Adi Shakti, Namo, Namo
Sarab a Shakti, Namo, Namo
Prithum Bhagvatee Namo Namo
Kundalini Mata Shakti, Namo, Namo
Translation (Note: like most mantras, the cosmic breadth of the ancient language gets
diluted in English. Also, “Namo” means “Salutations/Greetings” or “I Call Upon” and
also “I Bow,” depending on the practitioner’s intention, and thus can express plaintive
need or ecstatic devotion).
Primal She-Power, Salutations to Thee!
All-Encompassing She-Power, Salutations to Thee!
That through which Divine Creates, Salutations to Thee!
Creative Power of the Kundalini, Mother of all Mother Power, Salutations!
Asana (Posture): Cross-legged, feet tucked under near knees for a firm foundation,
with straight spine, pelvis tilted forward. Modification for beginners: use a small
cushion under your tailbone, or a full pillow, as needed. Simple cross-legged pose,
when properly practiced, actually works the pelvic floor, facilitates womb alignment,
stretches the inner thigh muscles, and brings circulation to the hip joints.
Eyes: Open and focused on the tip of the nose (Agiaa Chakra Bandh), the Lotus Point
meditation. This controls the mind, which is locked in a triangle. When the optic
nerve concentrates at the tip of the noose, the energies of the spinal column (the
ida, pingala, and shusmana) get to a center of balance. New energy pathways are
created in the brain patterns.
Hand Mudra: Elbows, forearms, and hands are at the level of your breast line. The
right palm rests on the back of your left hand. Hold the mudra 3-5 inches from your
chest. This empowers the radiance of the second arc line halo that goes between
the nipples in women (men don’t have one) and facilitates lymphatic drainage
(especially if you are not bound by a bra).
Mantra: In Yoga we chant only with the tip of your tongue to stimulate neuronimpulses – it sounds absolutely different. The last line involves a pause before thesecond pronunciation of the ‘Ma’ syllable (the oldest known syllable in human language) – this is a very powerful built-in silent reverberation effect that connectsthe practitioner deeper to the heart of the experience of calling out to the Divine
Mother.
Time: Practice for 5 minutes, loosely clothed. Practice daily in pregnancy. Can also
be practiced daily for heart-womb connection, emotional rejuvenation, breast self-
care, and conscious fertility, up to 11 minutes in basic meditation pose, hands resting
on knees in gyan mudra, arms straight, eyes closed. Be sure to spend at least 5
minutes in corpse pose (savasana) immediately afterwards, letting the mantra
reverberate within. Close your meditation session with 3 long Sat Nams.
“Merge in the Maha Shakti. This is enough to take away your misfortune.
This will carve out of you a woman. Woman needs her own Shakti, not
anybody else will do it… When a woman chants the Kundalini Bhakti mantra,
God clears the way. This is not a religion, it is a reality. Woman is not born
to suffer, and woman needs her own power.”
“When India and Indian women knew this mantra, it dwelt in the land of
milk and honey.”
~ Yogi Bhajan
The article above gives a quotation from Yogi Bhajan and reference which I could hardly believe came from the mouth of a person who called himself a Sikh of the Guru. True Sikhs bow to no other than the Siri Guru Granth Sahib!
I am an American Sikh who studied with Yogi Bhajan for 30 years. I want to introduce you to a free e-book “Sikhism and Tantric Yoga”; a rare and out of print book by a Sikh scholar and historian which takes a critical look at Yogi Bhajan’s kundalini and tantric yoga systems. I discovered this book during my two years in India.“Sikhism and Tantric Yoga” has been a real eye-opener for me and makes complete sense when I think about the last thirty years of my life with Yogi Bhajan. Written by the esteemed Dr. Trilochan Singh, author of over twenty books on Sikh history and philosophy and lecturer at sixteen Universities, “Sikhism and Tantric Yoga”, describes the Sikh mystical path and is critical of Yogi Bhajan’s Tantra and Kundalini Yoga.
I have included here a sample of one chapter and the entire book can be downloaded for free at: Gurmukhyoga.com
What I learned in India about the Sikh Mystic Path
By Guru’s grace, while being detained by authorities in India, I lived for almost one year at the Golden Temple. After visiting Guru Sahib at the Harmandir Sahib everyday, singing the divine Gurbani Kirtan and contemplating God’s Name, the Guru showed me, how all the Yogic asanas I performed over the last 30 years were a complete waste of time and cannot match to 1 percent of the devotional contemplation on the Name of God.
“In contrast to Patanjali’s Yoga, and other schools of Hindu Yoga (Hatha, Tantric, Laya, Kundalini, etc.), the Sikh Gurus call Sikh mystic path, Brahm Yoga (the Yoga which does not use any yogic technique but concentrates on God and achieves Him through devotion and contemplation). It is also called Gurmukh Yoga (Yoga of the Enlightened), Sahajya Yoga (Natural Yoga based on spontaneous devotion and contemplation). The word Yoga is used just to mean union with God.” Dr. Trilochan Singh.
II
Eight Steps of Sikh Mystical Path
…….Thus Guru Nanak clearly rejects the eight steps of spiritual progress as enunciated by Patanjali and replaces them with ethical and spiritual discipline of his own. The Sikh scriptures also clearly reject asanas (physical postures), pranayama (breath control), nauU-dhautz (cleaning the intestine with a piece of cloth inserted in the mouth and taken out through the anus). Those followers of Yogi Bhajan who frequently quote him as saying that the Scriptures of the Sikhs sanction all these Yoga practices, voice only his glaring ignorance of Sikh scriptures. I have not known any saint or seer in contemporary or past Sikh history who ever practiced these Yoga asanas. But all saints and all scholars have firmly called these and more so Tantric practices as directly opposed to Sikh doctrines. The following quotations, from Adi Granth make it clear that there is no place for Yoga practices in Sikhism:
If a man learns all yogic asanas of perfect adepts, If he controls and subdues his senses through such feats;
Even then impurity and dirt of his mind cannot be removed.
The filth of egoism will not depart from the heart. The human mind cannot be cleaned and made pure, By any yogic discipline and restraint. It can be made pure and controlled only by seeking, Through love the sanctuary of the true Enlightener.
Adi Granth, Guru Amar Das, Vadhans p 558
For me the only asana (posture) worthwhile is to fix steadfastly the mind on the Vision of God and let the heart and soul be absorbed in such a spiritual condition of transcendent revelation as to continuously reflect on His Presence and listen to the enchanting melody of Unstruck Music (Anhad Shabad)
(a) Savikalp Samadhi (ecstasy within the realm of consciousness): to be absorbed in the meaning and philosophical and mystical contents of the Divine Word is Savikalp a samadhi. (b) Nirvikalpa Samadhi (ecstasy of the Transcendent vision of God): to be absorbed in the Spirit and Essence of the Divine Word is Nirvikalpa samadhi.
If one does the nauli dhauti karma (of cleaning the intestine with a piece of cloth), and becomes adept in eighty-four asanas, and yogic exercises, he cannot attain any peace of mind by these yogic techniques. Let him do such Japa or Tapa through such techniques for years and years and wander about in search of perfection, he will not attain genuine inner peace even for a moment.
A. G. Guru Arjan, Majh, p 98
“True Sikhs bow to no other than the Siri Guru Granth Sahib!”
Dear friend, I will personally bow to any man who will bow to all things and all beings. A man who sees all as worthy of love and humility is a man of divine heart.
Even the Dalai Llama states “my religion is kindness.” Why be a Christian when you can be a Christ? Why be a Buddhist when you can be a Buddha? Those who know realize that scripture is helpful, but not an end unto itself.
Before Nanak there was no Guru Granth Sahib, but did not the Truth exist before him? Therefore, how can the GGS be the only scripture worth “bowing” to? I have learned much from trees, and birds, and rocks, gurus and even criminals. It is through steadfast consciousness and awareness that enlightenment is attained. Even the blissful states attained while reciting Gurbani are only temporary until the final breakthrough in enlightened consciousness is attained.
Yoga alone will not lead to enlightenment – even Yogi Bhajan attested to this. As I teach my students, use yoga only to create a fertile soil in which to plant the bij (the seed) of perfect love. Having a healthy body and a mind free of stress certainly allows one to focus more energy on attaining liberation…so why condemn a healthy lifestyle? It would be like saying “why do you want to eat nourishing food when all you need to do is read Guru Granth Sahib?”
Thank you very much for sharing the interesting article.
Interesting discussion ~ I just wanted to say how I admire the grace of your response, Sevara ~ I know without words how I am uplifted in yoga through the lighted path ~ With divine love ~ Coralina ~
Yoga is wonderful!…My physical practice of yoga has become a gateway into a spiritual exploration, this, in turn, has provided me the tools to seek my own inner bliss. Daily yoga practice has created a balance of mind and body within me through developing strength and flexibility. It only stands to reason that when one feels great physically, it allows one the freedom to focus on one’s spiritual health as well. Letting go of the ego and accepting that no one is better than anyone else is one of the most liberating things about yoga. I’d also like to add that my religion is of love and kindness and ‘acceptance’ (not rejection) of others. My gratitude to Sevara for being of open mind and providing unbiased information regarding; health/wellness, current world issues, environmental issues and providing spiritual tools. On this site we share yoga, musical inspiration, life experiences, and friendship. It’s truly wonderful how Johannes/Sevara/Seva Singh, has opened the Divine Earth website to all who demonstrate love, kindness and respect to all people, animals, mother earth and all the beautiful treasures of the universe. Differences of opinion are welcome, and we bow to no ‘particular’ scripture…blessings, Gitana
THis Adi shakti chant is only for girls and womens only. If the boy or male person will medidate this adi shakti chant so is there any problem.