Kundalini Yoga

by Sivananda Saraswati

This describes various aspects and exercises of hatha (karma,) bhakti, raja and jnana kundalini Yogas.

Genres: Hinduism, Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction, Philosophy

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Swami Sivananda Saraswati (September 8, 1887—July 14, 1963) was a Hindu spiritual teacher and a well known proponent of Sivananda Yoga and Vedanta. Sivananda was born Kuppuswami in Pattamadai, in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. He studied medicine and served in Malaya as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism. He lived most of the later part of his life near Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh.

He is the founder of The Divine Life Society (1936), Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy (1948) and author of over 200 books on yoga, vedanta and a variety of other subjects. He established Sivananda Ashram, the location of the headquarters of The Divine Life Society (DLS), on the bank of the Ganges at Shivanandanagar, at a distance of 3 kilometres from Rishikesh.

Sivananda Yoga, the yoga form propagated by him, are now spread in many parts of the world through Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres, but these centres are not affiliated with Swami Sivananda's original ashrams which are run by the Divine Life Society.

Reviews

[Ajitabh Pandey · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you wish to know the science behind the Kundalini (Serpent Power), this is the book which explains it beautifully. But if you think that by doing exercises in this book you can awaken your Kundalini, you are mistaken. These exercises will help shape your body, mind an intellect so that when you are ready and you have a proper Guru (Holy teacher) you can quickly ascend to the yogic path.

Swami Sivananda has very ably and beautifully explained the chakras, pranayam, aasanas, mudra & bandh and also map the chakras to the various points in the human body according to modern medical science.

[Joao Fonseca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quotes:
Los aspirantes deben tener todas las cualidades sáttvicas y Han de estar enteramente libres de impurezas. Los sólidos cimientos de una vida yoguica estan constituídos por Satsanga, aislamiento,disciplina dietética, buenos modales, buen carácter,Brahmacharya,Vayragya,etc. Lá ayuda de um gurú quien haya recojido el sendero, es absolutamente necessária para avançar rapidamente por lá senda espiritual.
Los Nadis son canales Sukshuma(astrales) através de los quales el Prana corre hacia las distintas partes del cuerpo. Ida,pingala y sushumna son, entre inumerables Nadis, las mas importantes. Todos los Nadis parten de la Kanda. La Kanda Esta ubicada en el espacio entre el Origen del organ genital y el ano. El sushumna nadi Esta situado dentro de lá columna vertebral, en la medula espinal.
El Muladhara,el Svadhisshthana, el manipura, el Anahata, el Vishuddha, el Ajna y el Sahasrara son los chakras importantes. Cuando la kundalini passa de um chakra para outro abre-se uma camada atrás da outra da mente e o Sadhaka entra num estado superior de consciência. Ida corre através da fossa nasal esquerda e Pingala através da direita.

Um Hatha yogi chega à etapa suprema com a prática de diversos Mudras, Bandhas, Asanas e outros exercícios; um Jnani , mediante a prática de Sravana,Manana e Nididhyasana; um Karman yogi, mediante as obras desinteresssadas(Nishkama Seva); um Bhakti através mediante o desenvolvimento da Bhakti e a auto-renúncia; um Raja yogi mediante concentração profunda y control profundo da mente. A meta é a mesma em todos os casos mas os métodos são diferentes.
A concentração e meditação sobre a energia primordial -Shakti- são apenas uma modificação do Sadhana yoguico do Jnana. A concentração e meditação sobre os diferentes centros de energia pertencem ao Raja yoga. A concentração nos distintos Chakras e Nadis e o despertar da Shakti através de métodos físicos pertencem ao Hatha yoga. A concentração e meditação sobre a Devata, sobre a divindade reitora dos distintos chakras internos, podem considerar-se um curso avançado de Bhakti yoga. Os distintos métodos de Sadhana devem combinar-se para obter resultados positivos mais rápidos.

Uma vez que se controlou os sentidos e se purificou o coração é muito fácil o control da mente, a concentração dos raios desta, e a meditação. O aspirante fará bem em recordar as duas grandes palavras passe do Sadhana:
A) Abhyasa (prática tenaz,intensa,ininterrupta, regular e sistemática; e
B) Vayragya (desapaixonamento, aversão a todos os gozos sensuais, desapego com respeito aos objectos dos sentidos)
A mente do aspirante quererá meditar na medida em que cresça com estes aspectos. Haverá alegria na meditação. A mente aguardará a hora da meditação. Quando este estado se intensificar então a mente atingirá um estado constante de meditação. Quando as suas mãos se dediquem ao trabalho quotidiano a sua mente estará jubilosamente afastada do mundo, presenciando pacificamente(Sakshi-Bhava) o jogo dos sentidos y dos objectos destes. Quando estiver estabelecido neste estado você será um Yogi aperfeiçoado. Só tem que sentar-se e fechar os olhos, instantaneamente transcendera as cinco envolvências e fundir-se-a na alma suprema. As suas ações estarão em harmonia com a vontade divina. Terá as faculdades intelectuais, mentais e corporais sobre-humanas. Nunca estará cansado nem deprimido. As suas palavras terão uma força que transformarão a vida. Seu coração estará cheio de amor e compaixão pela humanidade, e toda a humanidade será atraída até si. Brilhará como um Yogi,um sábio e um Jivanmukta. Você é um libertado. Esta é a meta.

[Vikram CL · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book for the people who are seeking for the knowledge of KUNDALINI. I enjoyed reading each and every chapter of this book! This book covers the theoretical part as well as practical implementation to awaken the Kundalini :)

[Carlotta Micale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice introduction on different yoga practices, explaining the interpretations on how to awake our Kundalini Energy. Simple and informative reading. Advised for whoever wants to go deeper in their yoga knowledges.

[Kandachamy Vijayakumaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like an earlier book by Swami Sivananda, this book is short and gives a clear idea about the Kundalini Yoga. Reading is one thing, but practicing is another. But bookish knowledge is better than no knowledge at all.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book on Kundalini.

[Angela]

Excellent, comprehensive book on many aspects of yoga, including the chakras, sushumna, etc.

[Franck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read ! Sri Swami Sivananda shows several precise methods to awaken the Serpent of Fire. Plus, many anecdotes about Yogis of different ages are found in the book and I definitely liked that. Siddhis by those yogis, bouddhas/bodhisattvas, and even non religious people are depicted. The author is obviously an inclusive person. However, some parts of the book are tainted with that super rigorous mindset shared by highly religious individuals. Therefore – in my opinion – Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda owns its lot of unnecessary rules and observances… the simple view of an hyper-connected, careless, naive millennial thus to say. Anyway added to that, the book’s “translation“ employs a plethora of Sanskrit words and affiliates mixed with English. For this, believe me, you’ll find it hard at times to follow the author in his journey despite the glossary available at the end… unless you’re already well versed in the hindu culture.