Tummo

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Tummo (Tibetan: gtum-mo; Sanskrit: caṇḍālī) is the fierce goddess of heat and passion in
Tibetan Buddhist tradition.[1] Tummo is found in the Mahasiddha Krishnacarya and
the Hevajra Tantra texts.[2]
As a breathing exercise, tummo (Tumo or Chandali yoga) is a part of tantric meditation cycles
for yogic heat, developed around the concept of the female deity. [1][3][4] It is found in the Six
Dharmas of Naropa, Lamdre, Kalachakra and Anuyoga teachings of Tibetan Vajrayana. The
purpose of tummo is to gain control over body processes during the completion stage of
'highest yoga tantra' (Anuttarayoga Tantra) or Anuyoga.

Contents

• 1Nomenclature, orthography and etymology

• 2Practice
• 3Kundalini and tummo
• 4Overview
• 5Scientific investigation
• 6See also
• 7Notes
• 8References
• 9External links

Nomenclature, orthography and etymology[edit]

A section of the Northern wall mural at the Lukhang Temple depicting both Tummo (inner fire) and Phowa (transference of
consciousness)

Tummo (gTum mo in Wylie transliteration, also spelled Tumo, or Tum-mo; Sanskrit caṇḍālī or
Chandali) is a Tibetan word, literally meaning fierce [woman]. Tummo is a Tibetan word
for inner fire.[5]
Tummo may also be rendered in English approximating its phonemic enunciation as 'Dumo'. [6]
Practice[edit]
The "center channel" (dbu ma or avadhuti) is the whole arterial system, or more specifically
the aorta.[7] The two "side channels" are the venous system (roma or rasanā) and the spinal
column and nervous system (rkyang ma or lalanā). [8] A chakra is any place in the body where
there are clusters of arteries, veins and nerves.
In the practice of tummo, the visualization of lower ends to the three channels is primarily
used to focus body awareness in the subnavel area. [9] Breath
retention, mulabandha and uddiyana bandha force vāyu (wind, air) and ojas into the arterial
system.[9] Ojas itself has two stores within the body—the heart and brain.[9] Thus there is the
visualization of blazing and dripping.[9]

Kundalini and tummo[edit]

Miranda Shaw clarifies:

Kuṇḍalinī-yoga offered a range of techniques to harness the powerful psycho-

physical energy coursing through the body... Most people simply allow the energy
to churn in a cauldron of chaotic thoughts and emotions or dissipate the energy in
a superficial pursuit of pleasure, but a yogi or yogini consciously accumulates and
then directs it for specified purposes. This energy generates warmth as it
accumulates and becomes an inner fire or inner heat (candālī) that [potentially]
burns away the dross of ignorance and ego-clinging. [10]

Numerous non-buddhist tantras of the Shakta and Shaiva traditions (generally termed Hindu
by westerners) speak of Kundalini, which is generally described as a coiled energy at the
base of the spine,[11][12][13] at the first chakra.
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