How to Awaken the Kundalini Shakti

How To Awaken the Kundalini Shakti

Although an aspirant may adopt Kundalini Yoga as his specialized practice, it is advisable not to focus only on one particular Yoga. It is much better to follow an Integral path. In order to practice Kundalini Yoga, one has to attain three states of purification—that of the body, the Nadis and the Mind.

Kaya Shuddhi, or purity of the body, is the first state to be attained, and is brought about by the practice of the physical exercises of Hatha Yoga. Nadi Shuddhi or purification of the subtle vital channels is perfected through the practice of Pranayamas, Mudras (seals), Bandhas (locks), and Kriyas (special purificatory exercises). Chitta Shuddhi or purification of the mind is attained by the practice of Concentration, Meditation and Samadhi.

Various Pranayamas or breathing exercises have been designed to affect the awakening of the Kundalini. These simple exercises can be done every day. For example, in Sukha Purvak Pranayama, while inhaling, concentrate on the Muladhara Chakra, feeling that you are “heating” the Chakra by your mental will. This practice concentrates the Prana or vital force at that particular center bringing about its energization and mastery.

Another variation to the preceding practice is—while inhaling, concentrate on the Muladhara and mentally imagine that you are allowing the Prana to put pressure at the Chakra to activate it. Then as you exhale, imagine that the Chakra is unfolding.

Additionally, during inhalation, mentally repeat the root letter “LUM, LUM, LUM,” while concentrating at the Muladhara Chakra. This repetition continues throughout inhalation, retention, and exhalation. Feel that the sound is radiating from that center and totally engulfing your being. The same technique is followed with the other Chakras, preferably during the same sitting, repeating the respective root-letter that belongs to each center.

You can also concentrate on these Chakras during Pranayama by adopting the different colors of the Chakras. You can visualize, for example, the color yellow while concentrating on the Muladhara Chakra, or cultivating your imagination to visualize gardens of yellow marigolds or sunflowers. Similarly, at the Manipur Chakra, instead of meditating upon the color red, the mystic color of the center, you can visualize the sunrise or sunset.

A Yogi practices these various exercises starting first with the Muladhara Chakra, then the Swadhishthan, and progressing upwards through the various Chakras until the crown of the head is reached. This is a powerful means of Concentration when done in conjunction with Pranayama (breathing).

As you become more adept at this practice, you can adopt the Raja Yoga technique of just meditating at the Ajna Chakra. If the Ajna Chakra is awakened, then automatically all the centers are mastered. That is why the Ajna Chakra literally means “the Command Center.”

The awakening of the Kundalini through the Chakras implies an abundance of Prana flowing through the Nadis or the mystic channels, giving rise to increasing integration of the mind. As the mind is integrated, there is increasing expansion in consciousness as outlined in Vedanta.

When your Kundalini rises beyond the first three Chakras, you destroy the “Knot” of Karma, meaning that you are no longer entangled in the world-process. When it rises beyond the heart center, you destroy the “Knot” of Kama (desire); and when it rises beyond the Ajna Chakra, you destroy the “Knot” of Avidya or ignorance, and become established in the Self. With the Kundalini rising to the Sahasrar Chakra at the crown of the head you attain Jivan Mukti or Liberation in life.

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From the book Integral Yoga: The Secret to Enlightenment by Swami Jyotirmayananda, published by the Yoga Research Foundation. © Swami Jyotirmayananda. All rights reserved.

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