Chakras
Submitted by divine_sysop on June 5, 2009 - 08:20
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According to tantra yoga, all of the entities that are present in creation are present in the body, and each tattva (entity) has its own center of activity, which is called a chakra.
These chakras receive, assimilate and manipulate prana, which is the basic source of the bodys energy.
Chakras are not anatomical locations within the physical body that can be seen by dissection.
They are subtle centers of Consciousness (Shakti) located within the spinal cord, originating in the lower end of the spinal column and continuing to the top of the brain.
Each of the chakras radiates thousands of nadis of prana (vital force) in different directions. The chakras are seen as a lotus flower, with the nadis forming the petals of the lotus. These chakras or psychic centers interact with the physical body, especially the endocrine glands and lymphatic system, through the exchange of prana or bio-energy.
There are six major chakras or centers of Consciousness described in the tantric texts. Each of these chakras is the center of a particular entity; a tanmatra (basic element) and the related indriya (organ) are connected to it. Apart from different regions of the body, the organism as a whole has a distinct Consciousness called the jiva.
Muladhara Chakra:
The muladhara chakra represents the earth element, the root or support of sushumna and the resting place of kundalini. The muladhara chakra is also at the root of all chakras. It is located at the perineum, midway between the genitals and the anus. It is also the place where the sushumna nadi and the roots of all of the nadis meet. It has four petals bearing four Sanskrit letters.
Swadishthana Chakra:
The swadishthana chakra represents the water element. This chakra is located at the root of the genitals. This chakra is placed within the sushumna nadi. It has six petals with six Sanskrit letters.
Manipura Chakra:
The manipura chakra represents the fire element. Located in the navel region, above the swadishthana chakra, it has ten petals with ten Sanskrit letters. These are the three centers that form the virat (gross body).
Anahata Chakra:
The anahata chakra represents the air element. This chakra is located in the heart region. Anahata means the sound that is produced without the striking of two things together. It has twelve petals with an equal number of Sanskrit letters.
Vishudha Chakra:
The vishudha chakra represents the space element. This chakra is located at the base of the throat. It has sixteen petals with sixteen Sanskrit letters. Lord Sadashiva in the form of Ardanarishwara with Gouri is present here. Here the yogi becomes trikaladarshi, seer of the three forms of time: past, present and future. The jiva (Self) attains purity here.
Agya Chakra:
The agya chakra is beyond all elements. Located between the eyebrows, here the sadhaka (practitioner) receives the command of the Guru in the form of Shiva. It has two petals with two Sanskrit letters.
There are three granthis (knots) where the mayashakti (the power of nature) is particularly concentrated. They are: Brahma granthi between muladhara and svadhistana, vishnu granthi between manipura and anahata, and rudra granthi between the vishuddha and ajna chakras. These granthis are to be loosened and undone for yogic liberation to be possible.
According to the classical tantric texts, there are two minor chakras above the ajna chakra. One chakra is the manasa chakra with six petals. It is the seat of sensations for hearing, touch, sight, smell, taste and centrally initiated sensations in dreams and hallucinations. The second chakra is the soma chakra with sixteen petals. Above the chakras, at the end of the sushumna nadi is the lotus of sahasrara, or the thousand petal lotus. This white lotus has all the tattvas or letters on it. Its head is turned downwards from brahmarandhra (door of God), this is the abode of Para Shiva (Brahman).
