Note: For the complete lessons, with additions, see the AYP Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living Books.

Lesson 276 - Granthis – The Three Knots

From: Yogani
Date: Wed Oct 12, 2005  3:37 pm

New Members: It is recommended you read from the beginning of the web archive, as previous lessons are prerequisite to this one. The first lesson is, "Why This Discussion?"

Q: What are the granthis (the three knots) and how do they figure into AYP?


A: Granthi means "knot," and it is a good word to describe the energy blockages we have all experienced in our nervous system at one time or other. Traditionally, the granthis are numbered at three, covering three regions of our spiritual neurology.

Brahma Granthi – in the pelvic region, including the root.

Vishnu Granthi – in the center region, extending from navel to heart and throat.

Rudra Granthi – in the head, including the third eye and crown.

In AYP we are well familiar with the processes of purification that occur in these areas. In fact, we have discussed them extensively from the point of view of practices and experiences of purification and opening – untying the knots, so to speak.

The granthis are a generalized characterization of the things we have been talking about all along. They are personified with deities in the Indian system for the purpose of ritual, just as the chakras are imbued with deities for the same reason. If our religious orientation is toward such deities, this is very good. If not, we are not limited in what we can accomplish with the tools of yoga. The bhakti necessary to continue doing effective yoga practices on a daily basis for as long as it takes to achieve the desired result will be bhakti enough.

As you know, in AYP we rely on our yoga practices for purification and opening of the nervous system, and consider chakras to be "under the hood" in that overall process. We can regard the granthis in just the same way. They are a compilation of chakras and their connecting spiritual neurology into three zones, and all of this is under the hood in AYP.

Our focus is on the practices that will cultivate human spiritual transformation. It is interesting to note that without much special attention on chakras, granthis, or other representations of our spiritual neurology, we have evolved a system of practices here that covers the full range of them all. We have done so simply by using common sense in observing causes and effects with our practices. Especially important, once we have the practices, we utilize self- pacing, which is the ultimate application of common sense in yoga.

We have deep meditation and spinal breathing for "global" purification and opening within us – that means these two practices cover the full range of our nervous system, and beyond. We have mulabandha/asvini, siddhasana and tantric methods, which target the pelvic region. We have sambhavi and kechari to stimulate openings in the head. We have uddiyana, nauli, and, more recently, navi kriya for the central region, and moving up. Chin pump straddles the head and lower regions, giving us a special focus on opening the important gateway of the throat and cervical area of the spine.

Then there are samyama, yoni mudra kumbhaka, spinal bastrika (able to be targeted), asanas and other means we have discussed that can move consciousness and energy through the many pathways leading to further opening and stabilization of inner silence and ecstatic bliss within us. In the end, we become a pure channel of divine love in the world – no more knots.

All of which is to say, that by focusing on the practices, we will go far in addressing the traditional structures (chakras, granthis, etc.) that have been assigned to the human nervous system for the purpose of mapping and assisting in our spiritual awakening.

From our point of view, the map is not the enlightenment itself. The practices and the results within us that fulfill the purpose of the map are the enlightenment.

The guru is in you.

Note: For detailed instructions on building a balanced daily practice routine with self-pacing, see the Eight Limbs of Yoga Book.

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