The Mysterious Kundalini - Text
The Mysterious Kundalini - Text
The Mysterious Kundalini - Text
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PRESS OPINIONS
The Occult Review, London.— “ Kundalini is a subject of peren-
nial interest to a certain class of occult students. Dr. Rele has
come to the original conclusion that Kundalini is the Vagus
nerve of the human body .... He has made a thorough and
useful study.”
The Two Worlds.— “A book for the earnest student. There
is a glossary of Sanskrit anatomical terms and a bibliography*
which will be of help to the reader.”
The Vedic Magazine,— “The book is worth reading. The author
has ably, and with success, dealt with all subjects which could
in any way help elucidating the theme of Five Pranas, Five
Vayus, Six Chakras, Mudras, Bandhas, and the Eightfold Yoga.”
Yoga The exposition is as suggestive as it is
BY
VASANT G. RELE
F. C. P. S., L. M. & S.
Author of “Bhagavad gita—An Exposition,” and
“The Vedic Gods— As Figures of Biology”, etc.
FOREWORD
BY
Edition.
BOMBAY:
D. B. TARAPOREVALA SONS & CO.
“KITAB MAHAL”: HORNBY ROAD
First Published in
Second Edition, 1939.
Third Revised and Enlarged Edition , 1931.
Copyright
BY
D. B. Taraporevala Sons & Co.
BOMBAY
THE SCIENCE
OF YOGA
OPINION
I have read this work of my old pupil Dr. Vasant G. Rele
fully and faithfully stated. The work has involved much study
and thought and has been carried out with great ability.
But as to this I would premise that we must also deal with the
Yoga Texts to some of which I have referred in my Serpent
of the Author has taken the matter in hand and has thus encour-
aged others to follow or to criticise him. If he has made the dis-
present value is that he has carefully considered the subject and has
make living for us to-day the Scriptural Texts of the past. That
there is more in them than some English educated Indians have
supposed, is the conclusion at which I long ago arrived. Others
besides myself will thank the Author for his devoted labour, the
Oxford
JOHN WOODROFFE
11th January 1927
PREFACE
This book was at first a small paper read before the Bombay
Medical Union in the month of July 1926. My initial aim was
have the paper printed for the benefit of those interested in the
The chief books used as the basis of that paper, are the three
only, and are to be taken as tentative till they are further sub-
suggestions he made.
Farekh Street,
Girgaum, Bombay* V. G. RELE
India.
CONTENTS
Page.
FOREWORD ... IX
PREFACE . ... ... XIII
INTRODUCTION. XXI
Genesis of the Book. Physical development of Desh-
bandhu. The feats of Deshbandhu. The condition
of his heart. Suggestions inadequate to explain the
phenomena. Abnormality emphasised. A Kindred
abnormality. A Yogic feat. Suggested explanation.
Digression.
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter IV.
KUNDALINI, ITS LOCATION AND FUNCTIONS ... 30
Chapter V.
KUNDALINI IDENTIFIED WITH RIGHT VAGUS
NERVE ... 40
Page
Chapter VI.
PANCHA PRANAS AND PANCHA VAYUS 50
The Pancha-Pranas. Udana — Prana —Samana— Apana
—Vyana. Pancba-Pranas physiologically explained.
Location and function of the Paneha-Pranas. Loca-
tion of Udana. Location of Prana. Location of Sama-
na. Location of A pa na. Location of Vyana. Five-Upa-
Chapter VII.
Chapter VIII.
Chapter IX.
ASHTA SIDDHIS 74
Chapter X.
SUMMARY 80
Summary of the Book, Scientific definition of Kundalini
Yoga.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.. ... ... 82
APPENDIX ...... 83
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m i
s #rftg; II
ffenuRT I
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it
*_^x**
r '
Kanda dispensing-
liberation to Yogis and bondage to fools.
Of t W e VRGUS NERVE
( cA«c*xc outvtua)
M*.MH»uRlk CMA.KR*
PUXUH^
, »WHsOMiSTHA,H-<r«*.«RX.
(_«YPOQ/I.StfHCj
PLEXUS.
INTRODUCTION
GENESIS OF THE BOOK. In the year 1926, under the
auspices of The Bombay Medical Union, Deshbandhu
demonstrated certain phenomena, such as the stopping of the
radial and the temporal pulse on both sides at will, and the
stopping of the heartbeats for a few seconds. He also showed
some rare feats of archery, such as the splitting of a hair and a
thread by an arrow shot at them from a distance of 15 to 20 feet.
He broke an iron chain three-eighths of an inch in thickness by
a mere tug of his body at the chain fixed at the other end; one
jerk, and crack went the chain in two pieces. How was that done
was the expression that ran from mouth to mouth at the moment,
and a good many present offered explanations; each in his own
way. Some said it was due to muscle control; others said it was
sheer hypnosis produced in a man who watched the pulse, while
a few others suggested nerve control. The gentleman performing
these feats did it by knowledge of Yogic Science and Pranayama.
Everyone certainly wants to know the actual causation of these
rare phenomena. I think, medical men, knowing as they do both
and intestines, which are normally not under our control, are
had the strength to break a chain by a mere tug of his body. His
voice, too, was not alluring or hypnotising. This power of break-
muscles of the body that counts, but the power behind it. We
call that power, the power of endurance. I need not go deep
into this, but one thing 1 may say, that while western methods
of physical culture pay greater attention to the graceful develop-
very feats under better conditions. The show was given before
what we actually saw and felt, thus affording us the full oppor-
is his feats in controlling the heart and pulse which are of first
panion his left. He was asked to stop his pulse at the right
tarded, and that too, only when the muscles are contracted for a
long time.
is the normal rhythm of the cardiac muscle itself but not of the
heart with the blood flowing through it. The researches of Crile
have proved that the heart muscle can be made to continue its
nervous system. But here the risk to life would be too great.
ment through the blood to all parts of the body? Even the
Yogis, who are far advanced in this science, have not accom-
plished this, though they are able to make all the other organs
fact, perhaps, led the ancients to believe that the embodied Soul
have to keep the pilot light, in the form of the rhythmic move-
ment of the heart, burning to ignite the flame of life again as
glandular organs, etc. These nerves are all out of the question.
It is only a form of control over the sympathetic nervous system,
over which we have normally no control, that can explain all the
Asana is Padmasana i e. 9
a sitting posture with the
left foot is placed on the right thigh and the right foot
on the left thigh; the right hand rests on the right
thigh nearer the knee. The palm is directed upwards
PADMASANA
6 THE MYSTERIOUS KUNDALINI
itself.
only the upper part of the chest and lungs, the nar-
rower part, is moved; simultaneously the diaphragm,
the partition separating the thoracic from the abdomi-
nal cavity, is raised, compressing the lowermost
portion of the lungs thus preventing their expansion
breathing.
*
energy absorbed is more and the power of resistance
YOGA PRACTICES
CONTROL AUTONOMIC NERVOUS
SYSTEM Our voluntary nervous system, even if
the body, and how they may be used for the influenc-
ping of the pulse of one hand only, while the rest of the
YOGA PRACTICES 17
3*
CHAPTER III
clear that these mdis cross each other before their res-
i
ruled by the Shakti Lakhini \ She is said to be four-
6
Kakini\ This Shakti is the efferent impulse generat-
by the pelvic fascia with its folds which lines the inter-
Kanda)
(. blindly in a cul-de-sac at the level of the
point (
Hindu or Para-Shiva ), which is bathed in the
stream of the ambrosia (Cerebro-spinal-fluid) from the
Eternal Bliss (.Brahma-randhra :), and illuminates even
the lowermost cavity of this bodily universe by her
radiance.
respects.
that they run riot and keep the soul in the bondage of
birth.
the Solar plexus and from where the afferent fibres pass
We know that there are two Vagi, the right and the
left, while the Yogic literature refers to one only.
Is it possible that the writers of Yogic science were
7
CHAPTER VI
PANCHA PRANAS
AND PANCHA VAYUS
To understand the process of the ‘awakening of
Kundalini one must have a proper understanding of
’
contents.
we know it.
8
CHAPTER VII
AWAKENING OF KUNDALINI
BY BANDHA PROCESSES
These Pancha-pranas and the currents generated
by them are not normally under the control of the
body is ,
undergoing the effects of his desires enter-
mind-stuff -which is
“ Chitta” in the language of the
BY MUDRA PRACTICES
SHAKTICHALAN MUDRA. There are a good
many Mudras for rousing Kundalini and the easiest of
these Mudras the one to be practised first, is the
,
4<
Shaktichalan Mudra. ” The pose of Siddhasana
having been assumed both the legs are caught hold of
by the hand and made to press firmly on the perineum
where Muladhara-chakra is situated; then as a next
10
CHAPTER IX
ASHTA SIDDHIS
When a Yogi becomes a perfect adept in the control
of Kundalini, the soul is made free from the shackles
of Chitta, Vdsana and Prana; it is then free to move out
from the Brahma-randhra, in which it was kept in
captivity, and occupies a bigger cavity surrounding the
brain and the spinal cord, known as Akasha, and be-
comes absorbed in the Infinite Intelligence from
which it emanated. The Yogi, when in this state of
Siddhi or perfection.
Satyabhama.
palace?
Guda— Anus.
Gulpha— Ankle joint.
and join the lingas on the spinal cord, Pashyanti has its
Medhra— Penis.
Merudanda— Spinal column.
Manipura-Chakra- Plexus of the coeliac-axis, solar-plexus.
M uladhara — Sacrum.
M ula-Kanda — Sacrum
Nabhi— Navel,
Nadi— Nerve.
Pancha-Prana— Five subsidiary nerve centres in the spinal column.
They are Prana, Apana, Samana, Udana and Vyana.
Para-Shiva— Chief phallus where Kundalini is said to merge.
This is the olivary body in the Medulla by the side of which
the vagus nerve takes its origin,
nerves.
BY
Dr. Rele, with his clear insight into the teachings of the
Gita on the Psycho-analytic basis, gives a lucid and succinct
account of the various passages which unfold a true and origi-
nal interpretation of some of the verses that had long remained
unintelligible.
PRESS OPINIONS ON
BHAGAVAD-GITA
The Occult Review ,
(London):— “ Mr. Rele’s volume is a most
serious, learned, valid and illuminating one, the fruit of the
deep research of a scholar and a poet. To read the Gita,
accompanied by Mr. Rele’s exposition is a spiritual experience
*far above rubies’.”
The Light (London):— “Dr. Rele presents a new aspect
based on the Yoga philosophy of the Hindus, combined with the
modern Psychological science of the West.”
The Indian Daily Mail:— “An outstanding monument of
original thought for all time to come.”
The Mahratta:— “Able and convincing interpretation.
Deserves the careful study of scientists and philosophers.”
AUTHOR OF
The “Mysterious Kundalini” and “Bhagawad-Gita—
an Exposition on basis of Psycho-philosophy and Psycho-analysis,*’
FOREWORDS BY
E. J» THOMAS, M. A., d. litt., and Y. G. NADGIR, u. S.
......The Vedic studies were still far from the goal.. ...The
etymological theories on which many of Max Muller’s results
were based and his Aryan theory have been swept away, but his
Vedic theories are still a mirage for English-speaking students.
the book are accurate and one feels as one follows his account of
the Vedic Gods, how very modern the knowledge of the nervous
system as shown by the Vedic seers is.
There is no doubt that his theory will take the learned world
lucid and pleasing. He certainly does not fail to provoke thought and he
can write very interestingly indeed.”
**
Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society:— Dr. Eele has placed ail
Vedic students and scholars under a debt of gratitude to him for pointing
out a new field for further exploration into Vedic lore.”
The Bombay Chronicle :— It is really a bold theory The book
il