CHAKRA SYSTEM CHAKINT2.TXT ************************************************************************ With the popularity of the New Age movement, everybody and his brother 'knows the chakra system' these days. The problem with that is: there is no *The* chakra system! [THIS IS The earliest yogic, medical, and even more ancient Tantric texts recognized an *extremely* basic 'chakra system,' consisting of four *subtle* and two *physical* points. The subtle nerve centers, (Chakra means, literally 'wheel' or circle), connected by the channels of the subtle body, were symbolized as lotuses with various numbers and divisions of petals, either upward turned or downward turned. Kundalini Yoga deals with the Chakra system, opening the chakras by rousing Kundalini, the force which sleeps dormant at the root chakra, and leading her upward through the successive chakras to the crown, where the power of sexual energy is united with the power of transcendental energy. The *original* chakra system, as nearly as can be ascertained, due to the well-intended but ignorant translations of Sir John Woodruffe, a British Judge in occupied India, and the published accounts of Theosophist C.W. Leadbetter (may Yama deliver him to the Atrins!), who received his information from I know not where, expressed the root chakra and 'spleen chakra' as the two purely physical--also known as the root and male/female chakra. Then the solar plexus center was recognized as the dwelling-place of the inner sun, and the resting place of Brahma, the creative. The heart chakra was seen as the dwelling place of Visnu, the preserver. The throat chakra seems to have been ignored. Finally, the original view of the 'head chakra' seems to combine the 'third eye' chakra, the downward-turned crescent moon at the hairline, and the 'thousand-petalled lotus' into one; calling it the force of the moon and the dwelling place of Siva. The reason that I emphasize this, is that, while later Tantras and the Siva Samhita give much more detailed accounts of the Chakra System, there are 'views' of the chakras floating around which have no resemblance whatsoever to *anything* from Yogic medical or philosophical texts. The *importance* of this is that, the chakras as meditative tools or ways of channelling energy, should not be allowed to sink into dogma or argument over who has the 'true' system down. The seven-chakra system is now pretty widely recognized; and accurate: the Siva Samhita, as a Tantric text, 'expanded' upon the simplest representation, as is proper. However, whatever view of the system produces results is in its way, the 'proper' system. I was taught a chakra system which differed substantially from that represented in the Siva Samhita; and having it firmly in my mind, understood on the physical, allegorical, and spiritual levels simultaneously, find that *this* is the system that *works* for me. So, even New Agie chakra raps which assign gemstones and 'positive' and 'negative' characteristics which have no base in Eastern thought, can be thought of as the 'true' system, if they enable the individual to evolve spiritually, channel energy, and solve physical problems associated with them. While some modern Tantric teachers maintain that the chakras are wholly 'symbolic,' or exist in the Subtle body only, this is not generally accepted as true. In fact, personal investigation and practice of Kundalini Yoga should reveal the physical/Subtle connections immediately, through direct experience. V. G. Rele, M.D., an Indian physician, has stated that the Ida and Pingala (subtle nerve channels to the left and right of the spine, intersecting at the Susumna, which is contained at the center of the spinal column) "Ida and Pingala exist physically, being the gangliated cords of the sympathetic nervous system situated on either side of the spine. The 'cacras' are junctions of nerve- channels within the physical and subtle bodies." Kundalini Yoga, in both its ancient and modern aspects, directly corresponds to awakening Kundalini, the coiled serpent power who sleeps in the root chakra, and leading her upward, 'illuminating' each successive chakra, and empowering the corresponding physical/ mental/spiritual qualities contained therein. This process could take hours; months; or years to accomplish. Sometimes the 'crown' or thousand-petalled lotus of enlightenment is never reached or 'opened.' First, I'll give you the chakra system that I was taught, including the location, color correspondence, and source of energy for each. Although it doesn't tally with the Siva Samhita or other texts, I list it as an example of 'different strokes for different folks.' Also, each chakra has its location in three places: from the back of the physical body, from the front, and within. 1. Muladhara, the Root Chakra. Represented by a four- petalled Lotus. Its color is vibrant blood-red. It is the resting place of Kundalini and the source of *basic life energy.* Tantric tradition recognizes that basic, vital life energy is sexual in nature, so the root chakra is sometimes referred to as the 'sex chakra,' but this is not literally so. It is located at the very base of the spine--the coccyx--in its 'back' view; at the perenium in both men and women in its 'front' view; and at the nerve-plexus at the first spinal vertabra, from 'within.' It is unalterably connected with the second chakra. 2. Swadhisthana, the Male/Female Chakra. A six-petalled lotus, its color is brilliant orange. This is the chakra where the masculine characteristics and feminine characteristics reside in males and females, respectively. This chakra is more properly called the 'sex chakra,' by some. When the Kundalini rises from Muladhara and joins with Swadhisthana, the basic life energy and sexual energy are united. It is located at the lower region of the small of the back; at the sexual organs; and the region of the 'spleen.' This is where the 'power' and 'characteristics' of maleness and femaleness reside. 3. Manipura, the Solar Plexus, or Power Chakra. It is represented as a 64-petalled lotus, or a sun with 64 rays, facing upward. It is a radiant yellow in color. While described as the location of the 'inner sun,' which represents solar/masculine energy, as taught to me, the Solar Plexus Chakra is the seat of power for both men and women. It is located at the solar plexus region--just above the navel--with corresponding points at the back and within. 4. Anahata, the Heart chakra. It is an 8-petalled lotus, its color is blue--the deepness and richness of the blue depending upon the depth and richness of the chakra in the individual. It is the center of the emotions--all of them. When awakened and 'lit,' it represents the refinement of emotion, the driving away of fear, and 'opening the heart' to higher levels of love. It is located at the center of the breastbone, between the shoulder blades, and 'within the cave of the heart.' 5. Visuddha, the 'throat chakra.' This chakra is located at the hollow of the throat, the back of the neck, and within the thyroid/parathyroid glands. Its color is emerald-green, and it relates to communication; both verbal and intuitive, and the free flow of information. 6. Ajna Chakra, the 'third-eye' chakra. It is located between the eyebrows, at the back of the head, and within the pituitary and pineal glands. Its color is radiant violet, and it relates to 'non-physical seeing,' or Siddhi/psychic abilities and powers. 7. Finally, Sahasrara, the Thousand Petalled Lotus. It is located at the crown of the head (the aperture of Brahma), and is thought of as more Subtle than physical. It is the purest, blindingly luminous white in color. It *is* Enlightenment, the dwelling place of Siva/Sakthi, and when opened provides visions of the 'three realms' and Ananda, or Bliss infinite. The system I was taught also recognizes the 'inner moon,' relating to lunar energy, but as apart from the chakras, or wheels. It is a silver-white crescent, down-turned, located at the hairline. The lunar/feminine flow of energy unites with the upward flow of the solar/masculine energy, purifying body/mind/spirit and destroying the sense of duality. Through meditation and channelling of Kundalini energy upward, with practice, it becomes amazingly obvious that the physical and Subtle centers are connected; sudden and unusual pains in the location of one chakra or another offer valuable clues as to imbalances; physical, emotional, and spiritual. When one recognizes the imbalance, energy can be drawn and distilled in the chakra which relates to that part which is out of harmony. The Siva Samhita associates different colors with the chakras, somewhat different characteristics, and goes into more detail about sense-associations, seed-syllables, etc. This is the account given therein: 1. Muladhara, the root chakra. "This is the root Lotus, of which yoni is the heart. The center is most resplendent, with four petals bearing four characters." Note: yoni with a non-capitalized (y) is also the perenium; sometimes called the 'yoni of man.' It is described as yellow, with the four petals being red. The petals are linked to the four aspects of Prana, and the 'characters' are glyph-symbols of Kundalini not yet woken. It is related to Earth, and its syllable is LANG. 2. Swadhisthana, "The support of the Life Breath," is described as white with six red petals bearing six Sanskrt consonants. "This cacra is the dwelling-place of Rakini, is connected with the sense of taste, the organ of action, and the phenomenon of contraction." Its syllables are RANG and YANG. It is associated with Water. 3. Manipura. "The Lotus of the navel is the seat of physical energy. The seeker who ever meditates on Manipura gains the giver of all attainments; transcends death and disease, fulfills all desires, and defeats time." It is related to Fire and seen as the transforming agent between earth and air. 4. Anahata. "The Center of Unstruck Sound. Set in the center of the heart, it is blue as midnight and has twelve petals of flaming red. This is the place where dwells in delight the Seed of Wind." (The point of origin for the vital Prana force). It is associated, naturally, with Air, and "meditation upon this cacra brings auspicious knowledge of this and other realms." 5. Visuddha is "The Center of Great Purity." It is located in the "pharyngeal region," and associated with Ether. It is white in color, with 16 brilliant silver petals, turning upward. "One who meditates upon this Center, the Gateway to Liberation, obtains knowledge of past, present, and future, becomes a scholar, and a Prince among Yogis." 6. Ajna Chakra, or "Agyan," is the first attainment of mastery over the senses and the Five Great Elements. "It is the Center of Command, situated between the eyebrows. It has two petals and its color is white. Supreme Realization is attained through entering the Ajna Cacra." 7. Sahasrara. "The Lotus of One Thousand Petals controls all, for it is the mind, but the mind is only one-fifth developed! Therefore, it is outside, above, yet within. Through the union of the lowest with the highest, this paradox is transcended, and Ultimate Enlightenment and Liberation attained." The Thousand-Petalled Lotus, or 'crown chakra' is pretty much universally recognized as 'apart' or 'Subtle only,' for it cannot be attained by rote physical practices, no matter how advanced. Many means of opening the chakras are described, including several techniques in various text files in the library online. Meditation, Pranayama, Hatha asana, and sexual union are all ways of opening the chakras, however it is also pretty universally agreed that one must gain mastery and familiarity with the chakras and their results within oneSelf before attempting to open the Thousand-Petalled Lotus during Tantric sexual union. Another seeming paradox is that, while Kundalini travels *upward,* opening each chakra on her way to union with Siva at the crown, the *energy* of the chakras flow *from* the crown downward, then in a circular motion around the physical body, and are then drawn back in through the crown. When the Kundalini Yoga has been practiced and a degree of mastery attained, try a meditative exercise, while in Savasana, or the *corpse pose,* after performing a series of active and passive asanas, trying to 'feel' the crown chakra opening, the energy flowing in, around, and through the physical and Subtle bodies, absorbing the colors and attributes of each Chakra, and subsuming oneSelf into its radiant effulgent light. Another note: it is often assumed that once the crown has been opened, one will walk about in a constant state of Samadhi; this is not true! Once one experiences the cosmic bliss, the union of unbelievable physical and unimaginable spiritual pleasure, one will long to attain it, and presumably work harder to attain it. However, it's not something gained easily; and once gained, not easily retained. Even the most highly developed Yogi/Yogini, or Tantric Master, if honest, will admit that Liberation comes in stages, and to think that one has truly mastered anything often leads to ego-trips, and the resulting *loss* of the evolution attained. However, realizing the truth of this, not being able to reach the level of attainment and contain it all the time, or every time, should NOT be viewed as negative. Rather, it's natural. As with anything else, in Tantra, or in the world at large, mastery of the Chakras and proper channelling of their energies and gifts, is gained one step at a time. Focus, Will, and above all, REGULAR and CONTINUED discipline are the keys to unlocking the gate to liberation, and existing in the bliss of the Cosmic Union of Siva/Sakthi. AUM SAI RAM. D. Yogini Padma Ushas Suryananda, selected portions of Siva Samhita as cited.