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As most spiritual teachings and forms of enlightenment, Siddha Yoga meditation also
teaches you to find the God within yourself. It teaches you to worship yourself, as God lies within you,
but at the same time it teaches the eradication of the 'Supreme I' - the ego. One must learn to also
bow down to oneself and others as God not only dwells within us, but also in everyone. Siddha Yoga is
dedicated to the upliftment of humanity and the end of human suffering through the knowledge and
experience of the 'inner-self'. Meditation is considered the primary vehicle to attain this knowledge.
Swami Muktananda, who was given realization by his guru Bhagawan Nityananda, and
who made this path available to the whole world, defined and gave the name of 'Siddha Yoga' to this
path. Giving formal boundaries and names to a path based on the relationship between the Guru and
disciple has been in existence since the scriptures were laid down - and most likely prior to the
scriptures. The current head of the Siddha Yoga lineage is Swami Chidvilasananda (Gurumayi), who
was placed in this position by her Guru -Swami Muktananda himself.
A Siddha Yoga Guru has the power to awaken the dormant spiritual power within a seeker - this power
is known in the Indian scriptures as 'kundalini' (the dormant spiritual energy lying at base of
our spines) - and this awakening is known as 'Shaktipat' - the descent of grace.
Although the 'awakening of the Kundalini has been revered, it is feared at the same time.
This divine energy which lies dormant within a human being at the base of the spine, when awakened,
travels back up the spine towards the crown of the head, through all seven energy centers of our body
Chakras. This process of 'raising of the kundalini' is the spiritual journey, and the end of the journey,
symbolizes realization. To awaken this energy on one's own is regarded as highly dangerous. The
scriptures of India have always stated that the best way to raise the kundalini is to
find a spiritual master capable of not only awakening the kundalini in
others but of guiding the seeker through the whole process of spiritual
evolution. Therefore almost all forms of enlightment are passed on through a
direct lineage of masters or teachers. A Siddha is one who has achieved
realization, identity/harmony with the source of all (Divine love/ Absolute) and
perfection within him/herself. The only difference between a Guru and seeker
lies between the fact that the former is 'aware' (realized) of his/her spiritual
potential as the 'absolute', and the latter is not. So their gift is that of
realization-transformation. As an embodiment of grace, a Siddha can
initiate and lead others to liberation, the state of a Siddha. The
raising of the Kundalini is integral to Siddha Yoga, which
encompasses all the great Yoga Paths.
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