Muladhara

Muladhara chakra is shown as having four petals bearing the Sanskrit letters va, scha, sha and sa. The seed sound in the center is lam. The tattwa of Earth is shown (here in outline) as a yellow square.

Tantric chakras
Sahasrara Ajna Vishuddha Anahata Manipura Svadhishthana Muladhara Bindu

Muladhara Chakra (मूलाधार चक्र)

Muladhara (Sanskrit: मूलाधार, IAST: Mūlādhāra, English: "root support") or root chakra is one of the seven primary chakras according to Hindu tantrism. It may be represented by the color red, but its root square form is usually yellow.

Description

Location

Muladhara is said to be located near the basal end of the spinal column (coccyx or butt bone), in the vicinity of the coccygeal plexus beneath the sacrumit, while its kshetram, or superficial activation point, is located between the perineum and the coccyx; even with the pelvic bone

Appearance

Its symbol is a yellow, square lotus, surrounded by eight shining spears on the sides and with four red petals at its corners. The deity of this region is Indra, who is yellow in color, four-armed, holding a vajra and blue lotus in his hands. He is mounted upon the white elephant Airavata, who has seven trunks, denoting the seven elements vital to physical functioning. Occasionally, instead of Indra, the deity may be Ganesha, with coral orange skin, wearing a lemon yellow dhoti with a green silk scarf draped around his shoulders. In three hands he holds a laddu, a lotus flower and a hatchet, and the fourth is raised in the mudra of dispelling fear.

Seed mantra

The seed mantra syllable is लं laṃ. Within the bindu, or point that forms a part of the letter, just above it, is Brahma, who is deep red, with four faces and four arms, holding a staff, a sacred vase of nectar, a japa mala, and making the gesture of dispelling fear. Alternatively, instead of the staff and japa mala, he may be holding a lotus flower and the sacred scriptures. He is seated on a swan. A goddess called Dakini is his shakti, or his source of empowerment. She is beautiful, with three eyes and four arms. Dakini is usually depicted shining red or white, holding a trident, a skulled staff, a swan, and a drinking vessel, and is seated on a swan. Instead of a swan and drinking vessel, at times she holds a sword and a shield.

Seat of kundalini

In the center of the square, below the seed syllable, is a deep red inverted triangle. The great spiritual potential, the kundalini, shakti sleeps here, waiting to be aroused and brought back up to Brahman, the source from which it originated. She is represented as a snake wrapped three and a half times around a smoky grey lingam.

Petals

The four petals are red, with the Sanskrit syllables वं vaṃ, शं śaṃ, षं ṣaṃ and सं saṃ written in gold upon them, representing the four vrittis: greatest joy, natural pleasure, delight in controlling passion, and blissfulness in concentration. Alternatively, they may represent dharma (psycho-spiritual longing), artha (psychic longing), kama (physical longing) and moksha (longing for spiritual liberation).

Additional

Muladhara is the base from which the three main psychic channels or nadis emerge: the Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. It is also believed that Muladhara is a subtle abode of the Hindu God, Ganapati. And in the highest revered prayer for Ganapati, the Ganapati Atharvashirsha, it is mentioned that "one who worships Lord Ganapati would easily grasp the concept and realise Brahman".

Function

Muladhara is considered the foundation of the "energy body". Yogic systems stress the importance of stabilising this chakra. Kundalini awakening begins here. It is also known as the seat of the "red bindu" or subtle drop, which rises up to the "white bindu" in the head to unite the female and masculine energies, or Shakti and Shiva.

It is associated with the element of earth, the sense of smell and the action of excretion.

"By meditating thus on Her who shines within the Muladhara Chakra, with the luster of ten million Suns, a man becomes Lord of speech and King among men, and an Adept in all kinds of learning. He becomes ever free from all diseases, and his inmost Spirit becomes full of great gladness. Pure of disposition by his deep and musical words, he serves the foremost of the Devas."

Association with the body

Muladhara is located at the base of the spine, and is related to the perineum, near the anus. Being associated with the sense of smell, it is associated with the nose, and being associated with excretion, it is associated with the anus.

Practices and awakening process

In kundalini yoga, there are various yogic practices held to incite the energy in Muladhara including: asanas (such as Garudasana, Shashankasana and Siddhasana); nosetip gazing, or Nasikagra Drishti; specific pranayamas; and most importantly the practice of Mula Bandha, involving the contraction of the perineum, which awakens kundalini, and is also important for the retention of semen.

This chakra can also be activated by chanting the Seed-Mantra. One who chants the Seed Mantra of Muladhara Chakra for more than 100,000,000 times can attain all the Siddhis of the Muladhara Chakra.

Siddhis

1. He experiences Darduri Siddhi (Frog jump in air at various degrees).
2. He gains knowledge of the Present, Past and Future.
3. He has control over the Elements of the Earth.

Comparisons with other systems

When compared to the other important Tantric system of Vajrayana in Tibet, the Muladhara chakra finds no parallel in the same place, unlike the other six chakras. Instead, the Tibetan system positions two chakras on the sexual organ: the jewel wheel in the middle, near the tip, and the tip of the sexual organ itself. These chakras are extremely important for the generation of great bliss, and play an important role in the highest tantric sexual practices. A unique feature, the red drop, called the red bodhicitta, is not located here, but instead at the navel wheel.

In the Sufi system of Lataif, there are two "lower" Lataif. One is the nafs, which is just below the navel. The nafs incorporates all the elements of man's "lower self". The other similar lataif is called the qalab, or mould, which appears in seven lataif systems, and corresponds to the physical body, but this is sometimes located at the top of the head. Qalab is usually further divided into the four elements.

In the Kabbalah, the lowest Sephiroth is known as Malkuth, and performs the same transcendental role as the basis of physical nature. It is associated with the sexual organ, in close contact with Yesod.

In astrology, Saturn is often correlated as being the planet of survival, limitation, the "physical plane", and having to do with the earthly nature of the Muladhara, and it is often referred to as being the ruling planet of the Muladhara by many modern astrologers.

In Earth-Based Spiritualities, you often see the use of the Eight Directions to represent the Wheel of the Year. The Eight Directions represent the four seasons (North – Winter, South – Summer, East – Spring, and West – Autumn) and the Winter and Summer Solstices as well as the Spring and Fall Equinoxes. The midpoints between those four times of year are the four lesser directions. This Eight Direction model maps perfectly onto the eight arrows of the root chakra. The four petals of the chakra also map onto the four elements of Earth (North), Air (East), Fire (South) and Water (West). This chakra being so closely related to the element of Earth is also reflecting the earth elements.

Alternative names

• Tantra: Adhara, Brahma Padma, Bhumi Chakra, Chaturdala, Chatuhpatra, Muladhara, Mooladhara, Mula Chakra, Mula Padma
• Vedas (late Upanishads): Adhara, Brahma, Muladhara, Mulakanda
• Puranic: Adhara, Muladhara

See also

• Pudendal nerve
• Shailaputri
• Sahaja Yoga

References

• Judith, Anodea (1996). Eastern Body Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self. Berkeley, CA, USA: Celestial Arts. ISBN 0-89087-815-3

External links

• Description of Muladhara Chakra from Kheper.net
• Sahaja Yoga description of Muladhara Chakra [2]