Muladhara and Kayakalpa
Mula-aadhaar means foundation. The muladhara is the foundation of our physical structure. Unless this foundation is stabilized, one will not know health, wellbeing, and a sense of stability and completeness. These qualities are essential for a human being to make an effort to climb high. It takes a certain assurance in one’s body and mind to walk through life in an efficient and capable manner.
An entire school of Yoga evolved out of the muladhara – from ways of doing things with the body to reaching one’s ultimate nature. One dimension of Yoga that is related to the muladhara is referred to as kayakalpa. Kaya means body. Kalpa essentially means a long period of time – we could translate it as “eon.” Kayakalpa is either about establishing and stabilizing the body, or extending its lifespan. There have been many beings who practiced kayakalpa and lived for hundreds of years, because they took charge of the most fundamental ingredient in the system, which is the element of earth. It is the earth element that gives us substance.
Kayakalpa and the Earth Element
Taking charge of the earth element, which is one aspect of bhuta shuddhi, also gives you certain other capabilities – you become able to grasp things that the earth and the soil have to offer to us. One way to get the juice of life into the human system is by using solidified mercury. Mercury is referred to as rasa or the very juice of this planet. The method to solidify mercury, which, by nature, is liquid at normal temperatures, is an essential part of kayakalpa.
Kayakalpa is about stabilizing aspects of the body that naturally deteriorate with time, in such a way that the deterioration is at least slowed down to a point where it looks like you are ageless and timeless. You have a kaya that will last for a kalpa, that is, a body that will last for an eon. There have been many beings who have done that, but it takes an enormous amount of work.
Amrita and the Pineal Gland
These capabilities come in many different ways. The symbolism of Shiva turning south comes from his Third Eye moving “south.” The moment his Third Eye shifted down between his two eyes, Shiva saw things that no one had ever seen. This is one aspect of kayakalpa. Though this is not quite right, since we need to cater to today’s logic, let me put it like this. There are various aspects of sadhana that are about moving the pineal gland a little down, or “south,” as we say.
If this happens in a certain way, the secretions of the pineal gland, which are referred to as amrita in Yoga, can either be used to strengthen the system and extend its longevity, or to create blissfulness in the system. Like a drug, it can just blow you away. Or you can use this amrita to enhance your perception, to become like thin air because everything passes through you. If you use your amrita to bring sensitivity to the system, you can become one hundred percent transparent.
One Amrita, Different Effects
There are three fundamental ways to use the secretions of the pineal gland. One is to strengthen the body and make it like a rock, which will give you a kind of longevity that is considered superhuman by most people. Another way is to bring such a level of drunkenness and blissfulness within you that you do not care how long you live. A third one is to make yourself like thin air, so that your perception is super hyped, because there is absolutely no resistance in your system. Kayakalpa largely uses this amrita to strengthen the body and to extend its longevity.
This amrita or secretion of the pineal gland can also enhance your perception. If you do not enhance your perception, your life doesn’t really get enhanced in any way.
Muladhara – A Basis for Something More
The muladhara and the sadhana on it are very important for your existence. Only a human being is able to realize that just existing is not good enough. None of the other creatures, from an amoeba to an elephant, have realized this, because that is not in their nature. They think their existence is good enough. Only a human being can know that just existing is not good enough – something else needs to happen.
