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KUNDALINI YOGA By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA SERVE, LOVE, GIVE, PURIFY, MEDITATE, REALIZE So Says Sri Swami Sivananda Sri Swami Sivananda Founder of The Divine Life Society A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION If you would like to purchase the print edition, please go to: http://www.dlshq.org/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?keywords=es77 If you would like to contribute to the dissemination of spiritual knowledge please contact the General Secretary at: [email protected] Tenth Edition: 1994 (Copies 10,000) World Wide Web (WWW) Edition: 1999 WWW site: http://www.dlshq.org/ This WWW reprint is for free distribution © The Divine Life Trust Society ISBN 81-7052-052-5 Published By THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY P.O. SHIVANANDANAGAR—249 192 Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh, Himalayas, India. OM IN MEMORY OF PATANJALI MAHARSHI, YOGI BHUSUNDA, SADASIVA BRAHMAN, MATSYENDRANATH, GORAKHNATH, JESUS CHRIST, LORD KRISHNA AND ALL OTHER YOGINS WHO HAVE EXPOUNDED THE SCIENCE OF YOGA PUBLISHERS’ NOTE ItwouldseemaltogethersuperfluoustotrytointroduceSriSwamiSivanandaSaraswatitoa readingpublic,thirstingforspiritualregeneration.FromhislovelyAshramatRishikeshheradiated spiritual knowledge and a peace born of spiritual perfection. His personality has made itself manifestnowhereelseascompletelyasinhisedifyingandelevatingbooks.Andthislittlevolume onKundaliniYogaisperhapsthe mostvitalofallhisbooks,forobviousreasons. Kundaliniisthecoiledup,dormant,cosmicpowerthatunderliesallorganicandinorganic matterwithinusandanythesisthatdealswithitcanavoidbecomingtooabstract,onlywithgreat difficulty. But within the following pages, the theory that underlies this cosmic power has been analysedtoitsthinnestfilaments,andpracticalmethodshavebeensuggestedtoawakenthisgreat pristineforceinindividuals.Itexplainsthe theoryandillustratesthepracticeofKundaliniYoga. Wefeelcertain,thattothespiritualaspirant,thisbookwillserveasakindlylightthatleads him on through the dark alleys of an as yet unexplored branch of Yogic exercises, while to the layman it contains a wealth of new information which is bound to be a valuable addition to his knowledgeofYogicculture. —THEDIVINELIFESOCIETY GURU STOTRA sT:av:r(cid:246) j:⁄m:(cid:246) vy:apt:(cid:246) y:etkeWc:t:˛ s:c:rac:rm:˛ . t:tp:d(cid:246) deS:(cid:252)t:(cid:246) y:(cid:240)n: t:sm:(cid:242) ´:ig:(cid:216)rv:(cid:240) n:m:H .. sth(cid:224)vara(cid:252) ja(cid:239)gama(cid:252) vy(cid:224)pta(cid:252) yatki⁄cit sacar(cid:224)caram | tatpada(cid:252) dar(cid:247)ita(cid:252) yena tasmai (cid:247)rªgurave nama(cid:254) || “Salutations to the Guru who has made it possible to realise Him by whom all this world, animateandinanimate,movableandimmovable,ispervaded.” A:(cid:240)(cid:246)kar(cid:246) eb:nd(cid:217)s:(cid:246)y:(cid:216)Vt:(cid:246) en:ty:(cid:246) Dy:ay:ent: y:(cid:240) n:raH . kam:d(cid:246) m::(cid:240)x:d(cid:246) c:(cid:242)v: A:(cid:240)(cid:246)karay: n:m::(cid:240) n:m:H .. o(cid:252)k(cid:224)ra(cid:252) bindusa(cid:252)yukta(cid:252) nitya(cid:252) dhy(cid:224)yanti ye nar(cid:224)(cid:254) | k(cid:224)mada(cid:252) mokøada(cid:252) caiva o(cid:252)k(cid:224)r(cid:224)ya namo nama(cid:254) || “SalutationstoOmkara,whichgiveswhateveronedesiresandalsoliberationtothosewho meditatealwaysonOmkara thatisunitedwiththe Bindu.” iii wan:S:eVt: s:m:a-Z t:¶v:m:al:a ev:B:(cid:220)e\:N:(cid:240) . - - - B:(cid:216)eVt: m:(cid:216)eVt:)da*:(cid:240) c: t:sm:(cid:242) ´:ig:(cid:216)rv:(cid:240) n:m:H .. - j⁄(cid:224)na(cid:247)akti-sam(cid:224)r(cid:229)(cid:243)ha-tattvam(cid:224)l(cid:224)-vibh(cid:229)øiıe | bhukti-muktiprad(cid:224)tre ca tasmai (cid:247)rªgurave nama(cid:254) || “SalutationstotheGuruwhoisestablishedinKnowledgeandPower,whoisadornedwith thegarlandofKnowledgeandwhograntsbothworldlyprosperityandliberation.” DEVI STOTRA Kdmb:v:n:m:Dy:g:a(cid:246) kn:km:NRl::(cid:240)p:esT:t:aœ \:R(cid:246)b:(cid:216),hv:aes:n:i(cid:246) s:t:t:es:„s::(cid:242)daem:n:im:˛ . ev:R(cid:246)eb:t:j:p:a,ec:(cid:246) ev:kc:c:nd(cid:211)c:(cid:220)Ram:eN:(cid:246) e*:l::(cid:240)c:n:k(cid:217)X(cid:217)(cid:246)eb:n:i(cid:246) e*:p:(cid:216)rs:(cid:216)ndrim:a´:y:(cid:240) .. kadambavanamadhyag(cid:224)(cid:252) kanakamaı(cid:243)alopasthit(cid:224).N øa(cid:243)a(cid:252)buruhav(cid:224)sinª(cid:252) satatasiddhasaud(cid:224)minªm | vi(cid:243)a(cid:252)bitajap(cid:224)ruci(cid:252) vikacacandrac(cid:229)(cid:243)(cid:224)maıi(cid:252) trilocanakuæu(cid:252)binª(cid:252) tripurasundarªm(cid:224)(cid:247)raye || “IseekrefugeinTripurasundari,thewifeofthethree-eyedOne,wholivesintheKadamba forest,whoisseatedonthegoldendiscanddwellsinthesixlotusesoftheYogins,everflashinglike lightningintheheartoftheperfectedones,whosebeautyexcelsthatoftheJapaflowerandwhose foreheadisadornedbythefull-moon.” y:*: ekeWc:t:˛ Vv:ec:(cid:190)st:(cid:216) s:ds:(cid:190)aeK:l:aetm:kæ . t:sy: s:v:(cid:252)sy: y:a S:eVt:H s:a tv:(cid:246) ek(cid:246) st:(cid:220)y:t:(cid:240) s:da .. yatra ki⁄cit kvacidvastu sadasadv(cid:224)khil(cid:224)tmike | tasya sarvasya y(cid:224) (cid:247)akti(cid:254) s(cid:224) tva(cid:252) ki(cid:252) st(cid:229)yate sad(cid:224) || “OThouSelfofeverything,ofwhateverthingexistingatwhateverplaceortime,whether causeoreffect,ThouartthePowerbehindthat;howcanstThoubepraised?” iv m:haev:‰a m:ham:ay:a m:ham:(cid:240)D:a m:hasm:(cid:224)et:H . m:ham::(cid:240)ha c: B:v:t:i m:had(cid:240)v:i m:has:(cid:216)ri .. mah(cid:224)vidy(cid:224) mah(cid:224)m(cid:224)y(cid:224) mah(cid:224)medh(cid:224) mah(cid:224)sm(cid:231)ti(cid:254) | mah(cid:224)moh(cid:224) ca bhavatª mah(cid:224)devª mah(cid:224)surª || “Thou art the Supreme Knowledge, Maya, intellect, memory, delusion and the great Prowessofthegodsaswellasofthedemons.” SIVA STOTRA krc:rN:kÆt:(cid:246) v:aVkay:j:(cid:246) km:(cid:252)j:(cid:246) v:a ´:v:N:n:y:n:j:(cid:246) v:a m:an:s:(cid:246) c:ap:raD:m:˛ . ev:eht:m:ev:eht:(cid:246) v:a s:v:(cid:252)m:(cid:240)t:t:˛ x:m:sv: j:y: j:y: k,N:abD:(cid:240) ´:im:had(cid:240)v: S:mB::(cid:240) .. karacaraıak(cid:231)ta(cid:252) v(cid:224)kk(cid:224)yaja(cid:252) karmaja(cid:252) v(cid:224) (cid:247)ravaıanayanaja(cid:252) v(cid:224) m(cid:224)nasa(cid:252) c(cid:224)par(cid:224)dham | vihitamavihita(cid:252) v(cid:224) sarvametat køamasva jaya jaya karuı(cid:224)bdhe (cid:247)rªmah(cid:224)deva (cid:247)ambho || “Sinscommittedinaction—withthehandsandfeetorbyspeech,orbythebody,orbythe ears and eyes,—or by those done in thoughts,—forgive all these sins whether of commission or omission. Glory be unto Thee, Thou ocean of mercy! Glory be unto Thee O Mahadeva, O Shambho!” —SriSankaracharya THE FOUR STAGES OF SOUND TheVedasformthesound-manifestationofIshvara.Thatsoundhasfourdivisions,—Para which finds manifestation only in Prana, Pasyanti which finds manifestation in the mind, Madhyama which finds manifestation in the Indriyas, and Vaikhari which finds manifestation in articulateexpression. Articulation is the last and grossest expression of divine sound-energy. The highest manifestationofsound-energy,theprimalvoice,thedivinevoiceisPara.TheParavoicebecomes v theroot-ideasorgerm-thoughts.Itisthefirstmanifestationofvoice.InParathesoundremainsin an undifferentiated form. Para, Pasyanti, Madhyama and Vaikhari are the various gradations of sound.Madhyamaistheintermediateunexpressedstate ofsound.Itsseatistheheart. The seat of Pasyanti is the navel or the Manipura Chakra. Yogins who have subtle inner visioncanexperiencethePasyantistateofawordwhichhascolourandform,whichiscommonfor all languages and which has the vibrating homogeneity of sound. Indians, Europeans, Americans, Africans,Japanese,birds,beasts—allexperiencethesameBhavanaofathinginthePasyantistate ofvoiceorsound.Gestureisasortofmutesubtlelanguage.Itisoneandthesameforallpersons. Any individual of any country will make the same gesture by holding his hand to his mouth in a particular manner, when he is thirsty. As one and the same power or Shakti working through the ears becomes hearing, through the eyes becomes seeing and so forth, the same Pasyanti assumes differentformsofsoundwhenmaterialised.TheLordmanifestsHimselfthroughhisMayaicpower first as Para Vani in the Muladhara Chakra at the navel, then as Madhyama in the heart and then eventually as Vaikhari in the throat and mouth. This is the divine descent of His voice. All the VaikhariisHisvoiceonly.Itisthe voice ofthe ViratPurusha. PREFACE O Divine Mother Kundalini, the Divine Cosmic Energy that is hidden in men! Thou art Kali, Durga, Adisakti, Rajarajeswari, Tripurasundari, Maha-Lakshmi, Maha-Sarasvati! Thou hast put on all these names and forms. Thou hast manifested as Prana, electricity, force, magnetism, cohesion,gravitationinthisuniverse.ThiswholeuniverserestsinThybosom.Croresofsalutations untothee.OMotherofthisworld!LeadmeontoopentheSushumnaNadiandtakeTheealongthe ChakrastoSahasraraChakra andtomergemyselfinTheeandThyconsort,LordSiva. Kundalini Yoga is that Yoga which treats of Kundalini Sakti, the six centres of spiritual energy(ShatChakras),thearousingofthesleepingKundaliniSaktianditsunionwithLordSivain Sahasrara Chakra, at the crown of the head. This is an exact science. This is also known as Laya Yoga.Thesixcentresarepierced(ChakraBheda)bythepassingofKundaliniSaktitothetopofthe head.‘Kundala’means‘coiled’.Herformislikea coiledserpent.Hencethe name Kundalini. All agree that the one aim which man has in all his acts is to secure happiness for himself. The highest as well as the ultimate end of man must, therefore, be to attain eternal, infinite, unbroken, supreme happiness. This happiness can be had in one’s own Self or Atman only. Therefore,searchwithinto attainthiseternalBliss. The thinking faculty is present only in human being. Man only can reason, reflect and exercise judgment. It is man only who can compare and contrast, who can think of pros and cons and who can draw inferences and conclusions. This is the reason why he alone is able to attain God-consciousness. That man who simply eats and drinks and who does not exercise his mental facultyinSelf-realisationisonlyabrute. vi Oworldly-mindedpersons!WakeupfromthesleepofAjnana.Openyoureyes.Standupto acquire knowledge of Atman. Do spiritual Sadhana, awaken the Kundalini Sakti and get that ‘sleepless-sleep’(Samadhi).DrownyourselfinAtman. Chittaisthementalsubstance.Ittakesvariousforms.TheseformsconstituteVrittis.Itgets transformed (Parinama). These transformations or modifications are the thought-waves, whirlpoolsorVrittis.IftheChittathinksofamango,theVrittiofamangoisformedinthelakeof Chitta.ThiswillsubsideandanotherVrittiwillbeformedwhenitthinksofmilk.CountlessVrittis are rising and subsiding in the ocean of Chitta. These Vrittis cause restlessness of mind. Why do VrittisarisefromtheChitta?BecauseofSamskarasandVasanas.IfyouannihilateallVasanas,all Vrittiswillsubsidebythemselves. WhenaVrittisubsidesitleavesadefiniteimpressioninthesubconsciousmind.Itisknown as Samskara or latent impression. The sum total of all Samskaras is known as “Karmasaya” or receptacle of works. This is called Sanchita Karma (accumulated works). When a man leaves the physicalbody,hecarrieswithhimhisastralbodyof17TattvasandtheKarmasayaaswell,tothe mental plane. This Karmasaya is burnt by highest knowledge obtained through Asamprajnata Samadhi. During concentration you will have to collect carefully the dissipated rays of the mind. Vrittis will be ever-rising from the ocean of Chitta. You will have to put down the waves as they arise.Ifallthewavessubside,themindbecomescalmandserene.ThentheYogienjoyspeaceand bliss. Therefore real happiness is within. You will have to get it through control of mind and not throughmoney,women,children,name,fame,rankorpower. Purity of mind leads to perfection in Yoga. Regulate your conduct when you deal with others.Havenofeelingofjealousytowardsothers.Becompassionate.Donothatesinners.Bekind to all. Develop complacency towards superiors. Success in Yoga will be rapid if you put in your maximumenergyinyourYogicpractice.Youmusthaveakeenlongingforliberationandintense Vairagya also. You must be sincere and earnest. Intent and constant meditation is necessary for enteringintoSamadhi. He who has firm faith in Srutis and Shastras, who has Sadachara (right conduct), who constantlyengageshimselfintheserviceofhisGuruandwhoisfreefromlust,anger,Moha,greed and vanity easily crosses this ocean of Samsara and attains Samadhi quickly. Just as fire burns a heapofdriedleaves,soalsothefireofYogaburnsallKarmas.TheYogiattainsKaivalya.Through Samadhi,theYogigetsintuition.Realknowledgeflashesinhimwithinasecond. Neti, Dhauti, Basti, Nauli, Asanas, Mudras, etc., keep the body healthy and strong, and underperfectcontrol.Buttheyarenotthebe-allandend-allofYoga.TheseKriyaswillhelpyouin your practice of Dhyana. Dhyana will culminate in Samadhi, Self-realisation. He who practises HathaYogicKriyasisnotaPurnaYogi.HewhohasenteredintoAsamprajnataSamadhionlyisa PurnaYogi.HeisaSvatantra Yogi(absolutelyindependent). Samadhiisoftwokinds,viz.,JadaSamadhiandChaitanyaSamadhi.AHathaYogithrough thepracticeofKhechariMudracanshuthimselfupinaboxandremainunderneaththegroundfor vii monthsandyears.ThereisnohighersupernaturalknowledgeinthiskindofSamadhi.ThisisJada Samadhi. In Chaitanya Samadhi, there is perfect ‘awareness’. The Yogi comes down with new, super-sensuouswisdom. When a man practises Yogic Kriyas, naturally various kinds of Siddhis are acquired. The SiddhisarehindrancestoRealisation.TheYogishouldnotatallcarefortheseSiddhis,ifhewants to advance further and get the highest realisation, the final Goal. He who runs after Siddhis will becomethebiggesthouse-holderandaworldly-mindedman.Self-realisationonlyistheGoal.The sumtotalofknowledgeofthisuniverseisnothingwhencomparedtothespiritualknowledgethatis obtainedthroughSelf-realisation. Ascend the path of Yoga cautiously. Remove the weeds, thorns and the sharp angular pebbles on the way. Name and fame are the angular pebbles. Subtle under-current of lust is the weed. Attachment to family, children, money, disciples, Chelas or Ashram is the thorn. These are forms of Maya. They do not allow the aspirants to march further. They serve as the stumbling-blocks.TheaspirantgetsfalseTushti,stopshisSadhana,imaginesfoolishlythathehas realised, and tries to elevate others. This is like a blind man leading the blind. When the Yogic studentstartsanAshram,slowlyluxurycreepsin.TheoriginalVairagyagraduallywanes.Heloses what he has gained and is unconscious of his downfall. Ashram develops begging mentality and institutional egoism. He is the same house-holder now in some other form (Rupantara-bheda) though he is in the garb of a Sannyasin. O aspirants, beware! I warn you seriously. Never build Ashrams. Remember the watchwords:-“SECLUSION, MEDITATION, DEVOTION.” March directtothegoal.NevergiveuptheSadhanazealandVairagyauntilyourealiseBhuma,thehighest goal.Donotentangleyourselfinthewheelofname,fameandSiddhis. Nirvikalpa is the state of superconsciousness. There are no Vikalpas of any sort in this condition.ThisistheGoaloflife.Allthementalactivitiesceasenow.Thefunctionsoftheintellect and ten Indriyas cease entirely. The aspirant rests now in Atman. There is no distinction between subjectandobject.Theworldandthepairsofoppositesvanishcompletely.Thisisastatebeyond allrelativity.TheaspirantgetsknowledgeofSelf,supremepeaceandinfinite,indescribablebliss. ThisisalsocalledYogaroodhastate. When Kundalini is taken to the Sahasrara and when it is united with Lord Siva, perfect Samadhi ensues. The Yogic student drinks the Nectar of Immortality. He has reached the Goal. MotherKundalinihasdoneHertasknow.GlorytoMotherKundalini!MayHerblessingsbeupon youall! OmShantih!Shantih!Shantih! viii ! .. j:ag::(cid:240) m:a k(cid:217)l: k(cid:217)NRel:n:i .. j:ag::(cid:240) m:a k(cid:217)l:k(cid:217)NRel:n:i j:ag::(cid:240) m:a . t:(cid:216)em: en:ty:an:nd sv:-ep:N:i .. - t:(cid:216)em: b:(cid:210)(cid:201)an:nd sv:-ep:N:i .. - )s:(cid:216)pt: B:(cid:216)j:g:akara A:D:ar p:…v:aes:n:i .. e*:k:(cid:240)n:(cid:240) j:l:(cid:240) kÆS:an:(cid:220) t:aep:t: hEl::(cid:240) t:n:(cid:216) , m:(cid:220)l:aD:ar ty:j: eS:v:(cid:240) sv:y:(cid:246)B:(cid:220) eS:v: v:(cid:240)e¯n:i .. - - g:cC s:(cid:216)\:(cid:220)mn:ar p:T: sv:aeD:¯an:(cid:240) hv::(cid:240) uedt: , , m:eN:p:(cid:220)r An:aht: ev:S:(cid:216)„awa s:Wc:aerN:i .. eS:res: s:h+dl:(cid:240) p:rm: eS:v:(cid:240)t:(cid:240) em:l:(cid:240) , #iRa kr:(cid:240) k(cid:217)t:(cid:220)hl:(cid:240) s:ecc:dan:nddaey:n:i .. j:ag::(cid:240) m:a k(cid:217)l: k(cid:217)NRel:n:i j:ag::(cid:240) m:a . ix