KUNDALINĪ (Kuṇḍalinī), Skt., lit. “snake,” also called “serpent power,” because this sleeping spiritual force in every human being lies coiled at the base of the spine. Once awakened, it rises through a series of centers (chakra) and finds expression in the form of spiritual knowledge and mystical visions.
Tantric philosophy teaches that the human body contains six centers of subtle energy (chakras), referred to as “lotuses,” through whose channels the kundalini rises. The first center, muladhara (“root center”), with four red petals, is located at the base of the spinal column and governs the organs of excretion and reproduction; second is svadhisthana (“self-place”), with six vermilion petals, which governs the intestines; third is manipura (“full of radiance”), with ten blue petals, hear the solar plexus; fourth is anāhata (“soundless sound”), with twelve scarlet petals, in the region of the heart; next is vishuddha (“purity”), in the area of the throat, with sixteen dark crimson petals; sixth is ājnā (“the Guru’s command”), between the eyebrows, with two white petals. The kundalinī rises through these centers from the base of the spinal column to the top of the head, where the thousand-petaled seventh chakra, sahāsrara (“the seat of Shiva”) is located, streaming radiant white light. At this point the wakened spiritual energy develops its full majestic force in the form of enlightenment (samādhi).
According to the descriptions given by those who have experienced the rising of kundalinī, this can take place in one of five ways: like an ant creeping forward; like a fish swimming happily in the ocean; like a monkey that in a single leap reaches the crown of the head; like a bird hopping from one branch to the next; or like a snake moving upward in zigzag motion.
A standard work on kundalinī and Kundalinī-Yoga is by Arthur Avalon (see Woodroffe 1919).
KUNDALINĪ-SHAKTI (Kuṇḍalinī-Śakti), Skt., lit. “serpent power”; the cosmic energy that lies sleeping at the base of the spinal column; it can be awakened by the practice of spiritual exercises and made to rise through the chakras. (See also kundalinī, Kundalinī-Yoga.)
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Documents on kundalinī
Books on kundalinī
External Links: Kundalini / Gopi Krishna (yogui) / Kundalini yoga