Kundalini Yoga and Kundalini energy are trendy topics among yogis, and those interested in yoga know this terminology. Kundalini is the dormant power within everyone, and through Kundalini yoga, you can awaken your inner energy.
After awakening your inner energy, you can get Vibhutis and achieve the Yoga’s aim, which is the union of Shiva and Shakti, liberation, or enlightenment.
Let’s understand more about Kundalini, Kundalini Yoga, and its origin.
What does Kundalini mean?
The concept of Kundalini has ancient origins in Indian spiritual traditions, specifically Yoga and Tantra, but we also get its traces mostly in all Indian philosophies.
Kundalini comes from the Sanskrit root, Kundal, which means coiled or circular, and Ini, which means power or energy.
Some Tantra texts compare Kundalini energy to a dormant snake sleeping below your Mooladhar Chakra. Here, The snake symbolises kundalini, a serpent wrapped three and a half times.
Kundalini energy is in everyone, regardless of race or gender; it’s also within you. Kundalini energy is in everyone, irrespective of race or gender; it’s also within you.
This Kundalini energy is mostly dormant or not manifested, so nobody or very few know its existence. However, this Kundalini energy is not manifested, so nobody knows, or very few know, its existence.
There is a lot of writing about Kundalini energy in various Tantra and Yogic texts. Through spiritual practices, when uplifted Kundalini energy goes towards higher chakras, practitioners experience the power within them. Still, before awakening, it’s dormant like a coiled snake, which is hard to see unless it moves.
How to awaken Kundalini
Kundalini energy is dormant, and through yogic practices such as Hatha yoga, Kundalini yoga, Kriya yoga, Mantra yoga, Laya Yoga, Guru’s blessings, etc., ways practitioners activate and uplift their Kundalini energy.
Approximately 72,000 Nadis are mentioned in Hatha Yogic texts, in which Prana energy flows. However, these energy channels are blocked by impurities, lifestyles, etc.
Of these 72,000 Nadis, three Nadis are most significant for awakening Kundalini energy: Ida, Pingla and Sushumna.
After purifying these energy channels through various yogic practices such as asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha, Pratyahara, and Dhyana Ida and Pingla Nadis activated, and then Prana energy channelled and flowed into Sushumna Nadi.
After Sushumna Nadi’s activation, Kundalini, which was in Mooladhara chakra as dormant energy, started to awaken.
The yoga practitioner achieves some Vibhutis or Siddhis during the Kundalini awakening process.
When awakened, Kundalini’s energy uplifts and pierces all the chakras; through this, the Yogi achieves the union of Shiva and Shakti, which awakens Yogi to attain bliss.
Kundalini Yoga and its origin
Kundalini yoga is rooted in Traditional yoga and is a very ancient practice that has been followed for centuries in different yoga schools in various parts of India.
In the medieval era, many forms of ancient wisdom vanished from society because of continuous barbaric invasions that caused genocide and the destruction of many ancient Gurukula and universities.
Still, dedicated gurus, some Hatha Yogic traditions such as Natha, Aghora, etc., and a few yoga practitioners preserve, practice and transfer this ancient knowledge and wisdom in their groups.
Later, when favourable times come again then, this knowledge is returned to society by these gurus. Guru searched eligible students, and then that eligible practitioner gained this knowledge and ancient practices through the Guru Shishya tradition.
Gradually, various knowledge returned to society and became famous worldwide again. In this process, Kundalini yoga also spread in India and the West.
What is the Kundalini Yoga in the East and West?
The Kundalini Yoga taught by the Indian or Eastern Yoga schools and the Kundalini Yoga popularised in the West significantly differ because of their different origins, practices, techniques, and philosophies.
Eastern Kundalini Yoga
Traditional or Eastern Kundalini yoga originated from different sages and rishis in ancient India, and its approach is more inclined towards tradition, closely aligned with Tantra and Yogic texts.
If we look at its practices, it emphasises a gradual awakening of Kundalini energy. It focuses more on preparatory practices such as the Shatkarma for purification of the body, Pawanmuktasana series or Sukshma Sthul Vyayama series, etc., through which the practitioner body and mind prepare for higher practices.
In the eastern approach, Gurus use more subtle practices to enhance awareness, and for that, they incorporate specific asana, traditional Pranayama, and Dhyana practices. Sometimes the guru used more personalised instructions for the betterment of the students.
Kundalini’s yoga philosophy is rooted deeply in Tantric and Hatha’s yogic philosophy, and Kundalini’s awakening is not a short-term thing but a gradual and long-term process.
The Eastern approach is more towards the Guru Shishya Tradition, and there is no specific dress code for practising Kundalini yoga; you can wear any yoga attire that the teacher suggests which is comfortable for yoga practices. As a yoga practitioner, you must be more disciplined and enthusiastic towards your yoga practices and guru’s instructions.
Western Kundalini Yoga
Western Kundalini yoga was introduced to the West by many yogis, but Yogi Bhajan got credit for teaching Kundalini Yoga because he popularised it in a certain way. Yogi Bhajana’s approach blends traditional knowledge with more accessible practices so Western yoga enthusiasts can quickly adopt these practices.
Yogi Bhajan founded the 3HO (Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization) to spread Kundalini Yoga teachings, and he aimed to give immediate experiences of Kundalini energy; for this, he incorporated a dynamic sequence of exercises, specific mantra chanting, vigorous breathing practices, etc.
The philosophy of Kundalini yoga in the West blends the elements of Hatha yoga and Sikhism, designed to be more immediately accessible to Western practitioners.
What are the differences between Kundalini Yoga in the East and West?
The core concept of Kundalini Yoga is the same because Yogi Bhajan was from India; that’s why there are a lot of similarities between Eastern and Western approaches, but he made some changes to popularise Kundalini Yoga so Westerners could learn and adopt these practices.
Although it looks different from the outside, the central concept and many practices are similar to the East or West Kundalini Yoga.
Kundalini yoga works on a similar Chakra System, with the concept of energy centres (chakras) along the spine, including various forms of meditation, yogic asana, and different sacred mantras.
Both systems emphasise awakening the Kundalini energy at the spine’s base and use pranayama techniques to awaken and uplift the Kundalini energy.
Let’s understand the differences between Kundalini yoga in the East and West by this table.
| S.No | Western Kundalini Yoga (WKY) | Traditional Kundalini Yoga (TKY) |
| 1. | Yogi Bhajan designed and popularised Kundalini yoga in the West in the late 1960s | Traditional Kundalini yoga roots are from ancient Tantric and Hatha Yogic traditions, with various schools and lineages. |
| 2. | The WKY is more dynamic and accessible to beginners | The TKY is more conventional and may require more preparation and study. |
| 3. | Western systems emphasise a sequence of asana, dynamic pranayama practices, and chanting mantras. | Indian system emphasises asana pranayama and also includes more subtle practices like meditation and internal energy work. |
| 4. | The WKY was designed for Western audiences, often blending Sikh elements. | The TKY deeply embedded Hatha yoga and Tantric philosophies, and it is for serious yoga practitioners. |
| 5. | The WKY encourages wearing white clothing and head coverings. | In EKY, there is no specific dress code, so that the practitioner can wear typical yoga attire. |
| 6. | The teaching style in WKY is more structured classes with set sequences. | The EKY focuses more on the Guru Shishya tradition, which may involve more personalised instruction and gradual progress. |
| 7. | The WKY focuses on quick transformative experiences. | The EKY focuses on gradual awakening, and it aims to achieve enlightenment. |
Why do practitioners of Kundalini Yoga wear white?
It is a general tendency that most Yoga teachers, different Yoga schools, and many yoga practitioners prefer loose-fitting white clothing with natural fibres, the saffron colour used by gurus who choose the path of renunciation.
There are many reasons to choose the White colour; it is because the white colour denotes purity; symbolically, wearing White means enhancing your awareness outward and inward.
Although there are no complex rules for wearing only white clothing during Kundalini yoga practices, all colours are present in nature.
Still, white is a bit more favoured, maybe because the pigment in white is reflective, which protects the yoga practitioner’s aura and positions them to the centre of their practice and power.
The reason for choosing natural fibres is that they are free from toxic elements and have no synthetic colours in the making process. Hence, as a yoga enthusiast, be more caring towards the environment, and there will be no destruction of mother nature because of your yoga practice.
Wearing loose clothing and natural fibres makes you feel comfortable and allows the skin to breathe; also, there will be no rashes, skin problems, discomfort, etc., because you did not choose any sweaty pants or synthetic fibres.
Why is Kundalini Yoga dangerous?
Kundalini yoga practices can be dangerous because they specifically work on Kundalini energy. Kundalini Yoga is potent and risky because it is very effective for Kundalini awakening.
You can awaken Kundalini energy through various ways, and in the yogic tradition, numerous practices are available according to practitioners’ capability or situation. Practices can vary according to your lifestyle.
The path of bliss is for everyone, and there are many ways to lead you towards your aim, but if you are a family man or monk, or maybe in your previous life, you were a great practitioner, there can be numerous situations. Accordingly, your path is different from that of other practitioners.
Yoga path may differ according to your previous progress and current situation; for example, electricity is in everyone’s home, but if you flow high voltage in the house, all electrical equipment is damaged.
Kundalini Yoga is a very effective practice for Kundalini awakening. Still, if you are unprepared for Kundalini awakening or accidentally Kundalini’s energy uplift, then Kundalini Yoga or Kundalini awakening can be dangerous.
Kundalini is a powerful energy that leads you on the path of bliss. However, as a practitioner, you need to be well prepared for the awakening of Kundalini; you need to have the guru’s direction, then you need to follow the guru’s direction with discipline, and you need to prepare your body and mind gradually for higher practices.
If your body and mind are not ready for Kundalini Yoga practices, harsh consequences can occur. Energy provides ease in life, but the same energy can lead to destruction if you are not prepared.
What is the ultimate purpose of Kundalini Yoga?
In the yogic philosophy, the ultimate purpose of life is moksha or a state of bliss. Every path, whether Jnana yoga, Bhakti yoga, Karma Yoga, Mantra yoga or Kundalini yoga, leads you towards the same path.
All rivers ultimately flow into the ocean as all yogic paths lead towards liberation.
In every path, you have different instructions or different ways; in Bhakti yoga, you surrender yourself towards the Ishwara; In Karma yoga, you do Karwa without any expectations or desires; and in Kundalini yoga, you work on your Kundalini energy, which ultimately leads you towards Moksha, Nirvana, liberation or ultimate bliss state.