The Chakra Centers and Capacityof Activating Them-part 2

Everyone knows about the 6 Chakras. In reality they are 7 in number. The seventh Chakra is Sahasrar and is generally not counted because it is the leader of all subordinate Chakras. Thus the 7 energy Chakras (plexuses) are symbols of 7 Lokas (worlds), 7 Rishis, 7 seers and 7 continents.

A description of energies and forms associated with each Chakra can be found in many scriptures pertaining to spiritual practices. No doubt some differences are there yet briefly following is the information commonly given by all -

1.MOOLADHAR - Earth element, yellow color, smell Tanmatra, sound Lum, Bhu Loka, situated in the center of the opening of excretory organs.

2.SVADHISHTHAN - Water element, white color, taste Tanmatra, sound Vum, Bhuvaha Loka, situated below the navel.

3.MANIPUR - Fire element, color red, sound Rum, Svaha Loka, form/ sight Tanmatra, situated near the navel region.

4.ANAHAT - Wind element, grey color, sound Yum, touch Tanmatra, Maha Loka, situated near the bosom/heart.

5. VISHUDHI - Space element, color sky blue, sound Tanmatra, Jana Loka, Sound Eem, situated near the throat.

6.AJNA - Tapa Loka, Sound Om, color white, situated between the eye brows.

7.SAHASRAR - Satya Loka, shape of a 1000 petalled blooming lotus, golden color situated at the center of the brain called Reticular Activating System.

With which material centers, energies etc. can the energy sources of these 7 Chakras be compared? As an answer a symbolic description is given in various spiritual practices based texts as follows -

"All the pilgrim spots of earth dwell in the Mooladhar Chakra. One who bathes in this region attains Moksha or salvation."

-MAHAYOG VIJNAN

"The heavenly pilgrim spot is situated in the Svadhishthan Chakra. Great Yogis bathe in the divine River Ganges flowing in this region. The Manipur Chakra is a divine pilgrim center and there are 5 ponds in it. Over there is the pilgrim spot of desires. All the contemporary pilgrim centers of the solar system are present in the Anahat Chakra. Those who bathe in these centers attain credentials so as to enter higher sacred Lokas (worlds).

-MAHAYOG VIJNAN

"The Mooladahr Chakra is Bhuloka, Svadhishthan Chakra is Bhuvaloka, Manipur Chakra is Mahaloka, Vishudhi Chakra is Janaloka, Ajna Chakra is Tapaloka and Sahasrar Chakra is Satyalokaa. Thus at the region below there are 7 nether worlds (Patalaloka). The base of the feet is Talaloka, the upper half of the feet is Talatalaloka, the center of the ankle bone is Mahatalaloka, the upper part of the ankle bone is Rasatala, the center of the thighs is Vitalaloka and the center of the groin is Patalaloka. Thus below the waist are 7 worlds and above the waist are 7 worlds. These add up to totally 14 worlds (Lokas) in our body. He, who visualizes these worlds in his body via spiritual practice, overcomes all pain and strife."

-MAHAYOG VIJNAN

"In this body the 7 continents, all rivers, ocean, mountains, regions, doorkeepers of regions, Rishi-Munis, galaxies, planets, altars, demigods of altars, Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, sun, moon, space, wind, fire, water, earth, all creatures and whatever else present in this world are attached to this Sumeru (situated in the Divine Serpent Power or Merudand) and they all carry out their respective functions. He who knows this is a true Yogi."

-MAHAYOG VIJNAN

From the above proclamation it is very clear that the human body is not merely a mass of 70 constituents (e.g. blood, flesh etc.) or biochemical (e.g. fat, carbohydrates etc.). It is made up of not only 1) juices 2) blood 3) flesh 4) muscle 5) bones 6) fat 7) sperm but that deep within lies a divine principle. All the above 7 constituents are influenced by the 7 Chakras and our body unknowingly remains healthy or unhealthy due to this influence. If the state of the secret inner recesses of the soul related to the 7 Chakras, remain balanced it can give us a healthy, long life span. Thus a healthy, long life span is not just dependent on proper food intake and exercises. It is a fact that despite eating proper food and exercising regularly, if our inner secret regions are not optimally balanced, it will make our body unhealthy and can lead to premature death too. The same holds true for our mental center. These 7 Chakras influence various levels of consciousness and the annihilation of the conscious and unconscious mind can be converted to uplifting of pure consciousness (soul). Spiritual practice based scriptures speak of attainment of Ridhi-Sidhis i.e. divine glories. But one can attain even greater benefits both materially and spiritually if one makes apt use of the storehouse of infinite energy present in our inner soul via scientific spiritual practices.

Life is a Yajna (sacred sacrifice). It is not merely as though offering worship materials to sacred fire is called Yajna. According to the level of the micro body and macro cosmos many small/big subtle Yajnas take place. The 7 Chakras are 7 sacrificial pyres of Yajnas. In the Yajna of Sadhana (spiritual practices) you have 7 fires, Purhoit of 7 Rishis, 7 demigods invoked, 7 Charas and the 7 results. This Yajna is executed via activation of the 7 Chakras within the jurisdiction of Kundalini Science.

"The 7 Pranas (vital force) were produced from it. The 7 flames of fire, 7 types of wood, 7 Yajnas and 7 Lokas manifested from God."

-MUNDAKOPANISHAD (2/1/8)

"You are present in the 7 worlds (Lokas) as 7 divine energies and you control all of them: 1. Bhulok as earth 2. Bhuvaloka as wind 3. Savahaloka as ball of light 4. Mahahaloka as great attainment (Sidhi) 5. Janahaloka as procreation power 6. Tapahaloka as skill of austerities 7. Satyaloka as truthful speech."

-DEVI BHAGWAT

Within our body there are so many sources of energy akin to these 7 Chakras (subtle plexuses). They are called glands. In the brain lies the Vishnu gland, in the heart is the Brahma gland and in the navel, the Rudra gland. Even regarding this there are differences of opinions because some opine that the Vishnu gland is in the brain. But we must not get entangled with these names. Instead we should understand that not only in the Merudand (spine) but in the head, heart and navel region there are so many important energy centers (Chakras) which when activated via various methods are called Granthivedhan. Over here one more thing has to be noted that "Vedhan" means "opening" in common terms. Yet spiritually it means "activation" or "awakening."

Just like the 6 Chakras in the Sushumna subtle nervous center situated in the back of our body, there are 6 other Chakras in the front side of the body. They are called Surya (Sun) Chakra, Agni (Fire) Chakra, Amrit (nectar of immortality) Chakra, Prabhanjan (destruction) Chakra, Tadit (lightning) Chakra and Soma (moon) Chakra.

When mountain water gets concentrated in a particular area and springs forth, it is called a spring. In the mouth source of the spring, the water speed is extremely ferocious. W hen this water rises up and falls down a lot of chaos is witnessed and everyone knows how noisy the situation is. In the same way Chakras can be compared to eddies, cyclones and a spring of water. A volcano generally emits fire, smoke, lava from its opening. In the same way Chakras too release certain emissions. People are getting ready to generate infinite electrical energy from the tumultuous waves of the ocean. Those who have the capacity to utilize the energy released by these Chakras are said to be divine men.

Endocrinologists who study various endocrine glands of the body are absolutely amazed to note that the juices secreted by the glands are so infinitesimal in terms of quantity yet they can influence our body, brain etc. on such an enormous scale. Testicles, kidneys, heart, male endocrine glands etc. can be called bigger glands. Since their activities are grosser they can be easily understood. But to unfold the mysteries of the endocrine glands is that much more difficult. Even after intricate research it is difficult to draw apt conclusions. Subtler that these are glands called Chakras (in Indian Yoga) which are beyond the ken and reach of sense organs and modern scientific apparatus like election microscopes etc. If at all one can see, understand and make apt use of these Chakras, it is only via an activated inner eye of wisdom/intuition. It is only on the basis of Subtle Spiritual Sciences like Yoga etc. can one experience and use these Chakras for one's own self and world humanity at large.

Within Hathayoga spiritual practices, 6 Chakras have been listed situated in the Sushumna of the Merudand (Subtle spinal chord). They are 1) Mooladhar Chakra 2) Svadhishthan Chakra 3) Manipur Chakra 4) Anahat Chakra 5) Vishudh Chakra 6 ) Ajna Chakra.

Amongst these, 4 of them have been deemed as nervous network by anatomists. The Mooladhar Chakra is called Pelvic Plexus. The Manipur Chakra is called Solar Plexus. The Anahat Plexus is called Cardial Plexus and the Vishudhi Chakra is called Pharyngeal Plexus by modern anatomists. Regarding the remaining 2 Chakras i.e. Svadhishthan and Ajna, there is a bit of disparity and difference of opinion between ancient spiritual seers and modern day research. We sincerely hope that this mystery will unfold in the near future.

There is a detailed description of the 6 fold wealth which one attains on activating the 6 Chakras. These can be called spiritual attainments too.

The 6-fold wealth is 1) Shama 2) Dama 3) Uparati 4) Titiksha 5) Shraddha and 6) Samadhan.

"Shama" means overcoming mental turmoil and agitation. "Dama" means mastering the 5 sense organs (eyes, ears etc.). "Uparati" means abhorring wickedness. "Titiksha" means enduring hardships with great patience. "Shradha" encompasses steadfastness on the path of sacredness along with faith and love for it. "Samadhan" means liberation from doubts and desires.

All these are specialties of qualities, action and character. Man rises higher up the ladder of life due to great thinking and idealistic actions. Thus he attains inner contentment, zeal, respect from the external world and cooperation that a realized saint or sage attains.

Apart from this there are so many material benefits due to spiritual progress. These are called Sidhis. Soul based successes are called wealth and glories. Material progress is called high standard of living and Sidhi. Both these together can be seen as advancement of Extra Sensory Potential (ESP).

Shri Adi Shankaracharya has enumerated 8 Sidhis. They are: 1. Sidhi of birth 2. Sidhi of knowledge of sound 3. Sidhi of knowledge of scriptures 4. Sidhi of enduring natural calamities. 5. Sidhi of enduring bodily/mental anguish. 6. Sidhi of enduring hardships meted out to us by other creatures of the world. 7. Sidhi of attaining wisdom 8. Sidhi of attaining knowledge
1.Sanma Sidhi means to know ones past lives. One is naturally attracted to relatives of past lives and one actually knows that they are relatives of past lives.

2.Shabda Sidhi meaning knowing the underlying meaning of a word. Words by themselves have less energy and one can twist their meanings as per one's whims and fancies. Only when a person's psyche is pure can he realize the true underlying meaning of a word.

3.Shastra Sidhi means understanding the true underlying meaning of scriptures and to understand in which context (country, era, character) these observations were made. No tenet or precept can be cosmic or meant for all times. How does one utilize the scriptural truth? This very subtle knowledge is Sidhi of words/sound.

4.Sidhi of enduring Adhidaivic agitations means steadfastly enduring pain due to natural calamities, accidental hardships, situations of separation from one's beloved ones etc.

5.Sidhi of enduring Adhymatic heat means control of emotions like sexual desires, anger, greed, delusion, envy, arrogance etc. Not to allow one's sense organs to cross the limits of sense enjoyment and obstructing the mind from becoming unruly. When due to this sort of control one's mind harbors discontent one should smilingly ignore it.

6.Sidhi of enduring Adhibhautik heat means to serenely endure hardships pertaining to the body like heat, cold, hunger, thirst, sleep, diseases etc. and disallow the mind from getting agitated.

7.Sidhi of Vijnan Shakti means a pious psyche, pure character, equanimos mind, serene nature, one with a dash of humor, a hardworking person, observer of all rules, disciplined, alert, performer of righteous duties, generous nature and contentment.

8.Sidhi of Vidya Shakti means steadfastness in emotions and faith with reference to the nature, aim, duty of the soul. One has firm faith in God and knowing that one's soul pervades every atom of the cosmos, one thinks everyone to be one's very own beloved. Such a person oozes with love for the world since he has overcome all agitations and the rush of blood nature of the mind.

In very exceptional cases one sometimes hears or sees Sidhis like 1.Anima 2. Mahima 3. Garima 4. Laghima 5. Prapti 6. Prakamya 7. Ishatva 8. Vashitva.

"Anima" means to make the body subtler than an atom. "Mahima" means to make one self extremely gigantic. "Garima" means to make one self very heavy. "Laghima" means to make one self very light. "Prapti" means to experience far off objects very closely. "Prakamya" means to fulfill one's wishes. "Ishatva" means lordship or to control other objects or circumstances. "Vashitva" means to induce other creatures to act according to one's own wishes by controlling their thoughts.

There is another description of 8 Sidhis viz.: 1. Entering another person's body. 2. Walking on water 3. Exaltation 4. Waking in fire. 5. Flying in air 6. Hearing of divine sounds 7. Overcoming the veil of light. 8. Mastering all elements.

The above mentioned miracles/Sidhis are generally not seen in today's modern times. And wherever these are seen, the measure of fraud is much more. Thus instead of talking about such miracles which we rarely see, we should clearly understand that by activating our Chakras (Plexuses), we can advance both materially and spiritually. We can attain those pinnacles of success which ordinary limited human effort can never even dream of attaining.