The Sanskrit word Granthi means knot or doubt. It can also be translated as a particularly difficult knot to unravel. Granthis the knots that bind us.

Granthi are psychological or physic barriers to liberation (Moksha) Granthis prevent prana from its path along sushumna nadi. Granthis bind us to mortal fears, and give us a false impression of reality (avidya) and hold is in a state of I-ness (asmita) and hold us to raga (attachment) and dvesha (repulsion)

There are 3 Granthis in physical body called psychic knots, which are obstacles in the awakening of kundalini.

The granthis are called brahma, vishnu and rudra, and they represent levels of awareness where the power of maya, ignorance and attachment to material things is especially strong. Each aspirant must transcend these barriers to make a clear passageway for the ascending kundalini.

Brahma granthi functions in the region of mooladhara chakra. Its where our basic fears and drives are located. Fear of death, fear of lack of money or food. The fight and flight reaction. It implies attachment to physical pleasures, material objects and excessive selfishness. It also implies the ensnaring power of tamas – negativity, lethargy and ignorance.

Vishnu granthi operates in the region of anahata chakra. This Granthi will hold us to our individual ego. We will feel the need to overpower and dominate, otherwise we may be dominated by the competition. It is associated with the bondage of emotional attachment and attachment to people and inner psychic visions. It is connected with rajas – the tendency towards passion, ambition and assertiveness. 

Rudra granthi functions in the region of ajna chakra. It is associated with attachment to siddhis, psychic phenomena and the concept of ourselves as individuals. One must surrender the sense of individual ego and transcend duality to make further spiritual progress. A symptom of this knot can be a misinterpretation of service. Serving others or communities is only a good thing when it is done freely and without expectation. It can also become a problem if the service is done as a penance, then who is the service performed for, the giver or the receiver.