Nadis and the Three Moods
Achieving balance
The human subtle system is a vastly intricate one, made up of thousands of channels which enables the flow of subtle energy throughout the body. The manifestations of subtle energies flowing through these channels at specific locations within the subtle system are called “Chakras” (meaning wheels in Sanskrit). Our entire subtle system is governed by three primary vertical energy channels called "Nadis" in Sanskrit, which interact through the seven main Chakras.
It is only through self-realization that our subtle system is fully activated with the awakening of the Kundalini, which then purifies and balances the entire subtle system and enlightens the pure qualities of the Chakras within us.
Each of the energy channels corresponds to certain moods or qualities in our psyche and supports the full development of a mature personality. In the course of our daily lives, we tend to use either the left channel (called Ida Nadi in Sanskrit), which governs our desires and feelings, or the right channel (called Pingala Nadi in Sanskrit), which governs our thoughts and actions. The excessive tendencies in our lifestyle often disturb the natural balance in our channels and we experience physical, mental and emotional problems. The 3rd energy channel Sushumna, which lies midway between the left and right channels, is only activated by our self-realization when the Kundalini rises and enlightens all our Nadis and Chakras, leading us into a state of inner balance.
These subtle channels are not only mapped in our spinal cord, which expresses itself as a gross sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, but also correspond to specific locations on our hands and legs in our body.
After self-realization, we become clearly aware of the imbalances within our Nadis and Chakras, which we feel as heat, extreme cold or numbness, corresponding to the respective positions in the spinal cord or physical extremities of our body.
Shri Mataji described in detail various clearing techniques, often using one or the other element such as earth, water, fire, air and ether to clear certain blockages on the Nadis and Chakras and bring them to their state of natural balance.