Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Yoga / Hindu 7th Century	About Govindasvamin Timeline (7th Century)
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English version by W.S. Merwin & J. Moussaieff Mason	Holy sixth day
Commentary by Ivan M. Granger Themes   Bower   Fire   Heart   Lover and Beloved   Snake   Recommended Books The Shambhala Anthology of Women's Spiritual Poetry, Edited by Aliki Barnstone	Holy sixth day in the woods they worship the trees then then my heart beats hard at how far I was going into the woods a snake appeared in front of me and I fell down I started writhing and rolling this way and that way my dress fell off my hair burned along my back thorns scratched me everywhere suddenly who am I who was I how I love those celebrations     -- from The Shambhala Anthology of Women's Spiritual Poetry, Edited by Aliki Barnstone Amazon.com
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

a snake appeared in front of me

The snake mentioned in this poem is, of course, the Kundalini Shakti, which is likened to a snake. In most individuals it is said to lie coiled up and dormant at the base of the spine. When awakened, it rises up the spine to the crown.

and I fell down
I started writhing and rolling

Sometimes this rising of the Kundalini serpent can be so powerful that trembling or, occasionally, convulsions and unconsciousness result.

Although initially overwhelming, the awakening of the Kundalini is a profoundly blissful, liberating awakening, the initiation of spiritual enlightenment.

suddenly who am I
who was I
how I

When you allow yourself to go deeply into the awakening of the Kundalini, your normal sense of identity, the little self, the ego, disappears. There is no "you" left, just the radiant state of Being.

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.
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