Granthis
Granthis (Sanskrit for "knots") are the three major energy blockage zones along the sushumna. They are a higher-level map of the nervous system than individual chakras — each granthi compiles multiple chakras into a regional summary.
The three knots
- Brahma Granthi — pelvic region, including the root (muladhara). Seat of primal energy, instinct, sexual force. The first and most fundamental knot to begin opening.
- Vishnu Granthi — central region from navel to heart and throat. The region of emotional and social life, relational love, will, and expression.
- Rudra Granthi — the head, including third eye (ajna) and crown (sahasrar). The region of higher mind, spiritual intuition, and infinite consciousness.
AYP's stance — under the hood
Lesson 276 treats granthis the same way it treats chakras: as internal structure that is addressed automatically by doing sound practices. Practitioners don't need to focus on granthis individually — just as they don't need to focus on individual chakras.
Lesson 276: "The map is not the enlightenment itself. The practices and the results within us that fulfill the purpose of the map are the enlightenment."
AYP's complete practice system, mapped to the granthis it addresses:
| Practice(s) | Region addressed |
|---|---|
| Deep meditation + spinal breathing pranayama | Global — all three knots |
| Mulabandha, siddhasana, tantric practices | Brahma granthi (pelvic) |
| Uddiyana, nauli, navi kriya | Vishnu granthi (central) |
| Chin pump | Vishnu/Rudra junction (throat/cervical) |
| Sambhavi, kechari | Rudra granthi (head) |
| Samyama, yoni mudra kumbhaka, spinal bastrika, asanas | Multiple regions, moving consciousness and energy through pathways |
The result: without direct concentration on any granthi, the complete AYP system covers all three regions thoroughly — by observing causes and effects with practices and applying self-pacing.
Relation to chakras
Granthis are a coarser-grained view of the same territory chakras map at the individual-center level. Just as AYP treats chakras as "under the hood," granthis are also under the hood. The purpose of knowing either framework is to understand why practices are sequenced the way they are — not to focus attention on knots or centers during practice. See chakras.
Source lessons
- Lesson 276 — Granthis: The Three Knots (three knots mapped to the three regions; AYP practices address all granthis automatically; "the map is not the enlightenment")