the way to Salvation…

Ascention of Kundlini or Serpentine Power is the core of spiritual achievements in India. Many great sages advocated and taught different practices, methods for ascension of Kundlini, that brings Supreme Enlightenment to the student on spiritual practice who is termed as Sadhak.

This practice we shall be discussing here is known as Shambhavi Deeksha. (Deeksha is training) This is generally imparted by the teacher (Guru) to her/his disciple, sitting face to face. Guru performs the techniques in front of guru, explains and desciple follows, practices in front of Guru to his satisfaction before practicing alone.

We go on describing here the techniques as they are. These are to be practiced by Sadhaks i.e. person desirous of walking on spiritual path. Care is taken to offer all details of techniques. One may find that different Gurus do their own additions, the core principle of the technique remaining the same. There is a slight difference in the way South Indian or generically the way Dravidians follow it than Aryans. For example Yogacharya Ayyangar has stated 53 methods of pranayama i.e. breathing techniques. They are variants of original and more variants can be added. There are different purposes behind the variants. The main purpose here in all techniques is Kundalini ascention. The other material benefits like disease cure etc. can be considered as the by-products of these techniques.

In Shambhavi Deeksha, we begin our practice with chanting of Aumkar (some call Omkar). Aum is one of the Beeja Mantra, the primary one. It calls for or is said to encompasses all occult metaphysical powers in the vast universe. It is also said to the name of Shree Ganesh, the Hindu lord who has got the honor to get remembered or worshipped before any holy worships, activities to get them completed without hurdles or troubles. This explains the reason why we start with Aumkar.

In our Shambhavi Deeksha we are not just going to simply say Om. Saying Aum involves a technique and we describe it here.

Aumkar

Aum comprises three alphabets A, U and M. Aum can be said in three different ways, stretching or varying the length of the pronunciation of different alphabet in each way being the key differentiator. Like we can say (i) Aaaaaaaum or (ii) Auuuuuuum or (iii) Aummmmm. We advocate here the last method mentioned i.e. Aummmmm.

• Inhale deep ( is called Poorak)
• Say Aummmm in Vaikhari (clear sufficiently to hear) while exhaling (exhale is called Rechak)
• During this, A and U can be stretched too, however M should be much longer lasting till the end of exhalation. ( though you can exhale after ending M too, for few seconds)
• Listen your M' kar (humming sound of M) with your own ears. Feel M' kar filling your whole body, ringing through ears. This is scientifically proven that the humming sound creates waves between your ears which are very beneficial to brain
• After sufficient practice and when you are at ease with it, it is preferred to focus the concentration on Sahastrar Chakra – the last and prime energy center said to be located at the end of your spine, at the top of head. It is imagined to be a lotus flower made up of thousand petals.
• Aumkar practice be best done alone at a quiet, calm place

This helps calm your mind, increase concentration.

Before we get ahead further, we shall clear some concepts.

Chakras

In literal meaning, Chakra means wheel. Chakras are whirling vortexes of energy at the conjunction of mind and body. For simple understanding, it is sufficient to know that they are the vital energy centers in body, the points where psychosomatic illness could be related.While relating with physical anatomy, the location of each chakra co-relates with a major gland(s) in body.

There are major 7 Chakras, five situated along the spine and two within head what we would imagine here. With the awakening of 1 st five energy vortexes, the remaining two in head opens automatic. Its kind of map reuniting mind and body in defiance of Dwait (dualism) that has sabotaged human kind from letting them realize themselves from ages. With our sadhana, we aim to follow this map until we unite with supreme soul or supreme self.

Each chakra can be associated with the psychological attributes or characteristics and with Chakra dharana (imagination) these can be balanced too. Each chakra has its geometry in tantra, a beeja mantra (seed vibration), color where one can focus. However, just balancing them is not the consideration here as we go beyond it to realize our full conciousness. The word of caution is never get stuck on specific place of the road as it inhibits us to reach the end.

Chakras	Geometric form	Color	Location	Beeja Mantra
Muldhaar	Square	Yellow	Pelvic floor at Perenium	Lm
Swadhisthana	Crescent moon, Chandracor	Silver	Between pubic bone and naval	Vm
Manipura	Upside down Triangle	Red	Between Navel and breast bone tip (sternum)	Rm
Anahata	Hexagram	Blue	Back of breast bone, in line with nipples	Ym
Vishuddha	Oval egg like	Black	Adjscent to thyroid, at throat	Hm
Ajna (Adnya)		Third eye	Near Pituatary gland, between eyebrows
Sahastrara		Thousand petals	Near Pineal gland, at cerebrum, top of brain

Nadis

Nadis are important cosmo-psychic nerves. There are 72000 cosmo-psychic nerves that Kundalini emanate. These are kind of astral channels within each of us, the three most important that we would talk here of being Ida, Pingala and Sushumna.

Opens in our left nostril Ida Nadi , also known as Chandra or moon Nadi and looks like moon light. It carries feminine, cool lunar energy. Opens in right nostril is Pingala Nadi. Also known as Surya or Sun Nadi, carrying solar, hot energy.

Goes in between these nadis is Sushmuna Nadi ( is Golden Color) , which is a passage for Serpentine Power, the channel of Supreme Conciousness, kept vacant in all of us. In Christein terms it can be related to be representing Christ Consciusness, kept crucified by the emotions running rampant in Ida and Pingala – consider two thieves on either side of the Crucified Christ. Also watch in this picture of Crucification, the sun (Pingala Nadi) is above the thief on the right and moon (Ida nadi) above the thief hanging left of Crucified Christ. The nadis Ida and Pingala sort of present the logical (solar- Pingala) and emotional (lunar- Ida) aspects on our being, where are Sushumna – providing the passage for Kundalini, awakening various Chakras in our body on her way finally unites these aspects of our life and everything at Sahastrara.

When Kundalini ascends, it travels through this Sushumana, or Brahma Nadi.

To make it simple, imagine in our spine are two Nadis, kind of hollow tubes, or paths and imagine breathing air passes through these during pranayama.

Kundalini

Kundalini – the dynamo of energy based in three and half times coiled form like a snake at Muladhar Chakra (base support) in triangular shape, is too golden colored compact energy force. This is called brahma yoni.

Kundalini the highly compressed power is like a colied spring, ready to bounce, change from its static energy to kinetic energy under the proper conditions. When awakened it awakens the vital Chakra centers on its way and union of feminine Kundalini Shakti takes place with Shiva Shakta at Sahastranar, which every human can achieve with some efforts.

Kundalini shakti is bride, widow, virgin, wife, mother and divorcee- everything. Shiva too is a groom, widower ,virgin, husband, father and divorcee. As has been followed in ancient Hindu culture, the bride, wife won't go to meet her groom, husband and consummate when others are present likewise, Kundalini won't go to unite Shiva in sahastranar when others are present like your ego.

The yogi makes the furnace of his body with his sadhana (rigorous study) and if Yoga is transcendal alchemy, the fire of kundalini purifies like cancination, the material salty aspects, sulfer like soul and mercurine Spirit.

Asana (pronounced as Aasan in Marathi or Aasanm in Sanskrit)

The pose or method of sitting in Sadhana is called Asana. For spiritual practice Asana is very important as the student is expected to be able to sit in one pose without much movement at a stretch – say at least 3 hours, as practice progresses to achieve desired results. The difficulty in attaining Asana may result in difficulty in attaining desired level of concentration.

One may sit in chair, or in whatever pose as may be comfortable with main intention to be able to hold concentration or nil state for longer duration, which is necessary. However, it is preferred to sit in Sidhhasana, which aids in ascention of Kundalini and is called as king of all Asanas. Technique of Siddhasana is as follows.

• Sit on floor keeping straight posture
• Adjust the heel of your right or left foot in such a way that it touches the perenium. This is the place between your genitals and anus, which is said to be four fingers wide. We leave one and half finger space on each side and place the heel of foot in the place inbetween. This is the place above which the basic energy centre, called Mooladhar Chakra of Kundalini is located. Here Kundalini or Serpentine Power is placed in coiled form. So sitting in Siddhasana one puts pressure on this place, which aids awakening and ascention of Kundalini. Also it is easier for one to concentrate here, while one puts pressure here.
• Close your eyes and keep hands on your knees

The student can try attempting Siddhasana as far as possible. Practice makes one perfect. It is expected to perform all Sadhana in Siddhasana through out the practice.

Cleansing Processes or Shuddhi Kriya

After Aumkar, we perform Shuddi Kriya or Cleansing Processes. Cleansing is important as it prepares the different layers in your being to bring total harmony that aids the ascension of Kundalini or Serpentine Power. Cleaning processes that we discuss here are as follows.

Kapal Bhati

Kapal Bhati involves rapid exhalation and stomuch crunches.

• Make Pranav Mudra of your right hand. Pranav Mudra is attained as follows

   

   

   

   

  • Open your palm.
  • Fold down index and middle finger, keeping thumb, small finger and finger of Apolo straight. This gets you Pranav Mudra.
• With the straight thumb close your right nostril. Deep inhale just once and then keep exhaling from left nostril.
• Close your eyes and keep other free hand on knees.
• While you exhale DO NOT attempt deliberate inhale (you inhale only once, in the beginning). It may or may not happen involuntarily.

Once you get grip and can comfortably do 10 counts of this process, add following technique to it.

• On the 10 th count, when you exhale, and crunch stomuch in, stop and hold the same pose. So when you stop, you would have exhaled air out and your stomuch is in. Do not exhale or inhale or release stomuch and try remaining in this “ Nil” or zero state as much as can you can, say few seconds initially. When we hold breath this way it is known as Kumbhak.
• Do not concentrate anywhere, just have the feel inside the body, try experiencing what you feel.
• When you feel like inhaling, open your eyes, and take deep breath.
• Repeat this while doing from another nostril on the 10 th count (or last count).

Kumbhak that we perform in cleansing process is important to attain better meditative state. As an example imagin the act of putting thread in the tiny hole of needle. When we try this, have you experienced that we hold the breath and immediately put the thread in hole? Holding breath helps us focus.

With this Kumbhak, the Pran Vayu which is above our navel and Apan Vayu which is below navel unite, as Apan Vayu starts going up due to pressure generated. This cleanses the layers of tridosha – Cough, Vata, Pitta from Kundalini to aid its ascention.

This makes one round of Kapal Bhati – once with left and then right nostril rapid exhalation along with stomuch crunches. Starting from 10 counts each, right and left in the beginning, you can progress up to 80-100 each nostril within few weeks.

Also, you can simply do this process with both nostrils open, instead of closing any of the nostril. You shall find that you can do more counts with this.

Benefits of Kapal Bhati , other than as an aid to ascension of Kundalini is it reduces the fat in body. You shall notice cure or improvement with regards to some diseases, like constipation, cough and cold, migraine, diabetes, gynecological problems etc. There are examples of cure on cysts of ovaries, aiding pregnancy chances.

It builds pressure on Mooladhar chakra, the coiled kundalini, and awakens it.

One can preferably concentrate on mooladhar chakra while performing Kapal Bhati, imagine that you are building pressure there.

Some caution

• Kapal Bhat is banned if you have just undergone stumuch operation, or have stiches there etc. Seek doctors advice and best attempt Kapal Bhati after few months of surgery and when stitchesa re completely removed.
• The heart and blood pressure patients should not attempt forceful exhalations and tummy crunches. They may rise your blood pressure aggravating problem. Be smooth as much as possible. See what your body is comfortable with.
• This rises heat in body. Is best to be done in winters. Slow down or do less Avartans (repetitions) in summers or hot weather.

Simple Pranayam ( Vivekanand Pranayam)

This is simple breating. Swami Vivekanand always exercised this, before going into his meditation.

• Sit in any Asana that you are comfortable. Sit keeping spine and neck straight.
• Close your eyes and keep both hands on your knees. (called as Dnyan Mudra)
• Deep inhale (Poorak) and then deep exhale (Rechak).
• Keep the pace of Poorak and Rechak same. Do at slow pace not fast. You might like counting, upto 10 counts you inhale and another counts you exhale.
• Your chest portion expands while you inhale, and tummy goes inside as you exhale.
• Concentrate on the process on air coming in and going out. Imagine the air is coming in your left or right side hollow tubes around spine (knows as Nadis, which are two, Ida on right side and Pingala on left side)
• Imagine that as you inhale, you are impacting with air on your sleeping Kundalini, and while you exhale out, you are pulling it up along with air or some energy you are pulling in.

Do this process staring from 10 minutes twice everyday. Once you are comfortable with this the process, increase upto, forty five minutes to one hour in two-three weeks if possible.

The benefits are appearant after few days, if followed regularly. You shall experience calmness and peace within. This helps reduce anger and aids in curing diseases.

This internally cleanses body and aids ascension of Kundalini. This aids achieving good concentration needed for meditation (dhyana).

Anulom Vilom Pranayam

Please see simple pranayam. This is very much similar to it, except following variation.

Kumbhak Technique

Between your inhalation and exhalation is Kumbhak- the state where you hold breath for equal or more amount of time that you take for inhale or exhale.

Kumbhak that we perform in cleansing process is important to attain better meditative state. As an example imagin the act of putting thread in the tiny hole of needle. When we try this, have you experienced that we hold the breath and immediately put the thread in hole? Holding breath helps us focus.

In your visualization imagine you are putting pressure on your Kundalini at Mooladhar Chakra with this held up air in Antar Kumbhak.

1. Make Pranav Mudra of your right hand. Pranav Mudra is attained as follows

    

    

    

    

    

    

   • Open your palm.
   • Fold down index and middle finger, keeping thumb, small finger and finger of Apolo straight. This gets you Pranav Mudra.
2. Close your right nostril with straight thumb, and inhale with left nostril.
3. Release right nostril, while closing left nostril with Apolo finger and exhale from right nostril.
4. Inhale from same right nostril (from where you exhaled), and close it with thumb again and release left notril while exhaling from left nostril. This completes one Avartan.
5. Repeat these avartans. Process of breating is similar to simple pranayama, just we inhale from one nostril and exhale from another nostril.
6. Imagine as in simple pranayama. Concentrate on the process on air coming in and going out. Imagine the air is coming in your left or right side hollow tubes around spine (knows as Nadis, which are two, Ida on right side and Pingala on left side)
7. Imagine that as you inhale, you are impacting with air on your sleeping Kundalini, and while you exhale out, you are pulling it up along with air or some energy you are pulling in. The Kundalini flows through the tube (nadi – called Sushmuna) in between left and right side tubes (nadis).

These kumbhak techniques, i.e. holding of the breath can be practiced when you do simple pranayama, or Anulom Vilom Pranaya.

1. Antar Kumbhak – Internal breath holding. The process is you inhale say upto 10 counts, then hold the breath inside upto 10 counts, and exhale upto 10 counts. Here you keep the air IN.
2. Bahirkumbhak – Outer Breath holding. The process is you inhale say upto 10 counts, then exhale upto 10 counts and then hold the breath inside upto 10 counts. So here you keep the air OUT.

    

    

    

    

    

    

   • Sit in Sidhhansan. Hands on knees, eyes closed.
   • Do any of above cleansing process, best is perform simple kapal bhati (both nostril open) for 10-15 counts and attain Kumbhak. Just ensure that you don't put unnecessary pressure on your kidney, or force breath inside.
   • When breath inside, imagin your own body, as at present would appear sitting in siddhasana pose in front of your eyes. Try keeping this image steady.
   • Breath in slowly and start simple Vivekananda pranayam
   • Try seeing more details, how you are sitting, your hands are on knees, your eyes are closed etc. You have to just focus on this – your own figure and body
   • Do not move, be still.
   • Slowly, you shall forget your breathing too, and just know your body. You may find it difficult attaining this initially, and your mind may wander. Do not force, again try focusing on your body. More you practice this, more you will be able to hold your body image in your mind and just know it, and nothing else around you.
   • If you find difficulty keeping body image steady in mind, again try doing Kumbhak (holding breath) and try keeping it steady.
   • When your image is steady and own body is steady and you are able to focus properly, you shall have some different experiences. These experiences may be unique to everyone.
   • Expereince micro body separating from your own body, also that the body is expanding, contracting.
   • The feeling of calmness that cannot be described.
   • The body is turned to other direction, i.e. I am sitting other way round.
   • A bright light at Mooladhara accompanied with the joy unbearable to body- the joy that can be experienced only without body
   • The blue color expanded through out, filling all universe, and I saw some cosmic, all encompassing images or better say existence of Shrikrishna Bhagwan.
   • Sit in Sidhhansan. Hands on knees, eyes closed.
   • Perform simple Vivekananda pranayama, or Anulom Vilom. for 10-15 counts and attain Kumbhak. Keep breathing again and get into Kumbhak again – repeat.
   • While breathing slowly bring your attention to your breathing.
   • Do not move, be still, focus just on breathing nothing else.
   • Slowly, you shall find breathing is getting bit lesser. The stillness of body and your attention on breathing is so much that body does not need much oxygen.
   • Initially breathing air is sensed 10-15 finger lengh, which reduces to as less as 2-3 finger length. You may find your breath stopping, as all nerves calm down. Don not be afraid and remain in same state.

   My experiences with this meditation
   

   • Whirling sensation in mind, and felt later no mind.
   • A very different experience with no mind.

   No Thought Meditation
   

   • Sit in Sidhhansan. Hands on knees, eyes closed.
   • Perform simple Vivekananda pranayama, or Anulom Vilom. for 10-15 counts and attain Kumbhak. Keep breathing again and get into Kumbhak again – repeat.
   • While in kumbhak bring your attention in between your eyes. Imagine a glowing energy here and focus on it.
   • Do not move, be still, focus just on Ajna Chakra i.e. energy in between eyes nothing else.
   • If you find difficulty attaining here, make a plus sign with your nail in between eyes and focus on that sensation.

• Whirling sensation inside mind, and felt later no mind.
• Seen a glowing light in between eyebrows

My experiences with this meditation

• Sit in Sidhhansan. Hands on knees, eyes closed.
• Perform simple Vivekananda pranayama, or Anulom Vilom. for 10-15 counts.
• Do not move, be still, focus just on NOTHING. No thoughts, no imagination, simple just be.
• You may start feeling some energies near sahastrara, or top of your head.

My experiences with this meditation

• Great calmness.
• Knowing future, increased concentration in routine life.
• Seen different great lands