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What is Kundalini Syndrome?

By G. Wiesen
Updated May 17, 2024
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Kundalini syndrome consists of a group of symptoms that affects a person’s psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being. This condition has been noted to arise primarily from practitioners of certain meditational and yoga practices who do not properly control energy within themselves and who fail to cleanse themselves of negative energy. The syndrome has also been noted in cases in which a person undergoes a near-death experience and afterward develops many of the same symptoms found in those affected due to meditation. Kundalini syndrome often manifests itself in a number of ways that can be difficult to explain, though it is often described as a buildup of heat or energy in a person’s spine.

Often associated with kundalini yoga and other forms of meditation, kundalini syndrome is generally regarded as a strongly negative condition that can leave someone quite shaken. Kundalini yoga and similar practices often seek to awaken kundalini energy within a person’s body, typically through yoga, meditation, and proper alignment of a person’s chakras. If done properly, this awakening can result in a greater sense of awareness and personal harmony, often accompanied by a general sense of spiritual empowerment. When performed incorrectly, however, the process can result in kundalini syndrome and create very negative consequences.

Kundalini syndrome is similar to certain conditions that some people have felt during a near-death experience. In general, the sensation is often described as a buildup of energy or heat in a person’s spine; kundalini energy is said to lie at the base of a person’s spine until awakening. During a positive kundalini awakening, this energy is controlled and moved upward through a person’s chakras to give a person the full benefit of such energy. When not properly controlled, however, the energy can move without direction throughout a person’s body and result in the negative sensations associated with kundalini syndrome.

Some of the most common physical aspects of kundalini syndrome are a feeling of aches and pains in joints or limbs, itching, and a feeling of heat in the back. There are also psychological symptoms common to this experience, such as feelings of fear and anxiety. These sensations, accompanied by the amplification of other negative feelings due to kundalini energy, can ultimately result in a sense of detachment from a person’s body and the world around him or her. Someone experiencing kundalini syndrome may feel depersonalized and a sense of alienation from the world and from his or her own body. This is why most practitioners of kundalini yoga and transcendental meditation warn that an experienced teacher or yogi should guide anyone looking to begin such practices.

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Discussion Comments

By anon1003541 — On Jul 17, 2020

I had a very active meditation practice for twenty years, and last year experienced terrible "kundalini syndrome." What I now believe is that this syndrome was actually a spiritual attack.

I want to reiterate that Satan is actively working against those who love God. He used my love of God to trick me; when I was in meditation, he spoke my name in a voice that sounded like thunder. He made me think that God had spoken my name. He can imitate voices--even the voice you would expect from God. He imitated the voice of Jesus as well, claiming that he was Jesus. This led down a road of absolute terror, where he would make me feel all kinds of things in my body--"kundalini syndrome".

I prayed the Lord's Prayer and simply stated, "Jesus will you help me?" This enabled Jesus to begin the process of extricating the devil from my life. When I prayed these words, I stopped feeling the terror. I believe he needs our invitation and permission to begin his process, and it is a process. Satan does not give up quickly--he disappears for awhile, and comes back when you least expect it. Just remember to ask Jesus for help. Also, go to a psychiatrist; they won't believe that you are hearing real voices, but the medicine they can prescribe will help. It won't erase the presence of bad spirits, but at least it will be a little easier to ignore them.

By Lostnfound — On Nov 17, 2014

@Grivusangel -- I wondered where you were going with that at first, but I definitely see your point. The feelings of pain, fear, anxiety, etc., all speak to something not nearly as benign as yoga and meditation practices are said to be.

I'd say a lot of prayer and other, more focused spiritual exercises would be much more beneficial, like reading scripture and talking to a spiritual adviser about these feelings, assuming a doctor has ruled out a physical, medical cause. People can certainly make themselves vulnerable to undesirable spiritual influences and I have to wonder if that's what has happened here.

By Grivusangel — On Nov 16, 2014

I guess I'm just a skeptic, but what? I can see this resulting from some kind of near death experience since that's a huge trauma to the body, and I know many people who have had serious accidents, for example, to have something like PTSD -- which is what a near-death experience might cause, I would think.

While I can see some benefits of yoga, like greater flexibility, breath control and so forth, I've always been suspicious of transcendental meditation. As a spiritual person, I believe once you open certain doors, you can't control what walks through those doors. I don't know that kundalini energy has a thing in the world to do with it. I think it's something a little more sinister.

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