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