Aquarian Sadhana: Why We Rise Before the World Does

The alarm goes off while most of the world is still asleep, and the mind usually has an immediate opinion about it. Mine has produced some very convincing arguments for staying under the doona over the years.

Then Japji begins.

The house is quiet, the sky is dark and nobody is asking anything from us yet. No messages are arriving. The day has not started pulling the mind towards appointments, responsibilities and unfinished conversations.

We rise before the world does because these early hours give us room to meet ourselves before the noise begins.

Aquarian Sadhana is a complete early-morning practice shared by Kundalini Yoga communities around the world. We begin with Japji Sahib, move into a Kundalini Yoga kriya and relaxation, then chant the seven Aquarian Sadhana mantras for 62 minutes.

Some mornings feel expansive. On other mornings the body is stiff, the mind wanders and staying present takes effort. Both experiences belong in the practice. Sadhana is less about creating a particular feeling and more about returning, listening and allowing the practice to meet us as we are that morning.

Join the next Aquarian Sadhana — Saturday 19 September 2026, 5:30–8:00 am AEST (Brisbane time). In person in Inglewood, Queensland, and live on Zoom. Offered by donation, with a free option available.

What happens during Aquarian Sadhana?

Aquarian Sadhana follows a traditional sequence, although the exact finishing time can shift by a few minutes because we are practising together rather than running a military parade.

5:30 am: Japji Sahib. We begin by reciting Japji Sahib, the morning prayer composed by Guru Nanak. Japji usually takes about 20 minutes in our gathering. Newcomers are welcome to listen or follow the transliteration. You will never be asked to read aloud by yourself or expected to know the words. Listening is also participation.

About 5:50 am: Tuning in, Kundalini Yoga and relaxation. After Japji, we tune in and move through a Kundalini Yoga kriya. The practice changes at each gathering and usually lasts between 35 and 45 minutes, including relaxation. Movement can be adapted for the floor or a chair. You can pause, reduce the pace or rest whenever your body asks for something different.

About 6:40 am: The Aquarian Sadhana mantras. The final section is approximately 62 minutes of mantra: Morning Call (Long Ek Ong Kars) for 7 minutes; Wah Yantee for 7 minutes; Mul Mantra for 7 minutes; Sat Siri Siri Akal for 7 minutes; Rakhe Rakhanhar for 7 minutes; Wahe Guru Wahe Jio for 22 minutes; Guru Ram Das for 5 minutes.

The words and transliterations are provided. You can chant, listen or gradually join as the sounds become familiar. We close together and finish by approximately 8:00 am.

Why practise before sunrise?

The early morning period is traditionally known as the amrit vela. It is the quiet time before sunrise when the world around us has very little momentum.

By beginning our practice then, we meet the mind before it fills with the day. We can hear the difference between what is genuinely present and what has been picked up from emails, news, other people and the long list waiting on the kitchen bench.

That does not mean every sadhana will feel peaceful. The mind can wander, the legs may ask for a change, and a mantra can hold our attention for a while before the thoughts return. We keep coming back to the breath, the sound and the people practising beside us.

By the time the world begins moving, we have already spent time in prayer, movement, relaxation and mantra. The responsibilities are still there, but we meet them after giving something to the inner life first.

Practising in Sangat

Aquarian Sadhana can be practised alone, but gathering in Sangat changes the experience.

When one person loses the rhythm, the voices around them carry it. When somebody feels tired, they are held by a practice that is already moving. Nobody has to create the whole experience alone.

Online participants are part of that Sangat too. We may be sitting in different homes, towns or countries, but we begin together and move through the same sequence in real time.

Are beginners welcome?

Yes. Aquarian Sadhana is open to beginners.

Previous experience with Kundalini Yoga, Japji or mantra is unnecessary. You can listen until the words become familiar, follow the transliteration and use a chair or movement variation during the kriya.

You will receive guidance throughout the practice. Nobody is tested on pronunciation, flexibility or their ability to sit perfectly still before breakfast.

If you have an injury, health condition, mobility concern or any uncertainty about the movement, let me know when you register. I can help you prepare an appropriate chair or floor setup.

What should I bring?

For the Inglewood gathering, bring a yoga mat, a cushion or meditation support, a light blanket or shawl, water, and warm layers, especially during the cooler early-morning hours. Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move and sit.

Many Kundalini yogis choose to wear white and cover the head during practice. This is part of the tradition and is used by some practitioners to support focus and contain their energy during meditation. Both are welcome, and neither is a condition of joining.

Joining Aquarian Sadhana on Zoom

Set up your practice space the evening before if possible. At 5:20 in the morning, searching for a charger under the bed can feel like a kriya of its own.

Please join five to ten minutes early, keep your device connected to power, place your mat or chair where you can see the screen, keep your microphone muted during Japji, the kriya and mantra, and use your camera if it helps you feel connected, although it is optional. Choose a quiet room and let the people in your home know when you will finish. Keep your blanket, water and mantra text close by.

Register before the gathering so I can send you the Zoom link and any information you will need for the morning.

What if I cannot stay for the full practice?

The complete sequence is encouraged because each part leads naturally into the next. Life also has its realities, and missing the gathering altogether is unnecessary when you can genuinely attend part of it.

Tell me before we begin if you have to leave early. Good transition points are after Japji or after the Kundalini Yoga and relaxation, before the 62-minute mantra sequence begins.

If you are joining online, remain muted and leave quietly at the transition. In the studio, sit close to the exit so you can slip out without interrupting the group. Planning your departure beforehand allows you to be fully present for the time you are able to share with us.

You may be surprised by what stays with you

Aquarian Sadhana finishes around the time many people are beginning their morning.

The sun comes up. The kettle goes on. Messages start arriving and the ordinary day continues.

Yet something from the practice can remain. It may be the rhythm of a mantra, a line from Japji or the memory of sitting with other people while the sky slowly changed outside.

That is why we rise before the world does. We give ourselves time with the soul before the day tells us who we are supposed to be.

Join our next Aquarian Sadhana — Saturday 19 September 2026, 5:30–8:00 am AEST, Inglewood and live on Zoom. Donation based, with a free option available.

Have a question about Zoom, chair variations or attending part of the practice? Email Adi before the gathering.

Further reading: What I Know About Aquarian Sadhana (3HO International) and Guidance for Leading Morning Sadhana from the Kundalini Research Institute.