What is Chakra According to the ancient Hindus?

A chakra is the human body’s energy axis that receives, interacts with and conveys life force between an individual and his/her environment. Its direct English translation means a spinning wheel. Furthermore, ancient Hindu writings reveal that of the body’s 88,000 chakra points, there are seven which are considered of primary importance.

Although there is no common denominator between the ancient Hindu and Chinese cultures, they are very similar in their interpretation and explanation about the role of these energy points in our health and lives in general. Both the Hindus and the Chinese look at the body’s major energy points as playing important roles in our conscious and subconscious experiences. And that these seven energy points are the keys to a healthy and successful life.

Chakras are defined in various ways but there is one common thread among all of the definitions and explanations whether from the Chinese medicine point of view, the Hindu’s mystical understanding of an individual’s internal and external experience or modern psychology’s explanation of human our consciousness and thought processes.

The continuous contact of energy points with its host (our body) and the environment regardless of whether we are awake or not, gives them a special power over the our physical appearance and bodily functions, including our health and emotions. A malfunction of one of the seven major energy points results in our feeling ill and weak, both physically and mentally.

Since each of the major chakras corresponds to a particular endocrine gland in our body, any variance in their normal function or behavior directly affects our health as well.

Maintaining Chakra Balance Using the above as our starting point, we can then safely conclude that most of our major illnesses and ailments are chakra related. Although there may not be enough physical manifestations of the illness or imbalance (yet) there may be emotions and concerns from way back our childhood that affect us today -physically, spiritually or emotionally.

Since not all of our illnesses may be physical, they can also be on the emotional level brought on by repressed incidents that brought us undue pain or disappointment during our lifetime to eating the wrong types of foods and being obese for example. Lack of self confidence and self esteem can also be considered an illness in the broadest term. Certainly, there is only one way to combat these illnesses and that is to remove their physical or emotional triggers from our system.

Chakra Healing is Good for Our Body We can directly influence our chakras and their functions and through them our health and lives by employing techniques such as Reiki healing, aromatherapy, color therapy, chakra balancing with the aid of a pendulum, crystals or gemstones.

Simple and straightforward practice of color and aroma therapy, controlled breathing exercises and rhythmic exercise routines, Reiki healing and directed meditation with the use of audio even crystals and gemstones are but some of the ways we can do on our own to influence the process of interaction of our body’s energy points.

For example, the practice of Yoga and directed meditation are but two of the commonly used healing methods to align and enhance our energy points in order for us to achieve total relaxation and concentration regardless of where we are. This is very helpful in relieving stress and enhances the body’s natural healing processes.

Despite the fact that we can see or touch our energy points, aside from the above there are other ways that we can keep them healthy in order for them to better support our body.

The food we eat affects our health and our system. They also have an affect on the balance and harmony of our major chakras because there are foods that can help maintain the balance and functions of the body’s seven major chakras.

Root-type vegetables, protein-rich foods and spices nourish our root chakra. The sexual and creativity (sacral) chakra needs sweet fruits, nuts and cinnamon, vanilla, sesame and caraway seeds; the stomach/solar plexus chakra which is responsible for enhancing our self-confidence and self-love are can be nourished by eating breads, pastas, cereal, dairy products, yogurt and minty spices.

The heart chakra thrives on our intake of green leafy vegetables and green tea. Our throat chakra needs lots of liquid like water and fruit juices and tangy fruits including apples and peaches.

Blueberries and grapes are the primary source of nourishment of our energy point for the third eye. It is also helps if we drink wine or grape juice.

Our crown chakra, the center of our spiritual and emotional center needs detoxification through fasting and/or ritual inhalation of incense and herbs.

These everyday methods, which admittedly are vey simple since they are an extension of what we already perform daily are some of the basic ways we can heal our energy points so that we can reap the benefits of possessing a healthy functioning chakra for a more productive and healthier life.

Meditation is traditionally regarded as one of the most potent forms of realizing one’s spiritual being, and in the process, one can live a healthy and aware life. Different people adopt different meditation styles, but if there’s one universally acceptable mode of meditation, that has to be the Chakra Meditation.

Chakra Meditation – A Primer

Quite simply, Chakra Meditation refers to the process of balancing and energizing all the 7 energy centers (Chakras) in order to align the flow of energy through them. These 7 energy centers, or the Chakras, are:

1. Root Chakra governing your general health, prosperity and well being is located at the base of the spine and related to the element ‘Earth’.

2. Brow Chakra, also called The Third Eye Chakra, is situated between the brows on the forehead. It is related to the ‘Light’ element, which governs our perception, interpretation, and visualization.

3. Solar Plexus or Power Chakra located just above the naval region and related to the element ‘Fire’. It governs our will power, autonomy, and metabolism.

4. Heart Chakra located at the center of the chest and related to the element ‘Air’. It governs love, compassion, and relationships in our lives.

5. Throat Chakra governing your sense of creativity, resonance and communication skills is located at the base of the throat and related to the element ‘Sound’.

6. Brow or The Third Eye Chakra located between the brows on the forehead and related to the element ‘Light’. It governs perception, interpretation, imagination, and clear vision.

7. Crown Chakra located at the top of the head and related to the element ‘thought’. It governs consciousness, wisdom, and knowledge.

By concentrating and synchronizing these vital energy centers, one can achieve a calming influence on the mind resulting in stress-free existence and a contented life. Chakra Meditation also helps in naturally healing any ailment related to these 7 vital energy centers.

Chakra Meditation Unleashed

Chakra Meditation is the sum total of the following three techniques:

1. Grounding Technique refers to the process whereby, your body feels connected with Earth. The visualization involves assuming a root growing from your body and entering into the Earth, thus, transfixing your body to the ground. With some intense focus and determination, you can achieve this state of Chakra Meditation.

2. Centering Technique. This technique is vital as it prepares your body to receive the benefits of Chakra Meditation. Again, the application of this technique is not too difficult. Just take 4-5 deep breaths and feel every body part from head to toe getting relaxed. This process involves tightening and relaxing each body part from toe, and then visualizing the act of a potter who centers a pot on the pottery wheel.

3. Relaxation Technique refers to the process whereby, the body feels relaxed by an act of visualization that suits an individual the best. Every individual is free to adopt his or her own relaxation method.

Here is a simple method of performing Chakra Meditation:

a) Sit or lie down in a comfortable position.

b) Every stress-causing factor should be addressed and effort should be made to reduce or eliminate the stress as far as possible. Start with loosening the clothing you are wearing. Identify other similar straining factors and eliminate them. And finally, close your eyes.

c) Breathe in a relaxed manner, which is neither too fast nor too slow. Let the breath come naturally!

d) The next step relates to feeling every part of your body from toe to head in that direction. While your eyes are closed, try to feel everything that you would’ve seen with open eyes, like earth, air, clothes, surroundings etc. The idea is to feel awareness even with closed eyes.

e) All the negative thoughts and emotions should not be avoided. Let them be! With time and regular practice, these thoughts will disappear automatically. Rather, when no such negative emotion disturbs you, that is the time when you should consider that you have perfected the art of Chakra Meditation.

f) Feel every subtle inner detail and let your awareness travel freely from one body part to the other.

Chakra Meditation can be performed by anyone at convenient hours. There is no rule for the duration of time to perform Chakra Meditation. Suit your comfort levels!

In this technology obsessed society we live in, most people have simply forgotten about the existence and importance of a spiritual being inside their physical being.

The Hindu thinking of life, on the other hand, has kept the flame of spiritual-healing burning amidst the growth in science and technology.

Our body is made up of 7 primary Chakras as well as thousands of secondary ones. ‘Chakra’, in fact, is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘Wheel of Light’, and these Chakras are in a constant state of rotation and vibration in a healthy body.

And so, an imbalance in the movement of these charkas results in imbalance of the overall healthy functioning of the body. Chakra Balancing then is the key to a healthy body, mind, and soul.

Chakras are Entrance Gates of the Aura and the central points that obtains, incorporates and conveys life-force energy. Situated along the central line of the body – from the base of the spine to the top of the head – the seven main Chakras take and transmit energies to and from the universe, nature, celestial bodies and other people.

What distorts Chakra Balancing?

If one or more of the Chakras is blocked, the energy does not flow smoothly through them and the end result will be an imbalance between the Chakras that result in physical or emotional problems.

The harmonious functioning of Chakras can be distorted due to a number of factors, like ill health, stress, unhealthy diet, exposure to toxicity, lack of exercise, inability to express emotions, beliefs incongruent with Truth, disconnection from a higher power, childhood traumas, cultural conditioning, emotional injuries, etc.

The Importance of Chakra balancing in Health and Happiness

It is very much a utopian idea that the Chakras function completely harmoniously. And so, human effort has always been to try and correct this distortion and strike a fine balance between these Chakras. The idea of self-healing is loosely based on Chakra balancing.

Chakras manipulate our body shape, glandular functions, chronic physical illness, thoughts, and behavior. Chakra balancing ensures that these parameters are working towards a healthy body, mind, and soul.

The usual good effects of Chakra Balancing are

• General happiness and inner peace in body

• Physical health with individual strength

• Awareness and constant feel with one’s body

• Sexually content life without getting influenced by lust

• Alertness of personal feelings at the ethereal level

• Superior capacity to attract and convey love in one’s life

• Accelerated spiritual growth and development

• Spiritual healing through higher patterns of consciousness, awareness, and acceptance

• A compassionate and loving heart

• Marvelous confidence levels, but short of being over-confident

• Realization of the True Self

How do you achieve Chakra Balancing?

Chakra Balancing in one’s body can be achieved by employing different techniques. Primarily, you can use one or more of the following techniques in order to harmonize the Chakra functioning in your body:

• Healing Therapies, such as Reiki

• Yoga (with breathing exercises) and/or Meditation sessions

• Physical work out

• Color & Light Therapy

• Gems and Crystals

• Harmonizing with Hands and Pendulums

• Aromatherapy

• Touch Therapy

• Optimistic outlook

• Sound Frequencies

• Affirmations, using Hypnosis, etc.

The human body is a pool of energy, in which the exhausted energy is released and eliminated by the body organs, and replenished with new energy.

Chakra balancing makes sure that this energy is stored and used by the body optimally, and all essential organs and body cells get an equal share of this energy.

In this state of optimization, inner peace, happiness and health flow naturally. Chakra Balancing is nothing but bringing the Chakras back to their natural state of vibration & frequency.

The study of the body’s chakra system is often referred to as Chakrology by its proponents, alternative medicine advocates and New Age theorists. The existence of our chakra system was first discovered by the Ancient Hindus more than four thousand years ago. They have used the model for healing and promoting and individual’s well-being.

According to the Ancient Hindus, there are thousands of chakra points that make up the human body’s chakra system but of these, there are seven chakra points that are considered of major importance. This major chakra system which consists of the seven major points is our body’s main energy processing centers. As it is, they are our active connection to our consciousness and spiritual essence.

The seven major chakra points of the body’s chakra system each possesses a unique purpose which in turn influences a particular feature of our existence. Even if they are separate and independent from each other, they work in mutual assistance of each other to bring about our well being, physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally.

It is quite remarkable that despite the existence of numerous models of depicting the chakra system, there is one common denominator among all the models used. And that is the energy points correspond to a particular endocrine gland of the human anatomy!

The common representation of our major chakras is a straight ascending line along the spinal column from the base to the top of the head. Modern representations go one step further and assign the primary colors of the color wheel to each of the seven major energy points for a better illustration and to depict particular energy representations as colors symbolize different energy levels as well.

Although the energy points of our chakra system can not be seen, they are considered as extensions or invisible gateways to the endocrine glands that they correspond to. A chakric malfunction whether benign or not, directly affects our endocrinal system and therefore our body. Since they are the gateways of energy to and from our body, any blockages can result in our illness as well and an imbalance of our health.

The seven major chakra points of our body have an integral role in making us what we are – healthy or unhealthy.

An integral approach to taking care of our body is necessary in order to achieve total wellness. Considering that the nature of our chakra centers is a continuous interaction between themselves, the environment and our body, it can not be dissociated from the physical being simply because it can not be seen. Although this is the case, the physical manifestations of malfunction is very clear and concrete as each one of our energy centers affect certain parts of our physical and spiritual being.

Five of the seven major chakras in our body are assumed to have both a dominant and less dominant. Generally, the dominant side is considered to be the one facing the front while the less dominant side is the one facing backwards. The two major chakras that do not have this characteristic are the first chakra (at the base of the spinal column) and the seventh chakra (the crown of the head.

It is necessary to understand and be conscious of the functioning of our chakra centers because more energy is channeled through the first and seventh energy centers. With constant exercise of our chakra points, we can manipulate them to send and receive energy equally.