Order of Creation
Let us mention at the outset that when the breath becomes restless from the tranquil state, creation begins. In the order of creation, sound (sabda, or the sound of Om) is produced first from the soundless state (eternal Tranquility). Now from sound, as a corollory state in an orderly manner produced are air, then fire, water, and earth.
From the vibrational level, ethereal (ether), gaseous (air), sub-gaseous (fire), liquid (water) and solid (earth).
The tranquil breath rests on the seventh day solidifying the creation.
If the centers are counted from the head, the coccygeal will be the 7th center.
Gen. 2:2 “And on the seventh day God ended His works which He had made: and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.”
The entire spectrum of meditation regardless of any discipline is to attain Eternal Tranquility (sthirattva), to go back in the reverse order to dissolve from the lowest state of vibration beginning with earth.
That’s why in ordinary perception in yoga discipline the readers find the references to awaken the Kundalini at the coccygeal center with the spirit of the reverse order.
But the mystery is, it’s in the hand of the Master who personally unlocks the secrecy and instructs the disciple (Kriyanwit) in the original Kriya discipline, to prepare for the prereverse order. With that foundation, it becomes easier to awaken the Kundalini at the base. Without this, it becomes enormously difficult.
The secret feature in the Original Kriya is not to rush to awaken the Kundalini at the coccygeal center. Rather a “Definite Order,” is followed. It has two parts:
- The Pre-Reverse Order, or the Downward Journey, and
- The Reverse Order, or the Upward Journey.
The Pre-Reverse Order, or the Downward Journey
The Pre-Reverse Order, or the downward Journey, is the most secret aspect of the Original Kriya. This Pre-Reverse Order is not known to the practitioners of traditional Vedic Pranayam, Raja Yoga followers, and the practitioners of Modified Kriya Yoga (Yogananda’s teachings).
It is called Pre-Reverse Order simply because before the Reverse Order begins the preconditions of the Pre-Reverse Order of the Original Kriya must be practiced to prepare the “grounds and foundation” for approaching the Kundalini Energy to awaken at the base of the spine.
In preparing the Pre-Reverse Order Journey, the Kriyanwit (male) or Kriyanwita (female) practices certain definite mudras and Kriyas which is the first step of Kriya; often Lahiri Mahasay referred to these as the First Kriya.
Speaking of the First Kriya, it would be pertinent to clarify something here; a misunderstanding arises especially in the minds of many modified Kriya followers regarding reference in a letter of Lahiri Mahasay to the First Kriya. One of the special features of Lahiri Mahasay’s teaching was to keep the practice of Kriya secret; in that way, the seeker’s dedication and sincerity are increased to help destroy his ego.
In this connection, the author felt to make it clear about Lahiri Mahasay’s following letter written to one of his disciples.
Letter Number 29
Lahiri Mahasay replied, “All (complete Realization) can be attained by the First Kriya; only sincerity is needed.
“The After-effect-poise of Kriya and addiction are there at the very first Kriya. Go on practicing Kriya.
“Do not worry for anything. Whoever will keep attention on Gurudev, Guru will keep his attention on that disciple. If the disciple does not keep attention, who will notice the attention of the Guru?”
To maintain the secrecy, Lahiri Mahasay used previously instructed “codes” to communicate with his disciples: For example, if he said, “Om mantra,” it did not mean simply the chanting of Om, or the Om technique, as some propagate. It has built-in secret code; it meant practicing the Dwadasakshari Mantra, the Twelve-accented Mantra, which requires special instruction given personally by the Gurudev.
In replying to the letter, Lahiri Mahasay mentioned the “First Kriya.” It did not necessarily and literally mean Kriya number 1 alone. The reference of Kriya number 1 means the First Step, or the entire package which includes the following:
- Mahamudra,
- Talabya Kriya or Khecharimudra,
- Navi Kriya,
- Kriya number 1 (some call it Kriya Proper), and
- Yoni Mudra (not Jyoti mudra as some propagate).
This is the definition of the First Kriya according to Lahiri Mahasay. It is pertinent to mention here that the practice of Talabya Kriya, or Khecharimudra, by raising the tongue to the head tranquilizes the air and connects the seeker with his eternal Master, the cosmic state of Consciousness of Kutastha, qualifying him to be able to practice the Kriya of the Sthira bayu [Tranquil Breath].
Thus after being successful of the above-mentioned five, especially the Talabya Kriya or Khecharimudra, then and only then is Thokkar Kriya, the Kriya of the Tranquil Breath, [Sthira bayur Kriya], the Second Kriya, instructed personally by the Guru in the Original Kriya. The Second Kriya, or Thokkar (striking) Kriya, is to cross the knot at the dorsal, or the heart, in the Pre-Reverse Order to march on towards to the coccygeal.
That is why in the original Kriya tradition the Omkar Kriyas are not introduced until the Kriyanwit is successful in Talabya Kriya, or Khecharimudra.
Whoever practices Omkar Kriyas without being advised by a permitted Master in the practice of Khecharimudra and without succeeding in this practice is neither following the Guru-Param-Para nor the original Kriya tradition. For example, the Pre-Reverse Order is not followed in the Modified Kriya, and as a result, the question does not arise for introducing the Second Kriya and so on and so forth. Needless to say, such a practice is in vain because the “foundation is not made” in the proper and righteous way.
It should be pointed out that quite a number of people in the Original Kriya, practice the second Kriya; the third Kriya practitioners are few, the fourth Kriya practitioner is rare and the fifth Kriya practitioner is very rare. Only a couple of Masters (gentlemen) remain who are capable of teaching the entire Original Kriya today.
The Scriptural Reference of the Pre-Reverse Order
The scriptural reference of the “Pre-Reverse Order” is pointed out by Lahiri Mahasay himself in the following verse:
Chatuspat sakalo dharma Satyanchaiba krite yuge.
Nadharmenagama kaschinmanusyan pratibarttate. Manu Sanghita 1:81
The verse says, “Dharma or religion is divided into four steps:
“1. Raising the tongue
“2. Crossing of knot of the dorsal center
“3. Crossing of knot of the navel
“4. Crossing of knot of the coccygeal center
“These are the four steps of religion.” Manu Sanghita 1:81 Commentary by Lahiri Mahasay.
Perhaps keeping in mind the above verse, Lahiri Mahasay regrouped (did not modify) the entire Kriya discipline of one hundred eight (108) steps of Original Kriya into four steps as he received from Mahamuni Babaji at Dunagiri Hill, Himalayas, in 1861. As mentioned before, the “first step is referred to as the first Kriya and it includes the five definite mudras and Kriyas that he received on the very first day he was initiated.”
Because of this regrouping into four steps, Lahiri Mahasay kept Kriya teaching strictly Guru-param-para (personal relationship with the Master and disciple) in accordance with the Vedic tradition. He gave Kriyas according to the needs of a Kriyanwit and advised to keep them secret; thus he justified the regrouping and for this reason remembering Babaji’s advice, he also warned not to develop organizations around the teachings of Kriya.
The practitioners of modified Kriya are totally unaware of this “Definite Procedure” and “Definite Order.”
It should be mentioned here that in the Original Kriya, there is no standardization of Kriya numbers. The present author received Purna Kriya (complete Kriya) from Mahamuni Babaji at Dunagiri Hill, Himalayas in 1976.
Thus, in the Original Kriya instead of starting from the coccygeal the attempt is made through the practice or Talabya Kriya, or Khecharimudra, to open the knot of tongue (jioha granthi veda) first at the throat. It brings multiple benefits because of attainment of the following:
- Sthir Bayu, Tranquil Breath, and
- Connection with the eternal Master.
Let us see what Lahiri Mahasay, the polestar of Kriya, had said in connection with the “Pre-Reverse Order.”
Khecharimudra or Talabya Kriya for Tranquilizing Restless Breath
Lahiri Mahasay said, ”It seems there is another uvula above the uvula. When the tongue touches the root of the upper part of the skull, then a cold sensation is felt.
“Om One. It is felt as if the tongue is being raised perfectly and breath comes to a standstill; I (Lahiri Baba) felt as though it was straight. The tongue went to the nostrils and the Voidness of outside is found inside also. Some indication of eternal Tranquility is acquired and even greater than this house [the abode between the Eyebrows] is seen, very clearly.
“When the tongue arrives between the eyebrows, then the tip of the tongue closes the hole of the upper side, and the central portion of the tongue touches the central part, while the root of the tongue touches the bottom portion. At this, the outward air of breath becomes completely tranquil. He to whom this has happened is fortunate.” Babaji Volume II, Lahiri Mahasay, p 99 -101.
Now equipped with the Sthir bayu (Tranquil Breath) and with the blessings of the eternal Master, the Kriyanwit proceeds downwards to the coccygeal center.
As mentioned before, “Pre-Reverse Order” of the practice of the Original Kriya is unknown to the practitioners of traditional Vedic Pranayam and to the followers of Rajayoga as well. This is in fact the most secret aspect and unique feature of the Original Kriya.