A vivid metaphor paints kundalini as a coiled serpent slumbering at the base of the spine. The Shiva Samhita guides seekers through a series of practices designed to gently rouse that latent energy and channel it upward through the sushumna nadi. Breath control (pranayama), posture (asana), seals (mudras) and locks (bandhas) work in concert to clear the energetic pathways—like oiling gears before an engine fires up.

First comes stabilization. A steady asana practice—often silence-courting poses such as Siddhasana—grounds the body and calms the restless mind. From there, specialized pranayama (such as sheetali and bhastrika) stokes the inner flame, while kumbhaka (breath retention) creates enough inner pressure for the serpent to stir. Bandhas—Mula Bandha (root lock), Uddiyana Bandha (abdominal lock) and Jalandhara Bandha (throat lock)—act like gatekeepers, ensuring the energy doesn’t spill sideways through ida or pingala, but is forced into the central channel.

Mudras such as Maha Mudra and Khechari Mudra gently coax kundalini upward toward the crown chakra, where blissful union awaits. A clear illustration in the text likens this ascent to a river diving through rocky rapids before pouring into the ocean of pure consciousness.

In today’s wellness scene—marked by the popularity of kundalini yoga studios and global celebrations like International Yoga Day—this ancient roadmap still resonates. The Shiva Samhita’s teachings offer more than a sequence of exercises; they present a transformative alchemy that, when practiced with patience and respect, can light up the subtle body from root to crown, much like dawn dispels the night.