Content uploaded by Kongpop Panyalertsinpaisarn
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Kongpop Panyalertsinpaisarn on Dec 21, 2020
Content may be subject to copyright.
1 | P a g e
Kongpop Panyalertsinpaisarn
School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions
Study on the symbolic of Sat-Chakra-Nirupana
_________________________________________________________________
Chakra (Sanskrit: , IAST: cakra, lit. wheel, circle) are various focal points used in a variety of
ancient meditation practices or inner traditions of Hinduism. Chakra belief held in two parallel dimensions,
one ―physical body‖ (Sthula Sarira) and other ―mind‖ it is called the ―subtle body‖ (Sukshma Sarira). The
subtle body is energy, while the physical body is mass. According to the goals of classical yoga such as
spiritual liberation (freedom, self-knowledge, and moksha) is ―attained entirely differently the cakra in
classical yoga. The concept found in the sources of Hinduism offers seven (Sat-Chakra-Nirupana).
This essay explains the description of these six chakras and the Sahasrara at the seventh point as
follows:
Mūlādhāra Cakra (Sanskrit: , ―Root‖)
- Location: Base of spine
- Number of lotus petals: 4
- Modern colour: Red
Description: Dormant Kundalini is often resting here, wrapped three and a half, or seven or twelve times.
She wrapped around the black Svayambhu linga, the lowest of three obstructions to her full rising. It
symbolized as a four-petaled lotus with a yellow square at its centre illustrating the Earth element.
The seed syllable is Lam for the earth element. All sounds, words and mantras in their dormant form rest
in the Mūlādhāra Cakra, where Ganesha resides, while the Śakti is Dakini. The associated animal is the
elephant.
Image of Mūlādhāra Cakra
Figure 01: The Mūlādhāra Cakra has four petals bearing the Sanskrit letters va, scha, sha and sa. The
centre of a syllable is Lam. A yellow square represents the tattwa of Earth.
2 | P a g e
Svādhiṣṭhāna Cakra (Sanskrit: , “Where the self-established")
- Location: Root of sexual organs
- Number of lotus petals: 6 – petaled lotus
- Modern colour: Orange
- Controls in the physical body: All liquid elements as blood, mucus, lymph, urine, saliva; Seat of
kidney energy, essential vigour of life; Urinary tract, correct reproductive maintenance of water level
in the body, the viscosity of blood.
- Asanas: Sitting Poses, Forward Bends, Hip-Openers, Kneeling, Squatting, Crescent Moon, Cat Pose,
Bridge, Fish, Cobra, Yoga Mudra.
Description: Svādhiṣṭhāna represented with a lotus within which is a crescent moon symbolizing the
water element. The seed mantra in its centre is Vam representing Water. The presiding deity is Brahma, with
the Śakti being Rakini (or Chakini).
Image of Svādhiṣṭhāna Cakra
Figure 02: A Svādhiṣṭhāna Cakra having six petals, bearing the Sanskrit letters ba, bha, ma, ya, ra, and la.
The seed sound in the centre is vam—the tattwa for Water's element shown as a silver crescent.
Maṇipūra Cakra (Sanskrit: , ―Jewel city‖)
- Location: Navel
- Number of lotus petals: 10 – petaled lotus
- Modern colour: Yellow
- Controls in the physical body: Seat of digestive Fire. Controls of the digestive system, muscles.
- Asanas: Twisting Poses and Side Bends: Spinal Twist, Triangle, Cat-dog, Uddiyana Bandha, Agni
Sara, Matyendrasana, Parivritta Trikonasana, Parivritta Utkatasana, and Marichyasana.
Description: For the Nath Yogi Meditation system, this described as the Madhyama-Shakti or the
intermediate self-discovery stage. This chakra represented a downward pointing triangle representing Fire in
the middle of a lotus with ten petals. The seed syllable for Fire is at its centre Ram. The presiding deity is
Braddha Rudra, with Lakini as the Śakti.
3 | P a g e
Image of Maṇipūra Cakra
Figure 03: Maṇipūra Cakra has ten petals, bearing the Sanskrit letters ḍa, ḍha, ṇa, ta, tha, da, dha, na, pa, and
pha. The seed sound in the centre is the ram—the tattwa for Fire's element shown as a red triangle.
Anāhata Cakra (Sanskrit: , ―Unstruck‖)
- Location: Heart
- Number of lotus petals: 12 – petaled lotus
- Modern colour: Green
- Controls in the physical body: Respiratory and circulatory systems; Physical problems, such as
asthma, chronic bronchitis, and lung and breast cancer, may be connected with imbalance of heart
chakra.
- Asanas: Backward bending: Urdhva-Mukhaswanasana – Upward-Facing Dog Pose; Ustrasana –
Camel Pose; Dhanruasana – Bow Pose; Chakrasana – Wheel Pose; Gomukhasana – Cow’s head pose
Description: Within it is a yantra of two intersecting triangles, forming a hexagram, symbolizing a union
of the male and female and being the symbol for the element of air (Vayu). The seed mantra of air, Yam, is
at its centre. The presiding deity is Ishana Rudra Shiva, and the Śakti is Kakini.
Image of Anāhata Cakra
Figure 04: An Anāhata Cakra with a peaked circle around a six-pointed star
4 | P a g e
Viśuddha Cakra (Sanskrit: , ―Purest‖)
- Location: Throat
- Number of lotus petals: 16 – petaled lotus
- Modern colour: Blue
- Controls in the physical body: neck, throat, oesophagus, thyroid and parathyroid glands, vocal cords,
trachea, cervical spine (the seven vertebrae in your neck), mouth, teeth and gums, hypothalamus,
tonsils, ears and audio mechanisms. When its energy is blocked, it may be prone to sore throats,
speech impediments, eating disorders, deafness, teeth clenching, and thyroid imbalance.
- Asanas: Backward bending: Urdhva-Mukhaswanasana – Upward-Facing Dog Pose; Ustrasana –
Camel Pose; Dhanruasana – Bow pose; Chakrasana – Wheel pose; Gomukhasana – Cow’s head pose
Description: The Viśuddha represented 16 petals covered with the sixteen Sanskrit vowels. It is
associated with the element of space (Akaśa) and has the seed syllable of the space element Ham at its
centre. The presiding deity is Panchavaktra Shiva, with five heads and four arms, and the Śakti is Śakini.
Image of Viśuddha Cakra
Figure 05: A Viśuddha Cakra
Ājñā Cakra (Sanskrit: , ―Command‖)
- Location: Between eyebrows
- Number of lotus petals: 2 – petaled lotus
- Modern colour: Indigo
- Controls in the physical body: Brain, skull, eyes. When Ājñā’s energy is blocked, it may be prone to
frequent headaches, learning disabilities, dyslexia, lack concentration, frequent nightmares, or be
very forgetful.
- Asanas: Headstand, Eye Exercises.
Description: Guru Cakra or third-eye Cakra is the subtle centre of energy, where the tantra guru touches
the seeker during the initiation ritual (Saktipata). He or she commands the awakened kundalini to pass
through this centre.
5 | P a g e
Image of Ājñā Cakra
Figure 06: An ājñā Cakra traditional Hindu diagram of third eye Cakra
Sahasrāra Cakra (Sanskrit: , ―Thousand-petaled‖)
- Location: Crown
- Number of lotus petals: 1000 – petaled lotus
- Modern colour: Multi-coloured or violet
- Controls in the physical body: presides over all aspects of the vital energy in all living beings.
- Asanas: Headstand, Scorpion Pose; High Namaskar
The description is the highest spiritual centre, pure consciousness, containing neither object nor subject.
When the feminine Kundalini Shakti rises to this point, it unites with the masculine Shiva, giving self-
realization and samadhi.
Image of Sahasrāra Cakra
Figure 07: A Sahasrāra Cakra has 1000 petals, in 20 layers of 50 petals each
Reference
For more information on ―Understanding Yoga Texts‖ by Professor Dr Sukhbir Singh, School of
Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions, Nalanda University
For more information on Chakras, consult "The Essential Guide to Chakras" and "Chakra
Meditation" by Swami Saradananda.
Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra
Website: https://www.yoga-vidya.org/english/yoga-articles/chakra