Nauli Kriya is intended for regenerating, invigorating and stimulating the abdominal viscera and the gastro-intestinal or alimentary system. For the practice of Nauli you should know the Uddiyana Bandha. Uddiyana can be done even in a sitting posture; but Nauli is generally done while standing.

Excerpt from the book Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Nauli Kriya: Nauli Kriya and Kundalini Yoga

Definition of The Peacock Pose (Mayurasana): Balancing with your body parallel to the ground.

Read more here: » Yoga Poses: The Peacock Pose - Yoga Position

This is another relaxation yoga pose, and is practised before the Headstand and some other asanas.

Read more here: » Yoga Poses: The Child's Pose - Yoga Pose

Forward & Down yoga pose is similar to the Forward Bend, but here gravity helps to stretch your body down.

Read more here: » Yoga Poses: Forward Down - Yoga Position

The analysis of dreams and their cause by psychoanalysts are defective. They maintain that the cause of dream creation lies in the suppressed desires of the dreamer. Can they create dreams as they like by suppressing desires? No, they cannot do that. They say that desires stimulate or help the dream creation. But they do not know what supplies the material out of which they are made and what turns the desires into actual expression, enabling the dreamer see his own suppressed desires materialised and appearing to him as real.

A spiritual view on dreams and the meaning of dreams by Sri Swami Sivananda, an authority in the vedic sciences and traditions.

Read more here: » Philosophy of Dreams: Introduction to Philosophy of Dreams by Sri Swami Sivananda

Mystic Experience - Visions Of Lights

Various kinds of lights manifest during meditation owing to deep concentration. In the beginning a bright, white light, the size of a pin's point will appear in the forehead at the space between the two eyebrows which corresponds tentatively to the Ajna Chakra.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Meditation: Mystic Experience in Meditation - Visions Of Lights

Karma Yoga is selfless service unto humanity. The important point is to serve humanity without any attachment or egoism. The central teaching of the Gita is non-attachment to work. Lord Krishna says: "Work incessantly. Your duty is to work but not expect the fruits thereof."

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Karma Yoga: Gist of Karma Yoga

Perfection In Yoga

A Yogi can switch his life-currents, to and from the senses. He takes the Prana and the mind to the Sahasrara or the thousand-petalled lotus at the crown of the head. He enters into Samadhi. He is dead to the world. He experiences superconsciousness or Nirvikalpa Samadhi. He is in blissful union with the Lord.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga: Perfection In Yoga

Vajroli Mudra

The object of Vajroli Mudra is to be perfectly established in Brahmacharya. When aspirants practise this Mudra, they unconsciously divert their mind to sexual centres and thereby they cannot get any success. When you see the description of this Mudra, you will clearly understand that strict Brahmacharya is absolutely necessary

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Vajroli Mudra: Practice of Vajroli Mudra

Yoni Mudra

You must be perfectly established in Brahmacharya if you want sure success. "Devanamapi durlabha"-very difficult to be obtained even by Devas. Therefore realise the importance of this Mudra and practise it very cautiously. Vajroli Mudra also is called Yoni Mudra.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoni Mudra: Practice of Yoni Mudra

The Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad presents methods for the control of Prana. The Yogic student does not deal with Vasanas. He concerns himself with the techniques of controlling the Prana.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad: Introduction to Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad

Khechari Mudra

'Kha' means Akasa and 'Chari' means to move. The Yogi moves in the Akasa. The tongue and the mind remain in the Akasa. Hence this is known as Khechari Mudra.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Khechari Mudra: Practice of Khechari Mudra

The Three Bandhas

35. The Yogic student should now practise the three Bandhas. The three Bandhas are: the Mula Bandha, the Uddiyana Bandha and the Jalandhara Bandha.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad: The Three Bandhas

Four Asanas are prescribed for the purpose of Japa and meditation. They are Padmasana, Siddhasana, Svastikasana and Sukhasana. You must be able to sit in any one of these four Asanas at a stretch for full three hours without shaking the body. Then only you will get Asana-Jaya, mastery over the Asana. Without securing a steady Asana, you cannot further get on well in meditation. The steadier you are in your Asana, the more you will be able to concentrate and make your mind one-pointed. If you can be steady in the posture even for one hour, you will be able to acquire one-pointed mind and feel thereby infinite peace and Atmic Ananda.

Excerpt from the book Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Asanas: Importance Of Asanas

Yoga is the art of uniting the individual soul with the Supreme Soul, of uniting the Kundalini Sakti lying dormant in the Muladhara Chakra with Siva in the Sahasrara Chakra. By convention, all practices that help the attainment of this goal are also called Yoga.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga: Yoga And Its Consummation

The Tongue Reaches The Brahmarandhra

32. O Sage, again by daily drawing it up for six months, it comes as far as the middle of the eyebrows and obliquely up to the opening of the ears. By gradual practice, it goes up to the root of the chin.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad: The Tongue Reaches The Brahmarandhra

Hatha Yoga also builds up its philosophy around this Kundalini and the methods adopted in it are different from Tantrik Sadhana. Hatha Yoga seeks to awaken this Kundalini through the discipline of the physical body, purification of Nadis and controlling the Prana.

Read more here: » Kundalini: Hatha Yoga and Kundalini

The Six Chakras

9. There are six chakras. Muladhara is in the anus. Svadhishthana is near the genital organ. Manipuraka is in the navel. Anahata is in the heart. The Vishuddhi Chakra is at the root of the neck. The sixth Chakra, the Ajna is in the head (between the two eyebrows).

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad: The Six Chakras

Swami Sivananda: (Sanskrit) One of Hinduism's most influential modern-day saints (1887-1963). He was born in South India, practiced medicine in Malaysia, published a medical journal, became administrator of a hospital and later renounced the world.

He was initiated by Swami Vishvananda Sarasvati at Rishikesh in 1924, and founded the Divine Life Society in 1939, which has branches in many countries today. He has been a powerful force in spreading Hindu teachings in India and abroad through his many books and the travels of his numerous swamis. Emphasized hatha yoga and raja yoga and a broad, universal form of Hinduism.

(See also: Swami Sivananda , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Sivananda Yoga Dictionary

Viparitakarani Mudra

The Yogin who practises this for three hours daily conquers death. As the gastric fire is increased, those who practise this Mudra for a long time should take some light refreshment such as milk, etc., as soon as the Kriya is over. Sirshasana posture also is called Viparitakarani Mudra.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Viparitakarani Mudra: Practice of Viparitakarani Mudra

Theory of Evolution and Involution: The Sankhya adopts the theory of evolution and involution. The cause and effect are the undeveloped and developed states of one and the same substance. There is no such thing as total destruction. In destruction, the effect is involved into its cause. That is all.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Evolution and Involution: Vedic Philosophy - Theory of Evolution and Involution

Yoga Mudra

Sit in Padmasana. Place the palms on the heels. Exhale slowly and bend forwards and touch the ground with the forehead. If you retain the pose for a long time, you can breathe as usual.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga Mudra: Practice of Yoga Mudra