The Serpent Power: The Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga

by Arthur Avalon and John Woodroffe

Book Overview

Who is Kundalini, the Serpent Power? Mythologically, she is an aspect of the Shakti (power or energy) and consort of Shiva. Philosophically, she is the creative energy that eventually forms mind and matter, and comes to rest in the lowest form of matter. She is consciousness: the power of matter to know itself. In terms of Tantric practice, she is the mysterious power that resides in the human body and can be awakened through suitable techniques:...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B007CJ4120
• ISBN13: 9780486230580
• Release Date: June 1974
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 592 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A basic book of tantra

The book is not a lightweighter. It furnishes many details that are not easy to find elsewhere, about the lore of the cerebrospinal chakras (lotuses, vortexes of energy), but the terminology is probably a lot to chew on and digest. The content is not easy to digest, but hard. And calm, individual analyses of the chakras and kundalini is not easy to get at anyhow. Even so, the book covers more ground than many other books in this street, so to speak.

Hardcore Shaktic and Tantric Kundalini Yoga (Chakras)

The only reason why I have this book, which is mostly hardcore Hinduism, is because of reading - The Tibetan Book of the Dead by W.Y.Evans-Wentz which is essentially Buddhism. In that book, and especially his follow-up books (Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines), Evans-Wentz makes reference to The Serpent Power in many of his footnotes. There are also introductions by Sir John Woodroffe (Arthur Avalon) in the books of Evans-Wentz. There are aspects of Buddhism and Hinduism that are intertwined. Hinduism is more like Christianity, in that it uses deities and faith to help one understand much of that which it espouses on. Buddhism is more psychological and metaphysical. That is why Evans-Wentz books have all introductions by Jung.One of the main points of interest that has been adopted by Buddhism are the chakra, which are better known as - The Psychic Centers. There are seven of these centers in the human body. They are connected and are mostly psychological. Evans-Wentz does a good job of explaining these Psychic Centers in his own books but if you really want to see where Buddhist chakra developed from then no look further than the master book on the topic - The Serpent Power.Now a word of warning. Hinduism is nothing like Buddhism or Christianity and this book is a world away from most Buddhist literature. It is heavy on Sanskrit and is certainly tough reading. However this whole book is a secret doctrine about the chakra, the psychic centers and Kundalini yoga. That doctrine is also called - The Description of the Six Chakras and the Five-fold footstool. There is 300 pages of an introduction and then the entire translation of that doctrine.Those who wish to find out more about Kundalini Yoga or the Chakra may be advised to check out the works of W.Y.Evans-Wentz first before moving on to this more complex topic. It is presented in the manner of Hinduism and is certainly tough going - however the goal is attainable right here within these pages.

No better book on the subject has come out since.

This book stands head and shoulders above every book on the subject that has come out since, especially the recent glut of "new age" fluff books. (Hint: never subscribe to a philosophy with a name that rhymes with "sewage.")

On Point

This book is one of the more sophisticated of the books that deals with this topic. Givin in a traditional fashion that could be annoted only to such a scholar, and pioneer, as John Woodroffe. The detail is uncompairable and unless you have a solid understanding for the language and representations, it is a hard read.

The best work on Kundalini in English

This work will bring the reader into the power of Devatma Shakti Kundalini just by reading and pondering the text. Old feelings will find a home in the transformation from experience to understanding as the book flows forward. Gentle delight is the mark of a true Tantric text and this book, although strange and difficult at times, is pure de-light. If you want to know about Chakras and such, this is a classic text by one who really knows. Old and grand, this is a favorite treasure of mine and one I give away regularly to friends who must have more. Lam-to-Aum... Riley Jackson