...Sushumna
is the extremely subtle nerve which begins two inches above the anus,
passing through the vertebral column of the spinal cord, like a long
lotus reed, and reaching the brain. This nerve is not apprehensible
through scientific instruments. The point above the anus, where the
Sushumna nerve starts is called the Muladharam, and the
other points upwards where the Sushumna touches are called Svadhishtanam,
Manipurakam, Anahatam, Visuddham and Ajna.
The Sushumna nerve ends in the Sahasrara which exists
centered on and encompassing the brain. These energy centers which exists
in the path of the Sushumna nerve are called 'Padma-s'
and 'Chakra-s'. They are called Padma since they have
the power to bloom like a lotus and radiate energy. They are also called
Chakra-s since they are the sources of Sakti-energy. Whereas
Muladharam is two inches above the anus where the spinal cord
ends, Svadhishtanam is two inches above Muladharam on
the genital. Manipuraka Padma exists on the center of navel,
Anahata Padma is on the center of heart, Visuddha Padma
is on the Adam's apple, Ajna Padma is on the bhrumadya-between
the eyebrows, and Sahasraram on the center of the brain. Sahasraram
is the Padma with thousand petals. If Sushumna nerve could
be compared to a lotus reed, these Padma-s--centres of Sakti--could
be compared to the flowers on that reed, placed at specific distances
from bottom to top. The central point of attention of the body focused
human is on the Muladharam where Ida and Pingala meets.
Of these two nerves which begins at Muladharam going up encircling the
Sushumna, Ida through the left nostril and Pingala through
the right nostril relates with the bahyaparana-outside Prana.
Ida and Pingala nerves, and Muladhara Padma forms
the substratum for the experience of duality. Ida by relating
with the left side of the brain, and Pingala by relating with
the right side of the brain, becomes the substratum for the opposing
forces in the individual and cosmos. When Ida is the substratum
of buddhi-intelligence, paurusha--manliness, Surya-sun
and Agni-fire, Pingala is the substratum of emotions,
feminine qualities, moon and water. Human who is the slave of ahamkara-ego,
and mamaakara-mine-ness, identifying with Ida and Pingala
nerves, exists in the Muladharam, influenced by kama-desire,
krodha-anger, lobha-greed and bhaya-anger. The
human energy caught up in the Muladharam needs to be liberated.
This has to be achieved by the blooming of the Muladhara Padma.
The four-petalled Muladhara could be awakened, by taking a long
breath through the right nostril, holding it inside, and exhaling it
through the chanting of Aumkara. The consciousness which is awakened
and freed from the Muladharam becomes free of kama-desire.
Further, with the chanting of Aumkara, consciousness liberated
through the awakeneing of the six petalled Svadhishtana, and
thus becoming free from anger; awakening the ten petalled Manipurakam
and becoming free from greed; awakening the twelve petalled Anahata
Padma and becoming free from fear; awakening the sixteen petalled
Visuddha Padma and becoming free from vasana-s; awakening
the two petalled Ajna Padma and becoming free from self-ignorance;
continued with the chanting of Soham and awakening the thousand
petalled Sahasrara to the spectacle of thousand suns rising together.
When consciousness awakens through the Sushumna transcending
each Padma, gradually the levels of Panchabuta-five elements,
triguna and the seer-seen duality are also transcended. Sakti-energy
is limited consciousness. Siva is unlimited consciousness. Siva-Sakti-Samyoga
is the limited consciousness awakening to the unlimited consciousness,
like the river merges with the ocean-this is the awakening of Kundalini.
The human consciousness confined to the Muladhara is called Kundalini-the
coiled snake lying in two folds. Since this snake is the reflection
of Siva consciousness it is also said that it is coiled around
the Sivalinga. Sushumna is the passage which guides the
consciousness from the lowest level to the highest level. It is about
reaching the seventh level of Sahasrara crossing the six Chakra-s,
that the poet Tunjath Ezuthacchan wrote "padiyarum kadannavide chellumbol
Sivane kananakum Siva sambho"-climbing the six steps one sees the
Siva. Tantra sadana tradition describes the means and
methods for the awakening of the Kundalini, and achieving Purna
Prajna by the touching of Kundalini of Sahasrara Padma
and awakening it. Agama Sastra also says that only by the direct
guidance of a realized Guru, only a student who has renounced
all desires, can get the complete realization through this path.
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