Yogini Path

Click to enlarge

Shat Chakra Nirupana

The first verse from Shat Chakra Nirupana, as translated by Sir John Woodroffe in his book The Serpent Power, inspired the work called Yogini Path. This text describes the Chakras, vortices of energy existing in the human body. The first verse mentions the moon, sun, and central nadis, subtle energy channels within the human body.

The Journey of Kundalini Shakti

Kundalini Shakti is the divine cosmic power and the female aspect of Supreme Consciousness that creates and maintains the universe. In her subtle form, this power lies coiled at the base of the spine in every human being as the potential for the highest spiritual knowledge. After Kundalini is awakened through spiritual initiation, she moves upward through the central nadi purifying the entire system of false concepts and sense of limitation.

In this digital artwork the three serpents represent the Kundalini Shakti and her movement within each of the three main nadis. The lotus and the blue pearl at the top of the artwork represent the culmination of Kundalini's journey from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. When this inner journey culminates the seeker attains self-realization, the unwavering experience of the unity and divinity of all creation.

In the artwork, the two interlacing triangles signify Shiva and Shakti – the male and female principles of the Ultimate Reality, Supreme Consciousness. Shiva is the all-pervasive Lord and Shakti is his power. The yellow, downward pointing triangle represents Shakti; the upward pointing triangle represents Shiva. The two triangles form a six-sided hexagram that symbolizes equilibrium and balance. The equilibrium exists visually because the upward triangle balances the downward triangle. Also, they are equilateral triangles further enhancing the visual feeling of equilibrium. The hexagram with its two triangles is often associated with the heart chakra – (anahata chakra), which represents the element of air. In his book Kundalini: The Arousal of the Inner Energy, Ajit Mookerjee (2) mentions, "Spiritual awakening comes when the mind rises to this centre." Here, he is referring to the heart chakra. The placement of the hexagram in this piece alludes to the awakened Kundalini Shakti and her connection with the heart chakra.

According to Shat Chakra Nirupana, Kundalini is traditionally represented as being coiled three and a half times around the Svayamblu Lingam in the Muladhara Chakra at the base of the spine. However, this work portrays the Kundalini Shakti in multiple positions in her upward journey through the chakras to communicate her dynamic movement. The use of multiple views in one image has a long precedent in art history as a way to give more nuanced information about the subject matter. Note that the three serpents in this piece appear in other artworks in this series.

Kundalini Shakti as Yogini, The Goddess of Yoga

The Sanskrit writing at the top of the piece translates as Om namah Yogini. Once awakened, Kundalini Shakti causes yoga (union with Supreme Consciousness) to occur naturally and spontaneously. As she "pierces" the higher psychic energy centers (chakras), she works arduously to free us from our sense of limitation and reveal the true nature of our own divinity within. In this artwork, therefore, Kundalini Shakti is honored as Yogini, the goddess of yoga and keeper of occult secrets.

The Four-Petaled Chakras

Chakras are often referred to and portrayed as lotuses. Each chakra has a unique number of petals. Ordinarily, the Muladhara Chakra, the chakra in which the Kundalini Shakti resides is depicted with four crimson petals. The four petals are said to represent the four important nerve endings at the base of the spine. In this artwork, the four petals correspond to the four sides to the outer edges of the red square. Think of the petals extending beyond the red square area, much the same way as viewing something through a zoom lens where only part of landscape is seen. Thus, the petals exist just beyond view.

The Golden Square

The main symbols in this piece are placed in the golden square. The square shape signifies the Muladhara Chakra and the earth element The golden color also signifies the brilliancy of the divine light within. As the symbol for the earth element, the golden square is outlined in green, as green is the color of foliage and vegetation. The square has four protruding shapes called gates that represent the four directions – north, south, east and west. These gates add visual movement around the outside of the normally static shape of the square.

No attempt is made to explain everything. You will, no doubt, perceive meanings into the symbols other than those given. The visual language of shape, color, texture, spatial placement and so forth affects each person in unique ways. As viewers, we need only become aware of the effects symbols have on our psyche and discover the meanings that they possess for us.

The Serpent Power, Arthur Avalon (Sir John Woodroffe), Dover Publication, New York, 1974, p. 320.
Kundalini: The Arousal of the Inner Energy, Ajit Mookerjee, Destiny Books, New York, 1983, p. 75.