Sadhguru, the renowned spiritual leader, has a remarkable story that often leaves people astonished. He once lived with 20 live cobras in his bedroom, a practice that highlights his deep understanding of energy, awareness, and the soul. This unique experience sheds light on his extraordinary connection with snakes.
The Ability to Track Snakes
Sadhguru has described his ability 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 said, as documented on the Isha Foundation's website.
School Days: Catching a 12-Feet Cobra
During his school years, the campus was large and snakes were common. While most people were terrified, Sadhguru could catch them easily. His reputation grew, and soon people would call him whenever a snake was spotted. He recalls an incident at a tubelight factory where a big cobra had halted work for 25 to 30 employees. He was called to handle the situation.
Keeping a Snake Under His Bed for Three Years
In another instance, his father discovered a snake under his bed. 'Then one day my father went into my room and he heard some noise. He bent down and looked but he 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. He was so terrified and everyone was standing on the 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.'
He further added, '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.'
The Secret: Calmness and Awareness
His ease with snakes is not bravado or mysticism but practical understanding. '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 explained. Fear triggers a response in the handler, and the snake picks up on it, leading to danger. Staying calm and slow changes the snake's behavior entirely.
Spiritual Significance of Snakes
For Sadhguru, the human relationship with snakes connects to ancient Indian spiritual traditions. Snakes symbolize kundalini energy and are revered in 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 said.
