Yoga - The Kingdom Within

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In the Maladhara, Kundalini lies in the form of a coiled serpent. The innate self dwells there like the flame of a lamp. Contemplation of this radiant light as the luminous Brahman is the transcendental meditation. Gheranda Samhita, v. 16

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Ajit Mookerjee

KUNDALINI The Arousal of the Inner Energy

DESTINY BOOKS

Rochester, Vermont

Frontispiece: The energy centres with (above) the full flowering of the female Kundalini energy. Rajasthan, c. 1900, ink and colour on paper Copyright page : Ancient Dravidian symbol of the interweaving psychic energies (Kolam), South India Destiny Books Park Street Rochester, Vermont 05767 www. InnerTraditions. com Third Edition 1986 Copyright 1982 Thames and Hudson Ltd, London All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Publisher. Inquiries should be addressed to Destiny Books. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Mookerjee, Ajit. Kundalini, the arousal of the inner energy. Bibliography : p. 101 Includes index. 1. Kundalini. I. Title. BL1215.K8M66 1982 294.5'514 ISBN 0-89281-020-3 (pbk.) 10

81-5466 AACR2

Contents PREFACE PAGE 7

1 The Tantric Concept 2 The Arousal of Kundalini PAGE 9

PAGE 19

3 Chakras-the Energy Centres P A G E 39

4 Transformation of Energy PAGE 59

5 The Kundalini Experience Classical and Clinical PAGE 71

NOTES ON THE TEXT PAGE 100

BIBLIOGRAPHY PAGE 101

GLOSSARY PAGE 103

INDEX P A G E 109

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Preface

Human experience owes to Tantra the discovery and location of the centres of psychic energy, chakras, in the subtle or astral body. Kundalini Sakti, coiled and dormant cosmic energy, is at the same time the supreme force in the human organism. Every individual is a manifestation of that energy, and the universe around us is the outcome of the same consciousness, ever revealing itself in various modes. The passage of the awakened Kundalini through the various chakras is the subject of a unique branch of tantric esoteric knowledge whose goal is the merging of the Kundalini energy with cosmic consciousness, so that one may realize one's real self, ultimately unfolding the mysteries of the whole universe. Kundalini-yoga is an experience of the actualization of human potentialities. A deeper understanding of the awakening of this cosmic energy can only be felt when one decides to become actively involved in it. As Dr B. Bhattacharyya remarks: 'Whenever in the future, man awakens to the necessity of psychic development, spiritual advancement, or of stimulating his latent magical faculties, all eyes must turn towards this branch of Sanskrit literature, and to those few Yogins India still possesses, for the most minute, thorough, accurate, easy and practical system of psychic exercises ever conceived by man in any country or at any time.' The Kundalini awakening or rebirth-process has been studied both from the classical and clinical point of view. In this study, my special thanks are due to Dr Lee Sannella, Chief of Clinical Services of the Kundalini Clinic, whose permission to use the clinical findings has been very useful. I am grateful to Dick Price and Stanislav and Christina Grof of the Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California, for providing me with opportunities to meet American researchers on kundalini-yoga. I am also indebted to Madhu Khanna for her several suggestions and to Pria Devi for going through the manuscript. A.M.

Naga-bandha. The psychic energy symbolized by the serpent-form retained by being wound into a closed circuit'. Rajasthan, 18th century, ink and colour on paper

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