Concealed Immensity

I stumbled upon the concept of Chakras back in 2013. I was in the United States at that time. So, we have 7 Chakras starting from Muladhara (Root Chakra) to Sahasraar (the Thousand Petalled Lotus), which are part of a subtle body (we primarily have 3 bodies – physical, subtle and causal). I indulged in Chakra Yoga of Carol Tuttle, in the wake of opening my chakras. I was pretty sure I had them closed or dysfunctional. Later on I came to know that in total we have 114/112 chakras, out of which for 6/4 we cannot do anything. That’s why mantras are suggested to be chanted for 108 times. 

I stumbled upon a Yoga Guru at New Vrindaban in West Virginia. I directly asked him how to open one’s chakras. He seemed to be in a hurry – he said – chant Hare Krishna mahamantra. I was not expecting this answer, so I was left astounded. I have written about that adventure in West Virginia in 4 posts. 

Shri Krishna’s Abode…1

Shri Krishna’s Abode…2

Shri Krishna’s Abode…3

Shri Krishna’s Abode…4

So, even though I did not believe him at that time, I believe him now. Chanting Hare Krishna mahamantra is definitely one of the ways to open up all chakras and have your Kundalini rise. I could not find much on Kundalini after that till May 2017. And then I ordered “Kundalini an untold story” by Guruji (Om Swami) from Amazon.in. Within a few days it was in my hands. 

The book has 2 parts:

1. The Origin of Kundalini Meditation
2. Master the Seven Chakras

Below are some excerpts from the book:

1. Awakening of the kundalini is reaching your innermost state of bliss and joy, This state is covered with ten layers – desire, anger, greed, attachment, ego, passion, jealousy, hatred, fear & self-concern. As you elevate spiritually, you start shedding these layers. (xiv)
2. Kundalini is your primal energy, the creative force that wakes you up to your own greatness. Like pearls at the bottom of an ocean, it lying curled up at the base of your spine. (39)
3. Here’s the thing with external challenges: the more you turn inwards, the less they matter. (51)
4. We find it hard to believe that everything is temporary. We want our joys, pleasures and attainments to be eternal. We don’t want to lose our loved ones and if we could, we would have them by our side always. The desire to hold on, to not let go, whatever we have acquired is one of the strongest desires. (59) 
5. As you walk on the path of awakening, you begin to see how everything in our universe is interdependent and interconnected, with no exceptions. (91)

See the point point 4 above. It struck me hard that same year, when my dad left his body in Oct 2017. 

The second part of the book covers shlokas from the Lalita Sahasranama (1000 names of Divine Mother), corresponding to the individual chakras, explaining the literal and esoteric meaning of the shlokas. 

With just ~175 pages and 14 chapters, the book is fairly detailed for novices like me. The book is written in a lucid manner & is an easy read. If you are perspicacious to learn more about Chakras & Kundalini, it is highly recommended book. The book is dedicated to the Divine in You! 

The book mentions a special mantra at the beginning. Its meaning I have put below:

From the moment I wake up at dawn till dusk  and from dusk till dawn , O Mother Divine, everything I do is an act of your worship.

Later I found similar text addressing Lord Shiva – as part of Shiva Manas Puja (Shloka 4), which was written originally by Adi Shankaracharya. 

आत्मा त्वं गिरिजा मतिः सहचराः प्राणाः शरीरं गृहं। पूजा ते विषयोपभोगरचना निद्रा समाधिस्थितिः॥

संचारः पदयोः प्रदक्षिणविधिः स्तोत्राणि सर्वा गिरो। यद्यत्कर्म करोमि तत्तदखिलं शम्भो तवाराधनम्‌॥4॥

Meaning:

You are the soul, O Lord of the Mountain-born,

The bodies pranas are Your attendants, the body Your home;

The sequence of enjoyment of sensory objects is

Your worship, and sleep Your samadhi,

All my movement is your circumambulation,

All praise is Your hymns;

Whatever karmas I may perform, O Bestower of Happiness,

I offer them all, without exception, to you as my worship

I also found similar text for Lord Krishna – in Sri Narayaneeyam (91.2), which was written by 16th century sage from Kerala – Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri. The book is a condensed version of Srimad Bhagwatam Mahapuran. It narrates the stories about incarnations of Lord Vishnu, with a special focus on Lord Krishna!

Meaning:

O divine God, due to the directions given by your power which is inside me,
All the acts that I do again and again either by my body or by my mind or by my words,
Are offered by me now to you and even though your devotee belongs to a lowly caste,
When he surrenders his mind, acts , words, sense organs, sensations due to them,
And his soul to you , he makes this world great and very much blessed,
But a Brahmin who is indifferent to your feet does not become blessed.

In all three texts we are dedicating our work and activities to the Divine – in 3 different forms. Not exactly dedication, but loosing the identification with the activities being done. Loosing the identification with one’s ego, stating that I am not doing anything for my little self – ego, but for the bigger Self – of the entire Universe! Profound! And Lord Krishna has also advised us (through Arjuna) thus in BG 9.27:

यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत् |
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम् || 27||

Meaning:

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer as oblation to the sacred fire, whatever you bestow as a gift, and whatever austerities you perform, O son of Kunti, do them as an offering to Me.