Understanding Chakra Balance

In order to begin working with your chakras you must first understand about chakra balance. In this post I will try to explain this to you. Understand that the whole idea of working with your chakra is to ultimately obtain a perfect balance between all of your seven major chakras.

Seventh Chakra Crown Chakra Sahasraram Chakra

The Seventh Chakra, often referred to as the Crown Chakra or the Sahasrara Chakra, is positioned above the head or at the top of it and it has 1000 petals which are arranged in 20 layers each of them with 50 petals.

Sahasrara chakra symbolizes detachment from illusion; an essential element in obtaining supramental higher consciousness of the truth that one is all and all is one.

It is associated with the following:

• Deities: Shiva, Varuna, Ama-kala, Zeus, Odin, Nut, Enki, Inanna, Mimir, Ennoia
• Element: Thought
• Color: Violet
  
• Animal: none associated
• Body Parts: Pineal gland, hair, top of head and Central Nervous System.
• Mantra: Crown Chakra Mantra
• Planet: Uranus

Sixth Chakra Third Eye Chakra Ajna Chakra

The Sixth Chakra, often referred to as the Third Eye Chakra or the Ajna chakra, is positioned at the eyebrow region and it has two petals, said to represent the psychic channels Ida and Pingala, which meet here with the central Shushumna channel, before rising to the crown chakra, Sahasrara. On the left hand petal is the letter ‘ham’, and on the right the letter ‘ksham’, the bija mantras for Shiva and Shakti respectively.

It is associated with the following:

• Deities: Shakti Hakini, Krishna, Paramasiva, Isis, Themis, Apollo, Iris, Morpheus, Tara, Hecate, Belenos
• Element: Light
• Color: Indigo
  
• Animal: Owl
• Body Parts: Pituitary, Hypothalamus, Eyes, Autonomic Nervous System.
• Mantra: Third Eye Chakra Mantra
• Planet: Neptune

Fifth Chakra Throat Chakra Vishuddha Chakra

The Fifth Chakra, often referred to as the Throat Chakra or the Vishuddha Chakra, is positioned at the neck region and it has sixteen petals corresponding to the Sanskrit vowels.

Vishuddha is associated with the faculty of higher discrimination, between choosing what is right and wrong, and it is associated with creativity and self-expression. It is known as the ‘poison and nectar’ centre, closely related to the Bindu chakra, and the secret of immortality is said to reside there. When Vishuddha is closed, we undergo decay and death. When it is open, negative experience is transformed into wisdom and learning.

Vishuddha is said to contain Jnana Shakti.

The Bija mantra for Vishuddha is हं haṃ. The petals correspond to the following sixteen vowels:

अ a	आ ā	इ i	ई ī	उ u	ऊ ū	ऋ ṛ	ॠ ṝ
ऌ ḷ	ॡ ḹ	ए e	ऐ ai	ओ o	औ au	अः ḥ	अं ṃ

NB: Some vowels listed above do not strictly correspond to the grammatical definition of a Sanskrit vowel, specifically ॡ ḹ, अः ḥ, and अं ṃ.

It is associated with the following:

• Deities: Ambara, Sadashiva and Shakini
• Element: Aether (Akasha)
• Color: Blue
• Animal: Elephant
• Body Parts: Thyroid gland, Ears, Neck, eyes, voice box, thyroid, parathyroid, sinuses
  
• Mantra: Throat Chakra Mantra
• Planet: Jupiter & Mercury

Forth Chakra Heart Chakra Anahata Chakra

The Forth Chakra, often referred to as the Heart Chakra or the Anahata Chakra is physically positioned at the heart region. Traditionally, this chakra is represented as a green flower with twelve petals which match the vrittis of lust, fraud, indecision, repentance, hope, anxiety, longing, impartiality, arrogance, incompetence, discrimination and defiance.

Anahata is associated with the ability to make decisions outside of the realm of karma. In Manipura and below, man is bound by the laws of karma, and the fate he has in store for him. In Anahata, one is making decisions, ‘following your heart’, based upon one’s higher self, and not from the unfulfilled emotions and desires of lower nature. The wish-fulfilling tree, kalpa taru, resides here, symbolizing the ability to manifest whatever you wish to happen in the world.

It is also associated with love and compassion, charity to others, and forms of psychic healing.

Anahata is the seat of the Jivatman, and Para Shakti.

It is associated with the following:

• Deities: Vayu (Hindu lord of the wind), Isha and Kakini
• Element: Air
• Color: Green
  
• Animal: Antelope
• Body Parts: Heart, Skin, Lungs, Thymus, Blood, Lymph, Immune System
• Mantra: Heart Chakra Mantra
• Planet: Venus

Third Chakra Navel Chakra Manipura Chakra

The Third Chakra, often referred to as the Navel Chakra or Manipura Chakra is positioned at the navel region and it has ten petals which match the vrittis of spiritual ignorance, thirst, jealousy, treachery, shame, fear, disgust, delusion, foolishness and sadness.

Manipura is associated with dynamism, energy, and will-power (Itcha shakti.) It is associated with the power of fire, and digestion. Manipura is said to radiate and distribute prana to the rest of the body. In this sense, it is roughly similar to the Chinese idea of the dantian in qigong.

It is associated with the following:

• Deities: Vahni, Rudra, Lakini
• Element: Fire
• Color: Yellow
• Animal: Ram
• Body Parts: Pancreas, Stomach, Liver, Small Intestine, Digestion, Blood Sugar, Eyes, Feet
• Mantra: Navel Chakra Mantra
• Planet: Sun & Mars

Second Chakra Pelvic Chakra Svadhisthana Chakra

The Second Chakra, often referred to as the Pelvic Chakra or the Svadhisthana Chakra is located at the tailbone, about two finger widths above the root chakra.

It is associated with the following:

• Deities: Varuna, Vishnu, Rakini
• Element: Water
• Animal: Crocodile
• Color: Orange
• Body Parts: Ovaries, adrenal glands, spleen, uterus, urinary system, prostate gland, uterus, cervix and lower bowel.
• Mantra: Pelvic Chakra Mantra
• Planet: Pluto

First Chakra Root Chakra Muladhara Chakra

The First Chakra, often referred to as the Root Chakra or the Muladhara Chakra is located at the base of the spine in the vicinity of the coccygeal plexus beneath the sacrum.

It is associated with the following:

• Deities: Ganesha, Indra, Brahma and Dakini
• Element: Earth
• Color: Red
• Animal: An Elephant with seven trunks.
• Body Parts: Sexual / Reproductive organs, Vagina, Perineum, Anus, Nose, Hamstrings, Calves, Feet
• Mantra: Root Chakra Mantra
• Planet: Saturn

What are Chakras?

Chakras are centers of energy, located on the midline of the body. There are seven major chakras, and they govern our psychological properties. The chakras located on the lower part of our body are our instinctual side, the highest ones our mental side.

There are seven main chakras, each with its own unique meaning, color, sound, animal and much more. You can view information on each specific chakra by clicking on its symbol further on in this post.

As you can see on the illustrations to the right and left, chakras are located in the center of the body in a straight line following the spine. Each color represents its associated chakra.

Chakras are located in the very center of the body and open to the front of the body as well as the back. The root chakra however opens towards the ground to connect us with “Mother Earth” and the crown chakra opens towards the sky to connect us with a “Higher Power” or “God”.