CHAKRAS

Sahasrara Chakra

Ajna Chakra

Visuddha Chakra

Anahata Chakra

Manipura Chakra

Svadishthana Chakra

Muladhara Chakra

The chakras are also known more poetically as the windows of the soul. The ancient wisdom teachings inform us that we have several  bodies formed out of different materials and all interpenetrating one another. Maybe we can understand this if we contemplate that we each possess a Physical body as well as Emotions (astral body) and a Mind (mental body). So it is that we possess a subtle body which has 7 main focal points which are loosely related to certain points along the spinal column. These are called 'chakras', the word meaning wheels. They can be seen by clairvoyants either as a rotating wheel of different coloured lights for each chakra (check out Chakras by C. W. Leadbeater) or as flower-shaped appendages. These flowers are then said to be constructed from a specific number of petals. 

Red is the colour with the lowest number of vibrations whilst Violet vibrates at a much faster speed. Therefore, for the purpose of this CD cover, the Root Chakra (Muladhara) is depicted here as a Red circle along the Vertical line of Light and the Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) as a Violet circle. This is the ascending order of the chakras.  However, it must not be misconstrued that the higher chakras are preferred over and above the lower chakras. Rather is it that the upper triad is supported by the lower triad. As previously mentioned, the entire system is interrelated and interdependent. In the Hindu system each chakra has certain letters of the Sanskrit alphabet associated with its petals, a presiding deity and a seed syllable Bija Mantra (depicted in the painting above). There are also traditional diagrams to accompany each Chakra and these are described in the text below. 

MULADHARA ROOT Chakra, a major root centre concerned with physical experience, is conceived of as having four red petals on which are inscribed in gold four letters - representing the root variations and also related to the power of speech - within a golden square representing the Earth element with the bija mantra Lam. This centre rules the sense of smell. The deity is Brahma with the Sakti Dakini.

SVADISHTHANA (pleasant) SEX Chakra, the second centre, is situated at the base of the genital organ with six vermillion petals. In the pericarp is represented the Water element, stainless and luminously white, in the shape of a half moon with the bija mantra Vam. Vishnu is the deity and the Sakti is Rakini or Chakini. Associated with the sense of taste.

MANIPURA (gem-site) SOLAR PLEXUS Chakra, near the navel (lumbar or epigastric plexus), is a blue lotus with ten petals. In the centre of the lotus, a red triangle 'radiant like a rising sun' is related to the element of Fire. Its bija mantra is Ram. The presiding deity of the chakra is Rudra with the Sakti Lakini. Thos chakra is related generally to the sense of sight.

ANAHATA (unstruck) HEART Chakra, in the region of the heart (cardiac plexus), has twelve letters inscribed on the golden petals. In the middle are two interpenetrating triangles (forming a six-pointed star) of a smoky colour enclosing another golden triangle 'lustrous as ten million flashes of lightning', with a Bina-linga inside the triangle. This chakra is associated with the element Air, and above the two triangles is its presiding deity, the three-eyed Isa with Kakini Sakti (red in colour). Its bija mantra is Yam and it is principally associated with the sense of touch.

The fourth is also called the heart chakra. This is due both to its location near the heart (actually in the centre of our chest and not over to the left-hand side, where the physical heart abides) and because of the emotions with which it is associated. 

The fourth chakra is associated with a gradual increasing of consciousness, as it sits between the lower three and upper three chakras. However, primarily, it is the centre of unconditional love. When a person becomes disconnected from their heart and the emotions associated with this region, the fourth chakra becomes closed off. This often results in both low energy and shallow breathing. At times when you're feeling a fourth chakra blockage, you might even feel that it's difficult to breathe.

Emotionally, when this chakra is blocked, you're likely to feel wounded or victimized. Often this will be due to trying to work out past problems. People who have studied chakras liken this kind of chakra disruption to a hurt child inside of us, going over and over past scenes of hurt, trying to get closure on difficult events. If this kind of inner turmoil happens on an ongoing basis without relief, the overall effect can be a feeling of being stuck in the past. When the energy from the fourth chakra is disrupted, you may have trouble protecting yourself from emotional harm because you generally feel raw and emotionally vulnerable.

When the fourth chakra is open and energy is flowing positively, far different feelings result. For example, you are likely to feel open, loving, and compassionate to those around you and to be very accepting of people for who they are.

VISUDDHA (pure) THROAT Chakra is located at the juncture of the spinal column and the medulla oblongata, behind the throat (laryngeal or pharyngeal plexus). It has sixteen petals of smoky purple inscribed with the sixteen vowel sounds and within its pericarp is a white circle enclosing a triangle that is inscribed with the bija mantra Ham. The presiding deity is Sadasiva in his Ardhanarisvara (androgynous) aspect, and the chakra is associated with the element Ether and controls the sense of hearing.

The fifth chakra is associated with acts of communication, including speaking the truth or finding creative ways for self-expression. It is located at the base of the throat and is often called the throat chakra. 

This chakra is associated with sound in general. The meaning of your own personal truth is central to this chakra. The more free-flowing the energy of this chakra, the more you are able to speak your truth without fearing the consequences — or at least without letting external forces stop you from doing it. When the throat chakra is too open, you may talk more than other people would like and may not listen closely enough.

On a different level, this chakra is also associated with personal will. When the chakra is very open, your will can be excessively strong; when it is closed, your will can seem nonexistent. However, at times when the fifth chakra is in balance, your will is aligned with divine will. During such periods, you're likely to feel that things are going your way, rather than having to fight against the current in order to reach your goals.

When your fifth chakra is disrupted, personal truths can become harder to express. You may even become afraid to speak your opinions or feel unsure about what you might say. Issues of the will can also come to the fore during these negative times. For example, you may feel that when things go wrong, others are entirely to blame and when things go right, it's solely your will that created the success. Such exaggerated and absolute thinking is often connected to disruptions in the fifth chakra.

AJNA (command) THIRD EYE Chakra, situated between the eyebrows, commands the various states of concentration realised through meditation. It us a two-petalled white lotus with the letters h and ksh. In its centre is an inverted white triangle with the white Itara-linga and the bija mantra Om. The tutelary Sakti is Hakini, and it is associated with the various cognitive faculties of the mind.

The sixth chakra is associated both with light and with psychic abilities. This chakra provides a source of inner knowing (intuition), as well as an objective reflection of how things are. By being focused on a commitment to the truth and flexibility of thought, people with clear sixth chakras usually have a sense of life's realities that surpasses usual conscious barriers. For this reason, the sixth chakra is connected with higher levels of wisdom and a level disposition. It also concerns itself with our particular vision of deity.

When this chakra is closed or blocked, you may have trouble seeing the big picture of events that are unfolding in your life. The truth of matters can be dwarfed in details, and you may become easily confused. At times like these, you can sometimes overlook the subtler forces in any situation because you're so busy giving attention to literal details. You may also find that you have a tendency to judge people and events pretty harshly.

SAHASRARA (thousand) CROWN CHAKRA is the 'Lotus of a Thousand Petals' located about four finger-breadths above the crown of the head; it is also called Brahmarandhra and is the meeting-place of the Kundalini Sakti with Pure Consciousness. Its petals are inscribed with all sound potentials, represented by all the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet. The Tantrika Satyananda Giri explains that Kundalini has to cross further, through eighteen mahavidyas, i.e. eighteen energised subtle centres encircling the Sahasrara region, finally to unite with Siva, in an act known as maithuna-yoga.

The seventh chakra is associated with thought it is also known as the Guru Chakra. It signifies our relationship to all things and the unity of everything. This chakra also symbolizes self-knowledge and spiritual consciousness. It is located at the crown of the head, but it is connected with the entire muscular system, the skeletal system, the skin, and nervous system.

The seventh chakra is associated with a more profound spiritual connectedness than the other six chakras are. This chakra is the seat of higher wisdom and the energy that comes from it. The seventh chakra is thought to give access to the infinite intelligence that exists in the universe and is our key to opening the door to it. This chakra allows for self-expression on higher spiritual levels. When asking the question, "Who am I, really?" you are tapping into the energy of your seventh chakra.

When this chakra is closed or blocked, you can feel cut off from spirituality. At such times, your relationship with the divine becomes limited, and fears of the spiritual side of life can be magnified. Disruptions in your seventh chakra can also amount to the inability to gain closure on unfinished business. Such problems have the potential to end up as a real thorn in your side. Most of all, lack of flow in your seventh chakra leads to an inability to live in the present. People with blocked seventh chakra energy seem to always be either revisiting their past or looking ahead to the future.

The above is based upon the Hindu system. However in the Tibetan system the top two Chakras are united as one, as are also the bottom two Chakras. The elements are thus distributed differently in this system - Muladhara & Svadishthana - Earth, Manipura - Water, Anahata - Fire, Visuddha - Air, and the top two Ajna & Sahasrara Ether/Space.   

Bibliography (very slightly revised 2007):

CDs, MCs, VHS, DVDs, (Music & Spoken):

Sounds of the Chakras        Harish Johari    (1990)

Sounds of the TANTRA        Harish Johari    (1991)

BIJA MANTRA Chakra Tuning & two meditations. Vyaas Houston   (1996)

Seven Wheels of Light.        Joel Andrews   (1996)

the Energetics of Healing.       Caroline Myss   (1997)

Chanting The Chakras. Mantras for Healers       Muz Murray   (1999)

Chakra Delight. Singing Bowls for Balancing the Energy Centres.        Binkey Kok Publications  (2001)

Chakra Yoga Meditation.        Surajit Das & Swaran Bhattacharya   (2001)

Clear Light.    Ancient Future   (2001)

Chakra Healing.       Frank Perry   (2001)

Chakra Clearing.        Doreen Virtue   (2002)

The Chakra System. A Complete Course in Self-Diagnosis & Healing.      Anodea Judith   (2003)

Chakra Balancing. A Guide to Healing & Awakening your Energy Body.    Anodea Judith   (2003)

THE ILLUMINATED CHAKRAS. A VISIONARY JOURNEY INTO YOUR INNER WORLD    Anodea Judith   (2003)

Nada Yoga Meditation Through Sound Vibration.       Diksha Halina Listopad   (2004)

Chakra Balancing: Body, Mind & Soul.       Deepak Chopra   (2004)

chakra theory and meditation.        Paul Grilley   (2007)

© Copyright by Frank Perry 2001. All rights reserved.  

© Frank Perry, 2007 (slightly amended list). All of these articles are copyright. They may individually be copied and shared with others in a spirit of knowledge-sharing and fair play, but they may not be sold, printed or reproduced in quantity or changed in form without the permission of the copyright holder. None of this material may be reproduced in workshops or lectures of any kind unless quotes are credited or properly attributed.  

Magazine and other editors may e-mail me for permission to reprint. E-mail: