Ida, Pingala, Sushumna

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Ida, Pingala, Sushumna and Shat-Chakras

 

Ida and Pingala

 

There are the two nerve-currents one on either side of the spinal

column. The left one is called Ida and the right is known as Pingala.

These are Nadis. Tentatively, some take these as the right and the

left sympathetic cords, but they are subtle tubes that carry Prana.

The Moon moves in the Ida and the Sun in the Pingala. Ida is cooling.

Pingala is heating. Ida flows through the left nostril and the

Pingala through the right nostril. The breath flows through the right

nostril for one hour and then through the left nostril for one hour.

Man is busily engaged in worldly activities, when the breath flows

through Ida and Pingala. When Sushumna operates, he becomes dead to

the world, and enters into Samadhi. A Yogi tries his level best to

make the Prana run in the Sushumna Nadi, which is known as the

central Brahman Nadi also. On the left of Sushumna is situated Ida

and on the right is Pingala. The moon is of the nature of Tamas and

the sun is that of the Rajas. The poison share is of the sun and the

nectar is of the moon. Ida and Pingala indicate time. Sushumna is the

consumer of time.

 

Sushumna

 

Sushumna is the most important of all the Nadis. It is the sustainer

of the universe and the path of the universe and the path of

salvation. Situated at the back of the anus, it is attached to the

spinal column and extends to the Brahmarandhra of the head and is

invisible and subtle. The real work of a Yogi begins when Sushumna

begins to function. Sushumna runs along the centre of the spinal cord

or spinal column. Above the genital organs and below the navel is the

Kanda, of the shape of a bird's egg. There arise from it all the

Nadis 72,000 in number. Of these, seventy-two are common and

generally known. Of those the chief ones are ten and they carry the

Pranas. Ida, Pingala, Sushumna, Gandhari, Hastijihva, Pusa,

Yusasvini, Alambusa, Kuhuh and Sankhini are said to be the ten

important Nadis. The Yogis should have a knowledge of the Nadis and

the Chakras. Ida, Pingala and Sushumna are said to carry Prana and

have Moon, Sun and Agni as their Devatas. When Prana moves in

Sushumna, sit for meditation. You will have deep Dhyana. If the

coiled-up energy, Kundalini, passes up along the Sushumna Nadi and is

taken up from Chakra to Chakra the Yogi gets different sorts of

experiences, powers and Ananda.

 

Kundalini

 

Kundalini is the serpent power or sleeping Sakti, that has 3 1/2

coils with face downwards, in the Muladhara Chakra, at the base of

the spine. No Samadhi is possible without its being awakened. The

practice of Kumbhaka in Pranayama produces heat and thereby Kundalini

is awakened and passes upwards along the Sushumna Nadi. The Yogic

practitioner experiences various visions. Then the Kundalini passes

along the Six Chakras and eventually gets united with Lord Siva,

seated on the Sahasrara or thousand-petalled lotus, at the crown of

the head. Nirvikalpa Samadhi ensues now and the Yogi gets liberation

and all the divine Aishvaryas. One should practise control of breath

with concentration of mind. The awakened Kundalini that is taken up

to Manipura Chakra may drop down again to Muladhara. It has to be

raised again with effort. One should become perfectly desireless and

should be full of Vairagya before he attempts to awaken Kundalini.

 

Kundalini is like a thread and is resplendent. When it is awakened it

hisses like a serpent beaten with a stick and enters the hole of

Sushumna. When it travels from Chakra to Chakra, layer after layer of

the mind becomes open and the Yogi acquires various Siddhis (psychic

powers).

 

Shat-Chakras

 

Chakras are centres of spiritual energy. They are located in the

astral body, but they have corresponding centres in the physical body

also. They can hardly be seen by the naked eyes. Only a clairvoyant

can see with his astral eyes. Tentatively they correspond to certain

plexuses in the physical body. There are six important Chakras. They

are: Muladhara (containing 4 petals) at the anus; Svadhishthana (6

petals) at the genital organ; Manipura (10 petals) at navel; Anahata

(12 petals) at the heart; Visudha (16 petals) at the throat and Ajna

(2 petals) at the space between the two eyebrows. The seventh Chakra

is known as Sahasrara, which contains a thousand petals. It is

located at the top of the head. Sacral plexus tentatively corresponds

to Muladhara Chakra; Prostatic plexus to Svadhishthana, Solar plexus

to Manipura, Cardiac plexus to Anahata Chakra, Laryngal plexus to

Visuddha Chakra and Cavernous plexus to Ajna Chakra.