Modern science has addressed the issues concerned with the functioning of the human brain in the personal, social and to an extent in the global contexts. Centuries of efforts in understanding the functioning of human brain have merely provided a basic understanding of about 1% of the human brain. More importantly, the ‘cosmic context’ of its functioning that is richly discussed in the indic scriptures is neither defined nor explored by the current day science. This aspect of human experience, hitherto condemned as abnormal by modern science, may provide vital clues in unraveling the secrets of human brain and its behavior. Modern science postulates that Human brain is like any typical engine with a limited energy at its disposal. The entropy inherent in its functioning leads to irrevocable loss of energy that has to be replenished. The process of replenishment can be natural rest, forced rest or medication that reduces or slows down the brain functioning. The indic scriptures profess that it is possible for the human brain to attain a state called “consciousness” wherein it has an unlimited energy at its disposal. An understanding of this human phenomenon has eluded many scientists and it may be the unexpected science to come in the new millennium. Several methodologies vividly portrayed in the indic scriptures enable an individual to attain this highly coveted state of functioning of the brain. ‘Kundalini Yoga’ is one such methodology. The practitioner of this yoga is called a ‘sadhaka’. Indic scriptures pertaining to this yoga provide graphic descriptions of several ‘mysterious’ experiences that could be encountered by the sadhaka. Lack of scientific basis coupled with gross mis­interpretation and misuse of the descriptions by quacks has condemned many aspects of this yoga into the realms of ‘mysticism’ and obnoxious cults. This article is an attempt to provide a rational view for several mysterious experiences of the practitioners of ‘Kundalini Yoga’. Some approaches to investigate such experiences using scientific methods are also suggested.

Keywords: Kundalini Yoga; Mysticism; Cosmic Context; Mantra; Music.