About Sahaja Yoga

Sahaja yoga is a religious movement founded by Nirmala Srivstava. It originally started in India in 1970, then made its way to England when the founder migrated there in 1974. Sahaja yoga centers are in more than 100 countries under the names Vishwa Nirmala Dharma or Sahaja Yoga International. The Sahaja yoga practice emphasizes Kundalini awakening through intensive chakra meditation. There also is an emphasis on healing, surrender and the traditional Hindu ceremony known as Puja.

Chakras are energy points located in seven areas on the body: the root (base of the spine), sacral (navel), solar plexis (under the rib cage), heart (middle chest), throat, third eye (above the brow) and crown (top of the head). And it is believed that by meditating on these chakras, practitioners become peaceful, joyous and at one with the universe.

The Kundalini power is described as a snake lying dormant in the root chakra. When the snake is awakened, it moves up through the chakras to the crown. As it moves through the chakras, it cleanses them, causing total enlightenment, self-realization and thoughtless awareness. The physical process of Kundalini awakening is said to feel like a cool breeze blowing over the hands or head and many first-time practitioners report experiencing this sensation.

Sahaja yoga has a heavy emphasis on healing. It is believed that blockages in the chakras are a direct cause of illness and that awakening Kundalini energy links the chakras, curing disease. Practitioners claim that Sahaja yoga has cured high blood pressure, asthma, epilepsy and other illnesses. The founder, Srivastava, stated in an interview that Sahaja yoga even could cure AIDS.

The Puja ceremony is a way to express devotion to certain Hindu deities. In the Sahaja practice, Pujas are only recommended for people who have released Kundalini energy and achieved self-realization. In some ceremonies, Srivastava has been worshiped as the physical embodiment of the god Shakti.

Former members claim that the Sahaja yoga organization is a cult, reporting charges involving sexual abuse to the founder's Swiss bank accounts. From an outsider's perspective, it's hard to tell if these accounts are completely truthful or exaggerations from disgruntled ex-members. What is clear is that there is definitely a large community of ex-members who have a lot to say about their experiences with Sahaja yoga. Those considering Sahaja yoga are strongly suggested to read both the official information and the ex-member accounts before proceeding.