Granthi translates to a “knot”. Granthis are psychic knots in the subtle energy body which impede flow of kundalini energy through the cakra along the central channel, sushumna nadi. They are a knot or silo of ego, fears, doubts and insecurities, anxieties, social and cultural conditioning, self-limiting beliefs, biases and prejudices. All the mala – the impurities of avidya (ignorance) and the other four kleśa, are held within theses knots. Here we are bound, limited and restricted and impeded by the samskara (unconscious complexes/karmic cycles) from attaining mokṣa (liberation/emancipation).
Granthi also relate to the three Gunas of Prakriti (Tamas, Rajas and Sattva). It is said that granthi can be seen as a bamboo tree in which internodes act as barriers to the ascendancy of kundalini energy.
The practice of aṣṭāṅgayoga (Patañjali’s 8 limbed yoga) including through mantra, mudra, cakra and bandha is to pierce, unlock, unravel and loosen these knots so the mala can fall into the fire, agni, and be burnt away, leaving amrita, nectar of nourishing sweetness leading towards rightful living, good health and wellbeing as well as spiritual elevation.
Brahma Granthi
· Connected to Muladhara (Root) and Svadisthana (Sacral)
· Tamasic nature/ patterns of thinking and behaviour – overly attached, chaos, lethargy, anxiety, apathy, stuckness, and ignorance
· Universal power of destruction and dissolution
· Pre-occupied with physical needs, survival instincts and sensual pleasures
· Fight v Flight mode
· Unstable, insecure, unsafe, rootless
· Practice engaging Mula bandha (root lock)
Vishnu Granthi
· Manipura (Sacral) and Anahata (Heart)
· Love, faith, trust and emotional patterns, including grief and sadness
· Rajasic nature/ patterns of thinking and behaviour – individuality, egoism, overly competitive, and self-centeredness
· Universal power of motion and activity
· Pre-occupied with personal and individual power, ambitions, acquisition
· Untrusting, doubting, cynical, grieving loss
· Practice engaging Uddiyana bandha (navel lock) to stimulate prana, apana, and samana vayu
Rudra Granthi (knot of fierce form of Siva)
· Vishuddhi (Throat) and localised in Ajña (Third Eye) where Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna merge therefore inhibits Kundalini entering the highest self by binding to mental attachments
· Sattvic tendencies –balance, harmony, creativity, and positivity
· Universal power of creation / creativity
· Opinionated, snobbery, prejudice, intellectual pride, overly cerebral
· Practice Jalandhara bandha and Kechari (tongue to roof of mouth) mudra to lift the veil of illusion and feelings of otherness to experience cosmic consciousness and the true self
Unravelling Psychic Knot Practice
Adopt Granthi mudra by interlacing all your fingers and bring tip of thumb and index together.
Hold at each Granthi location
Visualise a tangled ball of threads/ wool tightly bound at the point of a related cakra and granthi
As you breath in, invite a golden light to penetrate through each layer of thread/wool
As you breath out, soften, loosen, unravel each layer of thread/wool
Chant surrendering, releasing and healing mantra x 9, 11 or 108
Idam Na Mama
This is not Mine
Om Shri Dhanvantre Namaha
Salutations to the celestial healer Dhanvantari.
May my healing capacity be cultivated and strengthened for self-healing and the healing of all
With healing to our global community,
Kallie
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