Sunday, May 31, 2009

Sahasrar Chakra

Sahasrara Chakra is the abode of Lord Siva. This corresponds to Satya Loka. This is situated at the crown of the head. When Kundalini is united with Lord Siva at the Sahasrara Chakra, the Yogi enjoys the Supreme Bliss, Parama Ananda. When Kundalini is taken to this centre, the Yogi attains the superconscious state and the Highest Knowledge. He becomes a Brahmavidvarishtha or a full-blown Jnani.

The word Sahasradala-Padma denotes that this Padma has 1000 petals. That is, one thousand Yoga Nadis emanate from this centre. There are different opinions about the exact number of petals. It is quite sufficient if you know that innumerable Nadis proceed from this centre.

As in the case of other Chakras, the vibrations that are made by the Yoga Nadis are represented by the Sanskrit letters. All the 50 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet are repeated here again and again on all Yoga Nadis. This is a Sukshma centre. The corresponding centre in the physical body is in the brain.

The term “Shat-Chakras” refers only to the chief six Chakras, viz., Muladhara, Svadhishthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha and Ajna. Above all these we have Sahasrara Chakra. This is the chief of all the Chakras. All the Chakras have their intimate connection with this centre. Hence this is not included as one among the Shat-Chakras. This is situated above all the
Chakras.


When the Kundalini is raised up to Sahasrara chakra, the illusion of individual self is dissolved. The yogi becomes realized, one with the cosmic principles that govern the entire universe within the body. He obtains all “siddhis”, powers, up to Soma Chakra, where he encounters Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow within himself. He is a “siddha”, but has transcended the desire to manifest those wishes.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Diet for Kundalini Awakening

When the awakening of kundalini takes place it is important to have the correct diet, as food influences the mind and your nature. At the time of awakening, certain physiological changes occur in the body, particularly in the digestive system, and the digestive process is frequently disturbed, or hunger vanishes completely. Therefore, a kundalini aspirant has to be very careful about his diet.

Scientific observations have shown that the awakening of kundalini is generally accompanied by a state of nervous depression. The inner body temperature undergoes erratic changes and drops so much that it becomes much lower than the outer body temperature. Metabolism slows down and sometimes it even stops completely. Consumption of oxygen also falls. Therefore, when you are experiencing kundalini awakening your diet must be very light and easy to assimilate.

The best diet for a kundalini yogi is boiled food. Crushed wheat, barley, lentils and dal are excellent foods, particularly when they are in a liquid form. Fats and greasy foods should be avoided and protein should be kept to a minimum. This will take any strain off the liver, because when the mind undergoes a crisis, the liver is overtaxed.

It is good to increase the carbohydrates in your diet, eg. rice, wheat, maize, barley, potato, etc., because carbohydrates help to maintain the inner body temperature and they do not require much heat to digest. Eggs, chicken and other heavy foods do not produce much heat themselves, but they require heat for digestion.

The yogic diet is macrobiotic, it is simple, plain and relatively bland. From time to time, fruits and roots can also be taken, but they are not essential.

There are certain foods which are not meant for the human body at all. If you analyze your digestive and salivary secretions and the durability of the mucus membranes in the alimentary canal, you will find that they are not really meant for digesting meat and uncooked foods.

The food we eat is not merely to satisfy our taste. Every food item has an essence in it, and in yoga we call this sattva. Sattva means the ultimate essence of food, but please do not mistake this for vitamins or minerals. Sattva is the more subtle form of food. When you eat for the sake of taste or enjoyment, instead of attaining the sattva you only get the gross things. That is why the yogis and saints of all traditions have always lived on the minimum possible food during periods of sadhana.

When we overeat we create a burden for the digestive system, and when the digestive system is overburdened we are unable to extract the sattva from the food. Sattva is a substance which nourishes the thoughts and nervous system. When the thoughts are fed with sattva they are more refined and pure, and one is able to live in higher consciousness. Therefore, it is beneficial for a sadhaka to fast from time to time. When the body is kept light and pure it is far more capable of extracting the sattva from food.

In the diet for kundalini aspirants, condiments have a very important role to play. Condiments such as coriander, cumin seeds, tumeric, aniseed, black pepper, green pepper, cayenne, cloves, mustard seed, cardamom, cinnamon and so on are also called digestives as they aid digestion. These substances are not spices for taste; they are condiments which have the same properties as the enzymes in the body, and by helping to break down the food for digestion, they conserve vital energy and help to maintain the body's internal temperature.

Instead of cooking the food in your stomach, it is best to cook it properly in the pan. Five or six condiments should be added during cooking to liberate the enzymes and chemicals which enhance digestion. The combination of heat, condiments and enzymes breaks down the food into smaller and more basic components, thus making it easier to digest.

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Dhoomavati Sadhana - Overcome all opposition


Anyone who tries to hinder your progress in life is an enemy. 

Much of one's energy and time is wasted in dealing with such adversaries. 

But there is a powerful Goddess whose divine grace can help one neutralise all opposition in without doing much!

The ancient text state that enemies can manifest in at least nine ways in one's life and make life truly difficult. Which are these nine foes?
  1. Those about whom one is sure that he or she is an avowed enemy.
  2. The hidden enemies about whom one is blissfully oblivious.
  3. Those who show that they are friends but might strike any time when one least expects them to. This could be a friend or even one's business or colleague.
  4. Debts too are counted as enemies as they stall one's progress and cast a shadow over one's progress and cast shadow over one's future.
  5. Poverty is the worst of all enemies because it prevents one from giving shape to one's plans. One might be intelligent, talented and skillful but it all might sum to nothing in absence of adequate resources.
  6. Disease is another foe that terribly affects the course of one's life. It not just makes one weak but also robs one of all enthusiasm.
  7. An uncooperative and un-understanding life partner is the worst bane of life. The unfavourable behaviour of one's life partner can just leave one struggling to survive in the society and family.
  8. Disobedient children too can make life virtual hell especially when they choose to take to the wrong path in life.
  9. Misfortune or unlucky stars are the worst enemies and can deny one all that one deserves in life.
The presence of even one of the above can make your life stink and stagnate. The ancient texts while enumerating these enemies have also suggested powerful means to remedy them. Can this truly be done?

When we talk of overcoming all opposition we do not mean destroying anyone. The aim rather is to instill a divine power, a strength, a determination, a force into your persona so that you could face all challenges without flinching. The aim is to make your enemies tremble with fear when they think of you, make your partners shirk from trying any dishonest ways and your family members to respect you and listen to your words of guidance.

There are several Sadhana's for overcoming enemies in life but the most potent is the Sadhana of Goddess Dhumavati. Because the powerful deity not just takes care of enemies in human form but also the threat of disease, poverty, debts, loss of job and ill fate.

This is truly amazing Sadhana which should be tried on any Thursday of the dark fortnight. In the night after 10pm have a bath a wear clean red clothes. Make a mark with vermilion on the forehead. Sit on a red mat facing South. Cover a wooden seat with red cloth. Bath the Dhoomavati Yantra with water and wipe it dry. Make a mark on it with vermilion and rice grains, flowers on the picture of the Guru and chant one round of Guru Mantra.

Then take water in the right palm and speak out thus - I (speak your name) am trying this Sadhana for riddance from all enemies.

If you have a particular problem speak it out. Then let the water flow to the floor. The chant eleven rounds of following Mantra with red crystal rosary.

Dhoom Dhoom Dhoomavati Thah Thah

After the Sadhana chant one more round of Guru Mantra and pray to the Guru to bless you. After Sadhana drop the Yantra and rosary in a river or pond.
- Feb 2004, Mantra-Tantra-Yantra Vigyan Magazine