________________ KUNDALINI YOGA 36 Hansaji J. Yogendra - 16-01-19 The term Kundalini Yoga refers to the process of 'awakening' the Kundalini. Yet there is diversity in the understanding of the word Kundalini as also about the methods to awaken it. The word Kundalini is said to be vaguely mentioned in the Upanishads and finds reference mainly in the Tantra and Hatha Yoga texts. Etymologically, the word Kundalini is supposed to have been derived from various Sanskrit roots and simultaneously mean; 1) Kunda - a pot seen as a reservoir of either; a. Our unlimited potentials or b. The Samskaras which through Avidya bind these potentials. Awakening the Kundalini thus refers to the process of heightening our awareness which liberates us from the bondages of our Samskaras and simultaneously brings us in touch with our true potentials. 2) Kundala - a ring or a bracelet which refers to either a. A circle that has no end or a beginning (and hence represents infinite time and potentials) or b. The Chakras that lie on the passage of this rising stream of energy 3) Kundalin - a serpent which refers to either; a. Ignorance or the poison of ignorance that has to be eliminated through yoga or b. The experience of rising of the energy through the spine similar to a snake rising up as the Kundalini gets 'awakened'. As described above, there is a lot of ambiguity regarding the meaning of the term Kundalini, though there is an agreement in most of the texts regarding the objective behind the awakening of this Kundalini; to arouse the spiritual potentials within, either to222 યોગમાર્ગની અંતરિ છે -achieve liberation or to serve humanity through love and compassion. The Five Koshas and Kundalini : Before we proceed on to an understanding of the Chakras, it would be necessary for us to understand the concept of human existence at the level of what are called as the 5 Koshas. Indian Philosophy believes that human existence occurs at 5 different levels, also called as the 'Koshas'. These are; (1) Annamaya Kosha - which is the physical shealth derived from the food (Anna) that we eat and is the grossest level of our existence, (ii) Pranamaya Kosha - this is the energy level of our existence, which is very subtle and cannot be experienced at a physical level. It is also referred to as the vital energy or the chi force. (iii) Manomaya Kosha - this is the layer of our Emotions which have the power to be both, our motivations as well as the cause of disturbance. (iv) Buddhimaya Kosha - this Kosha relates to our intellect which further contributes to our capacity of logic and reasoning. (v) Anandamaya Kosha - this is the sheath of 'Bliss' that resides within each of us. It is the casual body, likened by some as the soul that resides within us. Yet, we also have a partial / transient experience of this joy or pleasure which accompanies certain situations, persons or objects and hence seen as conditional. Chakra Information: Our Pranamaya Kosha consists of around 72,000 energy channels (nadis) which traverse in various directions. When these nadis happen to intersect each other, their energies too intersect, creating a rotating whirlpool of energy. This can be compared to the whirlpool that we observe when the streams of two or more rivers, proceeding in the different directions meet at a point (confluence/ sangam). These whirlpools of energy are the Chakras (Wheel, Circle); the name derived from their appearance to a rotating circle. Since there are around 72,000 nadis in our body, there would abviously કે યોગમાર્ગની અંતર્દષ્ટિ |223 FINAL
