Adirohana - The Ascent - Programme Note
60 mins, 1998
Adhirohana - The Ascent, describes the upward flow of evolution - psychological, physical and
spiritual. Rooted in a single verse from the Soundaryalahari (a ninth century Tantrik text), the piece
examines the yogic aspirant's vision of the universe once the dormant Kundalini Sakti is
awakened.
The yogi's goal is to rouse the vast potential of psychic
energy, to ascend through the six chakras - the organised
centres of consciousness and finally to unite with pure
consciousness, having transcended gross and subtle
experience. The aspirant is able to see and experience subtle
states of evolutionary consciousness as each of the
psycho-kinetic chakras are penetrated by the dynamic
Kundalini envisaged in serpentine imagery. The subtle
Tantrik theories of cosmic creations and sustenance by the
dissected language of the bijamantra plays a significant role
in this process.
Adhirohana describes in visual and physical terms the ascent of the Kundalini Sakti and the
subtle material and oratory systems connected to it. The first chakra contains the essence of
the earth element, the second, water, the third, fire, the fourth, wind, the fifth, space, and the
sixth, intellect. Once the Kundalini has pierced through the various levels of evolutionary
consciousness, it "descends", resulting in the flow of kulamrta, the nectar of spiritual
emancipation.
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