Muladhara
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Tantric chakras |
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Muladhara (
Description
Muladhara is said to be located near the
Appearance
It is symbolized by a red, four-petaled lotus with a yellow square at its center. Each petal has one of the
The deity Indra is associated with Muladhara. In these depictions, he is yellow, four-armed, and holds a vajra and a blue lotus in his hands.[clarification needed] He is mounted upon the white elephant Airavata, who has seven trunks denoting the seven elements necessary for supporting life. Occasionally, Ganesha is also associated with Muladhara. In these depictions, he has orange skin, wears a yellow dhoti, and 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
Seat of kundalini
In the center of the square, below the seed syllable, is a deep red inverted triangle. The
Function
Muladhara is considered the foundation of the "energy body".
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."[7]
Practices
In
This chakra can also be activated by chanting the Seed-Mantra. It is said that 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.[citation needed]
There are also special meditation practices for awakening the Mūlādhāra Chakra.[8]
Siddhis
- He or she experiences Darduri Siddhi (Frog jump in air at various degrees).
- He or she gains knowledge of the Present, Past and Future.
- He or she 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.[9]
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 a person'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.[10] Qalab is usually further divided into the four elements.
In the
In astrology Mars is often correlated as being son of Earth, 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 the Eight Directions are often used 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, also reflects 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
References
- ^ Judith (1996: p.52)
- ^ Swami Sivananda, Kundalini Yoga
- ^ "Ananda Marga spiritual philosophy: Biopsychology". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
- ISBN 9783850521970.
- ^ "Muladhara Chakra – The Most Important Chakra". Isha Blog. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- ^ "Root Chakra". ASIS Massage Education. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
- ^ Purnananda Sawmi (c. 1577). Sat-Chakra-Nirupana. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ISBN 3-85052-197-4.
- ^ Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Tantric Grounds and Paths
- ^ Arthur F. Buehler. Sufi heirs to the Prophet
- ^ Leonara Leet. The Universal Kabbalah
- 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