Kriya Yoga

Kriya yoga upholds the conscious effort, or energy, put into the cleansing of the body's energy pathways for the purpose of awakening Kundalini energy. This refers to the vital energy lying within our chakra system. Kriya, which is defined as 'action, or deed' is used for technique and specific discipline of purification. This includes that of body, mind, and emotions to attain the greatest spiritual evolution in our lifetime. There are kriya's, or processes, that have developed into forms of hatha yoga. Kriya, however, varies widely between schools of yogic thought and teachings.

Yogananda is a popular Western yogi that retold this ancient form of kriya that was used by ancient priests of centuries past in India. These are the same teachings popularized throughout India by Babaji and Mahayasa. In speaking of kriya yoga, Yogananda inforces the importance of the energy within our personal body and that of the Cosmic Man. He wrote, "The Kriya Yogi mentally directs his life energy to revolve, upward and downward, around the six spinal centers (medullary, cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses) which correspond to the twelve astral signs of the zodiac, the symbolic Cosmic Man. One-half minute of revolution of energy around the sensitive spinal cord of man effects subtle progress in his evolution; that half-minute of Kriya equals one year of natural spiritual unfoldment."