma Randhra. See
diagram. The square in the middle of the triangle is the seat of
Sakti (A-ka-tha Sakti). Adya Sakti is obviously female Sakti
meaning the Original Sakti and is the origin of the universe.
She is also Kali. Adya Sakti originates from attributeless
Brahman; that is primary manifestation. The secondary
manifestation is Ahamkara which is made of three Gunas,
Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. From Tamas originates the five
senses: sound, touch, color and vision, touch and smell. From
Sattvic Guna come the five sensory organs, which in turn give
rise to earth, water, fire, air, and sky. There are many variant
descriptions on the origination of senses, organs, the Great
elements, the Tanmatras.

Manas Chakra is a minor Chakra and a lotus of six

petals above Ajna Chakra. These petals are the seat of
sensations of hearing, touch, sight,
smell, taste, and centrally initiated sensations in
dream and hallucination. --Woodroffe page 127-128
The Serpent Power.

Soma Chakra (moon Chakra) is above Ajna Chakra but within

Sahasrara Chakra just above the third eye in Bhru-Madya (the
forehead). It is crescent-shaped and obviously white. In the
region of Soma Chakra is the house without support
(Niralambapuri) where Yogis witness radiant Isvara, the seven
causal bodies, which are the intermediate aspects of Adya Sakti
(lotus with 12 white petals--Soma Chakra Lotus). Some texts
say it has 16 petals. It is near the pericarp of Sahasrara
chakra. Adya Sakti with 12 petals is the A-KA-Tha Triangle
(See detailed depiction of AKATHA triangle TANTRA ). A-Ka-

Tha triangle surrounds Manipitha (jeweled Altar) on the isle

of gems (Manidvipa) in the Ocean of Nectar. A-Ka-Tha Sakti is
the centerpiece (the Square in diagram) of the inverted triangle.
If one were to circumambulate the triangle, the triangle is on
the left of the votary, meaning that one moves in anticlockwise
direction around the Akatha Triangle.

The idea is that the Yogi in his ascent has to climb all these
levels to attain realization. Each level is a rung in the staircase
leading to realization. The Sakti is also the progenitor of the
universe and beings. Nada and Bindu are on either side of
Jeweled Altar within the triangle, as seen on the diagram. This
is known as Nada-Bindu-Manipitha Mandalam. The Guru
abides in the altar, worthy of meditation and worship. Bija is
Parasakti Maya; Bija, Nada,
and Bindu are Fire, Moon and Sun. Nada the Moon is white.
Bindu the Sun is red. The body of NAda, Bindu and ManiPItha is Cit, Jnana or Pure Consciousness, not connected to
Maya, the Matter (Cinmaya = Jnanamaya = substance is
Knowledge, Consciousness), worthy of meditation.

Manipitha is the seat of Guru. Nada-Bindu-Manipitha

Mandalam or sphere. Nada is white, Bindu is red, Manipitha is
pale red. The Supreme Bindu is Para-Sakti-Maya (of the
substance of Siva and Sakti).

Remember Maya is different from MAyA. Maya means 'made of'

. MAyA or My is the external Potency of God, usually
considered as feminine power or nature. It is the cosmic
creative force; it is the fecund principle capable of producing
the universe and beings. It is also a force of preservation and
dissolution. It is mirific (according to SubraMuniyaSwamy),
meaning it works wonders. My means illusion by which man
takes the unreal for Real. The object of Real is to attain God.
The object of the unreal is to pursue the mirage of love, wealth,
greed....In Saivism, it is My Malam: Maya brings Tattvas to
the soul thus giving the soul a body and organs, which help the
soul acquire some rudimentary spiritual knowledge which to
certain extent weakens Anava Mala. My is thus a faint light
of the soul, while Siva in comparison is the sun. Once the soul
is mature, it is fit for merger with Siva. Primer in Saiva
Siddhanta. In Saiva Siddhanta, My has three divisions:
Suddha = Pure, Suddha-Asuddha = Pure-Impure and
Asuddha = Impure. The Impure has the My Tattva and its
evolutes which subject man to Time, order, limitations of

intellect as compared to Omniscient God and provide the world

for him to live in and mature. My is a world of constant
change. In Vaishnavism, Myis one of the energies of Vishnu:
My Sakti gives rise to Tattvas, building blocks of the
universe. BG04.

Nada is below Manipitha and Bindu is above it.

Siva Himself worships and encourages the votaries to worship

this 12-petalled lotus within the pericarp of Sahasrara Chakra,
the center of which is occupied by Sakti. These 12 petals have
12 letters inscribed on them (Lotus of 12 letters - DvAdasa
Arna SarasIruha). They are sa, ha, kha, phrem, ha, sa, ksa, ma,
la, va, ra, yUm. It is known as Gurumantra. The Pericarp of the
Sahasrara Chakra of one thousand petals is the abode for 12petal Adya Sakti Lotus with seats for Sakti, Surya Chakra,
Moon Chakra with 16 petals, Maha Vayu and Brahmarandhra.
The pericarp of the 12-petal lotus is part of the Pericarp of
Sahasrara Lotus. The Pericarp is the womb wherein abide all
the above entities. Citrini is the name of the stalk of the 12petal lotus; thus the lotus adorns Citrini. (note: kundal10.gif is
replaced by Kundal55.jpg.)

Sabdabrahman (Sound Brahman) is Clinical Brahman or God

or Goddess, meaning that He or She is not the impalpable,
invisible entity but the palpable, visible entity which is the
entire breathing pulsating universe. Everything you see, hear,
feel, taste, and touch, the forces of nature, the universe beyond
this earth are all goddess. Kamakala (Adya Sakti) is that
Sabdabrahman with three saktis: creation, maintenance and
destruction. It is the abode of power (Sakti = AbalAlayam =
AbalA + Alayam = Sakti + abode). This Sakti is
represented by an inverted triangle, the sides being Will,
Action and Knowledge. These three entities cannot be put in
any other form except a triangle. They are distinct in its parts
and yet the whole. The triangle has three corners occupied by
three Bindus: VAhini Bindu, fire; Chandra Bindu, Moon; Surya
Bindu (Sun). These lines are also called Sakti Vama (creation),
Sakti Jyesthi (maintenance) and Sakti Raudri (destruction). The
Saktis "sprout from three Bindus." The associated deities are
Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra with their respective spouses;
gunas, Rajas, Sattva and Tamas; and related portfolios. The
lines of the triangle are formed by 48 letters of Sanskrit
alphabet starting with Vowel A. The 16 Vowels form one line;
the 2nd line is that of 16 consonants starting with Ka; the 3rd
line is that of 16 Consonants starting with Tha; thus, the triangle
is called A-Ka-Tha Triangle. These lines are also called Vama
line, Jyesta line, and Raudri line. The line of Fire is Vama line;
the line of Moon is Jyesta line; the line of Sun is Raudri line.
These lines originate from the three Bindus. This inverted
triangle has A at its inverted apex, Ka at the left corner and Tha
at the right corner. The remaining alphabets, ha, la, ksha are in
the inside corners of the triangle. See the diagram below. The
line of Sattva(Jayestha; line of Vishnu, Moon, maintenance) is
at the top; the line of Tamas (Line of Raudri; line of Siva, Sun
and destruction) is on the right side of the Goddess ; the line
of Rajas (Line of Vama. line of Brahma, Fire and creation) is
on left side of the Goddess, who is called Abala meaning Sakti
and her abode is Abala-Alayam (AbalAlayam). She is also
called KAma-kalA in triangular form, the lines being Vama
line, Jyesta line, and Raudri line. These three lines (Saktis)
sprout from the three Bindus. She is KAmakalA composed of
three-sakti form (Trisakti-Rupa).

The three Bindus (Tri-bindu) are considered both as one entity

and three separate entities. Tri-bindu is the supreme Tattva,
includes Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, and the triangle made of
letters. Brahma line (line of Prajapati) is composed of letters A

to Visarga. Vishnu line is composed of letters from Ka to Ta.

The line of Siva (Raudri) is composed of letters from Tha to
Sa. Line of VAma or Line of Fire starts in the South at Vahini
Bindu and goes to North-East corner at Chandra Bindu. Line of
Moon or Line of Jyestha goes from North-East corner and
goes to North-West corner at Surya Bindu. The line of Sun or
the line of Raudri starts from the North-West corner at Surya
Bindu and goes south to Vahini Bindu. This Triangle joining the
three Bindus is KAmaKalA. Brahma-Fire is the origin of life,
Vishu-Moon is the preserver, Sun-Siva is the destroyer of the
universe. Sakti being coiled up in Bindu in the South springs
like a sprout goes in Vama (anti-clockwise) on the line of Fire
to Isana corner in the NE point. She is Vama Sakti. The she
goes to NW corner and back to South. The Bindus are also
known as Surya, Chandra and Vahini. (Siva line, Vishnu line,
and Brahma line). Within the triangle are the 2 imperishable
Bindus (Chandra and Surya Bindus at the upper corners),
which have the void in them in which abides Siva also
known as ParamaSiva.

Iccha, Rajas,VAmA, Brahma, and Pasyanti Sabda; Jnana,

Sattva, Jyestha, Vishnu, and Madhyama Sabda; Kriya,
Tamas, Raudri, Rudra and Vaikhari Sabda. These three
indicate the order in which the world of words, beings,
matter, and universe are created.

Iccha Sakti: Iccha in the form of a goad (AnkusakAra =

Vakra-rekha or bent line) is the Will or desire of Sakti, who
vomits (VAmanAt VAmA) the universe and is of the form of
Pasyanti sabda or Visual Sound. Brahma is the surrogate
God for Sakti to create the universe by virtue of Rajasa
Guna. Jyestha Sakti is in the form of a straight line
(Rjurekha) attains the state of MAtrkA (Mother) is
Madhyama Vak. Madhyama (middle, intermediate
Mental Sound): Its seat is the heart (Anahata Chakra). The
sound is of the heart and not of the tongue, associated with
Buddhi and NAda. Vishnu is the surrogate, Sakti uses to
maintain the world, by Sattva guna. Kriya Sakti is
Triangular or pyramidal in shape, uses Rudra to destroy the
universe as a Tamasa Guna and manifests as articulate
speech.

Hamsa Mantra is the inversion of Soham Mantra. Hasa =

Ha (HamkAra) + Sah (SAhkAra). HamkAra is Bindu and
Purusa (Pum-male) and SahkAra is Visarga and Prakrti

(female). The universe is pervaded by Hamsa. MANTRA. Sah

is inspiration and creation and Ha is expiration (out breath)
and dissolution of the universe and marks the end of the life of
Brahma. kundal35A.jpg

Hamsa is the High-Flying Bird and thus Paramatma. Its beak is

Tara (Om Mantra). Its two wings are Agama and Nigama,
which are the Tantric Doctrines from the mouths of Siva and
Parvati inculcating the worship of Siva-Sakti. Its three eyes are
the three Bindus. Its two feet are Siva and Sakti.

Antaratma is the Inner Atma of atomic dimension, which

pervades every object. It is the inner bodiness (AntarangatA),
the spark of Paramatma. It is Hamsa known only to Yogis.
When this Paramahamsa is spread (Vyapta) throughout creation
then all Bhutas
spring up in their order (Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth). This
Hamsa Bird displays itself in the Lake of Ignorance (Avidya) in
the mud of illusion and infatuation, which is the world. Hamsa
on becoming other-worldly and dissolving, it reveals the Atman
(Self). Then its birdness ceases. SohamAtma is established
which is supreme experience or Paramatma. Woodroffe

Hamsa Mantra of Visuddha Chakra is Ajapa Mantra, Chantless

Mantra. All of us recite this Mantra without volition. It is the
Mantra of every breath. Hamsa is Ham + Sa. Ham sound goes
out with the Out-breath and Sa goes in with the In-breath. It is
the Mantra of all beings. Hamsa is created and sustained by the
sun. This solar breath is the cause of human breath. The Cosmic
Counterpart of Hamsa is Siva-Sakti.

Hu Hasah Mantra: Ha or the sun when invoked by Mantra

raises the heat in Muladhara Chakra and wakes up and adtivates
Kundalini Sakti. Sah of the Mantra brings about the Will or
Iccha (desire) in the Goddess and makes Her rise up the
Chakras. Hum raises the heat and Sah moves Her up carrying
the Prana. This is facilitated by Asvini Mudra by which the
Yogi contracts and relaxes the anal muscles so that VAyu (Vital
air) ascends up the Susumna Nadi and pops as it enters.

Varivasya Rahasya says the following:

Brahma = Bharati = VAma = Iccha. Hari = Ksiti

= Jyestha = Jnana. Siva = AparnA = Raudri =
Kriya. The male elements in these three groups

are SAntA and the female elements are AmbikA.

1 Here Fire is the origin of life, and is therefore associated with

Brahma. Moon is associated with Visnu, And the Sun spoken of
here stands for the twelve suns (Aditya) which rise to burn the
world at dissolution (Pralaya).

--Woodroffe

Paduka pancha (Fivefold Footstool)

--Synopsis
Meditation on Paduka Pancha brings liberation-- Author
Swami Purnananda. (1526 CE)

PAdukA , the Footstool consists of:

(1) The (twelve-petalled) Lotus;
(2) the triangle A-Ka-Tha in its pericarp
(3) the region of the Nda, Bindu, and
Mani-ptha in it;
(4) the Hasa below; and
(5) the triangle on the Mani-ptha.

Footstool is euphemism for the five sacred elements in

Sahasrara listed above. One should meditate on and worship
this five-fold stool to attain liberation from the sea of Samsara
(cycle of birth, death and rebirth).

Antaratma, Guru, Surya Mandala, Chandra Mandala, MahaVayu and Brahma-randhara are one top of another in the
ascending fashion in the pericarp of Sahasrara, the pericarp
being the womb. The interior of the pericarp is the womb of
Sahasrara. The lotus of 12 petals is within the pericarp of the
White Lotus of a thousand petals of Sahasrara. The head of
Sahasrara is turned down; the pericarp is turned up; the
filaments are of the color of the rising sun; the thousand petals
contain all the letters of the alphabet.

Citrini is the stalk (tube); the twelve-petalled Lotus rests on

Citrini; Kundalini goes to Siva by this channel to Sahasrara.
Here in the Pericarp is Kama Kala (Sakti) triangular in form.
Three Saktis, Vama, Jyesta, and Raudri are the lines of the
triangle and emanate from three Bindus.

The pericarp of the 12-petalled Lotus is included within the

pericarp of the thousand-petalled Sahasrara Lotus; it is a
pericarp within a larger pericarp; it is a womb within a larger
womb.

A-Ka-Tha Triangle within the Pericarp of Sahasrara Lotus:

sixteen vowels A to Visarga form the Vama line; sixteen letters
from Ka to Ta form the Jayesta line; 16 letters from Tha to Sa
form the Raudri line. The triangle forms the abode of Sakti. The
Bindu sprouts these letters forming the triangle. These lines are
also called by several names: Vama line = line of Brahma = line
of Prajapati = line of Rajas. Jayesta line = line of Vishnu = Line
of Sattva. Raudri line = Line of Siva= Line of Tamas. These
lines surround Yoni Mandala. The letters and universe sprout
from Bindu. The three Bindus are considered as one and also
individually.

The letters Ha, La and Ksa stay as milestones at the inner

corners of the triangle, giving it the character of a Mandala. The
triangle's apex is pointing down. If one looks at the
triangle-- s-- with apex down, the inner corner at the apex
shows Ha, the right inner corner La and the left inner corner
Ksa.

If one has to take a walk around it, the triangle is always on

one's left, meaning that one should walk around it in an anticlockwise direction.

Within the triangle s there is a jeweled altar (Mani-Pitha) on

which the Guru sits. Jeweled altar outshines the lightning flash.
The Bindu is Siva and Sakti and yet Bindu divides itself into
three divisions: Bindu, Nada and Bija, which are Sun, Moon
and Fire respectively. Nada is white like Baladeva; Bindu is red
like the lustrous young sun.

Bindu, Nada and Bija do not make the jeweled altar, because
the altar is of the color of pale red gem; it is neither white nor
red. Nada is below the Mani-Pitha and Bindu is above it. ManiPitha is above Antaratma. Antaratma is Hamsa in the 12petalled Lotus. The eternal Guru sits on the Mani-Pitha like a
mountain of silver. One should meditate on all of the above
elements. The Pitha shines on account of the pale red luster of
the gems and puts to shame the reddish-yellow lightning flash.
(Guru is white like a mountain of silver and Bija is also white.
Mani-Pitha is also known as SimhAsana, the lion's seat. )

The body of Bindu, Nada and Mani-Pitha is Cinmaya or Jnanamaya, meaning that their substance is Pure Cit (Consciousness),
not associated with MAyA. Cinmaya body is the Bija Mantra
(Ai) of Sarasvati, the 12th vowel. (Maya is different from
MAyA; Maya means Chock-full . MAyA means Matter or
precursor of Matter. example: Ananda-maya = Chock-full of
Bliss or happiness.)

Hamsa-Pitha within the triangle on the Mani-Pitha between

Nada and Bindu is the place of the Guru. Hamsa is ParamaHamsa and both Prakrti and Purusa. Prakrti = Matter. Purusa =
the Supreme Being. MakAra is Bindu, which is Purusa and
Visarga is Sah, which is Prakrti. Hamsah is formed by the union

of Ham (Pum-Male) and Sah (Prakrti-Female). This is the

beginning and end of creation. Ham is Siva and Sah is Sakti.
Ham is out-breath (Ni-vsa) and Sah is in-breath ( vsa). The
duration of out-breath is the life of Brahma the creator, when
the world is alive with life. The end of in-breath is dissolution
and return of life and matter into the repository of Prakrti.
Creation is out-breath and dissolution is in-breath. The life-span
of Brahma is 311.04 Trillion earth years. Within day and night
of Brahma's life there is secondary creation and destruction
based on his day full of life and night of withdrawal of life. He
is just past His middle age now. Brahma's day and night is equal
to 8.64 billion years. Brahma's day precedes a night of equal
duration. There are two thousand Yugas or periods in Brahma's
one day and one night, which last (4.32 billion years X 2) 8.64
billion earth-years. When he retires for the night after 4.32
billion years of day time, the whole universe (the three worlds,
Bhu, Bhuvah, and Swah) is absorbed into him. These worlds
are consumed by fire emitted by the serpent God, Lord
Sankarsana and the heat is intense and felt in the world above.
It gets so hot in the upper Maharloka, the abode of Bhrgu Muni,
that he moves to a higher and safer location namely Janaloka.
The oceans swell and swallow all three worlds. In the midst of
all this devastation, Lord Hari, surrounded and praised by Sri,
Bhu, Rudra, Sanatkumara and others, the usual residents of
Janaloka, reclines on His Snake-bed in the ocean with His eyes
closed as if sleeping and unconcerned, but in reality in
meditation and full awareness (Yoga-Nidra = sleep meditation
with full awareness, one of the Vishnu's Yoga mys.)

Hamsa is the Universe, (which is pervaded by

Hamsa). Anataratma, Guru, Hamsah and Parama Siva are all
the same. Parama Siva is seated on Hamsa Pita, which is
Mantramaya. Hamsa is also the all-powerful Great Light which
devours the universe.

One meditates on the lines of Fire, Sun and Moon, and ManiPitha illumined by the light of the three lines.

The line of Fire or the Line of VAmA or Brahma emanates

from Vahni Bindu (Vahni = Fire) in the south and goes to the
North-East corner. The Line of Moon or Line of Jyestha or
Vishnu emanates from the Chandra-Bindu in the North-East
corner and goes to the Surya Bindu in the North-West corner.
The Line of Sun or Line of Raudri or Sambhu emanates from
Surya Bindu in the North-West corner and goes south to the

Vahni Bindu. This triangle thus formed, is KAma KalA. Guru is

seated on Visarga, which consists of two Bindus (ChandraMoon and Surya-Sun) at the upper angles of the inverted
triangle; Moon is in the NE corner and the Sun is in the NW
corner. Within the two Bindus, OO, in the Void, is Siva known
as Parama Siva.

She (KAma KalA), of the form of letters on the lines, stays

coiled up in the subtle form of Kundali, comes out as a
sprouting seed from the south, goes to the IsAna corner (NE
corner) and is known as Sakti Varna, CitkalA ParA and Line of
Fire. She returns to the place of sprouting in the south corner.

Parama-Hamsa is also known as Antaratma which is NOT

Jivatma. Antaratma is the Paramatma, the Supreme Universal
Soul who is the Inner Soul (Antar Atma) of all beings. Jivatma
has the appearance of the flame of lamp.

Purananda swami says, " I adore the Lotus Feet of the Guru
resting on the jeweled five-fold footstool. The feet look like
young leaves. The nails look like shining moons." Adoration
here means meditation on the footstool and the feet of the Guru,
which destroys all sins. The feet of the Guru is seen in the space
between the pericarps of the two Lotuses (12-petal lotus and
1000-petal Sahasrara Lotus). Nectar flows from the feet of
Guru. The nectar offers liberation.

The Guru abides in the pericarp of the 12-petal lotus. Kankala

Malini says that one should meditate on the excellent Antaratma
of a thousand petals, on the shining throne between Nada and
Bindu, on the throne and on the Guru. Guru's cool beauty is like
that of the full moon. His lotus Hands are raised to grant boons
and dispel fear.

Hamsa Pitha is the seat of the Guru with the smiling face and
remains within the A-Ka-Tha Triangle in the region of Chandra
Mandala in the pericarp of Sahasrara Lotus, which (the
pericarp) points upwards, while the head of the Sahasrara lotus
is turned downwards. Remember that the pericarp of the 12petal lotus is in the pericarp of Sahasrara Lotus. So Guru's place
is in the pericarp of the 12-petal Lotus and also of the pericarp

of Sahasrara Lotus.

This hymn of praise of fivefold Footstool was sung by the Lord

Himself. Anyone who hears or read these hymns attain the fruit
of liberation.

PAdukA , the Footstool consists of:

(1) The (twelve-petalled) Lotus;

(2) the triangle A-Ka-Tha in its pericarp

(3) the region of the Nda, Bindu, and Mani-ptha in it;

(4) the Hasa below; and

(5) the triangle on the Mani-ptha.

Or they may be counted thus:

(I) The Lotus (i.e., twelve-petalled);

(2) the triangle (A-Ka-Tha);

(3) Nda-Bindu;

(4) the Mani-ptha Man d ala;

(5) the Hasa---which is above it and taken collectively

form the triangular Kma-kal."

The five faces of Siva are Western Sadyojata, Northern left

Vama Deva, Southern (right) Aghora, and Eastern (front)
Tatpurusa and Isana, on whom one should meditate. These are
locations of the faces as the spectator looks at them. His
western face looks in the easterly direction.

Siva actually has six faces: All of the five faces and the
concealed 6th face, Tamasa, which Nilakanta of the color of
dark blue caused by poison, Kala kuta. These faces spoke the
hymns of praise to Siva. By listening, reciting, meditation and
Sadhana one would obtain the fruit of liberation.

The three lines take origin from three Bindus, which are the
Sun, the Moon and the Fire. Brahma line is line of Rajas;
Vishnu line is line of Sattva, Line of Siva or Rudra is Tamas.
These lines enclose Yoni Mandala. The Sattva line is horizontal;
the Rajas line is on its left and the Tamas line is on its right as
in the diagram. This Triangle is the Abode of Sakti
(AbalAlaya). Iccha, creative Will, or KAma is Siva-Sakti and
KalA is their manifestation. KAma is desire; KalA is
manifestation of Iccha Sakti. SAkti
is KAmakalA (Desire Manifestation), Tripurasundari. Siva is
KAmesvara and Sakti is KAmesvari. She is Tripure, who is the
treasure of Kula and a red beauty. Tripure = three cities; three
Bindus (three circles); three lines; three angles; three syllables;
three lines of Bhupura of Sri Yantra; creator of three Devis
(Vama, Jyestha, Raudri) and three Devatas (Brahma, Vishnu
and Rudra); Iccha, Jnana and Kriya; three Kutas; three Bindus
as the face and two breasts; Rajas, Sattva, and Tamas. Traipura
Trikona (Triangle)in Muladhara is the Sthula aspect of the
Suksma Sakti in Sahsrara

She is Cit-KalA (Consciousness Manifestation).

Another source tells that Parasakti is Bindu whose components

are Bindu, Nada and Bija; Sun, Moon and Fire; Nada and Bindu
form the Anandamaya Kosa, the sheath of Consciousness and
Bliss associated with Sadasiva Tattva.

Above the Visuddha Chakra and below the Ajna Chakra

is LalanA Lotus Chakra located at the palate and also in the
Manas Chakra and Soma Chakra above the Ajna Chakra. The

Vrttis (Moral Qualities) of LalanA Chakra are mostly good;

those of the Svadhistana and Manipura Chakras are all bad;
those of the AnAhata lotus Chakra are mixed; those of Soma
Chakra are good. As you may notice the moral qualities rise as
one goes up the Chakras and as one adopts higher principles. In
the 12-petalled Adya Sakti Chakra in the Pericarp of Sahasrara
Chakra, Sakti also known as KAmakalA abides. Causal Body of
the embodied soul ( Karana Sarira of Jiva) resides between the
Ajna Chakra and the Sahasrara Chakra. That space is the abode
of Viloma Saktis descending from Unmani to Bindu. See the
diagram below- Viloma-Anuloma. Viloma Saktis from 12 to 6
are the seven creative ones. These Saktis correspond to Suddha
Tattvas. TATTVAS-36. Bindu6 is in Isvara Tattva; Bodini7,
Nada8, Nadanta9 are in Sadakhya or Sadasiva
Tattva; Vyapika10 and Samani11 are in Sakti Tattva and the
latter contains seven KalAs; Unmani12 is in Siva
Tattva. These Tattvas are two-way street. When Unmani12 is
in a creative mood, there is evolution and thus a cascade
downstream fromUnmani12 to Muladhara1 takes place; the
result is creation of the universe and beings. The Creative
Aspect of Sakti comes to rest in Muladhara Chakra as Kundali.
When retrograde involution takes place either on an individual
basis or on a massive cosmic scale, Kundali absorbs all the
material elements of the lower Chakras and the soul in its
pristine state wants to go to its source Unmani. The Isvara
Tattva (Bindu6 ) is the distal point at which the impulse to
create becomes a certainty and compulsion on its evolutionary
downstream; that is taking birth as an embodied being in this
world. Sadasiva Tattva (Bodini7, Nada8, Nadanta9 ) is the
liberating Sakti and the gathering point at which the returning
soul has committed to go back to Unmani on its upstream
move; that is liberation. The downstream is evolution and path
of Pravrrti; the upstream return journey is Nivrrti or
involution. Samani has seven KalAs, parts or
manifestations: Nivrtti, Pratistha. Vidya, Santi. The names of
the other three KalAs are not available in the literature. Sri
Netra Tantra names the seven kalAs of Samani Sakti: Sarvajna,
SarvagA, DurgA, SavarnA, SphanA, Dhrti, Samana. Sarada
says that there are seven saktis: Paramesvara as Satchidananda1,
Siva2, Sakti3, KArana Bindu4, KArya Bindu5, KArya
NAda6,and Bija7. In Kundalini Yoga, there are
corresponding seven
Saktis: Unmani1, Samani2, Anji3, Mahanada4, Nada5, Ardhac
handra6, and Bindu7. A combination of all these Saktis with
Om gives a list of 12 Saktis: UnmanA1,
SamanA2, VyApika3, Anjani4, Mahanada5, Nada6, Nirodhini7,
Ardhachandra8, Bindu9, Ma-KAra10, U-KAra11, AKAra12. Ardhachandra6 =Ardhadhendu.

Anjani has five parts: 1) Suksma [The most important Central

Nadi], 2) Susuksma, 3) Amrta, 4) Amrta-Sambhava,
5) Vyapini. Nada has four parts: 1) Indhika [kindling/ kindler,
nature of knowledge], 2) Dipika, 3) Rocika, 4)
Mocika. Nirodhini Sakti has five parts or kalAs: 1) Rundhini
[obstructing, Obscurant], 2) Rodhini (Obstructing), 3) Raudri
(Fearsome), 4) Jnanabodha (Consciousness of Wisdom), 5)
Tamopaha (dispeller of darkness). Rodhini and Rundhani are
obstructive forces which prevent lower deities like Brahma
from attaining higher state of Nada. Nada is the Supreme Sakti.
These KalAs are Sarvadeva-Nirodhika (the doorkeepers and
Bouncers). The spiritually advanced souls can pass through
these gates, while less developed souls cannot go past the
obstructions. All these subdivision you note in the above two
paragraphs are facilitators and obstructors who facilitate
spiritual souls (by preventing any fall from above or allowing
them to go past the obstruction) and obstruct the undeveloped
ones from climbing up. Siva-Sakti will merge only with Pure
Souls. The beauty of facilitators is that they do not allow a
Perfected Pure soul to fall down. Nirodha = holding back.
Vyapti = all pervasiveness. Nirodika = Subtle energy or force
in Pranava (Om).

NAda and Bindu emanate from Sakti. Parasiva and ParAsakti,

ontologically superior to Nada and Bindu, are Soundless and
motionless (NiSabda) and NiSpanda). Sabda = sound.
Spanda = contraction and expansion, vibration, motion.
Nada transforms into Bindu which is Isvara Tattva, the origin of
the worlds. Bindu's abode is Satyaloka, which abides in the
pericarp of the thousand-petalled Lotus, Sahasrara Chakra in
the highest cerebral Center.

Woodroffe (1865-1936) says, "the universe is withdrawn into

the Sakti which projected it. It collapses, so to speak, into a
mathematical point without any magnitude whatever. That is
the Siva-Bindu, which is again withdrawn into Siva-SaktiTattva which produced it. The Serpent Power page 34-35.

When the universe collapses on itself and compacts, it becomes

a superdense object namely Bindu, which is Sakti and Isvara
Tattva, Later it becomes a mathematical point without
magnitude. We think of ourselves as Aham (subject) and
everything else is Idam (object). Panchadasi defines Idam as
follows: All that are perceived by the sensory organs, motor
organs, the mind, Buddhi, and scriptures come under IDAM

(Panchadasi 2.18). Supreme Consciousness in its descent

becomes divided into 'subject and object in time and space.' Woodroffe. Sakti divides again into Bindu, Nada and Bija.
When Sakti creates the objective world from that
infinitesimally subtle point, it starts as a subtle state from Sakti
Tattva and NAda. The created world becomes gross and
massive and is the Bindu. Naturally Bindu can go either way,
one to become subtle in its retrograde movement and another to
become the Gross World of Objects in the phenomenal world.
Let me illustrate this point. Let us take the air. The air is
translucent and shows no objects. If you apply condensation,
you can draw water from the air. Water in the air is subtle.
Water after condensation is gross. It can become grosser in the
form of ice if you apply freezing temperature to the water. The
same water becomes subtle again when you boil it , it
disappears in the air and becomes subtle again. Thus Bindu is
Void in the state of the Supreme Brahman, until the latter in the
form of Sakti applies its creative energy to make the Void into
objective world. The Void can be compared to Singularity, the
point of condensation with no dimension in the Black Hole.

The point of condensation in a Black Hole is non-rotating

uncharged Singularity with zero length, width and height. This
is what Hindus call Avyakta (Unmanifest)*. The present
conjecture is that there is a Worm Hole connecting the Black
Hole and a single (or ramified) White Hole, which is the origin
of the new world of matter and beings. *Woodroffe (18651936) says, "the universe is withdrawn into the Sakti which
projected it. It collapses, so to speak, into a mathematical point
without any magnitude whatever." The Serpent Power page 3435.

Judaism is also of the belief that the world came into existence
out of nothing (Singularity of science, Avyakta of Hindus).

Bindu as a Point, Light, and object is represented by a solid

circle. This is world of objects, Phonemes, sounds, words,
manifestations.... In retrograde migration of the soul upwards,
the objective world looses part of its objectivity and thus the
Sakti looks curved like the crescent moon; it is not a solid circle
anymore. Later with further loss of objectivity at the level
ofNirodhika, it assumes a straight flat line. It
is Nirodhika because it is an obstructor and prevents imperfect
Yogis going into higher state of Nada. It also prevents the Nada
Yogis from falling down to lower states. This is migration from

the world of gross sound to the world of subtle sound, still

sound (NAda) and Sakti. Kashmir Saivism says that Bindu is
the undivided Light in the realms of the Moon, Sun, and Fire.
Bindu is Light and Vibration (Prakasa and Vimarsa). PrakasaBindu is the undifferentiated Light and Vimarsa-Nada is the
origin of all languages. The highest manifestation of Bindu is
undifferentiated VAsaka and VAkya (word and object
denoted). Varivasya Rahsya says that circular Bindu shines
like a lamp in the middle of the forehead (Ajna Chakra). The
Ardhachandra is seated just above that. Rodhini above it is
triangular in shape and has the brightness of moonlight. NAda
resembling a ruby appears as two circles with a line between
them. NAdAnta resembles a plough with Bindu on top. Sakti
has the appearance of two circles with a line above the left
circle. VyApika is a triangle sitting on top of a Bindu. SamanA
resembles two vertical Bindus. UnmanA is a Bindu with the
line on top. Unmani is formless and is known as Maha-SUnya
(Great Void).

Ardhachandra (half-moon) has five kalAs: 1) Jyotsna (moonlight), 2) JyotsnAvati, 3) KAnti, 4) SuprabhA, 5) VimalA; all
are of the nature of brilliance of moon-light. Ardhachandra
resides in Isvara Tattva4. Ardhachandra is the stage in the yogic
spiritual development experienced in and above Ajna Chakra
before ascending to Nada, Nadanta, and on to Sakti orAnjani4.

In Ajna Chakra Lotus:

Above Bindu, Ardha-Chandra with five KalAs: JyotsnA,

JyotsnAvati, KAnti, SuprabhA, VimalA
Above Archachandra is Nibhodika with 5 KalAs: Bandhati,
Bodhini, BodhA, JnAna-BodhA, and TamopahA
Above Nibhodika is NAda with its 5 KalAs: IndhikA, RecikA,
UrdhvagA, TrAsA, and ParamA.
Above Nibhodika is Isvara with 5 heads, 3 eyes in each head,
matted hair, trident.
He goes up and embraces Urdhva-Gamini.

When Nada morphs itself to manifest sound, it becomes

Nirodhini or Nirodhika. Lower deities like Brahma cannot
move above this level because they are unable to grasp the
undifferentiation of Siva or Nada.

NAda is dominant in Action (Kriya). Sakti Tattva presents

itself as NAda (Kriyasaktirupa= Siva-Sakti = Supreme NAda
(paranada) and Para-Vak or Supreme Speech. NAda is Sadasiva
Tattva and Sakti Tattva. Nada is Sound, devoid of particularities
such as letters. NAda is the First product of SIVA-SAKTI
Mithuna. Sound is movement. MahaNada and Nadanta are
stages in the movement (Spanda) of Nada. Sakti fills the whole
Universe with NAdAnta, which is the First beginning
movement. Mahabindu or Bindu is the second product which
differentiates as Sabdabrahman, ready to create sound with
meaning. Mahabindu is the precursor to Bindu. Bindu is the
Void and Supreme Brahman with Creative Sakti. Supreme
Bindu (Para Bindu) is Isvara, Mahavishnu of the Vaishnavas,
Siva of Saivas, Devi of Saktas and Brahmapurusa for others.
Parabindu is the state before manifestation and that precursor

state is called "Ma.", meaning that Siva-Sakti is enveloped in

MAyA. Para Bindu is also known as Isvara Tattva. When Ma
undergoes differentiation into three Saktis (Bindu, Nada and
Bija), the Universe comes into being. Bindu is One Massive
Consciousness (Cidghana: Cid = Consciousnesses; Ghana =
Mass), in which the universe exists in a massive
undifferentiated state. This is Parama Siva who contains all the
Devatas (gods). It is this Bindu that the gods worship. This
Bindu is Chandrabindu (Nada-Bindu) in its many phases and
mantras: Sakti, SAnta and Bija. Bindu's in its cosmic aspect is
in Satyaloka while in its bodily microcosmic aspect is in the
pericarp of the Sahasrara in the highest cerebral center. Bindu is
compared to a seed with two cotyledons (Siva and Sakti) in
undivided union and a sheath, which is MAyA. Bindu in
Satyaloka is formless without any anthropomorphic features
like hands and feet, surrounded by MAyA, which has the power
to create. She (Bindu) is Sun, Moon and Fire. She with intent to
create (Unmukhi) becomes two: Siva and Sakti. She starts
indulging in creative ideation (Srstikalpana). Bindu becomes
two, Siva and Sakti in creation and reverts back to unitary
existence in dissolution (Pralaya). Parabindu is the Principal of
all creation, of the Tattvas from Buddhi14, Ahamkara15, Manas16,
hearing17 tactile sense18, vision and color19, tasting20, smell21,
speech22, grasp23, ambulation24, evacuation25, procreation26,
sound27, palpation28, form29, taste30, odor31, ether32, air33, fire34,
water35 Earth36.TATTVAS-36, and their Lords ( Tattvesa), of the
Sound creation, and other transformational (VikAra or
ParnAma Sristi) creations. Consciousness has dichotomised
into subject and object. Sakti2 Tattva takes on the roles of
Bindu, Nada and Bija. Bindu or Sabdabrahman is the
immediate source of Sabda and Artha (sound and meaning).
The third product is Tribindu: Bindu, NAda and Bija
(KAmakalA). The fourth product is Sabda, just sounds of future
Varnas (letters) and later, development of Sthulasabda (gross
sound = letters) takes place Nirodhini is the completed
movement of the Original NAda. After completion of last
movement it becomes Bindu in its second movement. All Bija
Mantras have Nada and Bindu (Chandrabindu--Moon-dot).

Nirodhini Sakti stays between Sadasiva Tattva (Will or Iccha

Sakti) and Isvara Tattva. One has to be a Pure Soul to go to and
past Sadasiva Tattva. When the Yogi is qualified to rise,
Nirodhini Sakti does not offer any obstruction and lets him
obtain Grace in Sadasiva Tattva. Iccha Sakti is a facilitator in
the rise of the deserving Yogi. Nirodhini Sakti obstructs
undeserving Yogi from entering into Nada. The Yogi on the
ascent goes past Nadanta (end of Nada) and arrives at the stage

of Vyapini, wherein a sensation of pervasive spiritual bliss far

beyond the physical body into the expansive sky takes place. At
this stage of development, all positive and negative existential
elements cease, only Manana (the faculty of mentation)
remains and the stage Samana (Samani2) is reached. The
uppermost stage is Unmana (Unmani1) when all mentation
ceases to exist and the Yogi becomes one with Siva
Consciousness; Here is Niskala Siva and Parama Siva. (In
Kundalini Yoga, there are corresponding seven
Saktis: Unmani1, Samani2, Anji3, Mahanada4, Nada5, Ardhac
handra6, and Bindu7 - Here the depiction is descent &
development of Tattvas (Tattva-Srsti); Yogi on his ascent
goes from AUM to Bindu, Ardhachandra, Nada, Mahanada,
Anji, Samani and Unmani.)

Unmani is NirAkAra and NiruccAra - formless, without

utterance, undefined by any adjective. She is beyond mind,
speech and Universe. Each Goddess or entity has
UccAranakAla ( "the Utterance Time") which you can
safely assume is not practicable. You may or may not utter
it in mental time. Sakti Unmani is uttered in 1/256 of a
mAtra. 1 Matra is equal to 2/5ths of a second, the time it
takes to wink or say Om. This minute time is an indication
of Yogi transcending the empirical limitations of Time,
Form, Sound or Word. What is not utterable in 0.00156 sec
(1/256 Matra) is a challenge and amounts to limitation of
Man as compared to Goddess Unmani. It is like the Mental
Time it takes for you to travel from Tokyo to Timbuktu in 1
Matra ( 0.4 second) or from here to the moon and back.

Kashmiri Trika system and Saiva Siddhanta recognize five

forms of consciousness. They are 1) Siva of Highest
Consciousness, 2) Mantramahesvaras who can rise to Sadasiva
level, 3)Mantresvaras who can rise to Isvara Tattva level,
4) Vijnanakalas who are above the lower kalAs, and
5) Pralayakalas, who have survived dissolution and are subject
to rebirth on account of unresolved and residual
Karma. Sakalars who are subject to all three Malas (Anava,
Maya and Karma Malas or impurities) have human
consciousness. Theses states from below develop higher
consciousness as they rise. The soul according to Saiva
Siddhanta.

kundal56.jpg

You may notice here that the Tattvas, Saktis and KalAs are
one and the same depending on their hierarchical position. It
is like the Company CEO holding many positions and
portfolios at the same time. His designations, job
descriptions and powers are many and different according to
the hierarchical position of the individual entity. Sakti is a
Jill of All TRADES . There are also many confusing
overlaps in the hierarchy because there is semantic
confusion which is not intentional but is based on the Yogi's
experience. This semantic confusion is very common in the
medical field among researchers and clinicians. What one
calls as B, is P to another one. When they come together in
the International convention to sort out the semantics and
find out B and P are the same, they by agreement keep one
name and drop the other name. Or they may give it a new
name. The Yogis have not come together to sort out the
semantics.

Siva Tattva

= Sunyatisunya (The Great Void) =

Unmani with No KalAs (parts). = NishkalA Nirguna
Brahman. = Siva Sakti, Parabindu, the abode of Siva.
Kundali, Siva and Jiva merger takes place here in
Sahasrara. = Parabindu, the
supreme Nirvana sakti, Nirvanana KalA, AmA KalA and
the Fire of Nibodhika. = Nirguna Siva. Isvara of Sahasrara
is not the creative aspect. Supreme Bindu is in Maha Vayu
and Chandra Mandala. Bindu is void and Supreme Light,
formless and decayless. Supreme Guru is Siva residing in
Sahasrara = Sivasthana. SarvAtma Siva. = Nirvana Sakti,
the Sakti of Parabindu. = The Mother of all three worlds.
The knower of Sahasrara attains Jivan Mukti. Sri Chakra in
SahasrAra in the form of ParA sakti is in the middle of the
Chakra, Baindava. She rests united with SadAsiva. She
radiates myriad rays, 360 of which illumine the world in the
form of Fire, Sun and Moon. Rays: Agni = 118; Sun =
106; Moon = 136. They light up the macro- and
microcosm. 360 rays make a year and KAla (Time). Siva is
partless; He has no KalAs. AmA KalA is the receptacle of
nectar which flows from the union of Siva and Sakti.
Visvanatha says, Nirvana Sakti is Samani2. One sources
tells, it has two KalAs or Inner Force: NirvAna KalA and
AmA KalA, the 17th and 16th KalAs respectively.

KAlicarana says Nirvana Sakti is Unmani1. Samani2 is

none other than Unmani1 in its 2nd position.
KAlicarana says that Nirvana Sakti is 17th KalA, CinmAtrA
and Nirvana KalA. Visvanatha says Nirvana KalA
is VyApini3 Tattva which is SaktisvaRupa, ParAtparA and
above 16th KalA (AmA KalA). VyApini3 is the third
hierarchical position ofUnmani1, Samani2 being the second.
Sakti Tattva = Samani, Vyapini, and Anjani Shaktis.
Saguna Brahman. KalAs appear. The sakti consists of 16
parts (KalAs) of power. The deity with full power (all 16
parts in one; it is like a 16-cylinder engine!) is
PUrna KalAmUrti. 1-part deity is KalAmUrti. A deity with a
fraction of one part is Amsa MUrti. A deity with a fraction
of the latter is AmsAamsa MUrti. Siva is partless and Sakti
has 16 parts. These 16 parts are latent and exist in a
potential state in Sakti. They become manifest when Maya
Prakrti, the material cause of the universe, becomes
functional and manifest. MAya is compared to the skin
covering the seed; this sheath is inside the other
five Kancukas or sheaths, enveloping Saktis (Kancuka =
sheath). MAya of Saiva Siddhanta is unlike MAya of
VedAnta. MAya sheath covering the Real Siva has at least
two qualities: ignorance and transformation. Its ignorance
has the ability to transform the infinite limitless Self of Sakti
into something or someone with limitations. During that
process, the limited Jiva or the individual soul becomes
tainted with Maya Mala and Karma Mala. Just think of
Kancukas as straight jacket which limits a person. They
curtail the natural perfections as they exist in the Supreme
Self and thus constitute the evolved Self or Purusa Woodroffe. Human being is an infinitely dumb-down
version of the Supreme Self or God. Sakti has four parts:
Nivrrti, Pratistha, Vidya, and SAnti. Divine Sakti as a KalA
(Inner Force) is negation (Sunyatisunya), an empty spacegiving or vacuity-producing power (AvakAsadA) which is
the negative pole of the conjoint Siva-Sakti Tattvas.
--Woodroffe Garland of Letters page 210.
MAyA is taken as the first innermost envelope or sheath of
the Self though it is called the "sixth" Kancuka or jacket or
sheath. Directly or indirectly the MAyA is the progenitor of
other five sheaths.

Here is a description of Saktis and their KalAs (Inner

Force). Unmani is the First Sakti of Siva; it is Pure
Consciousness, the one with gazillion Wattage and gazillion
Voltage... Pure Consciousness like gazillion suns is dazzling
and so through a series of step-down transformers, the
voltage is reduced to light a one-watt human being and onewatt human consciousness. This step-down process is
effected by transformation of Unmani1 to Samani2, Vyapini,
to Anji3, Mahanada4, Nada5, Ardhachandra6and Bindu7 a
nd so on and so forth. Human beings of low voltage circuit
cannot handle Siva's High Voltage Pure Consciousness.
Diagram: Nirvana Ama kala (TATTVA11.gif)

Nirvana Sakti (Unmani, 17th KalA, CinmAtrA) is

the AntargatA of NirvAna KalA which is the
AntargatA of AmA KalA. AntargatA = In-dweller.
Kalicharana's view: NirvAna KalA = 17th KalA (17th
digit of the moon).
Visvanatha's view Vyapini Tattva = Sakti Svarupa =
VyApini Tattva. It is the Supreme aspect of VyApini
Tattva as Vyapika. It is more excellent
than Ama KalA. It is the CinmAtra SvabhAvA or
Pure Consciousness aspect of AmA KalA.
AmartAkArarUpini.
Kalicarana: NirvAna Sakti = Samanapada = SAmana
= Sarvesam Yonirupini = Unmani. It is Sakti Tattva.
AmA KalA = 16th KalA (16th digit of the moon) =
Vyapika Sakti = Paratpara = Receptacle of the Nectar
that flows from the union of Siva
and Sakti.
(Bindurupa Siva) and ParA (Sakti). It is the Creative
aspect (Anjani) of Vyapini Tattva. AmA is both
Srstyunmukhi
(looking towards creation and Urddhva-Saktirupa
(looking upwards or towards liberation).
Srstyunmukhi is Adhomukhi
meaning downwrd-turned-mouth (petals). Petals
turned down before Kundali ascends
Here is another example of Semantic confusion.
What was 16th Kala (AmA KalA) of earlier Yogis
has become the 17th KalA in Kashmir Saivism.
In Kashmir Saivism Sakti is called 17th KalA or
AmA KalA when Sakti is CinmAtrasvabhAvA. Sakti
is called Amrta KalA when Purusa is with the 16
KalAs, which are the 5 Janendriyas, 5 Karmendriyas,
5 Tanmatras, and Manas (total 16). (5 Motor organs,
5 sensory organs, 5 Tanmatras and the mind)

kundal20.gif modified to a new image file: kundal73.jpg

Sakti 2 modes: Supreme Mode (Nirvana or

AmrtAkArA) and Creative Mode (AmA or
Amrta KalA. The 16th is the creative Sakti;
The 17th is KalA of the nature of everexisting changeless Cit
(CinmAtrasvabhAvA).
Paramasiva = Sunyatisunya =
Parasamvit = Siva1Tatva = SantAtita; No
objectivity. Sakti unveils the universe for
the consciousness of Siva (Prakasa or
illuminating Consciousness, subjective
aspect.
(Spheroid of Sakti --Saktyanda (Egg of
Sakti or Spheroid of Sakti)
Sakti Tattva produces SAnta KalA which
includes
2
Tattvas Sakti , Sadasiva3, Isvara4, Sadv
idya5, with Her Saktis, Samini, Vyapini,
Anjani and their KalAs (inner Forces). The
Saktis of Nada and Bindu come with their
KalAs.
The Beings in this Egg-- Saktyanda-- are
1) Mantra Mahesvara, 2) Mantresvara, 3)
Mantra, 4) Vidyesvara.
The Bindu unfolds with emanations of
other Spheroids.
Below this is the Vijnana KalAs or Purusa
KalAs (Suddha-Asuddha Tattvas) Below
this are the MAYA KalAs or Asuddha
Tattvas
This spheroid is MAyAnda, the field of
operation of Vidya KalA..
This is Sakti producing limited dual
consciousness of all experiencers ( men:
Pralayakalars and Sakalars ) below SadVidya Tattva and in or below mAyA Tattva.
Spheroid of Prakrti (Prkrtyanda) and
Brahma provide vehicles of Tattvas for
Sakalar class experiences (phenomenal
world). Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra are the
Lords of spheres from MyA6 to Prithvi

(Earth36). Sakalars are all from Brahma

down.
For explanations of Sakalars, Pralayakalars
go to Primer in Saiva Siddhanta
The importance of Five
The pentagram is used as a Christian
symbol for the five senses, and if the
letters S, A, L, V, and S are inscribed
in the points, it can be
taken as a symbol of health (from
Latin salus).
Medieval Christians believed it to
symbolize the five wounds of Christ.
The pentagram was believed to
protect against witches and
demons.
There are five fingers or toes in each
limb.
There are five elements: Ether, Air,
Fire, Water, and Earth.
There are five Lower Chakras:
Muladhara, Svadhisthana, Manipura,
Anahata and Visuddha Chakras.
There are five Highest Tattvas: Siva,
Sakti, Sadasiva, Isvara and Vidya
Tattvas that control our lives.
There are five forms of matter: Solid,
Liquid, Gas, Plasma, and BoseEinstein Concentrates.
There are five Sivas: Sadasiva, Isvara,
Ardhanarisvara, Sambhu, and Rudra.

There are five (Janendriyas) senses:

Sound, Touch, Smell, Taste, and Sight
and five organs of perception.
There are five Karmendriyas (motor
organs): Mouth, Hands, Feet,
Genitals, and Anus.
There are five airs (Prana): Prana,
Samana, Apana, Udana and Vyana.
There are five important Nadis: Vajra,
Chitra, Brahma (Susumna), Ida and
Pingala Nadis.
In the following diagrams, you see 5
corners, five triangles and a Pentagon
enclosed within the star-polygon and
others like the 5-point star.. The man
has five points in his body, 5 fingers
in each limb, 5 motor and 5 sensory
organs. In nature a cluster of five is
very common. see the horizontal core
of the apple, the 5 petals of the
flowers. There are scores of examples
of pentads in nature. Look at the
recurring cluster of pentads in the
diamond pentagram any way you look
at it.

The Three Gunas: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas:

http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/macdonell/

Sattva:
(p. 325) [ sat-tv ] n. [being-ness] V., C.: being, existence, reality; essence,
nature, innate disposition, character; C.: strong character, energy,
resolution, courage; absolute goodness (the first of the three qualities
inherent in Prakriti); spirit; vital breath, life; entity, substance, thing (rare);
m. n. living being, animal; ghost, demon, goblin (rare).

rajas:
rajasa (p. 252) [ rgas-a ] a. () belonging or relating to the quality ragas,
endowed with passion: -tva, n. subjection to the quality of passion.

tamas:
tamas (p. 105) [ tm-as ] n. (sg. & pl.) darkness; gloom of hell
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.brittanytrubridge.com/the-three-gunas/
The yogic philosophy applies a theory called The Three Gunas which are
said to be subtle manifestations of energetic movement. The gunas are
said to exist in everything from the thoughts of the mind to the physical
objects of Earth.The three gunas are:

Sattva: the intelligence that governs an objects existence.

Rajas: movement/growth.
Tamas: solid form (Darkness).
On a more subtle level sattva consists of bliss, rajas of agitation and tamas
as inertia.
It is said that in the beginning of time all of the gunas were in balance and
when in balance they existed only in the form of potentiality. The beginning
of life necessitated an imbalance of the gunas causing material to manifest
from subtle to grosser forms.
Because these qualities also exist within our own minds and bodies, it is up
to us to work to balance them in order to yield well-being and
enlightenment.
In yoga, the practitioner always seeks to increase sattva and decreases
rajas and tamas.
This can be done through diet, meditation, asanas, pranayama, Ayurveda,
and a multitude of other natural healing modalities.
You can easily decipher which of these tendencies is most predominant
within you by coming to understand the gunas and how they are
expressed.

It is ideal to work to increase sattva at all times, but to help reduce excess
rajas or tamas in the body/mind you can carefully increase its opposing
force (i.e. if you are highly rajasic, increase sattva and for a short while
increase tamas as well until rajas has been alleviated.)
Maintaining a sattvic mentality and physicality is the most ideal pathway
towards enlightenment. However, to actually cross that threshold, we must
learn to let go of even sattva in the end.