Kundalini yoga (eBook)

Preface 7
Section I - Kundalini-shakti 9
Chapter 1 The astral body and prana 11
The astral body 12
Prana or "vital energy" 15
Types of prana 17
The evolution of prana 18
The nadis or "energy channels" 20
The difference between Kundalini-shakti and prana-shakti 31
Chapter 2 Chakras, marmas, and granthis 39
Chakras or "energy centers" 39
The marmas or "vital points" 44
The granthis or "knots" 52
Chapter 3 The thirty-six tattvas or "categories of existence" 55
Shuddha-tattvas or "pure categories of existence" 57
Shuddhashuddha-tattvas or "pure-impure categories of existence" 60
Shuddhashuddha-tattvas or "pure-impure categories of existence" 60
Shuddhadhva-tattvas or "pure elements" 64
Chapter 4 The Devi or "Mother of the Universe" 69
Chapter 5 Awakening, ascent, and descent of kundalini-shakti 85
Awakening of kundalini-shakti 85
The ascent of kundalini-shakti 91
The descent of kundalini-shakti 99
Section II - The chakras: their functions
and characteristics 105
First Chakra. Muladhara-cakra or "root chakra" 107
Second chakra. Svadhishthana-cakra or "sacral chakra" 117
Third Chakra. Maṇipura-cakra or "solar plexus chakra" 131
Fourth Chakra. Anahata-cakra or "heart chakra" 141
Fifth Chakra. Vishuddha-cakra or "throat chakra" 153
Sixth Chakra. Ajña-cakra or "third eye chakra" 163
Seventh chakra. Sahasrara-cakra or "crown chakra" 173
The bindu-cakra 183
List of the principal minor chakras 186
Section III - The sadhana of kundalini yoga 195
1. Purification 201
2. Practice to open the chakras 209
3. Techniques to awaken kundalini energy 213
4. The mudras or "seals" 215
5. The bandhas or "locks" 233
Mula-bandha 235
Jalandhara-bandha 240
Uddiyana-bandha 241
Maha-bandha 244
Epilogue - The path of kundalini 247
Appendix 251
Summary of the main chakras characteristics 252
Glossary of Sanskrit Terms 257
Sanskrit pronunciation guide 269
About the author 275
About the mission 282