According to the ancient Indian Vedic texts, Chakras (Wheels in Sanskrit) are the energy centers in the Pranic System. There are 114 Chakras in human physiology. However, seven of them (which are located along the length of the spine) are considered to be the main ones.
Each chakra in the pranic system has a physical manifestation as well as a spiritual dimension to it. Several meditations and yogic practices followed in esoteric Hinduism and Tantra Buddhism are aimed towards raising the primal energy (Kundalini) through these chakras to attain spiritual evolution. These seven chakras are –
- Muladhara – ‘Mula’ means root and ‘Adhara’ means foundation. Muladhara Chakra is located at the perineum and it is considered to be the foundation of your physical existence. If your energies are dominant in Muladhara, you tend to be compulsive about food and sleep.
- Swadhisthana – The word ‘Swadhisthana’ means the ‘seat of the self’. This chakra is located just above the reproductive organ. Energies dominated in Swadhisthana makes you a seeker of materialistic and sexual pleasures.
- Manipura – Located an inch or so below the navel, Manipura means ‘city of gems’. This chakra is considered to be the maintenance center of the body. This is the only point in the system where all the energy channels (72,000 Nadis) meet at one place.
- Anahata – Anahata means ‘unstruck sound’. This chakra is located a couple of inches below the point where the rib cage meets. It is a transitional chakra – between the lower three chakras that deal with survival instincts and the upper three chakras which are more spiritually oriented. If your Anahata is dominant, you tend to be a creative person.
- Vishuddhi – This chakra is located in the pit of the throat. The word ‘Vishuddhi’ means a filter. If your Vishuddhi is activated, you are not easily influenced by external influences. They get filtered out.
- Agna (or Ajna) – Agna means pure or colorless. It is located between the eyebrows. It is also sometimes referred to as the ‘third eye’. This chakra deals with perception. If you are colorless, you see everything clearly!
Sahasrara (Brahmarandhra) – This one is located a few inches above the top of your head. It’s not inside the body. For most people, this chakra remains inactive throughout their life but if it gets activated your experience of life becomes truly ecstatic. It is associated with pure cosmic energy and different states of transcendental meditations.