Kundalini

Kundalini (कुण्डलिनी, IAST: Kuṇḍalinī) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu girl-name meaning “The coiled one; serpentine primal energy”. From kuṇḍala (coil, ring) with the suffix -inī indicating possession of that quality, Kuṇḍalinī names the dormant serpentine cosmic force that lies coiled at the mūlādhāra chakra, waiting to rise through the suṣumnā and unite with pure consciousness at the crown — an act Lalitā herself embodies.

Meaning, etymology & significance

The root kuṇḍa means a circular vessel or pit, and kuṇḍala refers to a coil or ring, making Kuṇḍalinī literally 'she who is coiled' — an evocative image of the Goddess's śakti resting in a triple spiral at the base of the spine in every living being. When awakened through yoga, mantra, or devotion, she ascends like a luminous serpent, illuminating each chakra until she dissolves into the supreme bliss of Lalitā's own nature. This name thus encapsulates the entire inner journey of Śākta-tantra.

Kuṇḍalinī is one of Lalitā Devī's most celebrated and widely recognised epithets, and while it carries deep esoteric meaning, it is also used as a given name in spiritual families who wish to honour the Goddess's transformative power. Pronounce Kuṇ-ḍa-li-nī with a retroflex ṇ and a long final ī.

Scriptural source

Kundalini appears in the Lalitha Sahasranama, among the sacred names of Lalitha.

Astrology — nakshatra, rashi & numerology

By the standard Vedic correspondence between a name’s first syllable and the lunar mansion, Kundalini aligns with the Ardra nakshatra, under the Mithuna rashi (Moon sign). Its Chaldean name-number is 1.