Where Does Kundalini Yoga Come From

According to legend, Kundalini Yoga was first practiced in India by the Sikh warrior elite.

An review of mystical literature and traditions, on the other hand, revealed that Kundalini, known by several names, appears to have been a universal phenomena in esoteric teachings for at least three thousand years.

Egyptian, Tibetan, Chinese, Native American, and African esoteric teachings all contain Kundalini-like descriptions or experiences.

From the Bible, Kundalini has been translated as “The Koran, Plato's and other Greek philosophers' works, alchemical tracts, and Hermetic, Kabbalistic, Rosicrucian, and Masonic teachings all mention the solar principle in man.

The Upanishads, Hinduism's ancient books dating back to the fifth century B.C., also had a written description of Kundalini, though the oral tradition goes back far further.

This sacred science and technology was shrouded in secrecy for thousands of years, passed down through the oral tradition from master to chosen apprentice.

Indian yoga helped to the nurturing of Kundalini and the preservation of its wisdom by emphasizing the transformation of energy to higher consciousness.

Before the 1970s, Kundalini was a rare occurrence in the West, until more attention was paid to consciousness. Psychiatrist Carl G. Jung and others, for example, reported in 1932 that the Kundalini experience was uncommon in the West.

Kundalini Yoga was never taught publicly until Yogi Bhajan introduced it to the United States in 1969, defying the age-old tradition of secrecy. It has since spread all over the world.

He penned, “I'm imparting these teachings in order to establish a Total Self science… It is every human being's birthright to be healthy, happy, and holy.”

Where did Kundalini Yoga begin?

Harbhajan Singh Puri, a Pakistani-born economics major, boarded a plane with a one-way ticket from Punjab, India to Toronto, Canada in 1968. At the age of 16, Yogi Bhajan, as he would later be known around the world, was declared a master of Kundalini yoga, and he was the first to openly teach Kundalini yoga to the public, revealing a lineage hitherto shrouded in secrecy. Yogi Bhajan founded the 3HO, which stands for “Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization,” a nonprofit dedicated to spreading Kundalini yoga principles, in 1969.

Kundalini is a technique that is a bit outside the box for most Westerners who equate yoga with a flowing physical activity. While physicality is one facet of Kundalini yoga, it also incorporates spiritual elements, such as mantras like “Sat Nam,” which means “truth is my essence,” pranayama, or breath control, meditation, and kriyas, or repeated body motions designed to enhance energy flow. Turbans and white garments are worn by both teachers and students. According to Yogi Bhajan, the color white is cleaning, expands the aura, and protects against negative energy. The crown chakra, the physical body's topmost energy point, is protected and contained by the head covering. Kundalini yoga can be performed by anyone, regardless of age or physical fitness level, due to the range of practices offered in a Kundalini class, particularly those that draw more on the subtle body.

Kundalini has an interesting and fascinating history. The technique is derived from Raj Yoga, which has been practiced in India since 500 BC and is recorded in the famous Vedic collection of scriptures known as the Upanishads. Kundalini yoga is distinct from other kinds of yoga in that it is descended from a Sikh tradition, a religion created in 15th century Punjab that promotes love, equality, and service to others and is distinct from Hinduism and Islam. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, studied and practiced yoga, and Yogi Bhajan, a Sikh, combined their teachings. Many of the meditations in the Kundalini practice stem from the Sikh tradition, thanks to the junction of yoga and the Sikh heritage through Guru Nanak. For example, Guru Nanak's enlightenment experience while learning with the yogis inspired him to employ the mantra Sat Nam in Kundalini yoga.

What religion is associated with Kundalini Yoga?

Kualin awakenings are claimed to take place in a variety of ways. Many yoga schools emphasize meditation, pranayama breathing, asana practice, and mantra chanting as ways to activate Kualin. Kundalini Yoga is influenced by Hinduism's Shaktism and Tantra schools. It gets its name from its emphasis on kundalini energy awakening through frequent Mantra, Tantra, Yantra, Asanas, or Meditation practice. A definite feeling of electric current running along the spine is regularly reported as part of the Kualin experience.

When was kundalini discovered?

The actual origin of Kundalini Yoga is uncertain, however it is first mentioned in the Upanishads, an ancient Vedic collection of literature (c. 1,000 B.C. – 500 B.C.). Before the physical practice, Kundalini was a science of energy and spiritual philosophy, according to historical documents. The term “upanishads” literally means “sitting down to receive the master's teachings.” Those were the first Kundalini classes. Masters sat down with students and recited spiritual visions aloud. In ancient Vedic society, this was a common practice (and would be replicated centuries later by a couple guys named Buddha and Jesus). The body science of Kundalini Yoga evolved over time as a physical representation of the Upanishad visions. Kundalini Yoga has never been taught in a public setting. It was regarded as a post-secondary education. Students had to go through several years of initiation before they were ready to learn the Kundalini masters' spirit-body lectures.

Is Kundalini Yoga bad?

Kundalini meditation is frequently used by people who want to experience the energy release known as a Kundalini awakening. Many individuals find this to be a spiritual experience, but if you're not sure what to anticipate, it can be intimidating.

Physical feelings such as warmth or tingling, disorientation, and perhaps momentary discomfort are reported after a Kundalini awakening.

Some argue that if a person isn't entirely prepared for the experience, they may suffer long-term consequences. While meditation can be a transformative experience, there is no evidence that it has long-term negative consequences.

Apart from that, Kundalini meditation entails deep breathing exercises and slower breathing. You may feel dizzy or lightheaded if you aren't used to it.

Take breaks as needed, and drink lots of water before and after your meditation session.

Is Kundalini Yoga part of Sikhism?

Yoga is clearly condemned as a spiritual method in Sikhi. Bhajan's pseudoreligion and Kundalini practice are yogic in nature, with Sikh Gurbani mantras being used as yogic chants and spells.

Can Kundalini awaken naturally?

To be honest, there isn't a single answer to this question. After years of establishing a spiritual practice, practising Kundalini yoga, meditating, and so on, some people experience a Kundalini awakening. But it can also happen on its own, without any prior training.

“The Kundalini rising is an automatic process that happens—and it can happen under any form of spiritual discipline, any style of yoga,” says Krishna Kaur, a Kundalini yoga teacher.

You may eventually become so neutral and balanced “that you know you've reached a place of total awakened-ness” through the practice of enriching your spirituality and inner world, Kaur notes, adding that she does not teach people to raise their Kundalini energy with an awakening as the goal—and does not believe people should attempt it.

What is the difference between spiritual awakening and kundalini awakening?

Spiritual awakening (also known as “spiritual ascension”) is usually an emotional and psychological experience. Kundalini awakening, on the other hand, is an energetic surge that can be mild and progressive or rapid and strong.

While kundalini awakening normally occurs after a spiritual awakening, it is not always the case. Kundalini can erupt quickly in response to psychedelic drug experiences, sexual encounters, or even tragic ones, as previously indicated.

Another difference is that kundalini energy is felt extremely physically, whereas spiritual awakening is typically more focused on the mind and emotions. While powerful vibrations and heat may be felt in the body during kundalini rising, there is a soulful element of deep questioning, understanding, and transfiguration during spiritual awakening (some refer to this as spiritual alchemy).

Is it possible to have both spiritual and kundalini awakenings at the same time? Without a doubt. And it's for this reason that both can lead to the Dark Night of the Soul (or the inevitable after-effect of feeling as if you've lost touch with the Divine). In the end, they're just two sides of the same coin.

What triggers a kundalini awakening?

Kundalini energy sits like a coiled serpent at the base of the spine, according to Tantra. Kundalini awakening occurs when dormant energy flows freely upward via the seven chakras (energy centers) and leads to an expanded level of consciousness.

A kundalini awakening is a profound spiritual event for which yogis and practitioners prepare for years. The experience can occur deliberately through activities like as meditation, pranayama, yoga, and prayer, or it might occur unexpectedly. In the spiritual world, this form of awakening is very common, although in Western civilization, kundalini awakenings are regarded uncommon.

Is Kundalini Yoga made up of?

Chanting, singing, breathing exercises, and repetitious positions are all part of Kundalini yoga.

Its goal is to awaken your Kundalini energy, also known as shakti. This is a spiritual energy supposed to reside at the base of your spine.

Kundalini yoga is believed to expand your consciousness and help you transcend past your ego by awakening this energy. The practice is sometimes referred to as “yoga of awareness.”

Learn more about Kundalini yoga, its possible advantages, and how it varies from other styles of yoga by continuing reading.