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The physical appearance of life is found to be in the breath
of human being. The breath normally flows in either nostril
at an interval of ninety minutes. As long as the material
parts of the body are in condition, they expand and shrink
causing breath. This is due to the energy centralized in the
body just above the root and outside of the spinal cord.
This is the primordial energy which remains dormant until it
is awakened by yoga. As long as it is dormant, only a small
percentage of energy works in human beings branching out
into two channels as Solar energy which flows in the right
nostril and and Lunar energy in the left nostril. Both these
energies travel through the respective channels representing
physical and mental energies.
The energy flows in the central channel Sushumna four
times a day normally. These times are called Sandhyas. The
times corresponding to such Sandhyas are early morning when
the sun rises, mid day, at the time of sunset and at
midnight. Meditation is recommended preferably just before
these times for this reason. This does not mean meditation
cannot be done in other times. One can practice it as per
one's convenience. The flow of energy in the central channel
also happens when one is deep into concentration. Similarly,
this energy flows in the central channel when one is having
sex and at the height of the act.
The central channel called Sushumna has again one more
Naadi inside which is called Chitra. Chitra engulfs another
Naadi called Brahma Naadi. This Brahma Naadi is the exact
Naadi on which Yogis concentrate. Concentration on Sushumna
alone can lead to concentration on Brahma Naadi. We need not
go into details as these articles are meant for beginners
and intermediate practitioners.
In this Central Channels are the Charkras or the centers
of energy. Though some of the recent experiments in Japan
and Russia have confirmed the existence of such energy
centers, yet they cannot be confronted or seen physically.
These are visible only through the eyes of a Yogi. In
advance meditation practice, for some practitioners these
energy centers automatically come into vision in the center
of their forehead.
In the Tantric texts six such Chakras or Shat Chakras are
mentioned. These are: Mooladhara, Swadhishtana, Manipoora,
Anahata, Visuddhi, Ajna and above these six there is another
one called Sahasrara.
Mooladhara is at the end of the spine from where three
channels originate. Here the energy starts to flow up. All
the basic human natures come out of this place.
Swadhishtana is just one inch above the Mooladhara
Chakra. This is the place for the Ego or the feeling of self
which is hence called swadhishtana.
Manipoora is exactly behind the naval in the spinal cord.
In this Chakra both the mind and Chitha or the impressions
and vasanas are installed.
Anahata is in the center of the heart slightly at the
right side and it is here the feelings and sensations are
situated.
Visuddhi is at the place of the thyroids below the neck.
There is a special Naadi just below this Chakra which is
responsible for dreaming.
Ajna is in the centre of the forehead in between the two
eyes. This charka has the capacity to command all the
functions and hence is called Ajna. During meditation if
there is no peculiar desire to concentrate on any other
centre, it is better to concentrate on this centre rather
than coming up concentrating from Mooladhara up.
The Sahasrara chakra is above all the other Chakras. It
is at this Chakra that one gets the Nirvana or Realisation
or Jnana as Yogis call it.
The Bija mantras for these chakras are Lam, Ram, Vam.
Yam, Ham and AUM respectively from Mooladhara upwards. When
pronouncing the Bijas, A in the middle should be pronounced
as U as in BUT and not as OO as in PUT.
Each Chakra has its own Devata or God who pontificates
them. Each Chakra controls various functions of the body in
different parts. They are not required to be studied for the
present and we will come to that part at a later stage.
Normally every day one breathes 21600 times. These
breaths are divided and end in all these charkas in certain
numbers. This is to appease the appetite of the gods that
reside or preside over these chakras.
Now we will see the effects of mediation on these charkas
during the practice in our next article (To be continued.)
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