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Indweller of the Root (Muladhara)
Yogic Anatomy, Shakti Power, and the Importance of Spinal Flexion
excerpts from The Divine Serpent Power of a Universal Nation
by
scholar and yogi Yuga Rishi Shriram Sharma Acharya
translated from Hindi by Ms. Heena A. Kapadia M.Sc., M.Phil
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Kundalini Shakti (Divine Serpent Power) has been compared to electrical energy, power and aura. In
one scriptural aphorism it is said to be as brilliant as the line of lightning. In another aphorism it is
said that Kundalini is akin to divine fire and an intense fire flame.
In the Yogakundalyopanishad it is said that :
"Kundalini dwells in the center of the Mooladhar Chakra in the form of soul radiance and
supreme radiance. It is our life force in the form of radiance and is the vital force."
The above description is a glimpse of the electrical power of Kundalini Mahashakti. Of course, on the
basis of scientific research and proof one can call Kundalini as an intense part of human electricity.
Gun powder can either help in burning harmless crackers or like dynamite blow off huge mountains.
A lighter form of electricity can be seen on the face or as an aura of the body and its more intense form
can be seen by opening the 3rd eye... It can also be called a “Spiritual Dynamite.” Ordinary energy is
present in every pore of a person. But it is more concentrated in the brain, heart and genitals
(Mooladhar Chakra). In Vedic parlance these 3 fires are called Ahitagni, Dakshinagni and
Gahrpatyagni. This is also Mahakali, Mahachandi and Mahadurga (the 3 Goddesses).
Due to the closeness of two individuals the ordinary energy of long vital force influences the small
vital force. Due to the holy or vile association the influence is good or bad. The union of a male and a
female is the divine sport of this energy. A man of penance performs austerities on this very Yoga fire.
The fire of the stomach (Jatharagni) digests food and takes it to the stage of semen formation. Men and
women agitated by the fire of sexual passion (Kaamagni) burn themselves like a moth in a flame. The
fire of speech (Vaani Agni) makes friends or foes with good/ bad speech. The radiance of Ojas, Tejas
and Varchas includes brilliance in all humans. Fire of Brahman (Brahmagni) dwells in the Sahasrar
Kamal (1000-petalled lotus) and gives the individual soul a vision of God. The fire of sentiments
(Bhavagni) in the heart manifests as compassion, friendship, sense of service etc. Kaalagni or the fire
of time induces death. The fire of lethargy (Mandaagni) induces lethargy and diseases in man. There
are innumerable fires of this type in the human body. Today’s modern material science describes 13
such fires. All of them have their own special qualities. Amongst them the vital force fire is Kundalini
which abounds in life force, daring and vigour in mankind. It is believed that this latent source of
energy is locked in the vault of 6 locks present in man’s subtle body. These 6 locks are the 6 Chakras
(plexuses) which are present in the body as an electrical flow, eddy or plexuses. Scriptural scholars
have talked of the Chakras and Kundalini Shakti (Divine Serpent Power) in a very symbolic manner.
In Samadhi Paad of Yoga Darshan aphorism 36 it is said
"When the divine light Kundalini blazes brilliantly men overcome all sorrows."
The Hindu religion talks of 33 Koti demi-gods. These correspond to the 33 vertebrae or bead-like
structures found on the Merudand (spine). The Merudand is of the shape of a snake. Between every 2
vertebrae there is a bed of flesh which supports the vertebrae. Therefore it is elastic in nature and on
its axis it can rotate in any direction. It can be divided into 5 parts 1) cervical – 7 vertebrae 2) thorax-
12 vertebrae 3) lumbar – 5 vertebrae 4) sacral – 5 vertebrae 5) carksegial – 4 vertebrae. The capacity
embedded in these 33 parts is compared to divinity.
No doubt the Merudand is hollow (porous) but it is not shallow like a drum. In it one finds brain
marrow. At the backside of every vertebrae i.e. on the left/right side there are holes of the shape of
rings from which emerge big nerves which are nothing but a bunch of smaller nerves. The lower part
of the Merudand is of the shape of a cone and is called phylum terminal.
When we use the terms Chakra activation, purification, awakening etc. it only means that the
potential energy of these secret centers are being manifested.
Here one should understand deeply that in the scriptural arena bodily science (anatomy) is looked
upon as a form of subtle sciences. The gross body is merely a shadow of the subtle body. Never should
any gross organ be correlated to the subtle body. But it should only be looked upon as an image and a
representative. None of the organs of the gross body has any of the divine powers described in the
spiritual body science. From the gross body you can only get a faint glimpse of those subtle powers.
The word Mooladhar is made up of 2 parts. Mool-Adhar. Mool means root, base and Adhar means
support. Because it is the basic support of life force that region is called Mooladhar. Because it is in
the subtle world it is invisible. The symbolic marks of the invisible are present in the gross body. For
example the divine sight of Ajna Chakra is seen to work in the gross body as 2 eyes called pituitary
and pineal glands. At the area of Brahma Chakra our heart is at work. Mooladhar is seen in the sacral
plexus of the Merudand (spine). Because of its spiritual quality it is apt that it attains that status and
glory. Mooladhar is the source of Prana (vital force) but its widespread nature, behaviour and
distribution function is possible only through the medium of Merudand (spinal flexion).
According to anatomists just above the Mooladhar and slightly below the Svadhishthan Chakra is the
prostrate gland. Here lies the semen center in men and the womb center in women. The waves
emanating from this induces area sexual passion. In the lower area of the Sushumna lies the lumbar
and sacral plexus. These 2 plexuses control urine emission and sexual passion of the genitals. If
there is an agitation in this region, either one or both function are hampered. It is from this region
that medical problems of excess urination, excess sexual urge originates. This is the area of all useful
inspirations of life and is also called Kand, Kurd or Kaam Beej (seed of sexual passion). Kand also has
another name called Kurma (tortoise).
Great thinkers have correlated the hormonal centers (glands) as the gross aspect of the 6 Chakras.
According to them in men and women one sees an evolved form of flowing electricity in these
Chakras. In males it is in the form of steadfastness and in women as tenderness.
Also it is a mere glimpse of ordinary activities of a living being. It is not an overstatement to call these
endocrine glands that secrete hormones as magic boxes. The following are the 6 hormone glands : 1)
Pineal (hormones – ceratonin and melatonin) 2) Pituitary (growth hormone) 3) Thyroid (thyroxine) 4)
Thymus (reproductive hormones) 5) Adrenals (adrenalin, ACTH) 6) Gonads (testosterone and
oestrogen).
The ordinary flow of the bodily electrical energy is in a latent state but if it is incited and activated via
spiritual practices then there is a great transformation. When strong wind hits the holes of a flute, a
sound emanates from it. Similarly if strong winds hit a large group of bamboo trees, a forest fire can
ensue
In various spiritual texts it is said :
"Those demi-gods who give us sense objects can never give salvation. Those who give
spiritual salvation cannot give sense objects. But Kundalini Shakti gives us both i.e. sense
objects and salvation".
In the Mahayog Vijnan it is said :
If a person’s Mooladhar Shakti is sleeping then his entire world is asleep. But if a person’s
Kundalini Shakti awakens then his destiny too will bloom."
In the Mahatantra it is said :
If the person’s Kundalini Shakti is awakened then his Vaikhari, Madhyama, Paraa and
Pashyanti Vani (speech) too awakens. Such a person’s speech always comes true."
In the Yogini Tantra it is said :
"As soon as the Kundalini awakens that person’s inner grandeur and glory can be clearly
perceived."
In Atharva Veda (19/37/1) it is said :
"O fire of the soul, due to your grace - light, might, radiance, daring, vigour overflow in me.
O fire, may your 33 departments bless me."
In the Yajurved it is said :
"O divine fire, by becoming age, valour, good children, wealth, sharp intellect, love,
perseverance may you bless us."
Modern psychologists say that the Kundalini (Divine Serpent Power) is the latent energy of the
unconscious mind. Chinese and Japanese followers of Yoga call it Chi, Ki, power.
If Kundalini enters the arena of desires, it can shatter a human being. But when Kundalini is used for
spiritual endeavours then not only is itself happy but that it gives joy to the person harbouring it.
In the Shwetashwatar Upanishad Kundalini is called “Fire of Yoga” or “Nachiketa’s Fire” and it is
synonymous with the pure fire of a Yajna. It is said that in whosoever’s body this fire of divinity is lit,
there the body is diseaseless and the mind is absolutely serene. In “Chainik Yoga Pradeepika” I.
Lohen has called it as “spirit fire” and has correlated it to the blazing fire of the soul.
The great scholar of the Western School of Yoga, Sir John Woodroffe has called it “serpent fire”. The
founder of Theosophical Society, Madam Blavatsky calls it “cosmic electricity” and says that its speed
is 3,45,000 miles /sec. Whereas the speed of light is 1,95,000 miles/sec. The electrical waves have a
speed of 2,99,000 miles/ sec. According to great scientists the speed of thought waves is 7
times more than electrical waves i.e. it is 22,65,120 miles /sec. In the flash moment of a thought
one can circumambulate the earth 40 times.
Despite being a spiritual power Kundalini definitely gets correlated to bodily electricity. Dr. Vasantji
Rele in his book “The Mysterious Kundalini” calls it a nerve force. The introduction of this book has
been written by Sir John Woodroffe. According to him where Rele correlates Kundalini with the right
vagus nerve there he himself calls it a greater force. According to him Kundalini is a dynamic reality.
It is a latent energy which by evolving (raising higher) instead of the usual involution of matter one
can radiate one’s character with divine glory. According to Vasant Rele Kundalini in a steady state is
ordinary but when it takes up the kinetic form it becomes the vital force. According to him texts like
Hathayoga Pradeepika, Shiva Samhita and Shatchakra Niroopan say that Kundalini is an
individualistic form of cosmos in which pervade great conscious power
While discussing Kundalini Shakti, Yogic scientists say it is the “Voice of silence.” People know the
influence of fire and electricity and make apt use of it. If they truly understand the use of spiritual
and metaphysical fire then one can attain innumerable Siddhis (divine powers) of the region of the
soul.
Anatomists describe it in their own way and they call the spinal cord and Mooladhar Chakra as
“Ganglion Impar.” It is compared to a generator, dynamo, battery, magnet etc. Everyone accepts that it
is a blazing pyre of the arena of sexual passion and that if it is raised higher, it gives that person
extraordinary powers.
Dr. Henry Lindal along with a description of the root source of cosmic conscious electricity and the
electricity of the material world has also elucidated the electricity working in the human body. All
round the earth present in the cosmos is spread the net of electromagnetic waves and this positive
electricity has a force of 3 lakh volts. Every living being bears a pressure of 5 volts/metre. The micro
part of this cosmic electricity dwells in the human body as Kundalini Shakti (Divine Serpent Power).
Dr. Lindal has said that in the activities of human cells and nerves a great amount of electrical energy
gets utilized. Its source is the brain and not the heart. It is the basis of commencement and end of
our life. But this source is not unilateral. The brain grey matter situated at the top of the Merudand
and the lower half of the Sushumna that corresponds to cada equina, produces vital force electricity.
In the brain grey matter i.e. the reticular activating system there is a continuous overflow of electrical
flames. A bigger part of this electricity is found in the southern pole which is also the center of sexual
passion.
Dr. Carrington in his book “Modern Psychology and Indian Philosophy” has written that there are so
many examples wherein it is witnessed that whether the body made up of vital force and molecules
remains or nor yet its subtle existence continues. Despite being united to its body the authority
center of the vital force units remain intact in that area. Correlated to this find there is another
discovery of Yogis wherein there is an emergence of ideoplasm or psychoplasm when the Yogi is in the
highest states of mediation called Samadhi or trance. Scientists opine that it keeps getting emitted
from the body in a steam state and it is most found in the scalp area, tips of the fingers, lips, face, Naadi
Chakra and around the genital organs. After the study and depiction (Kirylian photography of the
“Biological Plasma Body” by the Russian scientist Semian Kirlean) this research activity with
reference to the vital force of the subtle body – Kundalini has attained a great deal of fame.
Emanueal Swedenborg calls it the visible cloud of ether wherein after usage of special filters it can be
photographed with the aid of high voltage projection. Its density increases/ decreases due to
corresponding increase /decrease of the life force. Sentiments can also increase/decrease its
influence. Its proof of existence has been elucidated by Lyell Watson in his book “Super Nature”
wherein even if a part of a person’s body is cut off yet this person experiences its presence in the form
of pain, burning, scratching etc. In this incidence called “Phantom Limb Effect” it is proved that the
subtle body exists as ectoplasm and it is this that gives a person the experience of sensation despite
the gross nerves being absent.
According to the books “Tibetan Book of the Dead” and “Chinese Book of the Soul” the gross body and
vital body exist separately. No doubt both coexist side by side but sometimes the vital body gets
separated so as to dwell elsewhere and that a new vital body comes into existence. Hence many a
time man’s existence is experienced doubly.
Dr. Seel and J. Taylor in their book “The Positive Sciences of Ancient Hindus” write that the rituals
and spiritual practices of the Hindu religion utilizes the vital body a great deal and hence are very
potent. This vital body can be seen with divine eyes. Some years back an article on this topic was
published in the magazine “Theosophist” under the title of “Anatomy of Tantras”.
The Theosophist scientist C. W. Leadbeater has elaborated furthers on the 6 Chakras situated on the
Merudand in his book “The Chakras.” He opines that the vital body is created out of a special type of
electrical force and is present in the body just as a bird cuddles in its nest. Many other scientists call
the Prana (vital force) as “Fire of Life”. The more this fire is present in a person’s body the more that
person is conscious, enthusiastic, daring and radiant. But when there is a lack of it then even if the
body is very well built yet this person will be a scare booby, lethargic and full of despair. This
electrical force can be augmented with effort too. This is the reason why Yogic practices are
encouraged. Kundalini Yoga is based on vital force science.
The gist of Kundalini awakening involves attracting vital consciousness from the entire cosmos so as
to unite this great consciousness with one’s own vital force and thus attain higher divine powers.
Hence Yogic practices are encouraged so as to utilize these divine powers for higher sacred goals.
This capacity increases in proportion to one's mental control and with wastage of this force this
capacity decreases and ultimately gets destroyed.
Kundalini (Divine Serpent Power) has been detailed in many ancient texts (Yoga Vasishtha, Yoga
Choodamani, Devi Bhagwat, Sharada Tilak, Shandilyopanishad, Muktikopanishad, Hathyoga Samhita,
Kularnav Tantra, Yogini Tantra, Bindupanishad, Rudrayamal Tantra, Soundarya Lahiri ) . Even then it
is not as though one can understand with ease the rise/fall of spiritual practices. Neither can one by
understanding the various rules of spiritual practices successfully attain the true goal. It is hence
that in the Rigveda the Rishis say :
"O Vital fire, Manifest as dawn in my life. Ward off my darkness. Give me
energy so that divine powers come running to me."
The author of Trishikhibrahmopanishad writes :
"Kundalini activated by Yogic practices shines and palpitates like lightning. Whoever is
asleep awakens henceforth and whoever wakes up starts running."
There is a description in Mahatantra :
"An activated Kundalini gives birth to infinite energy. In it one automatically gets the
fruits of spiritual practices like Naad, Bindu and Kala. The 4 speeches called Para,
Pashyanti, Madhyama and Vaikhari manifest automatically. There is an overflow of desire
power, knowledge power and action power. All the connections of body and speech line up
in a single file and with a sweet sound they echo in our bosom. This divine power (Sidhi) of
Shabda Brahman makes one a Jivanmukta (liberated while yet alive)."
In reality Lord Sankaracharya in his eulogy of the Kundalini has very emotionally said :
Whatever I am today is because of your grace on an illiterate person like myself.
Kundalini Shakti has been described even by other religious leaders. Amongst them the Sufi school of
thought is very close to Indian philosophy. Darashikoh (elder son of Shah Jehan) despite being a Sufi
was also a scholar of Upanishads. He had also studied Yoga and Tantra texts and has given a
commentary in the Persian language. He has commented on the Kundalini Shakti in his book “Risala-
Ai-Hukmanama” and describes 3 centers as Dil-E-Muddavar, Dil-E-Sarovari, Dil-E-Nilophari. These
correspond to the Brahmagranthi, Vishnugranthi and Rudragranthi. They are also called Sahasrar,
Anahat and Mooladhar Chakras. Sheikh Mohamed Iqbal in his book “The Development of Metaphysics
in Persia” writes how Hindu philosophy is food for deep thought for followers of other religious sects. A
scholar called Al Brooni had translated Yoga Sutras and Sankhya utras in Arabic language in the 11th
century.
According to Tibetan texts the chief energy centers of the human body lie in the head, throat, heart,
solar plexus and center of the genital organs. Even in Greek philosophy 6 energy centers have been
elucidated. Great anatomists have correlated the secret energy centers, described in Yogic texts as
Chakras and Kamals, to the electrical flow, endocrine glands and other autonomic ganglia. That spot
and shape named “Cusos”in Japan can be correlated to glands and Chakras. The famous psychologist
Benjamin Walker in his book “Encyclopedia of Esosteric Man” says that the endocrine glands with
their hormones and energy play a major role in rise/fall, qualities, actions, nature and personality of
mankind.
Where the human brain is said to be situated on the Sahasrar there a sort of pulpy material is seen in
the bones of the skull. But its true greatness is very widespread. One major part of it is called “Silent
or Dark Area” which constitutes 87% to 93%of the head region. The Silent Area (i.e. right parietal
cortex, corpus callojum and limbic system etc.) takes up much more space than both the conscious
and unconscious parts of the brain put together. The centers of divine powers are within these areas.
Psychological sciences can only research into the conscious and unconscious mind. This
superconscious mind is totally beyond their ken and reach.
Kundalini Yoga is very much a part of Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is closer to Tantra Science. Its cause is
many practices like Mohan, Ucchatan, Vashikaran etc with which one can attack someone and cause
his downfall.
In sexual play there is a lot of churning and in Kundalini Yoga there is churning of the vital force
(Pranas). From it both nectar as well as poison can manifest. If by misusing these secret sciences like
in Vamachar Tantrik practices one destroys another person then this means that poison has
manifested and if it is aptly utilized for cosmic welfare, it definitely is nectar. Pious folks make apt
use of it and vile men misuse it. Hence there is a policy of hiding it / covering it like one hides one’s
genital organs.
In Henry Oslo’s book called “Notes on Spiritual Physiology” it is written that the sexual passion in men
and women commences from the sacrocarxial region of the lower half of the Merudand. The laxness
and onrush in this area depends on sexual passion. When this area gets distorted anyone can become
full of lust with sex or become a eunuch. Hence Yogic texts ordain that this region should be made
powerful via Yogic exercises like Mooladhar Bandh, Shakti Chalini Mudra, Vajrasan and Padmasan
(Lotus Pose). Through these methods of Kundalini awakening the flow has to be raised upwards. If
this is not adhered to, the flow falls down and thus the spiritual aspirant at a very young age feels the
weakness of aged people.
The living being too sits down by enclosing Kundalini. One fails to gauge as to how many things it
has control over. But the reality is this that it cannot even subdue its own body. He only shoulders
the burden of sins and pious deeds along with its atonements.
One of the conclusions of Kundalini awakening is not to continue sleeping. The yogi/ni should
awaken and carry out such pious deeds wherein other people bound by the walls of selfishness also
awaken.
Divine Serpent Power is the super power of our life.