Healing Chakras

Patel M^*

CAS California College of Ayurveda, USA

*Corresponding Author:

Patel M
CAS California College of Ayurveda, USA
Tel: 650-776-3072
E-mail: Bhavbhakti@yahoo.com

Received date: September 12, 2016; Accepted date: September 13, 2016; Published date: September 16, 2016

Citation: Patel M (2016) Healing Chakras. J Tradi Med Clin Natur 5: e122.

Copyright: © 2016 Patel M. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Editorial

For centuries we have heard the word ‘Chakra’ used in Pranayama, Yoga and Ayurveda. What exactly are they and what is their function in the natural healing system?

Chakras are a discovery of the Indian Rishis and Yogis of ancient India. Chakras are high energy centers in the body that are not seen physically but only through the subtle science of meditation practice that leads to an extrasensory vision. The main purpose of the utilization of the chakras and to awaken them was for reaching higher stages of intuition and consciousness, thus the founding of Kundalini Yoga.

Chakras work as electromagnetic vibrations that are affected by our lifestyle such as diet, yoga, breath, environment and mental state. For the purposes of health, the aim is to have a balanced flow of energy through all the chakras. For the purposes of a higher consciousness the aim is to have a healthy heightened flow i.e., Awakening of the chakra center, and this yoga can only be performed with the guidance of an experienced Guru that can ascertain the viability of the function within each person and whether the individual has the capacity to withstand the energy levels. Kundalini Yoga is not to be performed without a healthy mental and physical disposition.

There are seven chakras that run from the base of the spine to the mid-brain and one at the top of the head, acting as ‘steamways’ to the nervous system. These chakras, beginning from the base are called Mooladhara Chakra associated with the reproductive system; Svadhisthana Chakra associated with the excretory system; Manipura Chakra associated with the skeletal system; Anahata Chakra associated with the circulatory system, Vishuddhi Chakra associated with the respiratory system; Ajna Chakra associated with the nervous system; and Sahasrara Chakra associated with the endocrine system.

Patanjali Ayurveda Yogpeeth has experimentally ascertained that the balance of these chakras maintains the salts, hormones, and enzymes necessary for the body to function properly without taking external medications. Each chakra indirectly affects the physical and mental domains through the pranamaya kosha when we perform breathing exercises. Koshas are layers of subtle energy sheaths encircling the human body beginning with the gross layer, Annamaya kosha i.e., ‘food layer’ depending upon food, water and air; the second sheath is Pranamaya kosha dependent upon prana in food, water and mainly air; the third sheath is Manomaya kosha holding the afore mentioned koshas as a whole, this is the conscious mind linking the external to the intuitive; the forth layer is the Vijnanamya kosha that links with the mind bringing about clarity and intuition; the fifth layer is Anandamaya kosha, the most subtle called the transcendental body. With the purification of each layer beginning with the Annamaya and Pranamaya kosha, the next sheath may be penetrated and purified to the subtle most.

Through pranayama, yoga asanas and kriyas (special cleansing practices) that work on the ‘inner’ and outer’ zones, the purification and balance of the physical, mental, doshas, chakras and sanskaras (inherent tendencies) take place. It is worthy to note here that exercise alone, although it includes various heavy breathing, only affects the ‘outer’ physical and mental areas. In the same regard diet and herbs (including any medications) will only effect the outer physical and mental health, not the inner-self. The science of chakra awakening, though its main purpose was intended for enlightenment, the Rishis saw through direct experience that each chakra is associated with certain organs and tissues of the body as well as the mind, and altered certain physical functions in the body and mind. Thus the sages were able to establish a healing technique with the practices of pranayama, mantra and asanas that enables the balancing of the chakras and in turn the physical body and mind functions. Below are details of each chakra function with the absence of heightened flow, regarding spiritual awakening. For the purposes of this article, a description of the chakras normal, low and increased flow is provided.

The Mooladhara chakra is located between the genital organs and the anus and is associated with Annamaya kosha, earth and the pingala nadi. It is related to the mind and low level instincts such as ‘flight or fight’ and panic. It is connected with the sense of smell. The Bija mantra to activate this chakra is ‘Lum’. The chart below shows the physical functional relationship with this chakra.

The Swadhisthana chakra is located near the coccynx and is associated with Pranamaya kosha, water and the sense of taste. It is related to the reproductive organs, sensual pleasures and food. Both ida and pingala nadis are important here. The Bija mantra to activate this chakra is ‘Vum’. The chart below indicates the relations of this chakra on a physical and mental level.

The Manipura chakra is located at the level of the navel and is associated with Pranamaya kosha, fire and the sense of sight. It is related to activity, strength and maintenance. It is the store house of prana. The Bija mantra to activate this chakra is ‘Rum’. The chart below shows the physical and mental effects of this chakra.

The Anahata chakra is located at the level of the heart and is associated with Manomaya kosha, mind, emotions such as attachment and compassion, air, and the sense of touch. Ida nadi is the control. The Bija mantra to activate this chakra is ‘Yum’. See the chart below for its effect on the body and mind.

The Vishuddhi chakra, where prana is purified, is located behind the throat and is associated with Vijnanamaya kosha, the thyroid glands and ether. It develops a higher state of consciousness within a person. The Bija mantra to activate this chakra is ‘Hum’. See the chart below for details of the physical and mental effects.

The Ajna chakra is located in the mid-brain and is associated with the Vijnanamaya kosha, the pineal gland and subtle ether. All three nadis influence this chakra and it establishes a higher sense of awareness or insight, called the ‘third eye’. The connection to the psychic is here. Distribution of prana happens at this center. The Bija mantra to activate this chakra is ‘Ksham’. See the chart below for the physical and mental influences of this chakra.

The Sahasrara chakra is located at the crown of the head and is not part of the spinal column. It is the highest point of consciousness, what we call self-realization. It is associated with the Anandamaya kosha, the endocrine system and causal ether. Pingala nadi is the control. The Bija mantra to activate this chakra is ‘Ohm’ (Table 1).

Table 1: The relationship between flow of energy through the Chakras and their effect on the physical and psychological functions of the body and mind.

In Ayurveda, Bija mantras are used to balance the doshas and target various organs and tissues. Vata dosha typically has an excess of flow through the Anahata and Vishuddhi chakra, thus to bring e.g. more water qualities to a vata imbalance, the Swadhisthana chakra would be activated using the Bija mantra ‘Vam’. Pitta dosha typically shows an excess flow through the Manipura chakra and Kapha dosha typically shows an excess flow through the Mooladhara and Svadhisthana chakra.