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Chakra Balancing

Guide to 7 Chakras or Energy Centers

As per the Hindu Vedic tradition, Chakras are the energy centers present throughout the body and in the subtle spine. They are invisible to the human eye. The Buddhist tradition also emphasizes on their concept. The exact meaning of the Sanskrit word Chakra is a wheel or disk.

What is the significance of Chakras?

They are very vital to our health and life both as ‘Life Force’ or ‘Prana’ in Sanskrit, enters and flows through them. They distribute ‘Prana’ or life force to the physical body. From here the life force travels to the spinal nerve plexus and then enters our blood circulation and various organs. This cosmic energy or life force enters the body from the medulla oblongata to the brain. From the higher centers in the brain, it travels downwards from the Spiritual eye (the point between the eyebrows) and then downwards through other major chakras.

‘Nadis’ or Nerve channels are the connecting points of Chakras to the physical body. They are not visible to the naked eye and are present in the subtle body.

The First Chakra – Muladhara or Root Chakra

  • It is positioned at the perineum and is of Red color.
  • The Sanskrit word Muladhara can be broken down to Mula which means root and Dhara means to support.
  • A lotus with four petals represents Root chakra.
  • It is responsible for your day to day survival and connects your energy to the Earth. The feeling of being grounded pertains to this Chakra.
  • Your materialistic needs and emotional survival also depend on it.
  • Moreover, it determines your ability to respond to critical situations in life.
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Seven Major Chakras, Wikimedia commons
  • Legs, feet, skeletal system, large intestine, and adrenal glands are controlled by this chakra.
  • Beej Mantra for Root Chakra is LAM Beej Mantra.

Great Yogi, Yogananda Parmahansa in his writings, Autobiography of a Yogi says: “Gross man seldom or never realizes that his body is a kingdom, governed by Emperor Soul on the throne of the cranium [Sahasrara chakra], with subsidiary regents in the six spinal centers or spheres of consciousness.” Yogi Ji also refers to them as “spinal shrines” and “spheres of consciousness.

The root cause of all illnesses, emotional problems, and an unhappy and nonmeaningful life lies in the imbalance of the 7 major chakras.

Our whole life depends on these 7 chakras. Exactly the way a car runs on its 4 wheels, Human body and life run on these Chakras. The way wheel alignment of a car is very important for a smooth ride, likewise, alignment of 7 Chakras is a prerequisite for a smooth life.

The First Chakra – Muladhara or Root Chakra
  • It is positioned at the perineum and is of Red color.
  • The Sanskrit word Muladhara can be broken down to Mula which means root and Dhara means to support.
  • A lotus with four petals represents Root chakra.
  • Your materialistic needs and emotional survival also depend on it.
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Root Chakra
  • It is responsible for your day to day survival and connects your energy to the Earth. The feeling of being grounded pertains to this Chakra.
  • Moreover, it determines your ability to respond to critical situations in life.
  • Legs, feet, skeletal system, large intestine, and adrenal glands are controlled by this chakra.
  • Beej Mantra for Root Chakra is LAM Beej Mantra.

The Second Chakra – Svadhisthana or Sacral Chakra

  • It is of Orange color and is located between the base of your spine and your navel.
  • Swadhishthana in the Sanskrit language means the place of the self.
  • Its symbol is a circle surrounded by six lotus petals.
  • It decides your creativity, your identity, and how you relate to the pleasures of life including sex.
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Sacral Chakra, wikimedia commons
  • Sacral Chakra controls the functioning of Kidneys, urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and associated endocrine glands and lower abdomen.

The Third Chakra – Manipura or Solar Plexus Chakra

  • It is located a few inches above the navel and is yellow in color. In Sanskrit ‘Mani’ means Jewel and ‘Pura’ means place.
  • Solar Plexus Chakra is responsible for the Digestive system, muscular system, pancreas, and adrenal glands.
  • Most notably, It is the seat of your own power and vitality and can directly draw cosmic energy or ‘Prana’.
  • A lotus with ten petals symbolizes Manipura Chakra.
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The Solar Plexus Chakra, wikimedia commons
  • Fear and insecurities rule the person who has blockages in the Solar chakra.
  • Furthermore, this fear culminates into anxiety related to performance in exams, interviews, and also fear of losing your loved ones. Stage fright and being introverted are also signs of blocked solar chakra.
  • Unexplained bouts of binge eating and loss of appetite also point out blockages in solar chakra.
  • Diabetes is one of the most common medical conditions related to blocked solar chakra.
  • A balanced solar plexus chakra makes you confident and gives you wisdom for correct decision making.
  • Stable relationships and a balanced assertive attitude also result from a balanced Manipura chakra.
  • It also results in balanced metabolism and balanced weight.

The Fourth Chakra – Anahata or Heart Chakra

  • Heart Chakra or Anahat chakra is green in color and is located in the center of the chest.
  • In the Sanskrit language, Anahata stands for unhurt, unbeaten, and unaffected.
  • Two intersecting triangles in a circle with 12 petals represent Anahata.
  • It is essential for spiritual development and is the seat of love and compassion.
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Anahata Chakra or Heart Chakra, wikimedia commons
  • Moreover, it is a bridge that takes you from the earthly elements to the higher chakras and spiritual wisdom.
  • Also, makes you receptive and in harmony with your surroundings. Forgiveness and acceptance also arise from this Chakra.
  • The smooth functioning of your lungs, heart, arms, hands, and thymus gland depends upon the heart chakra.
  • Jealousy, dwelling in past and troublesome relationships, and feeling disconnected from your surroundings indicate a blocked Anahat chakra.
  • At the physical level, the imbalance manifests as respiratory ailments, such as lung infection, bronchitis, Asthma, Heart diseases, breast cancer at the psychological level it results in anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.

The fifth Chakra – Vishudha or Throat Chakra

  • A balanced throat chakra enables the passage of the energy between the lower and the higher chakras.
  • Makes you a good communicator and enhances your spiritual and intuitive abilities.
  • It is the reflection of your lower chakras.
  • More importantly, effective communication, self-expression, and balanced judgment arise from this Chakra.
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Vishudha Chakra or Throat Chakra
  • It also governs the Neck, shoulders, arms, hands, thyroid, and parathyroid glands.
  • Poor communication skills, nervousness in public dealings, and argumentative nature spell blockages in this energy center.
  • Dishonesty and rudeness in your speech are also indicative of the same.
  • ENT Problems, conditions related to the Thyroid gland, Jawline and teeth related conditions are also a sign of blockages in it.

The Sixth Chakra– Ajna or the Third Eye or Brow Chakra

  • It is located between the eyebrows.
  • It is the seat of intuition and your thought process.
  • In fact, Third Eye Chakra decides your thoughts.
  • Your psychic abilities, wisdom, and insight also depend upon the third eye chakra.
  • The third eye chakra in Sanskrit is called “Ajna” or आज्ञा, which means “command” and “perceiving”.
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Third Eye Chakra, Wikimedia commons
  • A balanced Ajna chakra leads to a strong memory and focus.
  • Also, develops a positive attitude in life. This Chakra is associated with the pineal gland. This gland regulates your biorhythms, including sleep and wake time.
  • Lack of vision about your life and getting entangled in day-to-day life issues is a sign of blocked Ajana Chakra. You tend to have a negative disposition. Furthermore, you always focus on the negativities in your life.
  • Sleep problems and persistent headaches also, become a part of yours. Extreme unbalanced behavior and patterns prevail in your life. 

The Seventh Chakra Sahasrara – The Crown Chakra

  • It is located at the top of your head and is violet in color.
  • Sahasrara in Sanskrit means thousand petal lotuses.
  • It governs the cerebral cortex, central nervous system, and pituitary gland, and hypothalamus. Most notably, A balanced Crown Chakra makes you feel connected to supreme power.
  • A blocked crown Chakra results in negative thoughts, staying preoccupied with blaming others for everything and holding grudges. Lacking faith in God and feeling insecure also point to blockage.
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Crown Chakra, Wikimedia commons

Reiki expert Geeta Sharma conducts online Chakra awareness programs and also Chakra Meditation programs. These are live and interactive programs.

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