Many yoga teachers know Kundalini as an energy practice, but few explore its roots in Tantra- the philosophy that connects creation with consciousness.
Tantra and Kundalini Yoga are two ancient paths that explain how consciousness and energy work together in life. Tantra offers understanding, while Kundalini Yoga provides the direct experience of that truth.
In Tantric philosophy, life is seen as the play of two inseparable forces; Shiva, the still awareness, and Shakti, the creative power. From their union arises everything in existence, from subtle thought to solid matter.
When Shakti unfolds from the stillness of Shiva, it creates layers of reality known as tattvas – moving from pure consciousness to the physical world. This movement is called the descent of energy, where the unseen becomes visible as matter.
Kundalini Yoga describes the same journey in reverse the return of energy from matter to spirit. The divine power that created the universe lies dormant at the base of the spine as Kundalini Shakti. When awakened and guided upward through the chakras, it dissolves inner limitations and awakens higher awareness.
Together, Tantra and Kundalini Yoga reveal the full circle of existence, from unity to diversity, and back to unity again.
Tantra and the concept of creation
In Tantra, creation is not a one-time event but a continuous unfolding of consciousness into energy. At its core are Shiva and Shakti the still and the dynamic aspects of one reality. When Shakti stirs within Shiva’s stillness, creation begins to take form.
From this first movement arise thirty-six tattvas, or principles of existence. They show how pure awareness transforms step by step into the physical world. The final stage of this descent is Prithvi Tattva, the earth element where spirit becomes matter.
This process is known as the descent of energy. Yet even as energy takes form, it never loses its divine essence. The same consciousness that created the cosmos also lives within each person. Recognising this truth is the foundation of all Tantric practice.
Also Read: Concept of Creation in Tantra
The reverse journey: involution and spiritual evolution
Kundalini Yoga teaches the reverse of creation- a process called involution, or the return of energy to its source. This inward movement is not about escape but about rediscovering the divine within.
In yoga, this is known as Bhūta Shuddhi, the purification of the five elements: earth (Prithvi), water (Apas), fire (Agni), air (Vayu), and space (Akasha).
Through breath, meditation, and awareness, these elements are harmonised and absorbed back into one another from the dense to the subtle- until only consciousness remains.
This inner purification is the true meaning of spiritual evolution. As energy rises, the senses withdraw inward, the mind becomes still, and awareness expands. The yogi experiences the same energy that once descended as creation now moving upward as liberation.
Also Read: Bhuta Shuddhi – Yogic Process to Purification of Five Elements
Understanding kundalini: meaning and symbolism
The word Kundalini comes from kundal, meaning coil. It refers to the coiled spiritual energy resting at the base of the spine, in the Root Chakra. This energy is Shakti in her potential form the dormant power of creation within the human being.
Even while dormant, Kundalini sustains life by releasing a gentle flow of prāṇa, the life force. When awakened, she rises through the Sushumna Nadi, the central channel, activating each chakra and transforming awareness at every level.
Kundalini is revered as the Divine Mother, the creative power of Shiva. Her awakening is not just an energetic experience but a spiritual rebirth the return of energy to its source, the meeting of Shakti and Shiva within.
Also Read: Nadis and Chakras: Working Mechanism of Subtle Body
The symbol of the coiled serpent
Kundalini is often shown as a serpent coiled three and a half times at the base of the spine. This is a symbol of potential energy, resting yet ready to awaken.
The three coils represent the three gunas, or qualities of nature:
- Sattva — balance, clarity, and peace
- Rajas — activity, passion, and movement
- Tamas — inertia, heaviness, and ignorance
The half coil represents the spark of consciousness beyond these three the awareness that leads to freedom.
This imagery also reflects the three states of consciousness– waking, dreaming, and deep sleep — with the half coil symbolising the fourth state, Turīya, or pure awareness.
When Kundalini awakens, she lifts us beyond the limits of the mind into this fourth state the still light of self-awareness. The serpent thus symbolises transformation, wisdom, and the rise of inner power.
Also Read: The Symbolism and Power of the Serpent in Kundalini Yoga
The flow of energy: ida, pingala, and sushumna
According to yogic philosophy, the awakening of Kundalini depends on the balance of energy moving through three subtle channels in the body, called nāḍīs. These nāḍīs are the invisible pathways through which prāṇa the life force flows and sustains both body and mind.
Just as rivers carry water across the earth, the nāḍīs carry energy through the inner landscape of consciousness. Among the thousands of energy channels, three are said to be most important: Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna. Together, they create the foundation for pranic balance and spiritual awakening.
Ida Nadi – The Lunar Channel
Ida Nadi runs along the left side of the spine. It is connected with the moon’s cooling and calming energy and governs the mental and emotional nature of our being. When Ida is active, it encourages introspection, stillness, and sensitivity.
In yogic symbolism, Ida is linked with the Ganga River, representing purity, intuition, and flow. A person dominated by Ida energy tends to be gentle, reflective, and inward-focused.
Pingala Nadi – The Solar Channel
Pingala Nadi flows along the right side of the spine. It carries the sun’s warming and activating energy, supporting vitality, strength, and outward expression. When Pingala is dominant, the mind becomes alert, the body feels energised, and action arises naturally.
Pingala is symbolically connected to the Yamuna River, representing movement, dynamism, and the creative fire of life.
Sushumna Nadi – The Central Channel
Sushumna Nadi flows through the centre of the spine, connecting the Mūlādhāra Chakra at the base with the Sahasrara Chakra at the crown of the head. This channel represents spiritual awareness and serves as the pathway for Kundalini Shakti to ascend.
When Ida and Pingala are unbalanced, Sushumna remains dormant. But once these two currents flow in harmony, prāṇa naturally enters Sushumna, allowing the inner energy to rise. This balanced state is the true essence of Haṭha Yoga — “Ha” meaning the sun and “Tha” meaning the moon. Haṭha Yoga aims to unite these two forces so the central channel can awaken.
In yogic symbolism, the meeting point of the three nāḍīs Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna is called Triveṇī Saṅgam, the sacred confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. Just as these rivers merge in harmony, the balance of pranic currents within us awakens a deeper spiritual flow.
When prāṇa begins to move freely through Sushumna, the breath becomes quiet, the mind turns inward, and meditation deepens naturally. This is the first movement of Kundalini Shakti — the moment when inner energy begins its upward journey, leading towards awakening and expanded consciousness.
The union of sun and moon: the meaning of hatha Yoga
Image Source: fitsri
The word Haṭha Yoga comes from two Sanskrit sounds Ha, meaning sun, and Tha, meaning moon. These two forces represent the dual energies that shape both the universe and the human body.
The sun symbolises Pingala Nadi, the channel of warmth, vitality, and action. The moon symbolises Ida Nadi, the channel of coolness, calmness, and reflection. These two currents are constantly flowing within us, shaping the rhythm of body and...