Thursday 17 November 2011

How to become a Yogi ?

Tasmayi Shri Guruve Namaha



गुरूर्ब्रह्मा गुरूर्विष्णुः गुरूर्देवो महेश्वरः।
गुरूर्साक्षात परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः।।

Gururbrahma guruvishnuh gururdevo mahesvarah l
Gurursaksat parabrahma tasmai shriguruve namah ll

Meaning: ‘Guru is Lord Brahma (the Creator), Lord Vishnu (the Protector) and Lord Shiva (the Destroyer). He is the eternal Brahman in flesh and blood. I bow down to that great Guru.’


ध्यानमूलं गुरोर्मूर्तिः पूजामलं गुरोः पदम्।
मंत्रमूलं गुरोर्वाक्यं मोक्षमूलं गुरोः कृपा।।


Dhyanamulam gurormurtih pujamulam gurohpadam l
Mantramulam gurorvakyam moksamulam guroh krpa ll

Meaning: ‘Guru’s body is the root of meditation. The feet of the Guru are the root of worship. The teaching of the Guru is the roots of all mantras. The Grace of the Guru is the root of Salvation.’


अखण्डमण्डलाकारं व्याप्तं येन चराचरम्।
तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः।।

Akhandmandalakaram vyaptam yena caracaram l
Tatpadam darsitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah ll

Meaning: ‘Prostrations to the Guru, Who shows the truth contained in the word ‘That’ (in the Supreme statement ‘That Thou Art’), who pervades the whole universe of moving and unmoving creation in the form of the Undivided Infinite.’


त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव।
त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव।।

tvameva mata ca pita tvameva; tvameva bandhusca sakha tvameva l
tvameva vidya dravinam tvameva; tvameva sarvam mama deva deva ll


Meaning: ‘You are my mother; You alone are my father. You are my kinsman; You alone are my friend. You are knowledge; You alone are wealth. O Satguru! O God of gods! You alone are my all in all.’


ब्रह्मानन्दं परमसुखदं केवलं ज्ञानमूर्तिं
द्वन्द्वातीतं गगनसदृशं तत्त्वमस्यादिलक्ष्यम्।
एकं नित्यं विमलमचलं सर्वधीसाक्षिभूतं
भावातीतं त्रिगुणरहितं सदगुरूं तं नमामि।।


Brahmanandam paramsukhadam kevalam jnanamurtim
Dvandvatitam gaganasdrsam tattvamasyadilaksyam l
Ekam nityam vimalamacalam sarvadhisaksibhutam
Bhavatitam trigunarahitam sadgurum tam namani ll

Meaning: ‘I offer my humble obeisances to Sri Satgurudeva Who personified the Bliss of Brahman; Who is the Giver of Supreme Happiness; Who is knowledge consciousness personified; Who is beyond the pairs of opposites (happiness and sorrow, heat and cold, etc.); Who is Subtle and All-pervading like the sky; Who is the One’ meant by the Supreme statements such as ‘तत्त्वमसि’ Tattvamasi (THOU ART THAT), ETC. Who is one and eternal, pure and constant; Who is a witness to all intellects. Who is above all mental conditions and beyond the three gunas (sattva, rajas and tamas).’






SHARIRA MADYAM KHALU DHARMA SADHANAM
our Human Body is the medium to attain Dharma
so Yoga is the Science of making human body able to reach final goal of Sanatana Dharma The Self Realization or Atma Sakshatkar.

THE FIVE SHEATHS

An individual’s personality consists of Panch Kosh or five sheaths. These five sheaths are:
1. Annamaye Kosh or food sheath
2. Pranamaye Kosh or vital-air sheath
3. Manomayh Kosh or mental sheath
4. Viganamayh Kosh or intellectual sheath
5. Anandamaya Kosh or bliss sheath
1. Annamaye Kosh or food sheath

As the name itself suggests, the first level to take into consideration is the physical body that subsists on gross food and drink. That includes the body and its physiological processes, as viewed from a Western perspective. From the Indian perspective, the human anatomy is viewed via the ayurvedic tridoshas. These describe both the overall body type of the individual as well as its current condition.
The physical body is called the food sheath. As the name implies, the physical structure arises out of food, exists in food, after death goes back to become food for other living organisms. This sheath consists of the five organs of perception and five organs of action.
2. Pranamaye Kosh or vital-air sheath
The human being is an intricate network of energy, creativity and intelligence. Hence the need for a proper flow of energy to maintain good health. The Pranic or Energy Sheath, contains all the prana vayus (breaths of energy) in the system, the energy channels or nadis and the chakras or energy centers. Hence it is also called the “vital sheath” or “vital body”. Prana, the vital breath which man lives by, is the bridge between the gross and subtle bodies as well as between the other koshas. Amending one’s breathing patterns through pranayama, helps enhance the flow of energy in the right direction.

The vital-air sheath represents the internal physiological functions of the body. This sheath consists of five faculties:

(1) Prana or perception,
(2) Apana or excretion,
(3) Samana or digestion,
(4) Vyana or circulation, and
(5) Udana or thinking. This sheat controls and regulates the food sheath. With age, all five faculties become weaker.

3. Manomayh Kosh or mental sheath
The third is the Mental or, here understood as the psycho-emotional sheath. It is the abode of all the dominant emotional and thought patterns that comprise one’s personality. Our feelings, stimuli and responses to situations, thoughts and actions spring from this sheath. The strength or weakness of this sheath decides whether a person is emotional or unemotional, easily or uneasily moved, gross or sensitive.
Mental sheath controls and regulates the food sheath and the vital-air sheath. The mind is always in the state of flux. It is the source of emotions and feelings.

4. Viganamayh Kosh or intellectual sheath
Then comes the fourth sheath, again the Mental, but here referred to as the Intellectual sheath. Whereas at the third level, the mind functions as a stimulus/response mechanism, in the fourth sheath, one is able to understand and discern. Further, personal understanding permits us to look beyond personal roles and perceive the larger picture. This is the level of cognition, conditioning or de-conditioning of one’s core beliefs, the most deeply rooted of which is the ‘I’ concept. In Sanskrit this is referred to as the ‘aham’, from which springs the word ‘ahamkara’. Little wonder then that this is the seat of the ego.
The mental sheath is controlled by the intellectual sheath, which is the seat of judgment, decision, and directed thinking.

5. Anandamaya Kosh or bliss sheath
The fifth level is least easily understood, but for reasons of explanation to the lay public is referred to as the sheath of bliss. Here the minds is said to rest in its intrinsic, natural state of bliss and ease. This is of vital understanding in relation healing since it refers to one’s health as essential nature, devoid of ‘chitta-vrittis’ or confusions and distraction
The bliss sheath is the innermost or subtlest of the five sheaths, which regulates the intellectual sheath. It consists of Vasanas (innate tendencies or undogested desires) before they become manifest into thoughts and actions.

How the Five Koshas are affected

1. Annamaya Kosha
The physical body has been bestowed with, besides other things, the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems to cope with stress situations. Roughly translated into Western terminology this refers to the glandular system in our bodies. In any emergency situation, the sympathetic system is automatically activated, ensuring a quick and spontaneous flow of essential fluids to cope with the situation. When the stress response is engaged normally and healthily, the body adapts to stress situations with a steadily elevated blood pressure.
Subsequently, it is the duty of the parasympathetic system to pull the sympathetic back to its original state. Unfortunately, down the years, and particularly in modern days, the frequency and intensity of stress situations have grown so much that the organs involved are subject to abnormal pressures. The parasympathetic system, after a while, can no longer bring its sympathetic counterpart back to normal and hence a failure in the endocrine and other vital systems of the body, leading to such psychosomatic syndromes as asthma, chronic constipation, blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc eventually resulting, in heart disease even.

2. Pranamaya Kosha
The spasmodic dilations and contractions in the organs, veins and arteries of the physical body are a direct reflex response to cope with changing situations. This is what is happening in the energy body as well. In stress situations, the breath becomes short and rapid and, subsequently, the flow of energy is restricted. Over time, the breath becomes stifled, one starts to suffer from palpitation and shortness of the breath. Without being really aware of what’s happening, there is a rapid contraction and expansion in the entire energetic sheath. While, this may be helpful in emergencies, imagine what it will do to the system in the long run. Result, psychosomatic diseases like asthma.

3. Manomaya Kosha
Actually, it happens both ways and here there’s no telling which came first, the chicken or the egg. Emotional upsets and disturbances send out stimuli to the other sheaths. Subsequently, dilations and contractions in the Annamaya and Pranamaya Koshas happen. But, in actual fact they start at the mental level. Over time it becomes a chronic syndrome. Love, hate, resentment, ambition, competition and hostility are only some of the characterizations.
While in genuine situations, these emotions may be considered healthy response and create the necessary backups and reinforcements for survival, what happens when they become chronic and repetitive are translated into states of anguish, anxiety and depression. Subsequently, they perpetuate the physical stress response and man falls into the vicious cycle of coping with habitual stress. Extricating oneself from this is a trying and, sometimes, impossible process.

4. Vijnanamaya Kosha
This is best illustrated in the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, verses 62 and 63:
Man first contemplates on an object of desire. That develops in the mind attachment to it. From this attachment springs desire. Failure to satisfy desire leads to frustration. From frustration comes anger, leading to delusion. Continuous delusion results in loss of memory, resulting in destruction in the intellect. When the intellect is destroyed, everything is lost.

5. Anandamaya Kosha
The above situation is precisely what prevents man from reaching his natural state of bliss. A constant state of being opposed to bliss is frustration, anger, disappointment and their attendant psycho-physiological strains, resulting in afflictions of the mind-body syndrome.

What is Kundalini ?


KUNDALINI INTRODUCTION

The almighty Shiva has combined and brought together all the forces that exist in and as Universe into a single lump called human body. But human being is not aware of it, for in common condition the triangular mouth of Sushumna naadi lies clogged at the middle of groin region. Beginning from here, it traverses the spinal cord and rises upward to reach the skull. But because of the clogging of its triangular mouth, it’s powers remain undeveloped, and breathing (Prana shakti) keeps on flowing in the body through Ida (the moon) and Pingla (the Sun) naadis. These Ida and Pingla naadis also rise from the triangular basal region. In this triangular groin region itself lies asleep a smaller naadi in spiral fashion with extreme charge and divine power. It is also called Sushma or Sarpini (serpent). Taking three and a half twists and with its tail in the mouth, this naadi lies asleep in conch shape. This is where the Divine * Super Natural Energy called Kundalini Shakti or Serpent power resides.

ELEMENT OF KUNDALINI

Muladhar Padma (the basal lotus). In the stalk of this basal, lotus lies Kundalini taking three and a half spirals. However, when it awakens, it rises and wakes up all the six Chakras (rings) in the way to annihilate in Sahastrar ultimately.


The seven major chakras
1 Muladhara: Chakra
2 Svadhisthana: Chakra
3 Manipuras Chakra
4 Anahata Chakra
5 Vishuddha: Chakra
6 Ajna: Chakra
7 Sahasrara: Chakra



AWAKENING OF KUNDALINI POWER

If some how this naadi (Kundalini) stretches out opening its spirals, and its mouth (or head) enters Sushumna naadi, the process is called as the awakening of Kundalini power.

METHOD FOR AWAKENING OF KUNDALINI

Asana – (Yoga Postures / positions) A stable and comfortable posture which helps attain mental equilibrium.
Pranayama – (Yoga Breathing) Extension and control of breath.
Pratyahara – (Withdrawal of Senses) A mental preparation to increase the power of mind.
Dharana – (Concentration on Object) Concentration of mind on one object and its field.
Dhyan – (Meditation) With drawing mind from all external objects and Focusing it on one point and meditating on it.
Samadhi – (Salvation) State of Super bliss, joy and merging individual consciousness in to universal consciousness. Union between Jivatman and Paramatman. Union of Shiva and Shakti in Sahasrar Chakra (the top of the head). Realizing the Bramhan (pure consciousness) or Realization of God is the ultimate achievement of Human Birth.


Muladhar Chakra (the basal wheel) is known as the sleeping place of Kundalini. Ganapati (Ganesha) is the Lord of naadi. Hence in the basal wheel, Lord Ganapati is prayed at the trunk. Here a mantra – Gan Ganpataye NAMAH is recited
TIME : Time Brahma Muhrata from 3 to 5 in the early morning is the best time to awaken Kundalini through exercise of Yoga.


It is done as follows:
Having performed your routine morning bath etc tasks in the morning
Enter your Pooja Room or select a Permenant place for worship & meditation.facing North East Eshan Kon or East
Light a lamp before a beautiful picture of Shri Guru dev or your Ishta Devi or Devata your fav deity or image of AUM .
Burning Dhoop or Camphor is very good or Cowdung with Ghee as it produces fresh Oxygen in the Atmosphere ward away all negative energies making the Place itself full of Positive energy.
Then Perform Pranayama at least for three times for internal purification Aantarik Shuddhi
Now sit in Padmasana on a nonconductive aasan(a Pieice of woolen cloth) in front of the image. Rest both the hands on the knees and stretch straight your spine.
Chant the pavitra omkar mantra “AUM ” atleast seven times .

while doing Dhyaan Yoga u have to chant mantra
like Om Shanti Om or Om Shri Ram
or any other mantra u like but Om or AUM is not be chanted alone by females
Om or AUM must be chanted with some other names of God or Goddess
like Om Shri Sitaram ,Om Shri Ram ...etc

there are some tasks that shouldbe done before starting Dhyaan Yoga

Perform Pranayama at least for three times for internal purification Aantarik Shuddhi

Pranayama: Breathing Techniques and Procedure

Prana breathed in through left nostril represents energy of the moon, which symbolizes peace, and has a cooling effect. Hence for purification of Nadis, beginning of this Pranayama has to be made by the left nostril. Close the right side nostril with the right hand thumb. Inhale slowly through the left nostril till the lungs are filled.wait for some time Then close the left nostril with the second and third fingers. Open the right nostril and exhale through it.then wait for some time this is . Repeat this exercise slowly starting with right one.Thus like this one pranayam cyle is over.om



Pranayama

The meaning of pranayama is prana+ayama. Prana means the life force and ayama is its control. So Pranayama means controlling the breathing process (the life force).
In allopathy, ‘virus’ is considered to be the main cause of illness, in naturopathy, it is ‘antigens’ and in Ayurveda it is ‘ama rasa’ (the undigested chyle that remains in the body when the food is not properly digested). Similarly, in ‘Prana Therapy’, the chief cause of disease is considered to be a weak prana. A weak prana weakens the organs of the body and they fail to function properly. Blood circulation in the body depends on this prana; therefore, its weakening in turn slows down the process of blood circulation. With the blood supply becoming low, the body cells gradually become weak and die; and when the heart doesn’t get enough blood supply, toxic elements build up inside the body producing different diseases.
Even in practical life one can see that a person with a strong life force is less prone to diseases as compared to one with a weak life force. By practicing pranayama, the yogis of India used to live healthy life over thousands of years, a fact mentioned in several scriptures of Sanatana Dharma. In yoga therapy, medicines are thought to be an external treatment, whereas pranayama is considered an internal treatment, and so is termed as the basic medicine.
The Jabalyopanishad says that pranayama is the destroyer of all afflictions.
The life force is present in different amounts in different parts of the body. A disease is cured by moving the life force from where it is high in the body to where it is low. Pranayama has a very important role in awakening the dormant powers in the body and in developing the life force.

v Benefits of Pranayama:
(1) Deep inhalation during pranayama opens the closed pores of the lungs and increases resistance to diseases. It also helps purify the blood, the veins and the mind.
(2) A regular practice of 10 pranayama during each of the three sandhyas for forty days increases cheerfulness, improves the health and also sharpens the memory.
(3) The practice of pranayama destroys sins. As hard work destroys poverty, so also pranayama destroys sins.

v THE CHIEF PARTS OF PRANAYAMA
(1) Rechaka : Exhalation
(2) Puraka : Inhalation
(3) Kumbhaka : Holding the breath. To hold the breath inside is called antarakumbhaka and to hold it outside is called bahirkumbhaka.

v Some useful pranayamas for students

(1) Anuloma Viloma Pranayama: Sit in Padmasana, Siddhasana or Sukhasana. First of all, exhale completely through both the nostrils. Then close the right nostril with the right thumb, and with ease, take a deep breath through the left nostril. Hold the breath inside for as long as you can. Close the left nostril with the middle finger and slowly exhale through the right nostril. Exhale completely, and then hold the breath outside for as long as you can comfortably do so by closing both the nostrils. Then inhale through the right nostril and after holding it in for some time exhale slowly through the left. Hold the breath outside for some time after exhaling completely. That completes one Pranayama.

§ In Pranayama, the time proportion for inhalation, retention, exhalation and staying without breath should be in the ratio of 1:4:2:2, i.e. if you take 5 seconds to inhale, then hold it in for 20 seconds, exhale over a period of 10 seconds, and stay with your lungs empty for 10 seconds. This is the ideal ration, which can gradually be attained through regular practice.




if ur find it difficult then Please only do deep breathing a few times


Now sit in Padmasana or any comfortable position on a nonconductive aasan(a Pieice of woolen cloth) this is important

One important thing about doing Sadhana (Spiritual karma )
While doing any spiritual sadhana may itbe Dhyaana yoga meditation or chanting mantra, stotra ,stuti & reading any spiritual scriptures , the spiritual person must sit or stand in an comfortable position on a nonconductive aasan (a Pieice of woolen cloth) or kusha etc,like the great Rishis do,this is very important because when a spiritual person as he or she chants the mantra or stotra or does dhyaan yoga , A Spiritual energy is created in hisorher body so in the absence of any non conductive Aasan the energy is earthed and the person looses the valuable Spiritual energy.Therefore Always sit on a nonconductive Aasan like a Woolen Cloth while doing ur spiritual practices.

,now sit in front of the image.

Rest both the hands on the knees and stretch straight your spine.

First Chant the pavitra omkar mantra "AUM " atleast only for seven times .




Dhyaan Yoga METHOD FOR AWAKENING OF KUNDALINI


Now concentrate on Gurujis Sacred Image



for aleast 6 minutes without blinking eyes, sat first only 6 min then extend upto 24 minutes gradually.


Closing your eyes imagine that you are looking the Sree Guru dev ‘s image or The AUM between your eyebrows. . After practising for a few days, you will begin to feel different kinds of peace Shanti & power Shakti in yourself.
In Dhyan yoga one can feel unknown powers working inside one self.
. If one practises dhyan yoga in the presence of a Guru (Spiritual Teacher) the results will be better.
Then the Final Process
Chanting Guru Mantra ( A secret Mantra given by Sadh Guru Only) at Mantra Diksha awakes the Kunadalini Shakti and Provides all siddhis as the Yogi advances in the Sadhana and finaly leads to Self Realization “The Final Goal of the Yogi “
Guru also means big so the Guru Mantra is the Biggest of All mantras in the whole world
In Guru Gita Lord Shiva says to Goddess Paravati
To the person who has the Guru Mantra on his tongue, all acts become
fruitful but not for others. By the power of initiation disciples attains
success in all actions.
Sri Guru Gita 2.133
Chanting Guru Mantra is considered as the Bhakti of the Fifth Kind by Vedas.
Mantra Jaap Mam Drada Vishvasa
Pancham bhakti Veda Prakassa
Sri Ram Charitra Manas
Ebooks from Ashram
Dhyaan yoga with Mantra Anushthaan Sadhana is the best way to awake kundalini



Importance of Meditation, Tratak, Japa, Mauna, Sandhya and Mantra
Significance of Meditation



नास्ति ध्यानसमं तीर्थम्। Meditation is the greatest pilgrimage.

नास्ति ध्यानसमं दानम्। Meditation is the greatest Jat.

नास्ति ध्यानसमं यज्ञम्। Meditation is the greatest (yajna).
नास्ति ध्यानसमं तपम्। Meditation is the greatest penance.
तस्मात् ध्यानं समाचरेत्। Therefor you must meditate daily without fail.

Get up before sunrise, complete the early morning routine and take your bath. Then sit in padmasana on a warn woolen or jute mat. Keep the picture of the Lord or the Guru in front of you. Light a lamp, and burn a dhoop or agarbatti. Then place both hands on the knees in jnana mudra. Do trataka for some time by concentrating on the Lord’s or the Guru’s picture. Then close the eyes and visualize the picture in the ajna chaktra. Take a deep breath and hold it in for some time, then exhale slowly while deeply chanting ‘हरि ॐ” While inhaling, feel that you are inhaling virtues, devotion, healthfulness, delight and happiness. And while exhaling practice auto-suggestion: ‘I am exhaling greed, worries, diseases, fear and the like.’ Do this seven times. Sit with a calm mind for five-seven minutes after the meditation.

Benefits: This makes the mind peaceful and calm, increases concentration and memory power, sharpens the intellect, keeps the body healthy, eradicates all affliction, one experiences supreme peace and can even establish contact with God.

Tratak
Trataka helps improve concentration very much. Trataka means to keep looking at one object without distraction. Trataka is extremely useful in improving children’s memory. The method of doing trataka is as follows:

Paste a piece of white paper on a cardboard about one square foot in size. Mark a circle in its centre equal to the size of a rupee coin. Leave a small dot the size of a sesame seed in the centre of this circle. And colour the rest of the circle in black. Colour the dot in the centre yellow, and then place the cardboard on the wall so that the circle is in a straight line with your eyes. Sit before the cardboard at the same place and same time every day. The cardboard should be three feet away from your eyes. The eyes should be fixed on the yellow centre of the circle without blinking.

Sit for 5 to 15 minutes to start with. Initially you might feel a burning sensation in the eyes. But do not worry. With practice, you can gradually sit for half an hour at a stretch, which helps tremendously in improving concentration. Then you will be able to memorise whatever you read. Alternatively, you can also use the Moon, picture of the Lord or Guruji, Swastik, “ॐ” or the flame of a lamp as the object for trataka. Trataka on the picture of your tutelary deity or Guru is especially beneficial.

The importance of Japa

The meaning and Significance of ‘ॐ”


‘ॐ ‘ is composed of three syllables: A+U+M + the half syllable (…). The first syllable ‘A’ represents the material or cognitive world; ‘U’ stands for the subtle world and ‘M’ for the causal world. The half syllable (…) stands for the Supreme Consciousness That provides support to the three worlds without Itself being affected by them.

‘ॐ ‘ bestows spiritual power. The chanting of ‘ॐ ‘ drives the life force upwards. When chanted seven time, it helps eliminate disease causing germs from the body as well as sadness and dejection from the mind. That is why the scriptures praise ‘ॐ ‘ and the rishis have placed ‘ॐ ‘ at the beginning of every mantra, whether it is to worship Lord Shiva …..Om namah sivaya, Lord Ganapati ………om ganesaya namah. Lord Rama …………om ramaya namah and Lord Krishna ………om namo bhagavate vasudevaya or even for Goddess Gayatri ………om bhurbhuvah svah tatsavitruvarenyam bhargodevasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah pracodayat. This “om” is placed at the beginning of every mantra.

Patanjalai Maharaj has said: …………”‘ॐ ‘” (the pranava) is the audio expression of the Supreme Soul, His natural sound.
In the Gita, Lord Sri Krishna says: यज्ञानाम् जपयज्ञो अस्मि। ‘In all kinds of yajnas, I am the japayajna.’

The ‘Sri Ramacharitamanasa’ also says:

‘The Lord’s name is the only redeeming factor in this Kaliyuga. Those who do japa of the Lord’s name transcend the ocean of sansara.’



What does ‘Japa’ mean? Ja=Liberation from janmas (repeated births), Pa=Destruction of papas (sins).

That which destroys all our sins and frees us from the cycle of birth and death is called japa. Japa is the art of making contact with the Almighty Lord. Supreme peace is experienced in the gap between two thoughts. The longer the gap, the greater of peace. Japa is an extremely useful tool to attain that state. That is why it is said : अधिकम् जपं अधिकं फलम्। ’More the japa more the fruits.’


Tilaka Increases Intellectual and Spiritual Power


On the forehead between the eyebrows is the centre of discrimination and power. Yogis call this centre ‘ajna chakra’ i.e. the centre of dominion. It is also called the ‘shivanetra’ or the ‘centre of auspicious thoughts’. A tilaka of sandalwood paste or vermillion on this spot helps promote the power of discrimination-(right thinking) or the ajanashakti. Therefore, in Hindu religion, a tilaka is applied on the forehead before the performance of some auspicious rite. Millions of people have seen His Holiness Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu applying a tilaka of sandalwood paste to His forehead before delivering satsang. Women predominantly live in the world of emotions and implicit faith. Hence, in order to enhance their judgement, the rishis instituted this tradition of applying tilaka for women. Most women’s minds remain in svadhisthana and maniupura centre. These centres are associated with fear, emotions and imagination. The rishis have instructed that women should constantly keep a tilaka applied on their foreheads so that they are not carried away by these emotions and imaginations, and their shivanetra, the centre of thoughts or judgement, is developed. There have been several great women like Gargi, Shandili and Anasuya, to name just a few, in the Hindu religion. A woman represents a great source of power-the ‘Mother-Power’- which gives birth to brave heroes, great men, great thinkers and even saints who have the ability to lead people to God-realization. This Mother-Power is today being prohibited from applying tilaka to their foreheads by some schools in India. How long with the Indian continue to tolerate such oppression? How long will the Indians go on falling prey to such conspiracies after all?



 KUNDALINI AWAKENING
SHARIRA MADYAM KHALU DHARMA SADHANAM
Meaning : Through this body all the religious duties can be performed.Without protecting the body,a human being can neither protect himself, nor his soul. How then he will protect his religion. Along with making the body strong, healthy and full of characters, one must strive to become spiritually strong too.
The purpose of the science is to perform everything with ease to save time, which could then be utilized in the upliftment of the self. Awakening of Kundalini has the same purpose.To awaken the Kundalini, control of the mind is the first and foremost part. It is said in Yoga Vashishtha about Kundalini that: RASAV VAI SAM ; that is jocularity sentiments etc. develops in many arts and in turn make the life full of pleasures.
Devibhagvat says : Bhu i.e. will power, Bhuvah action power and Swah knowledge power are the symbols of Tama, Raja and Satva births respectively, which are governed by Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. Through the worship of these three deities, kundalini is awakened and all the luxuries are gained.
When Kundalini awakens, its effect begins to appear on the whole body, making the performer much more powerful. Rigaveda says about this power thus : I can convert anything in to anything. Renowned world over as serpent power, it is known in India as Kundalini, when one knows about it and awakens it, nothing remains impossible for him. As per the saying YAT PINDE TAT BRAHMANDE, whatever is in the universe is in the body, one can perform many sorts of miracles by awakening his Kundalini. And with the help of it one can achieve ASHTA SIDDHIS (eight perfection’s) viz :

Anima : making the body extremely light.
Mahima : Increasing body or improving the personality.
Laghima : Lightening the body and fighting the disease.
Garima : Glorious personality.
Ishitwa : Attracting and alluring everybody.
Vashitva : Enchanting every body.
Prapti : Getting the ungettable things.
Prakamya : To get honour.
All these Siddhis (Perfections) can be achieved spontaneously with the awakening of Kundalini. After that all the excellence which have been described in Patanjali Yoga viz Panchatt Gyana (knowledge of the higher self), knowledge of the previous birth, knowledge of distant thing, knowledge of all the Lokas (worlds), knowledge of the stars and planets. Quenching of thirst and hunger, wandering in the sky, feeling of non-violence, sighting of the beloved one, knowledge of the gems on the earth etc. are also achieved spontaneously.
With the awakening of Kundalini via mantra yoga, cracking or opening of all the six rings is done. This in turn, leads to achievement of Siddhis (perfection). The awakened Kundalini reaches Brahmarandhra in the skull via sushumna naadi. Annihilating there with Shiva power.
It causes the nectar to flow out from the streams of the moon. This causes the body of the performer to glow.
But to achieve all of above mentioned, it is necessary that one should first get a Gurumantra from a SadhGuru and recite it in order to open his six wheels or rings and achieve perfection.
With awakening of Kundalini a human being gets complete control on his mind and body. He feels himself free from the entire curbs. He no longer remains a doer or the consumer, but becomes an onlooker. This state is called as Nishreyasa, that is a state even superior than the state of Salvation.
Kundalini is also called as the serpent power, because it has a snakelike winding motion. It moves in circular fashion in the body of the performer, with increasing speed. It is a fiery but latent-electric power. Its speed is more than the speed of the light. It is said to have a speed of 3,45,000 miles per second while the speed of lights is only 1,85,000 miles per second. With awakening of Kundalini humans have knowledge like
Vekhari Shabdochcharana.

Appearance of supernatural thoughts.
Arrival of Madhyamavaka on the tongue.
Pashyanti- sounds become visible to the human eyes.

Notable sage of the middle ages Santa Gyaneshwara, describes Kundalini in following words: Sit in Vajrasana and do Jallundhar bandha. Pull the abdomen to your back. Now you experience an Uddiyana bandha below the navel and around the privater egion . This posture stops the Apan Vaya to rise up in the abdomen, which then mixes the parts of the earth and the water elements together. At the same time the warmth of Vajrasana, causes Kundalini to awaken. When Kundalini awakens, it spreads its mouth upward with a great jerk. It appears that is has been hungry for many days and now upon awakening is eager to devour anything it meets. But it does not move from its place and devours whatever parts of the earth and the water that the body has.
Kundalini yoga is a divine pure spiritual science which relies upon a blessing called shaktipat that leads to enlightenment under the guidance of a Yogi spiritual master “Sadh Guru”.
Kundalini is a concentrated form of prana or life force, lying dormant in chakras in the body. It is conceptualized as a coiled up serpent (literally, ‘kundalini’ in Sanskrit is ‘That which is coiled.’ Sanskrit kund, “to burn”; kunda, “to coil or to spiral”). The serpent is considered to be Shakti or Mahamaya, coiled up three and a half times, with its mouth engulfing the base of the Sushumna nadi.
The first of these is as the universal energy or para-kundalini. The second of these is as the energizing function of the body-mind complex or prana-kundalini. The third of these is as consciousness or shakti-kundalini which simultaneously subsumes and intermediates between these two. Ultimately these three forms are the same but understanding these three different forms will help to understand the different manifestations of kundalini .
The path of Kundalini is said to proceed from the Muladhara Chakra at the lower end of the spinal column up to the Sahasara Chakra at the top of the head. According to Yogis, awakening of kundalini brings with it pure peace, pure knowledge and pure supernatural Bliss.



Silence (Mauna): An excellent way of conserving energy

Etymologically, “Mauna” consists of Ma+U+Na. Ma=Mana (the Mind), U=Utkanthita (intense desire) and Na=Nakara (negation). Thus, to negate the worldly desire of the mind and merge it with the true nature of God is what is really meant by Mauna.

Mauna is a great tool to practice restraint on speech. A man uses a lot of energy in his speech; just as much as he does when he uses his other sense organs.

By restraining his speech man can develop his power. Mauna helps a lot in the development of man’s hidden powers. It is necessary to practice Mauna to conserve the energy within. There is a saying that there are nine virtues in keeping silent. These nine virtues are as follow:

(1) You won’t speak ill of anybody. (2) You will be saved from telling lies. (3) You won’t make enemies. (4) You will not end up in a situation where you have to apologies to someone. (5) You won’t have to repent for your words. (6) You won’t waste time. (7) You won’t be bound by any task. (8) Your knowledge will remain a secret and your ignorance, hidden. (9) Your peace of mind will not be disturbed.


Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda


mainly from Ashram ebook Baal Sanskar

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते

पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते।



ॐ That is Absolute, and this too is Absolute. This Absolute emanates from the Absolute. On taking the Absolute from the Absolute, what remains is the Absolute.



Om Peace! Peace! Peace!