Chakra
A Chakra is one of various focal points used in a variety of ancient meditation practices, collectively denominated as Tantra, part of the inner traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Beliefs differ between the Indian religions, with many Buddhist texts only mentioning five chakras, while Hindu sources reference six or seven.
Chakras are a key component of New Age metaphysical beliefs. In the modern era, many traits have been added to chakras which were not originally present, most notably: rainbow colours and correspondences with other systems such as alchemy and astrology.
Etymology
Chakra has both literal and metaphorical uses, as in the "wheel of time" or "wheel of dharma."
In Buddhism, especially in Theravada, the Pali noun cakka connotes "wheel."
In Jainism, the term chakra also means "wheel" and appears in various contexts in its ancient literature. As in other Indian religions, chakra refers to a yogic energy center.
Overview of chakras
Chakras are part of esoteric ideas and concepts about physiology and psychic centers that emerged across Indian traditions. The belief held that human life simultaneously exists in two parallel dimensions, one "physical body" (sthula sarira) and other "psychological, emotional, mind, non-physical" it is called the "subtle body" (sukshma sarira).
This subtle body is energy, while the physical body is mass. The psyche or mind plane corresponds to and interacts with the body plane, and the belief holds that the body and the mind mutually affect each other. The subtle body consists of nadi (energy channels) connected by nodes of psychic energy called chakra.
Location in the body
The important chakras are stated in Hindu and Buddhist texts to be arranged in a column along the spinal cord, from its base to the top of the head, connected by vertical channels. The tantric traditions sought to master them, awaken and energize them through various breathing exercises or with assistance of a teacher. These chakras were also symbolically mapped to specific human physiological capacity, seed syllables (bija), sounds, subtle elements (tanmatra), in some cases deities, colors and other motifs.
These ideas are not unique to Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Similar and overlapping concepts emerged in other cultures in the East and the West, and these are variously called by other names such as "subtle body," "spirit body," "esoteric anatomy," "sidereal body," and "etheric body."
Number of chakras
The number of major chakras varied between various traditions, but they typically ranged between four and seven.
There is no consensus in Hinduism about the number of chakras because the concept of chakras has been evolved and interpreted differently by various sects, schools of thought, and spiritual traditions within Hinduism over the centuries. The lack of a universally accepted standard has led to variation and diversity in the interpretation and understanding of chakras within Hinduism.
Here are some of the major sects that have different perspectives on chakras:
- Bhakti Yoga: the number of chakras varies, but the focus is often on the heart chakra as the center of spiritual devotion.
- Ayurveda (3): there are three main chakras, known as the "Marmas," which are considered to be the focal points of the physical, mental, and spiritual energies in the body.
- Shaivism (5): there are five chakras, with the focus being on the heart and crown chakras.
- Tantra (4-6): there are four to six chakras, with the crown chakra being considered the highest.
- Kashmir Shaivism (6–7): there are six or seven chakras, with the focus being on the awakening of the divine energy within.
- Hatha Yoga (7): there are seven main chakras, but some Hatha Yoga traditions also recognize additional chakras.
- Kundalini Yoga (7): there are seven main chakras, but additional minor chakras are also recognized.
- Nath Tradition (8): there are eight main chakras, with the emphasis being on the awakening of the divine energy through these centers.
- Vaishnavism (12): there are twelve chakras, with the emphasis being on the spiritual ascent through these centers.
Seven chakra system
The more common and most studied chakra system incorporates six major chakras along with a seventh center generally not regarded as a true chakra. These points are arranged vertically along the axial channel of the human body. This system of six chakras plus the sahasrara "center" at the crown first appears in the Kubjikāmata-tantra, an 11th-century Kaula work. These seven chakras are traditionally considered meditation aids. The yogi progresses from lower chakras to the highest chakra blossoming in the crown of the head, internalizing the journey of spiritual ascent.
Below are the common description of these seven chakras, which follows the New Age practice of assigning colors from the rainbow.
| Name | Location | Color | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sahasrara "Thousand-petaled" |
Crown | Violet | Highest spiritual centre, pure consciousness, containing neither object nor subject. |
| Ajna or Agya "Command" |
Third Eye | Indigo | Awakens clairvoyance and seeing the future. |
| Vishuddha "Purest" |
Throat | Blue | The purification center. |
| Anahata "Unstruck" |
Heart | Green | Love, compassion, psychic healing, making decisions free from karma. |
| Manipura "Jewel city" |
Navel | Yellow | Fire and the power of transformation. |
| Svadhishthana "Where the self is established" |
Groin | Orange | Boost creativity, manifested desire and confidence. |
| Muladhara "Root" |
Base of spine | Red | Foundation of the "energy body." Associated with earth. |
Western adoption of chakras
Early founders of the Theosophy esoteric system were influential in introducing many Hindu religious concepts to Western audiences in the late 1800s.
In 1918, Sir John Woodroffe (alias "Arthur Avalon") translated two Indian texts, the Ṣaṭ-Cakra-Nirūpaṇa and the Pādukā-Pañcaka, and in his book The Serpent Power which drew increased attention to the seven chakra theory. However, the system of colors for each chakra was not in use until it was pioneered by Charles W. Leadbeater in his 1927 book The Chakras.
Psychological and other attributes such as layers of the aura, developmental stages, associated diseases, Aristotelian elements, emotions, and states of consciousness were added later. A wide range of correspondences such as with alchemical metals, astrological signs and planets, foods, herbs, gemstones, Kabbalistic sefirot, musical notes, totem animals, and Tarot cards have also been proposed.
Modern view
In the modern era, chakras are associated with multiple physiological functions, an aspect of consciousness, and other distinguishing characteristics; these do not correspond to those used in ancient Indian systems. The chakras are sometimes visualised as lotuses or flowers with a different number of petals in every chakra.
Working with your chakras through meditation and yoga is thought to vitalise the physical body and help with interactions of a physical, emotional and mental nature. They are considered loci of life energy or prana.
Austrian occultist Rudolf Steiner (1861 - 1925) considered the chakra system to be dynamic and evolving. He suggested that this system has become different for modern people than it was in ancient times and that it will, in turn, be radically different in future times. Steiner described a sequence of development that begins with the upper chakras and moves down, rather than moving in the opposite direction. He gave suggestions on how to develop the chakras through disciplining thoughts, feelings, and will.