Kanda and its location

Version for print

15.09.2017
Many Yogic texts mention a certain area called kanda, which means "bulb" or "root", from
where all body’s nadis take a flow. But since the texts sometimes contain different
information about the location of kanda, confusion may arise. The reason for the
misunderstanding may be that the concept of kanda is associated with tantric symbols
which is not explained in the texts in details.

Let's go through some classical sources and see what they tell about kanda:

Siddha-siddhanta paddhati:
2.1. There are nine chakras in pinda. At the base is brahma-chakra. It has three turns and
form of a circle of yoni. There is mula-kanda in brahma-chakra. One should meditate there
on Shakti in the form of fire. There is also located Kamarupa-pitha, that fulfills all desires.
2.2. The second is svadhishthana-chakra. In its center one should meditate on lingam that
is facing west and that is alike a branch of a coral. There is also located Uddiyana-pitha
that attracts [the whole] world.

Viveka-martanda:
19. Adhara is the first chakra, svadhishthana – second one. In the area of yoni, between
those chakras, is Kamarupa.
26. In sushumna that is like a string of lightning, in the navel area is located kanda. This
chakra is called manipuraka.
28. Above the genitals and under the navel is located kanda-yoni that is like a bird's egg.
From here 72,000 nadis begins.

Hatha-yoga pradipika:
3.113. Kanda, located above the anus, has a height of a palm (12 fingers or 9 inches) and
is four fingers wide; it is soft and white, as if wrapped in a piece of cloth.
Goraksha-yoga:
25. All 72,000 nadis begin from kanda, or yoni, which is just above the penis and below the
navel, as if from a bird's egg.

It may seem that the texts speak about different locations of kanda (in the muladhara, in the
manipura, between the penis and the navel). But if you turn to Tantra, you can see that the
texts describe one structure, just from different perspectives.

In Tantra, kanda is linked to triangle of Kamakala, from which the entire creation is
manifested (hence the fact that kanda is the source of all nadis of the body, micro-cosmos).
Kamakala triangle is directed downwards (symbol of Shakti), the lower corner is connected
with fire and sushumna, the upper left corner is associated with moon and ida, and the
upper right - with the sun and pingala.

It is mentioned that Kamarupa (Kamakhya-pitha) is located in muladhara and Shakti in the

form of fire redirects directly to the lower (fiery) corner of Kamakala.

In Srividya, Uddiyana-pitha is connected with the center of Sriyantra, that is bindu, and
hence with the center of the Kamakala triangle. And in the yogic texts, Uddiyana-pitha is
mentioned in svadhishthana. That is, there is the center of Kamakala or kanda in
svadhishthana.

The rest of kanda is above svadhishthana, reaching manipura.

Therefor according to the texts, kanda is symbolically represented as a triangle, extends

from muladhara to manipura, this corresponds exactly to the length of 12 fingers indicated
in Hatha-yoga pradipika.

It is also said that Kundalini sleeps in kanda, folded in three and a half turns. These three
coils of Kundalini are connected with the three corners of the triangle. And in the texts
folded Kundalini can also be mentioned in muladhara, in manipura and in svadhishthana.