The Supreme Nadi: Brahma Nadi

Nadis are like onions in that they are built layer by layer from the inside out. But as with onions, once the nadis are fully formed, we can only access each from the outside in. So far, we’ve unpeeled the outer nadis of Ida and Pingala and then moved through Shushumna. 
Now, we are finally at the core of the entire system of the nadis: Brahma Nadi. How does Brahama Nadi form? In the embryo, a pillar of cells forms around a subtle field of energy. This field of energy is Brahma Nadi, the nadi of all nadis, because it signals and gives birth to all other nadis. Brahma Nadi is the super highway to Samadhi.

Brahma Nadi lies deep within us from the time that we are born but gets hidden by avidya (ignorance) and stress as we live out our illusory lives. It is only through the practice of yoga, incorporating the removal of belief patterns and a journey to see beyond maya, the illusion of life, that we can unveil the column of light that is Brahma nadi. It is the illumination of Brahma Nadi that enables us to know our true selves and brings us to enlightenment, when we can experience nothing at all and all things at once.

How does this happen? Asana opens nadis so we start there. We also practice pranayama which deepens our access to the inner nadis. Then, we go even further to through forms of kriya yoga , purification of the consciousness via visualization and mantra, as well as via meditation.

It is only meditation and Kriya that concentrate one’s consciousness into Shushumna nadi which when relaxed allows us to experience Anandam. Anandam is often interpreted as bliss, but really means that we are completely free and inspired. It is freedom and inspiration that takes us into Samadhi, which is the state of yoga or union of mind, body, and spirit. Samadhi is when we gain a sense of completeness from the universal source of knowledge and energy rather than from our senses.

Perhaps you have heard of the Koshas, which according to Alan Finger, are the energetic frequencies or bodies of our being. If not, here it goes: Anamaya Kosha is the frequency that pertains to our physical body; Pranamaya Kosha to our breath body; Manomaya Kosha to the frequency of our individual minds; Vijnanamaya Kosha to the frequency of energy that connect us to the universal pool of energy; Anandamaya Kosha, to the body of bliss. Moving through the nadis (from the outside in)is like moving through the Koshas (from physical to spiritual)—we start at the most superficial place in both cases, and end up at the most important and meaningful place.

Take the Buddha for example. The Buddha tried so hard and for so long to reach enlightenment via his senses. He submitted himself to starvation, self-mortification, breathing, taxing meditations, and many other techniques of physical and mental stress hoping to reach enlightenment. None of them worked. It was only when he sat under the Boddhi Tree and lost his mind rather than his human form, that he was able to attain Nirvana or Samadhi because Brahma Nadi was revealed.