The Story of Yoga Nidra

BY Arora Indu3 min read • December 12, 2025

Eventually, the Goddess Yoga Nidra (Devi) left the eyes of Vishnu upon being extolled by Brahma...

Once upon a time—so long ago that time was timeless and space was not yet marked by directions or degrees—Vishnu, the One who sustains and preserves all, was resting upon the thousand‑hooded serpent Shesha, gently floating over the waves of the cosmic ocean. The body of the serpent held Vishnu effortlessly, like a cradle of eternity, in a sleep so deep it was more like vast, luminous stillness than ordinary rest.

Hint: Shesha means “that which remains when all is taken away.” Here it symbolizes the cosmic Kundalini force in repose—coiled, endless, primordial. This force is also called Adishesha, the first residue of creation, and Ananta, the endless one.

From the navel of Vishnu—a radiant center of life and fire—a lotus emerged, and upon that lotus sat Brahma, the Divinity of creation, resting in quiet contemplation, preparing to bring forth the cosmos.

Hint: The navel is the first seat of prana, the channel through which nourishment flows from the mother’s womb. In yogic understanding, it is the seat of Brahma, the inner fire that fuels life and transformation.

From Vishnu’s ears, two demons were born: Madhu and Kaitabha. Fierce and restless, they began to charge toward Brahma, threatening the very act of creation. Seeing this, Brahma did not reach for a weapon; instead, he reached for a hymn. He began to sing the sacred verses of the Ratri Suktam, praising and invoking the Goddess known as Yoga Nidra, begging Her to withdraw from Vishnu’s eyes so that he could awaken and save Brahma from the demons.

Hint: Yes, you read it right. Yoga Nidra is the name of a Goddess in the text Devi Mahatmyam (part of the Markandeya Purana). It is not just a relaxation practice, but a way to awaken to the Goddess within.

Hearing Brahma’s praise, the Goddess Yoga Nidra—the very power covering Vishnu’s awareness—left his eyes. Vishnu awoke from his deep meditative slumber to the sound of Brahma’s chants. Rising, he engaged Madhu and Kaitabha in battle and eventually defeated them. After the victory, Vishnu again praised the Goddess, recognizing that it was Her Shakti that both veiled and revealed his own power.

Hint: She blesses us with her auspicious glance when we learn to stay awake and aware during deep “sleep.” It takes practice, but it is possible. This is the heart of Yoga Nidra.

This is just one glimpse into the origin and philosophy of Yoga Nidra. It is not merely guided relaxation, rest, or the name of a technique. It is a doorway into the living presence of Devi and into the vast ocean of Yoga itself. Keep studying, stay curious. The study of Yoga is a vast ocean—dive deep to rise with a pearl of realization.