Commentary on Paramahansa Nityananda's Chidakasha Gita–Number 2
by Swami Nirmalananda Giri

Chidakasha Gita 2-4

2. There are three nadis (subtle energy channels) in the body: the sun or the sushumna, the moon or the ida, the star or the pingala. The first is red in color, the second, blue, and the third, green.

3. Where these three nadis meet, is the heart-space. As we go on practicing yoga, the bindu-sound is heard in the head. This sound is one, indivisible.

It is absolutely necessary for the aspiring yogi to have some theoretical knowledge of his subtle anatomy, for that is the inner mechanism which comes more and more into function on the conscious level as he progresses further and further toward enlightenment. So Nityananda is describing to us the three major channels within our subtle bodies which carry not only the movements of the highest, rarefied spiritual energies, but through which consciousness itself moves and manifests. Knowledge of these three is very necessary to us all who seek the Self by the practice of yoga.

As can be seen by further reading in the Chidakasha Gita, Paramhansa Nityananda was adamant that the chakras and major nadis found in the body were merely subordinate reflections of the chakras and nadis in the head, where true sadhana takes place and true enlightenment occurs. We should keep this in mind whenever he speaks of these things.

In meditation yogis experience the reality of these things which at first encounter (especially in the West) seem baseless mythologies. But this is the glory of yoga: we can experience those realities for ourselves. Many yogis have doubted various statements or descriptions in the ancient texts, but as they progressed in their practice they experienced the truth of those statements for themselves–much to their surprise. It is the same with Nityananda’s assertions.

Most people see lights during some part of their meditation, and red, blue, and green lights are sometimes seen. When this happens we can know which of the three main channels is dominant at the moment. They are united in the head (brain), the Sahasrara or Thousand-Petalled Lotus. There is the Chidakasha, the Space of Consciousness, the Heart Space.

Sound rises from the Chidakasha, and those who meditate by repeating the sacred syllable Om will find that It originates in the head where the faculty of inner speech (thought) resides. First we hear our own intonations of Om occurring there, and after a while we are aware that the subtle whisper of Om is going on there continuously, that we are linking up with It by our practice of Om Yoga. It is the eternal source of all manifestation–of all our involvement in relative existence, as well as leading us beyond relativity, back to our Origin.

4. Just as camphor is consumed by the flames of fire, so also, mind must be consumed by soul fire.

Real camphor–not the synthetic camphor usually available–burns up totally, leaving no ash or soot. In other words, when it is gone, it is gone. No trace remains. In the same way the lower, sensory mind ruled by ego and material consciousness, must be “evaporated” by the heat of spiritual attainment, by the fire of yoga practice. There is no “thing” that the Spirit cannot transmute into Consciousness, back into Itself. So that which is worshipped by bound souls must be dissolved for them to be free. And that dissolution must be done consciously and intentionally. Otherwise nothing will happen. We are wise if we keep this fact in mind.