Kundalini is the divine energy. She manifests both in the cosmic form, encompassing all of creation, and in the personal form. God creates the universe by producing subtle energies in an act of divine will. This can be compared to the process wherein sparks are generated from a single source of fire. The individual manifestation of Kundalini is like a spark of cosmic Kundalini.

This personal form of Kundalini is responsible for the creation of the individual. In the physiological process of development of the fetus in the mothers womb, the head and brain are formed first. Next, the spinal cord is formed from the nerves that branch from the brain, and at the same time, the trunk is formed. Then the extremities, the hands and the feet are formed. The totality of the nerve centers in the brain is referred to as the sahasrar chakra. This is the root of the process of creation.

There are six different chakras, nerve centers, in the spinal column. The first center, located at the base of the brain, is the ajna chakra or the spiritual eye. This center is formed immediately after the sahasrara. Then five different centers which represent five different elements, or tatvas, are formed. The last center formed, the mooladhara chakra, is the furthest from the brain, located near the lower end of the spinal column. The Kundalini thus starts creation at the brain center, progresses downward along the spinal column, and completes Her work near the lower end of the spine. After the completion of Her work, She lies dormant there. As long as the Kundalini is dormant, the individual spends an incomplete, unhappy life and perception is limited.

Spiritual evolution is the result of the awakening of the Kundalini and Her upward travel from the bottom of the spinal column to the brain center. As She travels upward, the individual develops deeper and deeper spiritual insight and life becomes more fulfilling. When the Kundalini completes Her travel to the brain, the individual attains liberation, understands his or her true identity, and is established in eternal happiness. Thus, an individuals spiritual knowledge is directly dependent on the upward progress of the Kundalini.

Many religions accept the concept of a cycle of the universe. Each cycle consists of the creation, preservation and destruction of the universe. When one cycle of the universe is completed, the individual attains liberation. However, with the awakening of the Kundalini, the individual does not have to wait until the end of the cycle to attain liberation. This fact alone underscores the importance of Kundalini Maha Yoga. Spiritual evolution cannot take place unless the Kundalini is awakened.

There are many spiritual disciplines and techniques which do not directly aim at awakening the Kundalini. However, the Kundalini must be aroused if there is to be any degree of spiritual progress. Therefore, if a spiritual discipline is successful, it means the Kundalini has been awakened in at least an indirect way. The practitioner may not be aware that the progress and experiences are the result of the active Kundalini unless, of course, the discipline aims directly at awakening the Kundalini. However, the Kundalini does keep working and is the source of enlightenment.

Once the Kundalini is awakened through Shaktipat initiation, She does not become dormant except in some very special circumstances. The Kundalini will always try to make Her upward passage. She will try to keep the aspirant on the spiritual path by providing the necessary encouragement and protection.

Shaktipat Initiation, Awakening the Kundalini

Kundalini can be awakened by attaining perfection of certain hatha yoga postures called asanas, by certain breathing exercises aimed at controlling the breath called pranayama, by Gods grace, by meditation or by intense devotion. Another technique of great importance is Shaktipat, the transmission of energy. A powerful yogi can transmit energy to an aspirant and awaken the Kundalini. This is accomplished in one of four ways: by touch, gaze, sound or thought. The yogi may touch the disciple and transmit energy through physical contact, or gaze at the disciple and energy flows from the yogis eyes. The yogi may utter words which carry energy or, more subtly, energy can be transferred directly by the yogis thought or will. The process of Shaktipat can be performed only by those yogis who have gained complete control over the life force, which in Sanskrit is called prana.

Once the Kundalini is awakened, the student may have a variety of experiences: seeing flashes of light or colors, hearing internal sounds of bells ringing or bees humming, spontaneous vibrations or movements of the body, and greater mental peace, to name a few. Different individuals will have different experiences there is no definite pattern applicable to everyone. Once the Kundalini is awakened, this fact becomes known through the students own experiences. If at this stage the student persists in spiritual practices like meditation, then the Kundalini will travel upward from the base of the spinal column where She lay dormant before.

During Her upward journey through the spinal column, She pierces all the chakras in succession and ultimately reaches the sahasrara. When this happens, the student attains a state of transcendental consciousness called samadhi, understands ones true identity, and is thereby liberated.

During the students spiritual efforts, the Gurus help is of immense value. Shaktipat initiation creates a subtle bond between the teacher and student that allows the teacher to give fresh impetus to his or her students Kundalini and eliminate obstructions that may arise.

In my training period of over thirty years, I had contact with many capable yogis. I underwent severe austerities in India at Chitrakut, Girnar, Mount Abu, and in the Himalayas. By the grace of God and according to the power and instructions given by my Guru, I have given Shaktipat to a large number of people in India and the United States. Their Kundalini has been awakened. They have attained peace of mind and good health. They have been led on the spiritual path.

Meditation is the practice of turning the attention from outer awareness o inner concentration. In the practice of Kundalini Maha Yoga, meditation is much more than a relaxation technique. It is a way of easing resistance to the ascent of the Kundalini energy by quieting the fluctuations of the mind. Of all the forms of meditation, meditation through attention on the breath is the simplest and most direct way to Self-realization.

The aspirant can coordinate and integrate various energies of the nervous system by performing breathing exercises called pranayama in conjunction with meditation. Once this is accomplished, the student easily gains control over the life supporting vital air, the prana, which in turns leads to control over the mind. When the student gains complete control of the mind, there is an experience of unique peace and joy. The student realizes the entire world is the creation of one God. When this happens on a large scale, the miseries of the world will end and there will be peace and happiness everywhere.

Physical and Mental Benefits

Self-realization is the ultimate and the most desirable state to be attained, and the awakened Kundalini leads to this state. However, even when the Kundalini is aroused and spiritual evolution is substantially hastened, there is no guarantee that Self-realization will be attained in the current lifetime. Therefore, it is encouraging to know many tangible benefits are gained even during the early states of the awakened and upward travel of the Kundalini.

Awakening the Kundalini has a general purifying effect on the body and mind. For example, the aspirants health improves; the skin and the body become attractive and waste matters decrease substantially; the student feels light and energetic; the mind becomes restful. Diseases of the body and mind are caused by irregularities in the functioning of the prana, which are gradually eliminated once the Kundalini is awakened.

At more advanced levels of the Kundalinis progress, the benefits are intensified and encompass more subtle realms. The student achieves peace and mental control, becomes more creative, develops profound understanding of nature and experiences inner joy. The aspirant becomes a strong individual, a complete person who functions in adverse circumstances with great poise, and is able to consciously absorb prana from the universe and direct it to cure physical and mental diseases. Ultimately, the student encounters total reality, the absolute truth, knowledge of the Self.