Although Kundalini yoga is performed all throughout the world, no one knows where it originated. The concept of Kundalini energy has been around for centuries, and it was first stated about 1,000 B.C. in ancient Vedic scriptures.
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Yogi Bhajan, a Pakistani yoga teacher, is mainly associated with Kundalini yoga. In the 1960s, he is credited with bringing the practice to Western countries.
The phrase “The word “kundalini” is derived from the Sanskrit word “kundal,” which means “circle.” It can also apply to a snake that is coiled. Kundalini energy, according to practitioners, is like that coiled snake: it sleeps at the base of your spine, unaroused.
Kundalini yoga is used to activate this energy, allowing it to flow up and down your spine through the chakras.
Kundalini energy is said to help balance these chakras and contribute to spiritual wellness as it increases.
Kundalini yoga is claimed to lead to spiritual enlightenment with constant practice. This is referred to as a “Awakening of the Kundalini.”
When was Kundalini Yoga invented?
The actual origin of Kundalini Yoga is uncertain, however it is first mentioned in the Upanishads, an ancient Vedic collection of literature (c. 1,000 B.C. – 500 B.C.). Before the physical practice, Kundalini was a science of energy and spiritual philosophy, according to historical documents. The term “upanishads” literally means “sitting down to receive the master's teachings.” Those were the first Kundalini classes. Masters sat down with students and recited spiritual visions aloud. In ancient Vedic society, this was a common practice (and would be replicated centuries later by a couple guys named Buddha and Jesus). The body science of Kundalini Yoga evolved over time as a physical representation of the Upanishad visions. Kundalini Yoga has never been taught in a public setting. It was regarded as a post-secondary education. Students had to go through several years of initiation before they were ready to learn the Kundalini masters' spirit-body lectures.
Where did Kundalini start?
“A spiritual energy or life force found at the base of the spine,” Kundalini is described as a coiled-up serpent. Kundalini yoga is said to awaken the sleeping Kundalini Shakti from its coiled base, through the six chakras, and into the seventh chakra, or crown. The ida (left), pingala (right), and center, or sushumna nadi – the three conduits of pranic energy in the body – are considered to carry this energy. According to a recent article, the process could be mediated via the vagus nerve.
Kundalini energy is generated during yogic breathing when prana and apana merge at the 3rd chakra (navel center), where it then travels up the spine to the higher centers of the brain to activate the golden cord – the connection between the pituitary and pineal glands – and penetrate the 7 chakras.
Kundalini Yoga can be regarded as a tri-fold method of Bhakti yoga for devotion, Shakti yoga for power, and Raja yoga for mental power and control, borrowing and integrating many various systems. Its objective is stated as a practical technology of human consciousness for humans to reach their fullest creative potential via daily practice of kriyas and meditation in sadhana. Kundalini Yoga is said to be capable of liberating oneself from one's Karma and realizing one's Dharma (Life Purpose).
What religion does Kundalini come from?
Kundalini, according to William F. Williams, is a Hindu religious experience in which it is believed to be a form of “cosmic energy” that gathers at the base of the spine.
Kundalini is said to rise up from the muladhara chakra, through the central nadi (called sushumna) inside or alongside the spine, to the top of the head when it is awakened. Kundalini is thought to move through the chakras, achieving various levels of awakening and mystical experiences until it reaches the summit of the head, the Sahasrara or crown chakra, where it produces an incredibly deep shift in consciousness.
Is Kundalini the oldest yoga?
Harbhajan Singh Puri, a Pakistani-born economics major, boarded a plane with a one-way ticket from Punjab, India to Toronto, Canada in 1968. At the age of 16, Yogi Bhajan, as he would later be known around the world, was declared a master of Kundalini yoga, and he was the first to openly teach Kundalini yoga to the public, revealing a lineage hitherto shrouded in secrecy. Yogi Bhajan founded the 3HO, which stands for “Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization,” a nonprofit dedicated to spreading Kundalini yoga principles, in 1969.
Kundalini is a technique that is a bit outside the box for most Westerners who equate yoga with a flowing physical activity. While physicality is one facet of Kundalini yoga, it also incorporates spiritual elements, such as mantras like “Sat Nam,” which means “truth is my essence,” pranayama, or breath control, meditation, and kriyas, or repeated body motions designed to enhance energy flow. Turbans and white garments are worn by both teachers and students. According to Yogi Bhajan, the color white is cleaning, expands the aura, and protects against negative energy. The crown chakra, the physical body's topmost energy point, is protected and contained by the head covering. Kundalini yoga can be performed by anyone, regardless of age or physical fitness level, due to the range of practices offered in a Kundalini class, particularly those that draw more on the subtle body.
Kundalini has an interesting and fascinating history. The technique is derived from Raj Yoga, which has been practiced in India since 500 BC and is recorded in the famous Vedic collection of scriptures known as the Upanishads. Kundalini yoga is distinct from other kinds of yoga in that it is descended from a Sikh tradition, a religion created in 15th century Punjab that promotes love, equality, and service to others and is distinct from Hinduism and Islam. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, studied and practiced yoga, and Yogi Bhajan, a Sikh, combined their teachings. Many of the meditations in the Kundalini practice stem from the Sikh tradition, thanks to the junction of yoga and the Sikh heritage through Guru Nanak. For example, Guru Nanak's enlightenment experience while learning with the yogis inspired him to employ the mantra Sat Nam in Kundalini yoga.
Is Kundalini Yoga bad?
Kundalini meditation is frequently used by people who want to experience the energy release known as a Kundalini awakening. Many individuals find this to be a spiritual experience, but if you're not sure what to anticipate, it can be intimidating.
Physical feelings such as warmth or tingling, disorientation, and perhaps momentary discomfort are reported after a Kundalini awakening.
Some argue that if a person isn't entirely prepared for the experience, they may suffer long-term consequences. While meditation can be a transformative experience, there is no evidence that it has long-term negative consequences.
Apart from that, Kundalini meditation entails deep breathing exercises and slower breathing. You may feel dizzy or lightheaded if you aren't used to it.
Take breaks as needed, and drink lots of water before and after your meditation session.
And what is a Mantra?
A “mantra” is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, phrase, or set of syllables thought to have psychological and spiritual qualities by practitioners. Mantra meditation aids in inducing a state of altered consciousness.
And finally, a Kundalini Mantra?
Kundalini Mantras are usually written in Gurmukhi, a sacred Indian language, although they can also be written in English. Even if the meaning of each word is unknown, these mantras carry the vibrations of serenity, prosperity, connection, and many other attributes, and their impact is understood.
A list of Kundalini mantras for everyday use is provided below. It's incredible to chant, sing, or simply listen to them in the background. I've included YouTube links to these mantras so you can listen to them for yourself.
Mantra for compassion and patience
Gobinday, Mukanday – This mantra clears karmic obstacles and mistakes from the past, balances the cerebral hemispheres, purifies the magnetic field, and instills compassion and patience.
Mantra for intuition
Magic Mantra – this mantra dispels all negativity and removes all impediments. It gives you a lot of intuition.
If you liked these mantras, you should listen to my Kundalini playlist on Spotify.
Check out Anna's blog, AnnaB.ie, as well as her Instagram and Facebook accounts for more information.
What language is used in Kundalini Yoga?
The ten Sikh Gurus created the Gurmukhi language. It's a mash-up of several languages designed to trigger the meridian points on your tongue's roof. Sikh texts are lovely tributes to God and the Universe written in Gurmukhi.
The word Gurmukhi literally means “from the guru's mouth,” or “from the guru's spoken word.” If you read the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, you'll come across the term Gurmukh, which refers to someone who speaks consciously as opposed to unconsciously. When we speak, chant, or sing Gurmukhi words, they are strong to the extent that we repeat them with reverence and dedication. Because of the tone and frequency with which Gurmukhi words vibrate, they are extremely strong. Words in Gurmukhi do not require definitions; instead, they must be repeated. Furthermore, by noticing how the sounds influence and co-create with his or her own interior journey and increasing consciousness, the one who repeats them develops wise.
Sat Nam means “genuine vibration” in Sanskrit. When Guru Nanak emerged from three days submerged in the River Vaee, he said this word for the first time. When you chant Sat Nam, you unite yourself with your destiny.
Har: This is a word for the heart's voice, as well as a name for God. The tip of the tongue strikes the roof of the mouth when we recite Har, making it sound more like HUD. This is a sound that activates the navel and brings kundalini energy to the surface.
Wahe Guru is the wisdom of present-moment happiness. This is an ecstatic expression.
Siri: This is a strong, creative sound for a woman. Its simple meaning is “great,” yet it is also a moniker for someone who is revered.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib: This is a sacred teacher for all beings; the holy sound stream creates a knot in your mind that connects you to Divine consciousness. We bow to it as a living entity who has given us these mantras, this heritage, and this tradition. For Sikhism devotees, it is referred to as the sacred literature. It is a Guru who is still alive.
Guru is a combination of the words gu and ru, which signifies “darkness” and “light.” A guru is someone who helps us go from darkness to light.
Guru Ong Namo Dev Namo: There is only one united creation, and I bow to it as the holy guru. I surrender my ego to the Creator's and Creation's wisdom. I acknowledge the wisdom that exists inside myself and all things.
Guru Nanak chanted the Japji Sahib, which is a long spiritual poetry or hymn. It's the music that kicks off the Aquarian Sadhana. It's a potent instrument for uniting individual consciousness with heavenly consciousness.
One Universal Creator/Creation (Ek Ong Kaar). This expression evokes a sense of oneness, of unity between the Creator and the rest of creation.
After the Gurdwara service, the seekers are offered prasaad, which is a sweet dish.
Amrit Vela: This is the finest time for a yogi to rise from sleep and practice between the hours of 3 and 7 a.m.
What triggers a kundalini awakening?
Kundalini energy sits like a coiled serpent at the base of the spine, according to Tantra. Kundalini awakening occurs when dormant energy flows freely upward via the seven chakras (energy centers) and leads to an expanded level of consciousness.
A kundalini awakening is a profound spiritual event for which yogis and practitioners prepare for years. The experience can occur deliberately through activities like as meditation, pranayama, yoga, and prayer, or it might occur unexpectedly. In the spiritual world, this form of awakening is very common, although in Western civilization, kundalini awakenings are regarded uncommon.