kundalini

Kundalini refers to a form of primal spiritual energy described in Indian religious and yogic traditions. The term is often translated as “coiled one” or “coiled serpent” and is said to reside at the base of the spine, in the muladhara chakra. In traditional accounts, this energy is dormant until awakened through disciplined practice.

When awakened, kundalini is believed to rise along the central energy channel, the sushumna, passing through a sequence of energy centers known as chakras: muladhara, svadhisthana, manipura, anahata, vishuddha, ajna, and sahasrara. The ascent is said to culminate in union with higher consciousness, liberation, or enlightenment.

Practices associated with awakening include various forms of yoga, especially kundalini yoga, breath control (pranayama), meditation, mantra repetition, and visualization. The concept also appears in other yoga and tantric lineages, with historical roots in early Upanishads and later hatha and tantra texts; the Nath tradition in particular popularized systematic approaches to awakening.

Interpretations differ: many scholars view kundalini as a symbolic or psychological model for inner transformation, while some practitioners affirm a literal energic ascent. Assertions about guaranteed outcomes vary, and without proper guidance, awakening experiences can be intense and sometimes distressing, leading some teachers to emphasize conditioning, ethical preparation, and gradual progression.

In modern discourse, kundalini has become a widely discussed topic in spirituality and popular wellness, though it remains contested within academic and religious communities. It is not a scientific concept, and evidence for physical energy pathways is not established in medical science; experiences reported are largely subjective.