Sadhguru, the renowned spiritual leader, has a story that often leaves people astonished. He once lived with 20 live cobras in his bedroom, a practice rooted in his profound understanding of energy, awareness, and the soul. Here is his fascinating explanation.
The Unusual Bond with Snakes
Sadhguru describes being able to walk up Chamundi Hill in Karnataka and precisely know under which rock a snake was hiding. 'I could easily track a snake in the wild. I would smell it and just go and catch it. If I went to some spot on Chamundi Hill, I would know under exactly which rock the snake would be at that moment,' he says, as recorded on the Isha Foundation website.
School Days and a Reputation
During his school years, the campus was large and snakes were common. While others were terrified, Sadhguru could catch them effortlessly. His reputation grew, and soon people would call him whenever a snake was spotted. He recalls being called to a tubelight factory where a large cobra had halted work for 25 to 30 employees, who refused to move until the snake was dealt with.
A Snake Under His Bed for Three Years
In another incident, his father discovered a snake under his bed. 'He bent down and looked but couldn't see anything. Then he looked under my bed and saw the snake and freaked out totally. He was hopping mad when I came home. Everyone was standing on chairs and sofas though the snake was still in the jar. They asked me to leave it out but I put it on the terrace. The snake was with me for almost 3 years. Later on I let him go in my farm.'
'There was a time when I used to have twenty live cobras all over my bedroom. They would be just everywhere. It takes a certain level of alertness and awareness to live with them. They are very wonderful but one wrong move and you know what,' he says.
The Secret to His Ease
Sadhguru's comfort with snakes is neither bravado nor mysticism; it is practical. 'The snake is one animal where you can just pick it up gently and it just won't do anything to you if you are not agitated,' he explains. Agitation triggers a response in the handler, which the snake picks up on. Staying calm and slow changes the snake's reaction entirely.
Snakes, Energy, and the Soul
For Sadhguru, this connection goes deeper. He links snakes to Indian spiritual traditions, including the symbolism of kundalini and reverence at Naga temples. 'One reason why the snake is worshiped in India is because it is a symbolism of kundalini. In India, if a snake dies they give it a proper funeral, because in the evolution of the body, a monkey is very close to human beings but in the evolution of the soul, a snake and cow are very close to the human soul,' he says.
