Within the rich wisdom of Sanatana Dharma lies a powerful set of spiritual practices that guide the seeker beyond the physical body into subtler realms of being.
Kriya Yoga, Kundalini Jagran (awakening), and Astral Travel are not fringe topics; they are ancient sciences explored by yogis and rishis who mapped the cosmos within.
This blog will explore these sacred practices as per the Vedic and yogic traditions, expanding the understanding of consciousness and dimensions of reality.
Kriya Yoga: The Science of Breath and Stillness
Kriya Yoga is an advanced spiritual discipline popularized by Mahavatar Babaji and his disciple Lahiri Mahasaya, and later brought to the West by Paramahansa Yogananda. Rooted in the ancient Upanishadic and Tantric traditions, Kriya Yoga is not merely a physical exercise but a powerful system that harmonizes breath (prana), mind (manas), and soul (atman).
“Kriya Yoga is the aeroplane route to God.” – Paramahansa Yogananda
Core Components of Kriya Yoga:
- Pranayama: Control of breath to stabilize the mind and awaken the subtle body.
- Dhyana (Meditation): Internal stillness to access higher states of awareness.
- Mantra Japa: Repetition of seed sounds (e.g., So-Ham, Om) to align with cosmic vibration.
The practice of Kriya accelerates spiritual evolution by burning karmic seeds through intensified pranic flow and directing consciousness to the spine and brain.
Kundalini Jagran: Awakening the Inner Serpent
In the Vedic view, Kundalini is the dormant divine energy coiled three-and-a-half times at the base of the spine (Muladhara chakra). Awakening this energy means unlocking infinite creative and spiritual power. Kundalini is not a metaphor—it is Shakti, the creative force of the universe within us.
Stages of Awakening:
- Initial stirring (tingling, vibrations in the spine)
- Activation of chakras (emotional, physical, and psychic shifts)
- Unification at the Sahasrara (bliss, samadhi, ego dissolution)
Chakra Activation Signs:
| Chakra | Element | Awakening Signs |
|---|---|---|
| Muladhara | Earth | Leg tingling, primal fears surface |
| Swadhisthana | Water | Emotional releases, sexual energy flow |
| Manipura | Fire | Digestion fire, ego confrontations |
| Anahata | Air | Heart pressure, unconditional love/grief |
| Vishuddha | Ether | Throat tension, inner humming |
| Ajna | Light | Intuition, visions, subtle perception |
| Sahasrara | Divine | Bliss, cosmic unity, timelessness |
Kundalini Mantras:
- Om Namah Shivaya: For purification
- Aim Hreem Kleem: To invoke divine Shakti
- So-Ham / Hamsa: To align with the breath and soul
Without a guru, awakening Kundalini is like setting fire to a house without exits.
Always seek guidance from an experienced teacher or lineage to undertake this path safely.
Astral Travel and Out-of-Body Experience (OBE)
As per the Vedas and Upanishads, the human being is not limited to the physical body (Annamaya Kosha), but exists in multiple layers or koshas, including the Pranamaya, Manomaya, and Vijnanamaya Koshas. Astral Travel occurs when the subtle body detaches from the gross body and navigates the antariksha (inner space).
Scriptural Basis:
- Yoga Vashishtha: Describes travel across lokas using the mind.
- Garuda Purana: Describes the soul’s journey post-death, similar to OBE.
- Mandukya Upanishad: Four states of consciousness—wakefulness, dream, deep sleep, and turiya (pure awareness).
Techniques to Induce Astral Travel:
- Deep yogic meditation with Trataka (candle gazing)
- Conscious sleep states (Yoga Nidra)
- Breath control and focus on the Ajna chakra
“The astral world is the blueprint; this world is the shadow.” – Swami Sri Yukteswar
Role of the Guru and Lineage
In all these practices, initiation (diksha) is paramount. The Guru, who has walked the inner path, helps the disciple cross the thresholds safely. The traditions of Tantra, Kriya, and Kundalini are not DIY experiments; they are alchemical transmissions.
Protection and Grounding After Spiritual Practices
After deep meditative or energetic work:
- Drink warm water
- Eat grounding sattvic food
- Chant protection mantras (Gayatri Mantra)
- Touch the earth (walk barefoot, do gardening)
These keep the prana grounded and prevent psychic imbalance.
Practical Analogies for Modern Readers
- Kundalini: Like a coiled WiFi antenna inside your spine—once activated, it receives divine signal.
- Chakras: Subtle energy routers, each broadcasting a frequency of consciousness.
- Astral Travel: Like lucid dreaming, but conscious and intentional.
Final Reflection
These practices are not escapes from reality but tools to experience Reality as it is—limitless, layered, and divine. When practiced with purity, humility, and guidance, they unveil the eternal self within.
“The journey is not upward or outward — it is inward and infinite. May you walk the inner sky with grace, guided by breath and boundless Self.”
Suggested Reading
- Shiva Samhita
- Hatha Yoga Pradipika
- Yoga Vashishtha
- Autobiography of a Yogi
- Mandukya Upanishad
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