We are taught that regardless of whether Kundalini is awakened knowingly.....we r still roasting the seeds of karma thru the practice of kriya or similar techniques. The astral spine holds all the memories from all past life encounters and all the seeds of that karma lie there ready to be opened. When we bring this energy up down the spiritual spine through yoga or visualization, and at some point, through actual awareness we slowly burn out all the karma we have generated in this life and thousands of other lives as well. Otherwise we have to go thru many thousands and perhaps millions of years evolving on this earth plain through various incarnations here or similar planets.
i have had experiences with kundalini rising. They r truly inspiring and gives r practice quite a boost. They r a bit like proof in the practice. However even though we may have such experiences, usually we have long years ahead of us in the practice of meditation and spiritual disciplines. The experiences alone r not really a sign of spiritual progress so much as attitude and behavior changing as a result of sadhana (spiritual practice and discipline). If we can look back at our lives and see progress in our way of looking at the world, people around us and ourselves, i believe this is the strongest indication of spiritual progress.
There is much more emphasis on bringing energy up in down the spiritual spine and focusing with visualization on the chakras in Ammas iam technique and Babajis' Kriya technique (the second, third and fourth kriyas expanding the visualization on the chakras and energy flowing up the spine.) then the kundalini. i would say that all these spiritual exercises lead to this awakening.
Even an interest in such subjects show definite spiritual progress. But the dharma (duty) involved in sadhana is a daily and moment to moment practice that is a routine that most of us r only beginning to understand; how it affects every encounter we have and every moment of our lives in our unfolding awareness.
I have read that some folks claim that when they experience kundalini rising (not sure if it was thru a scientific method or it was spontaneous), they feel "orgasmic" feelings thru each chakra as it moves up the spine. Again PY doesn't talk this way, but does allude that the feeling is better than any physical feelings. I wonder if the former folks actually do feel that way, and they have awakened kundalini, or it has awakened on its own, and some kind of karma or attachment need to be worked out. This is one example where it could be a little dangerous, and maybe lead you the wrong way.
I haven't personally experienced the feeling quite like that, but I would say it is different and at times equally as powerful and satisfying. The problem with that I think is, that's when you get attached to a feeling, hard not to.
