[Advaita-l] Chakras in Patanjali Yoga.

[Srikanta Narayanaswami]

Then, one might suspect, that hidden under the hood of yoga 
> sUtra-s, lies the kuNDalinI yoga.
> 

One should also note the upanishadic references to the nADI-s and
their being centered in the hRdaya in this context. 

However, what many find problematic is that all yoga is a means to
unite prakRti with purusha and that it is accomplished through raising
the kuNDalinI from the mUlAdhAra to sahasrAra. In all the centuries
of yoga and sAMkhya tradition, the emphasis has been that purusha 
and prakRti are two irreducible and separate principles. Liberation is
in the purusha realizing this fact and standing separate from being 
mixed up with prakRti (kaivalya). As such, it is completely novel, to 
say that yoga attempts to unite the two! 

Regards,
Vidyasankar
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The technique of Chakras in the Yoga is to raise the Kundalini in the Muladhara chakra and raise to the Sahasrara
is to get the vision of Mother Goddess.This is a very important part of the Yoga sadhana.Infact,Mother Goddess
 represents the shakti of Ishwara.This is an important part of worship in SriVidya upasana.The SriVidya  Chakra  represents the "Thousand petalled Lotus"of the various Chakras from the Muladhara to the Sahasrara.It is the Mother who appears to a sadhaka.In the Kenopanishath,the Mother Goddess UMA,appears to the various minor Gods like Indra,varuna,Agni etc.It is the Mother who points to these minor Gods ,the "Brahman".This is  stated in the Kenopanishath.
The Lalitha Trishathi has ample statements glorifying the Mother Goddess,as,"sarva vedanta tatparya bhumi","sarva prapancha nirmatri","sakala,sacchidananda Sadhvi,sanakadi munirvedhya,Sadashiva kutumbini".sakaladhishtana rupini,sarva prapancha nirmatri".
In the Bhagawadgita,the statement,Daivi esha Gunamayi is in feminine gender.There are various statements also in "Devi Bhagavata".In the Manisha pancakam,Shankara  states,"Ya Brahmadi pipilikanta tanushu prota Jagatsakshini",which again is feminine,it is the mother who feeds her children.
In "Saundharya Lahari" Shankara says,"Shivah Shaktya yuktah yadi bhavati Shaktah",the Ishwara himself gets his power from Shakti.In the Rudra patha,the Rudra goes like this,"Shivaa Rudrasya bheshaji,tena vina mrdha jivase",if the word "Shiva" is extended by including an "a" to "Shiva"as "Shivaa"which becomes feminine.
In Tamil usage also there is a saying,"Shakti illeyel,Shivanenu iru"(If you donot have Shakthi,be quiet).
Thus,in our Vedic worship,the worship of Mother Goddess has taken an very important place.A classic example of this is the Life of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa,who had a direct vision of the Mother Goddess,Kali.
N.Srikanta.