kundalini

noun, often capitalized kun·da·li·ni \ ˌku̇n-də-ˈlē-nē , ˌkən- \

Definition of kundalini

: the yogic life force that is held to lie coiled at the base of the spine until it is aroused and sent to the head to trigger enlightenment

kundalini was our Word of the Day on 10/04/2008. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of kundalini from the Web

Born to an American mother from Long Beach, California, and a Swedish father, Westman briefly lived on a kundalini ashram in Los Angeles as a child and moved to Sweden at age 10.

— florence kane, WSJ, "At Home With the Power Couple Behind New Makeup Line Westman Atelier," 31 Mar. 2018
Gentle kundalini yoga For beginners to advanced practitioners.

— Washington Post, "Fairfax County community calendar, Sept. 21-27, 2017," 21 Sep. 2017
Gentle kundalini yoga For beginners to advanced practitioners.

— Washington Post, "Fairfax County community calendar, Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2017," 30 Aug. 2017
Gentle kundalini yoga For beginners to advanced practitioners.

— Washington Post, "Fairfax County community calendar, Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2017," 30 Aug. 2017
Gentle kundalini yoga For beginners to advanced practitioners.

— Washington Post, "Fairfax County community calendar, July 20-27, 2017," 19 July 2017
Gentle kundalini yoga For beginners to advanced practitioners.

— Washington Post, "Fairfax County community calendar, July 20-27, 2017," 19 July 2017
Gentle kundalini yoga For beginners to advanced practitioners.

— Washington Post, "Fairfax County community calendar, June 15-22, 2017," 14 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kundalini.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Kundalinī is the feminine form of the Sanskrit adjective meaning "circular" or "coiled." In yoga, the word applies to the life force that lies like a coiled serpent at the base of the spine and that can be sent along the spine to the head through prescribed postures and exercises. On the way, the kundalini passes through six chakras, or points of physical or spiritual energy in the human body. At the seventh chakra, the yogi is said to experience enlightenment.