Layayoga: The Definitive Guide to the Chakras and Kundalini

LAYAYOGA

T
HE
D
EFINITIVE
G
UIDE TO THE
C
HAKRAS AND
K
UNDALINI

 

Shyam Sundar Goswami

 

Inner Traditions

Rochester, Vermont

To Wani

Goddess of Words

‘uttishthata jagrata prapya waran nibodhata’

–Kathopanishad, 1. 3. 14

 

Arise, awake and seek a teacher;

First know ‘Who art Thou’.

 

This Upanishadic saying reverberates in
the Greek maxim

 

‘Γνϖθι σεαυτóν’

 

engraved in the temple of Apollo at Delphi.

Acknowledgments

 

First, I wish to thank the great authority on the Weda, Acharyya Karunamoya Saraswati, Calcutta, for his kindness to write a foreword to this work.

The Plates
II
and
Plate 28
are photographs of my pupil Mrs Karin Schalander, Stockholm;
Plate III
is reproduced with the permission of Acharyya Karunamoya Saraswati himself; Plates
1

26
have been made under my guidance, by my pupil Mrs Dea Ramstedt, Stockholm, and
Plate 27
by Mrs Ramstedt and Dr Ulf Jansson, Stockholm. The Plates
II
and
28
have been taken by Mr Leif Persson, Gräsmark, Sweden.

I wish to thank them all.

Shyam Sundar Goswami

Contents

 

Acknowledgments

Foreword to the Second Edition

Foreword

Preface

My initiation into Layayoga

Introduction

Part 1

Fundamentals of Layayoga

1   Layayoga and Ashtaṅgayaga

 

Yoga from the Mantra Viewpoint

Control

First and Second Stages of Yama (Control)

Third Stage of Yama (Control): Asana

Fourth Stage of Yama (Control): Pranayama

Fifth Stage of Yama (Control): Pratyahara

Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Stages of Yama (Control): Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi

Yoga Defined and Explained

2   Layayoga – Its Significance and Method

 

Laya Process

Tantrika Form of Layayoga

Limbs of Layayoga

Muscular Control Process

Breath Control Process

Concentration in Layayoga

3   Kundalini – the Coiled Power

 

Adamantine Control

Kundalini

Kundalini-rousing

Waidika Process of Kundalini-rousing

Tantrika Process of Kundalini-rousing

Pouranika Exposition of Kundalini

4   Mantra – Supra-sound Power

 

Sound

The Sound Phenomenon

Four Forms of Sound

Para-sound

Pashyanti-sound

Madhyama-sound

Matrika-sounds

Waikhari-sound

Mantra

Mantra in Waikhari-form

5   Bhutashuddhi – Purificatory Thought-concentration

 

Purusha and Prakriti

Evolution of Creative Principles

Tamasa Evolution

Bhutashuddhi

Absorptive Thought-concentration

6   Bhutashuddhi Pranayama – Purificatory Breathing

 

Sahita Breathing

Part 2

The Chakra System

7   Introduction to the System of Chakras

 

Pouranika Fragments on the Chakras

The Pouranika System of Chakras

8   The Waidika System of Chakras

 

Nadi-system

Chakras

Systems of the Chakras
(
Chakra System as Explained by Narayana;
As Exposed in the Yogachudamanyupanishad;
As Expounded by Maheswara;
As Explained in the Yogarajopanishad
) –
Waidika Chakra System

9   The Tantrika System of Chakras

 

Tantrika Nadi-system

Tantrika Systems of Chakras
(
The Chakra Systems as Expounded by Shiwa;
The Chakra System as Expounded by Bhairawi;
As Explained by Rishi Narada;
As Explained by Mahidhara;
As Explained by Brahmananda;
As Explained by Jñanananda;
As Explained by Lakshmana Deshikendra;
As Explained by Brahmananda Giri
)

10  Exposition of the Chakras

 

1 Muladhara
(
Terminology
,
Position
,
Description
,
Explanation
) –
2 Swadhishthana
(
Terminology
,
Position
,
Description
,
Explanation
) –
3 Manipura
(
Terminology
,
Position
,
Description
,
Explanation
) –
4 Hrit
(
Terminology
,
Position
,
Description
,
Explanation
) –
5 Anahata
(
Terminology
,
Position
,
Description
,
Explanation
) –
6 Wishuddha
(
Terminology
,
Position
,
Description
,
Explanation
) –
7 Talu
(
Terminology
,
Position
,
Description
,
Explanation
) –
8 Ajña
(
Terminology
,
Position
,
Description
,
Explanation
)

11  Exposition of the Chakras (continued)

 

Ajña System

9 Manas
(
Terminology
,
Position
,
Description
,
Explanation
) –
10 Indu
(
Terminology
,
Position
,
Description
,
Explanation
) –
11 Nirwana
(
Terminology
,
Position
,
Description
,
Explanation
) –
Sahasrara System

12 Guru
(
Terminology
,
Position
,
Description
,
Explanation
) –
13 Sahasrara
(
Terminology
,
Position
,
Description
,
Explanation
) –
The Chakra Table

12  Location of the Chakras

 

The Vertebral Column

The Cranial Cavity

The Spinal Cord

The Filum Terminale

The Central Canal

The Brain

The Medulla Oblongata

The Pons

The Midbrain

The Interbrain

The Cerebrum

The Ventricular System of the Brain

The Blue Line

The Course of the Sushumna

Ida and Piṅgala

Positions in the Chitrini

Surface and Vertebrocranial Relations

Chakra-location Table

Part 3

Concentration Practices

13  Physical Purification and Vitalization

 

Purification

Internal Cleansing

Diet

Sexual Dynamism

Functions of Food

Food Selection

Muscular Exercise

Pranayamic Breathing

14  Mental Purification and Rejuvenation

 

Discipline

Mental Rejuvenation

15  Posture, Breath-control and Sense-withdrawal

 

The Practice

16  Practice of Dharana

 

The Practice
(
Dharana, First Form
;
Dharana, Second Form
;
Dharana, Third Form
)

17  Practice of Dhyana

 

Dhyana Process

18  Practice of Bhutashuddhi

 

Bhutashuddhi Process

Kundaliniyoga

 

Note on the Pronunciation of Sanskrit Words and Mantras

Glossary

Notes

Bibliography

Index

About the Author

About Inner Traditions

Books of Related Interest

Copyright

Illustrations

 

 

between pages 12 and 13

I

The Author (at the age of 87)

II

Wani

III

Acharyya Karunamoya Saraswati

IV

Master: Sreemat Dwijapada Raya

V

An Ancient Picture of the Chakra System (belonging to the Author’s library)

between pages 144 and 145

1

Muladhara Chakra

2

Deities in Muladhara (A)

3

Deities in Muladhara (B)

4

Swadhishthana Chakra

5

Deities in Swadhishthana (A)

6

Deities in Swadhishthana (B)

7

Manipura Chakra

8

Deities in Manipura (A)

9

Deities in Manipura (B)

10

Hrit Chakra

11

Anahata Chakra

12

Deities in Anahata (A)

13

Deities in Anahata (B)

14

Wishuddha Chakra

15

Deities in Wishuddha (A)

16

Deities in Wishuddha (B)

17

Ajña Chakra

18

Hakini

19

Ajña system

20

Indu Chakra

21

Nirwana Chakra

22

Sahasrara Organization

23

Guru Chakra

24

Sahasrara Chakra (A)

25

Sahasrara Chakra (B)

26

The Ida-Piṅgala Course. (i) Bow Position, (ii) Half-coil Position

27

Location of Chakras in the Chitrini; The Surface—Vertebro-Cranial Relations

28

Concentration

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