KUNDALINI AND SUSHUMNA NADI

Sushumna nadi is the column known to be located within the hair’s breadth canal of the spinal cord. It originates at what is known as the Kanda.

Anatomically this is situated at the perineum which is also known as Muladhara Chakra and briefly mentioned as the human body’s South Pole.

This area in the pranic energy system is known as the place where Shakti Kundalini resides.

Sushumna is located within the spine and the Kundalini travels directly up the spinal column within the spinal cord to a place known as Brahmarandra which anatomically coincides with what is known as the fourth ventricle, the place where the cerebro spinal fluid governs transmittance of all. The area incorporates the hypothalamus, pineal and pituitary glands. It is located centrally within the skull and remains the human beings most protected area.

All existence as a human being is governed from this position. In respect to the pranic energy system this area is said to be the abode of Shiva. A short distance above this position is the soft spot on the top of a baby’shead known as the fontanel. As growth into maturity occurs this softness is covered with bone.

All of the nadis within the pranic energy system are said to originatefrom the Kanda. The Kanda is known to be the home of Shakti and the seat of Kundalini.

The medical symbol and staff of Hermes Trismegistus has been interpreted to represent the goal of life in the same way the yogic texts state the energy from the base of the body is to be progressively and systematically brought to the point of illumination at the third eye or circle on the medical symbol representing Brahmarandra.

It is said the energy of Shakti is brought upwards to meet her divine equivalent in the form of Shiva in his abode.

At this point the individual experiences spiritual illumination where the pranic energy is said to shoot out the top of the head through the fontanel (which translates as the little fountain) which has been noted within some yogic texts as the pouring of the river Ganga or the mother Goddess.

Other texts have termed it Sartorii, baptism of the spirit, atonement and the Christos.

So, realistically, how as a human being, is this experience possible?

There are three states of mind relative to the breath which is moving prana and consciousness throughout the body. The body’s natural cycle creates a predominance within one of the brain hemispheres for up to anything between 90 and130 minutes per side. There is however the body’s natural ability to induce a meditative state and this occurs when the predominance is changing sides within the cycle. For approximately 10 to 30 seconds every 2 hours the brain hemispheres are said to be naturally balanced where a meditative state is experienced.

All yoga practices are designed to prolong this meditative state. The states of mind relative to the breath are as follows:

The state of mind is dynamic when the left side of the brain ispredominately functioning and pranic energy is moving within the Pingala nadi. This experience is said to be Rajasic by nature.

The state of mind is mellow when the right side of the brain predominates and pranic energy moves within the Ida nadi. This experience is said to be Tamasic in nature.

A meditative state of mind occurs when both hemispheres of the brain are functioning equally and the pranic energy moving within Ida and Pingala are balanced.

The pranic energy moves from the Kanda through what is known as Brahmadvara (the door of Brahma).

The aim of yoga is not to remove Tamasic and Rajasic experiences but to balance the energies in the body to activate Sushumna for a meditative mind in order to achieve Sattva.

Sushumna Nadi is said to have three finer vessels within it. The channels within Sushumna have been termed as the Vajra Nadi which is situated within Sushumna and within the Vajra Nadi is situated the Citri Nadi and within this is situated Brahma Nadi which is the most finest and refined channel of them all.

The movement of energy within these nadis is governed by an individuals own state of evolution, the movement of energy within the Linga Sharira relative to the chakras and a few other things.

The chakras govern our expression and relative to the movement of energy Sahasrara chakra could be interpreted as our highest manifestation. It is seen as the infinitely petalled lotus flower correlating to the functioning of our brain on a subtle level. Centrally located within the brain and cranium is the abode of Shiva, Brahmarandra which is said to house pure spirit.

It is not confined to this area albeit responsible for perception of it (how can something that resides everywhere be somewhere?). In some descriptions of the chakra Sahasrara is related to the spirit element, Ajna to the mind, Vishuddhi to ether, Anahata to air, Manipura to fire, Swadhisthana to water and Muladhara to earth.

The movement of pranic energy can be felt within the body. Thoughts themselves can be felt to manifest at a certain level before being expressed.

Aspirants aiming for the highest must have correct approach through moral cultivation, application of intellect, Vairagya (non attachment) and Abhyasa (regular practice) for the prana to be balanced in order to enter Sushumna for the energy to rise from the Kanda to Brahmarandra where Shakti meets Shiva.

At this point it is said that spiritual illumination occurs and the Kundalini energy is awakened. If the body and mind are not harmonious and acting through pure intent the Kundalini energy will remain dormant as the energy within Sushumna will not travel within the finer channels. This experience will ultimately be governed and decided upon by the grace of life itself and no other means. Unfortunately if you weren’t meant to have the experience in this life then you won’t but realistically in the next life you will be a lot closer towards getting off the cycle of reincarnation and rebirth as you have worked towards harmonising your existence with life itself.

The points of the South and North Pole of the body have been interpreted in some texts as Mt Meru which has been said to be the home of the gods. There is mixed interpretation through out the world but it can also be interpreted as the connection between man and the gods or life itself.

Ultimately I understand our path to include the vast knowledge of this mountain itself which I understand much like Panini in the sense that the pranic energy system manifests and expresses itself through vibrations which correlate to the Sanskrit alphabet and Devanagari script. These vibrations have also been visually interpreted and documented as the script or letters of the alphabets themselves.