The Three Granthis (Knots) in Kundalini Yoga
Untie the knots to clear your energy path.
Please click here for Kundalini and Chakra Energy Part 4
If you are a sailor or a scout member, you would know the importance of the knots. For rugged work, the stronger the knots, the better the results. On the other hand, if you are doing intricate, precise, delicate work, you need a seamless flow; no knots are welcome here. This is the goal while working on Kundalini Yoga (the path of awakening); we must untie all the knots which are hurdles to the flow of the energy rising from मूलाधार (Muladhara) Root chakra to सहस्रार (Sahasrara) Crown chakra to discover our true identity.
Understand your Granthis (Knots) of Internal Hurdle
Our intellect and mind holts the progress using our thoughts, desires, and emotions. Adhyatmika (Pertaining to the body and mind) helps to awaken the soul to his proper position to experience the Satchidananda. Internal hurdles of awakening the Kundalini arise within our bodies. Our inner challenges disturb our meditation, focus, and sadhana. They are categorized into three Granthis (knots).
Granthi = Knots
1) Brahma Granthi — Create
2) Vishnu Granthi — Sustain
3) Rudra Granthi — Terminate
Details and reference from Sri Lalita Sahasranama (38–40) (ललिता सहस्रनाम)
मूलाधारैक-निलया ब्रह्मग्रन्थि-विभेदिनी ।
मणि-पूरान्तरुदिता विष्णुग्रन्थि-विभेदिनी ॥ ३८ ॥
आज्ञा-चक्रान्तरालस्था रुद्रग्रन्थि-विभेदिनी ।
सहस्राराम्बुजारूढा सुधा-साराभिवर्षिणी ॥ ३९ ॥
तडिल्लता-समरुचिः षट्चक्रोपरि-संस्थिता ।
महासक्तिः कुण्डलिनी बिसतन्तु-तनीयसी ॥ ४० ॥
Translation: From Muladhara, the root chakra, kundalini moves pierces the Brahma knot in the Svadhisthana, the sacral chakra, goes through the solar plexus pierces the Vishnu Granthi in the heart chakra continuing the Rudra Granthi in the head. There it meets with the thousand-petaled lotus and enjoys a shower of bliss and divine intoxication.
The nature of Kundalini is like the batteries of lightning and the flashes as it rises above the six chakras. Completely drunk with the nectar, its form is subtler than even a faction of the billionth part of the strand peeled from the lotus stem.
(Translation used from Kundalini, an untold story by Om Swami)
Our feelings and thoughts (negative or positive) are constantly dwelling; when we pursue them, sometimes, we face disappointment. Instead of accepting, appreciating, and comprehending them, we start resisting the results, complicating our lives. This is how we create the knots.
It could be as simple as not having your favorite flavored ice cream in the fridge or as worse as facing the abuse by the one you love. It could be an extremely complicated situation that crushes your heart to the simple regular desires of life. In the end, they all are interconnected to our thoughts and mind along with our intellect.
Always remember: Frustration, rushing through, intolerance, and demanding quick results are no use when you are in the process of awakening the Kundalini and untying the three knots (Granthi)
Basic introduction of the Three knots (Granthi)
Brahma Granthi — Lord Brahma’s work is creation.
Location: स्वाधिष्ठान (Svadhisthana) or Sacral chakra
Represents the Desire to procreate, create, expand and multiplicate.
Focus: Gratitude
Procreate: This energy in your gentile is always looking forward to procreating a new life for nature. Nature’s primary goal is creation and sustainability. The first challenge is to rise above this Desire. We don’t choose our thoughts, but we cannot decide to pursue or not to react.
Create, expand and multiplicate: The Desire to have more, better, and bigger is always there. Society, social media, and our thoughts always push us to want more. The latest Phone, the bigger house, or one more car in the garage. We tend to lack contentment, satisfaction, or gratification for what we have. We feel happy for having one thing in our lives, but then we are sad and miserable for not having the other. The hunger for want never ends. There is always something better and more significant than what we have.
When practicing meditation: As we work on our chakra energy to awaken our Kundalini, resist the physical desires to have more and rise above the thoughts. Be thankful for what you have.
As your Brahma Granthi (knot) starts to untangle slowly, you will experience the stillness in your mind, and the divine feeling of gratitude that “what I need is already here” begins to rise.
Vishnu Granthi — Lord Vishnu’s work is Sustenance
Location: अनाहत (Anahat) or Heart chakra
Represents: Desire not to let go.
Focus: Compassion and detachment
We always crave to feel happy, live longer, look better, and the list goes on. We strive and work harder to achieve our desires. We forget that worldly happiness is not eternal, the body can’t live forever, and relationships are based on external platforms.
One can color the gray or Botox the wrinkles, but eventually, the age will show. You can’t hold on to relationships forever; they constantly change with time and circumstances. People grow and move on. What starts always ends. Nothing is permanent. We welcome the thoughts; they could be good or bad. Once we hold on to that thought, it transforms into emotion. The emotion of Desire, the feeling of want, is the second knot (Granthi).
Example: Someone is using harsh words towards you. These words create negative thoughts in your mind. If you accept and stay with those thoughts, they may make you sad, angry, or frustrated. Your reaction to negative thoughts may create regret in the future. Either way, it will affect your state of mind.
When practicing meditation:
Thoughts start to arise in your mind. Just observe. Here, you have two choices: Accept or Reject—one thought at a time. You can choose to accept it and flush it out of your mind or reject it as soon as it emerges. Either way, you will not dwell or get carried away with the thought. You choose not to entertain it because thoughts are empty until we give them meaning.
As my beloved Guruji says,” Your emotions may cause momentary ripples, but they wouldn’t be able to become giant whirlpools.”
Rudra Granthi — Lord Shiva’s work is Destruction/Termination.
Location: Just above your आज्ञा (Ajna) or Third eye chakra
Represents: Distractive thoughts and emotions
Focus: Forgiveness, acceptance
Your negative voice constantly says, “You don’t deserve it, or you are not good enough or smart enough.” It pokes, judges, and continuously criticizes you for making you feel less of yourself.
There are two steps to untie this knot (Granthi).
1 — Let go of your past, don’t allow yesterday’s mistake to ruin today’s present state of mind. Past is not to hold. Go beyond your distractive thoughts.
2 — Understand and realize that all thoughts are empty. They come empty and leave empty. It’s you who gives them identity and meaning. You have the power to terminate them. If you drop the thought, it will not convert into Desire, longing, intimacy, hate, anger, rage, and so on.
When practicing meditation:
Meditate with full awareness, and be in the present. Terminate the thoughts. When you reach this state, everything becomes effortless, and now you are at the last stage of Kundalini’s awakening. Perseverance, focus, and determination help you untie this complex last knot.
Fact:
No matter how dedicated you are towards your chakra energy, your progress will halt if your Granthis (three knots) are not untied. Forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, acceptance, and detachment are the signs of a yogi. Understand them, be them. The knots will melt way effortlessly.
Please click here for Kundalini and Chakra Energy Part 6
