There are six gates on the way leading to the origin of Kundalini power. Or, it may be said that this path is locked by six locks. Human soul can reach the inner energy centers by opening these gates or locks. These six obstructions are called Shat-Chakras in spiritual language.
These six Chakras are related to Brahamnadi which is one of the three nadis situated in the inner-most part of the Sushumna. They can also be compared to lotus flowers strung into the thread of a garland. Readers will be able to see in the picture where a particular chakra is located in the body. Mooladhar chakra lies in the genital region; Swadhisthan chakra in the portion between the navel and the pubic region; Manipur chakra in the umbilicus region; Anahat chakra near the heart; Vishudakhya chakra near the neck; Agyachakra in the middle of both the eye-brows; and above all lies Sahasrar.
Sushumna and three nadis encased within it namely; Vajra, chitrani and brahmnadi are so subtle that they can not be seen by naked eye. The corresponding Chakras are still more subtle. Any attempt to operate upon the body to locate shat chakras will be ridiculous and futile because the power of vision of human eye is very much limited. Sound waves, atoms of air, germs of diseases cannot be seen by the naked eye, still their existence cannot be denied. Yogis have seen these Chakras by their yogic vision and have gained miraculous knowledge, insights and powers through investigations of the inner being of man. They have given a well-organized scientific description of such investigations and presented it before those who are interested in the subject.
Shat Chakras are like subtle knots (granthis) formed in the passage of Brahamnadi . When a Sadhak concentrates his mind on these Chakras he has unusual experiences of subtle conditions prevailing there. These knots (granthis) are not circular but angular like petals of a flower. These petals are called padma-dal. They are like a bunch of fibres.
These Chakras are of different hues because of energies of varying potencies of elements dominant in different granthis. This also affects the quantity and colour of the blood of that region. The colour changes to pink, blue, red and smoky according to the prominence of the elements of earth, water, fire, air and sky, respectively. The mixture of these elements changes the colour of each chakra.
When a weevil (wood-worm) cuts through wood, the cut portion assumes different shapes. When vital breath (Pran-vayu) passes through these Chakras, its passage becomes slightly zig-zaged according to the position of the Granthi. It takes different shapes similar to the shape of some letters of devnagri script and they are called letters of that particular chakra.
In a fast flowing river, whirlpools of different shapes are formed at several points. When the vital breath of Sushumna flows rapidly through these Chakras, subtle whirlpools are formed, which are quadrangular, triangular, hexagonal, circular, semi-circular and phallus-like in shape. The flame of rising fire is thick at the bottom and thin at the top. Thus an irregular triangle is formed when the Chakras are pierced. Different shapes are thus formed by the flow of vital breath, These are known as yantras of Chakras.
Human body is formed of five basic elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether. Different parts of the body are constituted and governed by mixture of these elements in varying proportions. If the proportion of a particular element increases or decreases beyond what is required, that part of the body becomes diseased. Existence of elements in requisite proportion at a relevant location is considered to be a sign of good health. There is prominence of one element in each chakra. It is known as the element of that chakra.
When vital breath passes through the hollow Brahma-nadi and it collides with the holes of the Chakras, sound similar to one produced by playing of a flute, emanates. Sounds like Sa, re, ga, ma flow through the holes of the Chakras and they are audible as Yna Øh, lna Üh, rna ÚhU, hna ãhU, Om ú etc. These are known as seeds of these Chakras.
There is difference in the speed of breath in different Chakras. The pulse of persons having the element of vat, pitta or kaf in prominence moves with the speed of pigeon, frog, serpent or cock etc., and physicians (vaidyas) diagnose and treat accordingly. Due to mixture of different elements, zigzag passage, whirlpools and coordination of seeds etc., a specific speed is noticed in every chakra on account of blood circulation and breathing. This speed is sluggish like that of an elephant or a crocodile, or fast as that of a deer or a frog in different Chakras. These speeds are named after the particular animals, which are mounts (vahans) of different Chakras.
Different divine energies lie dormant within these Chakras. Creation, maintenance, destruction, knowledge, prosperity, strength, etc. have been regarded as energies of specific deities. In every chakra there are hot masculine as well as cold feminine elements because without the unoin of these two elements there can be no movement or life. These powers are known as the god or goddess of the particular chakra.
The five elements have their own characteristics. Smell, flavour, form touch and sound are characteristics of earth, water, fire, air and ether respectively. In accordance with the prominence of the element concerned its characteristic predominates in each chakra. These are known a characteristics of Chakras.
The subtle energy of these Chakras flow in the entire body but it is mainly related to one organ of sense and one organ of action. The symptoms of awakening of these Chakras are immediately reflected in these organs. On account of such relationship that particular organ is categorized as the organ of that chakra.
Peculiar names of divine energies viz. Dakini, rakini, shakini, hakini, etc., could be misunderstood to be something like ghost, witch etc., but this is not so. Right from mouth to navel there is a circular chain of letters from aa to ha. The beads of this chain are known as matrikas. On their basis rishis have formulated letters of the alphabet. The Matrika by which the deity of a chakra is linked, is known as divine energy of that deity. Letters da, ra, la, ka, sha have been prefixed to the word ‘kini’ signifying matrikas and thus the words Dakini, rakini etc., have been formulated, which are all names of divine powers. After understanding these definitions, it will be easy for the readers to understand the following introductory information about the six Chakras.
Mooladhar chakra
Location- Near the anus; colour- red, lok-bhoolok; letters of the petals-ßh, àæh, áh, âh; element-earth, seed Üh vahan (mount)- elephant (eravat), characteristic-smell, divine power-Dakini, instrument (yantra) – quadrangular, organ of sense – nose, organ of action – anus; result of meditation- becomes an orator, best among human beings, lover of all learnings, healthy, joyous, has potentiality of becoming a poet, a writer.
Swadisthan chakra
Location- between the navel and pubic region; near penis (ling), petals- six; colour –vermilion, lok- bhuvaha; letters of petals बद्ध,भद्ध,मद्ध,यद्ध,रद्ध,लद्ध element water, seed,áh a mount crocodile, characteristic-flavour (ras),deity-Vishnu, divine energy power-Dakini, instrument (yantra)- like moon of the second day of lunar fortnight (chandrakar), organ of sense-tongue, organ of action-phallus; result of meditation-destruction of perversions like vanity, eradication of illusion and attachments, creative power.
Manipur Chakra
Location – Navel, petals –ten, colour- blue, lok – Swaha, letters of petals- डं, ढं, णं, तं, थं, दं, नं, पं, फं seed-रं mount – ram; characteristic- form, deity rudra, divine power- shakini, instrument – triangular, organ of sense – eyes, organ of action- feet, result of meditation- power of destruction and maintenance and materialisation of whatever is uttered from the mouth.
Anahat chakra
Location – heart; petals-twelve; colour- reddish-brown; lok –mahaha; letters of petals- twelve ·पं, खं, गं, घं, डं.,ड्डं, छं, जं, झं, ञं, टं, ठं element – air, divine power- kakini; instrument- hexagonal; organ of sense- skin, organ of action- hand, result of meditation, divine power, knowledge, awakening, control over sense organs, power to enter into the body of other person.
Vishudhakhya chakra
Location- neck, petals- sixteen; colour- smoky, lok- janaha, letters of petals- from a to aha, element – sky, seed हं mount elephant, characteristic- sound, deity – Sadashiv with five faces; divine power-shakini, instrument circular in the form of zero, organ of sense- ear, organ of action- leg; result of meditation- peace of mind, vision to see through the past, present and future; long life; brilliance, benevolence.
Agya Chakra
Location- between the eye-brows, petals- two, colour- white; letters of petals- हं, क्षं, seed Om, element –maha, mount- sound, deity- Jyotirlinga, divine power- hakini, instrument- phallus- like, Lok- tapaha, result of meditation- fulfillment of all aspirations.
Shat Chakras consist of the afore-said six Chakras but some people regard Sahasrar or sahasra dal Kamal as the seventh chakra and call it shoonya chakra. Its location is top of brain; petals- one thousand, letters of petals range from अं ह्लश क्षं Its lok is satya and it is beyond the five elements. Its seed is visarga (colon-like sign: used in devnagri script) and mount is zero. Its deity and divine energy are parabrahma and maha-Shakti respectively. Its instrument is like full moon. Its light is formless. The result of its meditation is devotion, immorality, Samadhi and acquisition of all Riddhis-Siddhis (divine powers).
Kundalini is the source of power. It is the divine spiritual spark closest to man’s physical body. It contains unimaginable mysterious powers in seed form. Its light is reflected in these six Chakras. Nine planets of the solar system revolve round the Sun, which is their centre. All the planets are influenced by and permeated with the heat, light, gravitation and other powers of the Sun. All the Chakras, in the same manner, are suffused with the powers of Kundalini. A safe contains several small components. The bee-hive contains several small sacks some of which remain full of honey. In the same manner the light of Kundalini is encased in the Chakras. With the awakening of Chakras, the mysterious energies underlying them also get awakened, a brief indication of which has been given in the foregoing discussion.
Vedhan (piercing) of Chakras
It is a great science to pierce through the Chakras, reach up to the Kundalini at its base, awaken it and utilize its energies for spiritual development. Kundalini yoga is far more hazardous than nuclear science. One must undertake it only under the guidance of an adept and not by reading texts on the subject.
Piercing of Chakras is done through meditation. Everybody knows that human brain is like an energy-house and the mind is its main power current. Ordinarily movements of the mind are flickering and unsteady. On account of this turmoil, there cannot be concentration of energy on one point, so nothing worthwhile can be accomplished so long as the mind remains disturbed. In the absence of such concentration, precious moments of life are wasted. When the rays of the Sun are concentrated through a magnifying glass, fire is produced. In the same way, with the help of accumulated energy of concentration, a Sadhak can pierce through the six Chakras. Meditation is the super-science of the mind by which energy scattered in multifarious channels can be collected and conserved, thus producing an exceedingly powerful beam of light.
Different texts have prescribed different ways of piercing of Shat-Chakras. There are some systems, which are traditionally in vogue, in which the spiritual master (Guru) imparts specialised training to his disciple. Success can be achieved by all these methods provided this Sadhana is performed with utmost faith, devotion and confidence under the guidance of a competent guide. The easiest Sadhana by which these Chakras can be pierced through and awakened without any hazards is described below.
A Sadhak should sit in padmasan posture in the morning with purified body and quiet mind. After doing Brahma-sandhya (achman, shikha-bandhan, pranayam, aghmarshan and nyas), Jap of Gayatri Mantra should be performed hundred and eight times. Thereafter, Vedmata Gayatri should be meditated upon in the form of light in trikuti. (If a straight line is drawn from one ear to another and another line is drawn from the middle of eye-brows to the middle of brain the meeting point is known as trikuti). Mind should be settled in the light of trikuti in a way just as a blacksmith puts a piece of iron in the furnace, takes it out when it becomes red hot, hammers it and prepares the desired object. On being settled for some-time in the light of Gayatri in trikuti, the mind becomes illuminated. Then it should be brought in agya-chakra. Emanating from the spinal cord, Brahamnadi goes through trikuti to Sahasrar. The illuminated mind is made to enter into the hollow channel of Brahamnadi and taken to agya-chakra. When the mind is settled there it experiences all the characteristics of the chakra as already described. Mind of the Sadhak experiences the petals, their letters, elements, seeds, divine power, instrument, lok, mount, characteristic and colour of that chakra. In the beginning such experiences are hazy and dim. Slowly some characteristics of the chakra are visualized clearly, some dimly and some in a deformed manner. By and by they become more and more clear. Some times there are differences in the characteristics according to the internal shape of Chakras.
By concentratedly performing Sadhana of each chakra for a month carefully, it is stimulated. In meditation its characteristics become clearer and in matrikas as well as in organs of senses and organs of action there are sudden and strange vibrations and stimulation and an itching sensation. These are symptoms of awakening of the Chakra. When the form of a chakra starts becoming clear the Sadhak should go ahead and try to penetrate another chakra below the former one according to the aforesaid procedure. It takes about a month’s time to awaken each chakra. When the Sadhana becomes ripe the gate leading from one chakra to another opens. However, the Sadhak does not find the gate and remains entangled in a labyrinth so long as there is immaturity in his Sadhana.
When the Sadhak does not find a way out and his Sadhana does not progress for a long time he should consult his experienced Guru (spiritual teacher) and proceed according to his advice. In this way gradually, after piercing through all the six Chakras, the Sadhak reaches Kundalini located at Mooladhar and gets a glimpse of that volcanic, terrifying serpentine coil of gigantic energy, Maha-sarpini. The overwhelmingly violent form of Mahakali is seen here. Several sadhaks tremble violently when they try to awaken this sleeping tigress.
The dormant Kundalini requires to be hit hard if it is sought to activate it. In spiritual language this is known as “torturing of Kundalini”. By such torture, the excited Kundalini makes a hissing sound and awakens and its first targets of attack are negative habits, tendencies and desires accumulated over the past several births. It chews-up these evil sanskars and rides upon the chest of Sadhak’s mind duly armed with all her weapons, destroys his material illusions and ignorance and transforms him into godliness.
The process of awakening Kundalini and exciting it has been described in the ancient scriptures in an extremely symbolic and captivating style. The battle between Mahisasur and Durga is symbolic of this spiritual secret. Mahisasur (human mind consisting of five elements), seeking to attain salvation and inspired by the desire to be killed at the hands of the Goddess, enters into battle with Chandi (Kundalini) who is sitting silently, and attacks. The Goddess gets infuriated and counter-attacks and chews up its mount, Mahish (he-buffalo). This Mahish is nothing else than a bundle of evil sanskars. Goddess Chandi (Kundalini) destroys the body of Mahishasur (the material trend of the mind) by her ten arms from all directions and ultimately Mahishasur merges into Chandi’s Light. It becomes a part of Maha-Shakti and attains the supreme goal of life. This furious form of devotional Sadhana is extremely fierce and hazardous. This is known as the path of battle (Sadhana Samar).
Whereas several devotees attain Divinity by love and devotion, there are others who attain it through Sadhana-Samar. Just as a true lover attains God, a true enemy can also attain Him. Hathyogis and followers of Tantrik Sadhana fall in the latter category. Awakening of Kundalini is a warrior like (Veerochit Sadhana) on the basis of which insignificant individual soul can become great, a living atom transforming itself into the all-pervading Divinity.
While performing Sadhana of Shat-chakra, the Sadhak should enter into Brahamnadi and meditate on the Chakras daily. Starting from five minutes the daily practice can be extended up to thirty minutes. But extending the duration beyond thirty minutes is harmful, as intense heat is produced by such meditation, which cannot be tolerated after a certain limit. The mind should be brought back to the trikuti and meditation should be brought to an end.
Needless to say, while doing this Sadhana, a Sadhak should observe Brahmacharya, take only Satvik food once a day, remain in solitude in a healthy atmosphere and maintain regularity in his daily routine.By piercing of Shat-Chakras and awakening of Kundalini, a Sadhak can have a glimpse of the Supreme Divine Energy in brahmarandhra and thus attain several great Siddhis ( occult divine powers).
