Sadhguru said the journey into the depths of Sri Vidya to explore how awakened energy leads to serenity, the sacred dance between stillness and movement, and the role of divine awareness in guiding us toward this balance.
Article | October 10, 2024
Sadhguru: Sri Vidya is not merely a tantric practice or a path of devotion; it is an ancient and profound spiritual tradition that offers an intricate map for inner transformation. Rooted in the worship of the Divine Feminine (Shakti), Sri Vidya teaches that true serenity—deep, abiding peace—emerges not from external stillness alone, but from the harmonious dance of awakened energy within. This sacred path recognises that the human experience is dynamic, ever-flowing, and intertwined with both movement and rest, action and silence. It reveals that inner tranquillity is born from a balance of these forces, where energy moves in alignment with cosmic order.
True serenity in Sri Vidya is not the stillness of the body, but the graceful dance of awakened energy within the soul. Sri Vidya teaches us that peace is not found in the absence of movement, but in the rhythm of Shakti’s divine dance through our being.
Sri Vidya and the Philosophy of Shakti
Sri Vidya is a tantric system that venerates the supreme aspect of Shakti, the Divine Mother, in her most intimate and powerful form. Shakti, in Sri Vidya, is the dynamic, creative energy of the universe, while Shiva represents pure consciousness, the still, witnessing force. The two are inseparable and interdependent—Shiva without Shakti is inert, and Shakti without Shiva is directionless energy. Together, they symbolize the union of consciousness and energy, stillness and movement, serenity and the inner dance.
This philosophy points to an essential truth: energy is not chaotic or disorderly; rather, it follows a sacred rhythm, an inner choreography that can be awakened within the human body and consciousness. In the practice of Sri Vidya, this awakened energy is Kundalini, the serpent power that lies coiled at the base of the spine, dormant in most individuals until consciously activated.
When Kundalini awakens, serenity is no longer a passive state; it is the harmony of Shakti’s dance with the cosmic flow.
The Awakening of Energy: Kundalini Shakti
Kundalini Shakti represents the primordial energy at the root of human consciousness, symbolized as a coiled serpent at the base of the spine. In Sri Vidya, Kundalini is both the path and the goal—awakening this energy within leads to enlightenment, the realization of the unity between individual consciousness and cosmic consciousness. However, the process of awakening Kundalini is not a mere ritual or mechanical activation; it is a sacred, gradual unfolding that must be approached with respect, understanding, and preparation.
When Kundalini awakens, it rises through the central channel (Sushumna Nadi), piercing through the energy centres (chakras) along the spine. This rising is described as both a dance and a journey—Shakti, the energy of life, ascends to reunite with Shiva, pure consciousness, seated in the crown chakra (Sahasrara). This divine union brings about a profound transformation of the individual, dissolving the ego and revealing the interconnectedness of all existence.
In the awakened state, energy no longer moves chaotically or in a disordered fashion. Instead, it follows a rhythmic, harmonious pattern—this is the dance of Shakti, the cosmic dance that Sri Vidya teaches as the source of true serenity. The individual, rather than being at the mercy of restless thoughts or turbulent emotions, becomes attuned to this inner rhythm, finding peace in the flow of life itself.
Sri Vidya invites us to discover serenity through the union of Shiva and Shakti, where consciousness and energy move as one harmonious flow. In the dance of energy, Shakti reveals that serenity is not static, but a dynamic balance of creation and dissolution, stillness and motion.
The Dance of Energy: Serenity through Movement
Contrary to the belief that serenity can only be found in absolute stillness or withdrawal from worldly activities, Sri Vidya teaches that true serenity comes from active participation in the dance of energy. This does not mean frenetic action or constant physical movement; rather, it refers to the harmonious interplay between our inner and outer worlds, between stillness and action, between the mind and heart, and between the energies of creation and dissolution.
This is beautifully symbolized in the Sri Yantra, the sacred geometric diagram central to Sri Vidya. The Sri Yantra represents the universe, with its intricate interlocking triangles symbolizing the cosmic dance between Shiva and Shakti, stillness and movement, spirit and matter. The outer triangles symbolize the dynamism of creation, while the inner point (Bindu) represents the ultimate stillness of pure consciousness. Together, they form a complete whole, a visual representation of how movement and stillness are woven together to create the fabric of existence.
The practitioner of Sri Vidya learns to perceive and align with this cosmic rhythm, where every movement—whether physical, mental, or emotional—is infused with awareness and devotion. When this happens, even mundane activities become a form of spiritual practice, a dance of energy in service of higher consciousness. True serenity arises from this alignment, as the individual no longer resists or struggles against the natural flow of life, but instead moves gracefully with it.
The Role of Bhavana and Visualization
One of the key practices in Sri Vidya is bhavana or visualization. Through specific meditations and visualizations, the practitioner engages with the sacred forms of the Divine Mother, especially as Lalita Tripura Sundari, the embodiment of supreme beauty and cosmic energy. In these visualizations, the practitioner mentally sees the Divine Mother's energy awakening within themselves, rising through the chakras, and uniting with the Divine Father, Shiva, in the crown chakra.
This process of visualization is not merely an intellectual or imaginative exercise; it is a deeply transformative practice that awakens the dormant energy within. The mind, through focused visualization, creates a resonance with the divine energy, allowing the body, mind, and spirit to participate in the cosmic dance. Through these visualizations, the practitioner experiences the dynamic movement of Shakti within, leading to a sense of serenity that arises from being in tune with the universe's creative flow.
Sri Vidya teaches that when Bhavana is practised with devotion and awareness, it brings about an inner alignment where the practitioner no longer identifies with the fluctuations of the mind or external distractions. Instead, they become immersed in the sacred rhythm of life, where serenity arises naturally from the dance of awakened energy.
"Sri Vidya reminds us that stillness without energy is inert, and movement without awareness is chaotic; serenity arises when both move in divine union.
Sri Vidya and the Path of Mantra
Another important aspect of Sri Vidya is the use of mantras—sacred syllables or phrases that embody specific energies. The most revered mantra in Sri Vidya is the Panchadasi Mantra, a fifteen-syllable invocation of the Divine Mother. This mantra is considered the essence of Sri Vidya and holds within it the power to awaken Kundalini, cleanse the mind, and connect the practitioner to the higher consciousness.
Reciting mantras is a way of aligning oneself with the vibrational frequency of the Divine. The vibrations produced by the repetition of these sacred sounds awaken latent energies within the body and mind, allowing the practitioner to experience the dance of energy on a deeper level. When mantras are chanted with devotion and awareness, they invoke the presence of the Divine Mother, awakening her energy within the practitioner.
Through mantra repetition, the mind becomes focused and clear, and the restless thoughts and emotions begin to subside. In this state, the practitioner can feel the subtle movement of energy within, as if each syllable of the mantra is a step in the sacred dance of Shakti. Serenity arises from this state of deep connection to the divine flow, where the mind and body are no longer separate from the cosmic energy that moves through all of existence.
The Sacred Feminine: Shakti as the Source of Serenity
Sri Vidya emphasizes the role of the Divine Feminine as the source of all energy and life. Shakti, the creative force of the universe, is not something external or separate from the individual; she is the very essence of our being. When we awaken to this truth, we realize that serenity does not come from suppressing or negating the energies within us, but from embracing and honoring them as expressions of the Divine.
In the Sri Vidya tradition, the practitioner is taught to revere and worship the feminine principle in all its forms. Whether as the nurturing mother, the fierce protector, or the radiant goddess, Shakti embodies the full spectrum of energy. This includes both the peaceful, serene aspects of existence and the dynamic, transformative forces. Serenity, in this context, is not about denying one aspect in favour of the other; it is about recognizing the balance and harmony between them.
The practitioner who understands this truth comes to see that serenity arises from the dance of these energies within. It is a dynamic state of balance, where one is neither overly attached to the external world nor completely withdrawn from it. Instead, there is an inner alignment with the sacred flow of life, where every action, every thought, and every feeling becomes an expression of the divine dance.
The sacred dance of Shakti within is the key to true peace—Sri Vidya shows us that serenity comes from the dynamic interplay of life’s energies.
The Balance of Masculine and Feminine Energies
While Sri Vidya emphasizes the role of the Divine Feminine, it also recognizes the importance of the balance between masculine and feminine energies. Just as Shakti and Shiva are inseparable, so too must the individual balance these forces within themselves to achieve true serenity.
Shakti represents the dynamic, creative energy of life, while Shiva represents the stillness and awareness that gives direction and form to that energy. In the human body and mind, these forces are present as the active, outward-moving energies (represented by the Pingala nadi) and the receptive, inward-moving energies (represented by the ida nadi). The central channel, Sushumna Nadi, is the path through which these energies merge and ascend, leading to the realization of unity and oneness.
When the individual learns to balance these forces within, they experience serenity not as a static state, but as a dynamic equilibrium. The mind becomes calm and clear, the emotions flow without attachment, and the body moves in harmony with the rhythm of life. This is the essence of the dance of awakened energy—the balance between action and stillness, between creation and dissolution, between Shakti and Shiva.
Conclusion: The Serenity of the Cosmic Dance
Sri Vidya teaches that true serenity is not found in the absence of movement but in the harmonious dance of awakened energy within. This dance, symbolized by the rise of Kundalini and the union of Shakti and Shiva, is the essence of life itself. It is a dynamic, ever-changing process, where stillness and movement, creation and dissolution, are all part of the same cosmic rhythm.
As practitioners of Sri Vidya, we are invited to participate in this dance, to awaken the divine energy within, and to move with it in harmony and grace. Through practices such as visualisation, mantra repetition, and the balance of masculine and feminine energies, we come to experience serenity not as something separate from life, but as the natural state that arises when we align with the sacred flow of existence.
In this way, Sri Vidya offers a profound and transformative path to true serenity—a serenity that comes not from stillness alone, but from the dance of awakened energy within.
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