A Brief History of Kundalini

Kundalini

Before we get into what Kundalini is, let’s start by talking about a term you will often hear associated with it – ‘universal consciousness’. What the heck is that you say to yourself? Well let me give you an example.. Have you ever thought about someone you haven’t seen in a long time, only to suddenly hear the phone ring and its them? Or maybe you had a strong feeling that something was about to happen. The feeling was so overwhelming that it you were positive that it would come true. Well according to universal consciousness, these kinds of phenomenon occur because everything in the universe is connected. In fact, the whole Star Wars movie franchise borrows from this ideology.

History

Gyaneshwara, a famous saint, wrote about Kundalini in 1275 AD. “Kundalini is one of the greatest energies. The whole body of the seeker starts glowing because of the rising of the Kundalini. Because of that, unwanted impurities in the body disappear. The body of the seeker suddenly looks very proportionate and the eyes look bright and attractive and the eyeballs glow.” – (Gyaneshwari, Chapter VI)

About 200 years later, Guru Nanak Dev also mentions Kundalini: “God has made this human body a house with six Chakras and has established the light of spirit in it. Cross the ocean of Maya and meet the eternal God who does not come, who does not go, who neither takes birth nor dies. When your six Chakras meet in line, Surati (Kundalini) takes you beyond distortions.”

The Serpent Power

Shri Ramana Maharshi for example, believes that Kundalini is the natural energy of this universal consciousness, which is present in every person. It is only through meditation, pranayama breathing, and mantra chanting, that this natural energy can be uncovered. Once uncovered, it can cause enlightenment and bliss.

The word “Kundalini” translates to ‘coiled one’. It is said to lie coiled at the base of the spine in a dormant state – much like a sleeping serpent waiting to be awakened. At the base of your spine is a bone called the Sacrum. The Greeks attributed supernatural powers to this bone, as they noticed if you burn a body, it is the last bone to be destroyed.

It is also associated with nadis (energy channels), chakras (psychic centres), prana (subtle energy), and bindu (drops of essence). Altogether they make up what is known as the “subtle body”.

write by Griselda