HISTORY AND LINEAGE
The teaching of the Cobra Breath is an oral lineage passed from teacher to teacher for thousands of years.

It is passed on by word of mouth and has never been written. The reason for this is one of responsibility. If you think about it, because of this oral tradition, the teacher must always meet the student in person. Once something is written anyone can access it.

This tradition is strictly adhered to for reasons of safety in manipulating Kundalini energy. Kundalini energy is the most powerful energy in the body and is nothing to trifle with.

This ancient breath technique was long held secret because of its great power.

Traditionally, one had to live and study in an ashram with a guru for 12 years before this technique was taught. Today, in Western culture, we teach this method after a short period of study and personal contact, with us personally, in all of our workshops.

Nevertheless, our student's results have been excellent, without compromising safety or responsibility. 

The lineage was passed on to Annette & Graeme from Oceana & Icarus, creators of Oztantra, from Bodhi Avinasha, co-author of the book Jewel In the Lotus.

She received the teaching from Sunyata Sariswati who brought it back to the West from a Brahman Ashram probably located somewhere in the Himalayan region of northern India. Sunyata was one of a half dozen Westerners who were admitted to this Ashram, probably in the late 1970's.

It is said that Sunyata spent 30 years traveling the globe researching Tantric traditions in different cultures.

Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of A Yoga, the first book to bring yogic teachings to the Western world, is also in the lineage. The lineage goes back thousands of years originating with a spiritual master named Mahavatar Babaji.

Babaji is also credited with being the originator of the chant "Om Namah Shivaya", a very powerful and heart-opening mantra.

SYMBOLISM
The Cobra snake is chosen as the symbol of the Cosmic Cobra Breath. Kundalini energy has often been depicted in ancient drawings as a serpent coiled three and one half times at the base of the spine.

Kundalini is Life Force, or Consciousness, and also it is sexual energy. When sexual energy is aroused, the serpent may climb up the spine to the higher centres of the brain, expanding the consciousness.

The cobra snake is chosen specifically because it flares its head before striking. This act symbolizes the expansion of consciousness.

A corollary of this symbolism is found in traditional depictions of the Hindu God Shiva. He is always shown with a Cobra snake wound around his body, usually around his neck, but sometimes around his arm or waist.

He, and his followers; the wandering Saddhus in India; often carry a trident, or three-pronged spear. The three blades represent the male, the female and divine union, as in the meaning of the circuit of breathing used in the Cobra Breath.