Upanishads speak of God as the source of Ananda or bliss. We humans can be a recipient of this Ananda. So, what is Ananda which the Upanishads have spoken of. This Ananda is not exactly happiness. Happiness or sadness are material aspects of life. Ananda has a spiritual element in it.
When Yogis get connected to the supreme consciousness, they often feel oneness with the higher entity. So much so that Yogis meditating for hours reach a state of equanimity where external elements don’t disturb them. Deep meditation makes them oblivious of their surroundings. Famous examples of Ramkrishna Paramhansa and Ramana Maharishi can be cited. Ramkrishna remained absorbed in meditation so much that he didn’t eat for days. Ramana Maharishi would let rats and ants crawl over him while he remained in a meditative state.
Yogic Kriyas for Experiencing Ananda
None of us can even imagine the circumstances in which these yogis can persevere and carry on their sadhana. But accomplished Yogis like Lokenath Brahmachari were also adept at Hatha Yoga giving them endurance. They could go without food for days and even weeks at times.
Pranayama or controlled breathing is said to activate the shushumna nadi or the central channel. The central channel is connected to the Sahasrara chakra which is directly responsible for spiritual progress of a person. Normally, the Pingala nadi (right channel) or Ida nadi (left channel) which are connected to the ego or super ego centers of the brain are active.
Pingala or right channel begins from the Swadhisthan chakra and Ida or left channel begins from Mooladhara chakra. Since Swadhisthan and Mooladhara chakras are associated with material aspects, these channels increase the feelings of possessiveness. So, most people are action-oriented. They are always looking for results. And when they don’t find the results according to their expectations they become dejected. You will find most of them involved in some fruitful activity. The feeling of Vairagya or detachment grows only when shushumna nadi or the central channel gets activated.
Happiness or Sadness Is Temporary
Another interesting thing about Ananda is that it is not temporary. So, a food item you like may give you temporary happiness whereas it is not the case with Ananda. One of the reasons is that God is the source of infinite Ananda. Yogis who tapped this source of infinite Ananda remained in ecstasy always. It is not like a person who has taken alcohol or drug and feels intoxication for a few hours.
A common trait to be found in Yogis is that they would lose consciousness and remain motionless for hours. This happened frequently with Ramkrishna Paramhansa, Ma Anandmayi, Ramana Maharishi and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. There is a famous incident about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in which he fainted and a doctor had to be called for check-up. Such incidents of fainting happened hundreds of times with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Other Vaishnava saints including Vamshidas Babaji Maharaj also experienced such ecstatic feelings which completely overwhelmed them and left them immobile when they saw symbols connected with Lord Krishna. Sights of a peacock or dark clouds or a kadamba tree or a flute would be enough to turn them ecstatic.
Awakening of the Kundalini – The Dormant Energy
Kundalini is a dormant energy in all of us. Self-realised gurus can awaken this dormant energy through various means. Shaktipat is followed in tantric tradition of Sakta. Ramkrishna Paramhans used to write a mantra on the tongue of a person to awaken the Kundalini. After Ramkrishna died, his wife Sarada Devi carried on the practice. Mantra diksha is also a way of awakening the dormant energy or Kundalini. In this, the guru whispers a mantra in the ears of a recipient. Vaishnavas believe that after receiving the mantra from guru, the spiritual progress of a devotee is exponential.
Awakening the Kundalini could take years or it can even be spontaneous. Even the touch of self-realised saints is said to be enough for awakening your Kundalini. Swami Vivekananda experienced such an episode when Ramkrishna Paramhansa touched him and he felt spiritually elevated instantly. Sincerely worshipping your deity may also help you awaken your Kundalini. Besides deity worship, chanting a mantra offered by your guru can also help your Kundalini rise. Meditation can also help in awakening the dormant energy.
Conclusion
Everyone is looking for happiness. But happiness has a material aspect since it can be derived only from things you can experience with your senses. The same is true about sadness. But Ananda or Bliss as Upanishads speak of is spiritual in nature. It can be achieved through Yogic kriyas or through the blessings of a self-realised guru. Worshipping your deity and meditation can also help you achieve the state of bliss.
