It is quite apparent that this beautiful feeling is absent when we are in grip of lust. The feelings are different. Physical attraction only stimulates the most inferior part of our being. The pressures we feel are generally confined to the Swadisthana Chakra related to sexual organs. There is pleasure, no doubt, for activation of every Chakra causes pleasure. Activation of this Chakra results in orgasmic pleasure. The pleasure however lasts for a very short duration. This Chakra is easiest to stimulate and is located nearest to Muladhara, the place where coiled up energy, or the Kundalini, is apparently stored. If one is observant enough, one can easily feel that the centre of orgasmic pleasure is different from the centre of melting floating love. Under normal state of awareness, we often fail to differentiate between the two.

The next important Chakra is Ajana located between the two eyes. This is the nerve centre of a meditative yogi. The root of concentration. Wisdom and balance in thoughts. Activation of this Chakra brings the pleasure of wisdom, of clarity in vision and sublime awareness. This state is achievable through practice of concentration and meditation. Often, while in a state of intense meditation or during momentary flashes of brilliance we might experience activation of this chakra.

The ultimate Chakra is Sahashrara. Activation of this state leads to the state of Buddha. In this state there is no activity. There is nothing to be known, no knower, no self. Only supreme awareness. This is the state of samadhi. Ultimate Realisation. The state of Supreme Self. The sequence of these major chakras, from bottom to top is as follows,

1. Muladhara (location of Kundalini)
2. Swadisthana
3. Anahatha
4. Ajana
5. Sahashrara

There are two other Chakras, viz, Manipura and Vishuddha but are not being discussed here. Many insist that Kundalini, the storehouse of energy or Prana, lies in dormant state under normal circumstances. This is the Primal Energy. From where sprungs our conscious self. This Prana is constantly getting absorbed and released. We feel pleasure when the various Chakras get activated by this Prana. The most frequent activation are of Swadisthana Chakra and Anahatha Chakra.

In majority of cases the Chakras do not get activated and the energy gets released in performing actions without any pleasurable experience. Its only when chakras get activated that we feel that real pleasure. The easiest to get activated appears to be the Swadisthana and then comes the Anahatha. In women I would presume that Anahatha is more easily activated than in men. Hence the different approaches towards opposite sexes, in general.

The longetivity and quality of pleasure too depends upon the chakra that gets activated. The most temporal and inferior pleasure is of Swadisthana, then comes the Anahatha. The word pleasure is being used here for want of a better word. Perhaps joy would be a better term. The pleasure associated with activation of Ajana Chakra is far superior to the previous two Chakras. However, its activation requires a tremendous amount of energy that has to be channelised from Muladhara upto it. It requires tremendous concentration and is usually achieved through meditation.

Activation of  Sahashrara implies Supreme Realisation, Achievement of Supreme Pleasure, Paramanand. It’s a actionless state of Supreme Awareness, a State of Samadhi after which one is free from all temporal bondages. Effort lies in channelising energy/ Prana towards Sahashrara. Therefore chastity has been stressed in all spiritual pursuits because it helps in channelising Prana towards Sahashrara without dissipating it enroute.

To activate Sahashrara, it is imperative to release the Prana stored inside the Kundalini. This can be achieved through intense meditation or bhakti or through power of sheer will or during intense concentration of the mind or through unexplained reasons. If not controlled and guided properly it can create havoc and may activate chakras other than Sahashrara. This can lead to disastrous results. Hence, perfect control over ones desires and intermediate chakras is essential. Patanjali’s eight steps towards attainment of samadhi as mentioned in his Yogasutras are therefore extremely important for  systematic controlled release of Kundalini power for attainment of Supreme Knowledge. 

1.    Yama:  self control
2.    Niyama:  discipline
3.    Asana: conditioning of body
4.    Pranayama: control of breath.
5.    Pratyahara: withdrawal of senses from their external objects.
6.    Dharana: concentration
7.    Dhyana: meditation.
8.    Samadhi: oneness with the object of meditation.

Pranayama helps in regulating flow of this Prana by regulating our breath. Breath is a major carrier of this Prana. Many so called pseudo Swamis of today mislead many by giving them liberal doses of Pranyama techniques and try to capitalise on the initial momentary feeling of lightness and freshness. Sooner or later all these stunts are bound to fail. Some have also designed custom meditation techniques which again capitalise on bits and pieces from experiences of past masters and tried to give them a commercial outlook. A sudden introduction of a new practice in our life is bound to create an initial pleasurable sensation. Much like a change of taste in a new restaurant. Many misconstrue it as a benefit of meditation. Meditation is an intensely private and personal matter. The body and mind must be tempered before one can actually enjoy the real benefits of meditation. Meditation without purity of action and mind, without the power of concentration is meaningless. Its not meditation then but a pseudo intellectual exercise. This is now becoming a fashion statement to be discussed in parties. I-am-into-meditation-these-days or have-you-attended-so-and-so-course types.

As mentioned earlier, Pranayama too helps in channelising  release of Prana towards Sahashrara. However, one has to be careful. Incorrect practice can lead to premature or uncontrolled release of Prana leading to harmful results. It may affect the nervous system adversely and irreversibly! Hence all those practicing Pranayama are advised to learn it very gradually and under direct supervision of a trained teacher. Practice of rapid breathing exercises and stoppage of breath has to be done under expert guidance. Learning from CDs, Videos or TV is a strict no no. The more subtle the exercise, the more serious are the effects. It’s a pity that some well-known yoga experts are trying to teach these exercises through TV and other similar mediums.

Controlled release of Kundalini Shakti by a seasoned mind is bound to take one into a state of blissful Samadhi but a misdirected or uncontrolled release can lead to disaster. Kundalini or Chakras may not exist physically in the body. As per Vivekananda, his Guru Shri Ramakrishna used to say that the so-called lotuses (chakras) of the Yogi do not really exist in the human body, but that they are created within oneself by Yoga powers. Readers can make their own assessment from their own experiences.