The Spiral of Life

Kundalini can be defined as she who is coiled and refers to the energy in human beings.  Kundalini power remains inactive and awakens when attachment to the  physical body starts to dissipate, when there is balance; it  is the energy which Yoga (union) is achieved.

Nadis are subtle energy channels located throughout the body, numbering at over 72 000. There are 3 main central channels: sushumna(astral spine) , ida and pingala. Sushumna is the central channel, running  from the base of the spine,  the root chakra, up   to the top of the head,  the crown chakra. Kundalini is  often portrayed as a  serpant, coiling  around svayambhu lingam (resting place of Kundalini) in the base of the root chakra  flowing  through sushumna.

Prana , life force, flows through ida and pingala. Ida, associated with the moon and female energy, starts on the left side of sushumna and pinagla, associated with the sun and male energy,  starts on the right side of sushumna. They spiral on the outside of and around sushumna, intertwining  with each other around  each chakra.  When the nadis reach the head, at mastaka granthi (head knot at the base of the skull), pingala  travels through the left and ida through the right of the head , meeting at agna chakra (3rd eye). Ida then exits through the left nostril and Pingala through the right nostril.

When Kundalini is not awakened, energy flows through ida and pingala alternatively. When life force flowing through ida and pingala are  balanced, Kundalini is awakened and  prana enters sushumna.