The Serpent Power

First published in 1918, "The Serpent Power" is an important and influential text for the modern practice of Kundalini yoga in the West. Written by Sir John George Woodroffe, under his pseudonym Arthur Avalon, it is a scholarly and insightful study of both ancient texts and the philosophies of Kundalini, Shakti, meditation, and yogic practice. Woodroffe was born in Calcutta, India and followed in his father's footsteps in a successful legal career that included many years serving as the Chief Justice on the High Court of India. In addition to his professional judicial duties he also extensively studied Hindu philosophy and translated many Sanskrit texts. He wrote many books on Tantrism and yoga under his pseudonym and was a noted speaker and expert on Indian philosophy. "The Serpent Power" is his most popular and enduring work and is notable for its accurate and nuanced translations of two important ancient Tantric texts: "The Description of the Six Chakras" and "Five-fold Footstool". This classic text remains an important guide for all of those who are interested in Kundalini yoga as well as ancient Hindu philosophy and meditative practices. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

First published in 1918, "The Serpent Power" is an important and influential text for the modern practice of Kundalini yoga in the West. Written by Sir John George Woodroffe, under his pseudonym Arthur Avalon, it is a scholarly and insightful study of both ancient texts and the philosophies of Kundalini, Shakti, meditation, and yogic practice. Woodroffe was born in Calcutta, India and followed in his father's footsteps in a successful legal career that included many years serving as the Chief Justice on the High Court of India. In addition to his professional judicial duties he also extensively studied Hindu philosophy and translated many Sanskrit texts. He wrote many books on Tantrism and yoga under his pseudonym and was a noted speaker and expert on Indian philosophy. "The Serpent Power" is his most popular and enduring work and is notable for its accurate and nuanced translations of two important ancient Tantric texts: "The Description of the Six Chakras" and "Five-fold Footstool". This classic text remains an important guide for all of those who are interested in Kundalini yoga as well as ancient Hindu philosophy and meditative practices. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Who is Kundalini, the Serpent Power? Mythologically, she is an aspect of the Shakti (power or energy) and consort of Shiva. Philosophically, she is the creative energy that eventually forms mind and matter, and comes to rest in the lowest form of matter. She is consciousness: the power of matter to know itself. In terms of Tantric practice, she is the mysterious power that resides in the human body and can be awakened through suitable techniques: special meditations and yogic practices of a particularly powerful nature. She is The Goddess, the ultimate heart of many areas of Eastern religion, not only of Hinduism. This volume, by the foremost student of Shaktic and Tantric thought, "Arthur Avalon," is the prime document for the study and application of Kundalini yoga. The author covers the philosophical and mythological nature of Kundalini; the esoteric anatomy associated with it; the study of matrass -- the chakras, or psychic centers in the human body and their progressive awakening; and the yoga associated with this. This introduction, some 300 pages of unique material, is followed by translations (with long analytical commentary) of two important Tantric documents: The Description of the Six Chakras and the briefer Five-fold Footstool. By working through these documents the reader can acquire the essence of Kundalini yoga. For centuries this material was a closely guarded secret in India; even native scholars were not allowed access to it. In fact, it was so restricted that many Indologists refused to recognize its existence. It took half a lifetime of searching by Sir John Woodroffe to locate the key documents and further years to find a master able and willing to evoke from the cryptic texts a modus for study and application. The result of Woodroffe's work, however, was one of the most important developments in Indian thought, a key to many areas of art and religion that had hitherto been locked. It is also a work that has great interest to Westerners who wish to acquire for themselves the validity of the ultimate experience.

Who is Kundalini, the Serpent Power? Mythologically, she is an aspect of the Shakti (power or energy) and consort of Shiva. Philosophically, she is the creative energy that eventually forms mind and matter, and comes to rest in the lowest form of matter. She is consciousness: the power of matter to know itself. In terms of Tantric practice, she is the mysterious power that resides in the human body and can be awakened through suitable techniques: special meditations and yogic practices of a particularly powerful nature. She is The Goddess, the ultimate heart of many areas of Eastern religion, not only of Hinduism. This volume, by the foremost student of Shaktic and Tantric thought, "Arthur Avalon," is the prime document for the study and application of Kundalini yoga. The author covers the philosophical and mythological nature of Kundalini; the esoteric anatomy associated with it; the study of matrass -- the chakras, or psychic centers in the human body and their progressive awakening; and the yoga associated with this. This introduction, some 300 pages of unique material, is followed by translations (with long analytical commentary) of two important Tantric documents: The Description of the Six Chakras and the briefer Five-fold Footstool. By working through these documents the reader can acquire the essence of Kundalini yoga. For centuries this material was a closely guarded secret in India; even native scholars were not allowed access to it. In fact, it was so restricted that many Indologists refused to recognize its existence. It took half a lifetime of searching by Sir John Woodroffe to locate the key documents and further years to find a master able and willing to evoke from the cryptic texts a modus for study and application. The result of Woodroffe's work, however, was one of the most important developments in Indian thought, a key to many areas of art and religion that had hitherto been locked. It is also a work that has great interest to Westerners who wish to acquire for themselves the validity of the ultimate experience.