The Chakra Lotus Mandalas

The Chakra Lotus Mandalas Alexandra Rosenblum The text of the Shat-­‐Chakra Nirupana contains in it’s description of the Chakras a description also of their Mandalas, and “it is clearly stated that each chakra has a specific coloration, a fixed number of petals with a designated Sanskrit letter on each, a geometric figure (yantra) within the pericarp of the lotus, a designated animal or deities whose iconography represents aspects or powers associated with the chakra, and a bija mantra.”1 The following information is a summary of the petal numbers, colors, shapes and sounds for the Chakra Mandalas that are provided by Grounded Kids, LLC. Other Mandala imagery often includes the Sanskrit lettering (which I included as it could be an interesting project for older students), as well as the gods and goddesses for each Chakra, as well as the animals, which act as carriers for the Bija (seed sounds) which appear in the center of the Mandalas in standard representations, and also, according to the Shat-­‐Chakra Nirupana, have a color. The number of lotus petals increases as ones moves up the Chakra system along the spine (Sushumna Nadi) and “may be taken to indicate the rising energy or vibration-­‐frequencies of the respective chakras” 2. Letters represent sound vibrations, and also the intensities of the energies of the Chakras. 1
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Theories of the Chakras: Bridge to Higher Consciousness, Hiroshi Motoyama, p. 183 Kundalini: The Arousal of the Inner Energy, Ajit Mookerjee, p. 39 1
Muladara Chakra: •
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4 petals are red On the petals are the letters Va, Śa, Ṣa, and Sa in the color gold Bija “laṃ” is yellow Yantra: square is yellow like lightning and represents earth element or material world 8 spears Animal: elephant, represents that which is “solid, dependable, persevering”3 God: child Brahma, who is red Goddess: Dakini, who is red 3
The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, Cyndi Dale, p. 252 2
Svadhistana Chakra: • 6 petals are vermillion (orange red) or white • letters Ba, Bha, Ma, Ya, Ra, and La – each with a Bindu on top are “the colour of lightning”4 (gold or white) • Bija “vaṃ” is white • Yantra: Crescent Moon within a circle-­‐ described as shiney and white, moon also moves and pulls the earth’s oceans (Svadhistana’s element is water) • Animal: white Makara (alligator-­‐like animal), represents unseen desires (imagine the “moon’s pull on the tides”5) • Additional 8-­‐petalled lotus inside the half moon • God: Vishnu is dark blue • Goddess: Rakini is blue with red eyes 4
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The Serpent Power: The Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga, Arthur Avalon, p. 365 Wheels of Life: the Classic Guide to the Chakra System, Anodea Judith, p. 117 3
Manipura Chakra: •
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10 petals represent our ability to interact with the world, like our 10 fingers manipulate our surroundings, 10 is also the number for beginnings of new cycles Petals are “blue as the center of a hot flame”6, or “the color of heavy laden rain clouds”7 On the petals the letters Ḍa, Ḍha, Ṇa, Ta, Tha, Da, Dha, Na, Pa, and Pha Bija “raṃ” is red Yantra: Inverted triangle is red and “shining like the rising sun”8 Svastikas (T shapes) are Hindu symbols for well-­‐being and fire Animal: Ram, representing “strength, wisdom, and bravery”9God: Rudra, who is red but covered in white ashes Goddess: Lakini, who is blue but wears yellow 6
The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, Cyndi Dale, p. 257 Theories of the Chakras: Bridge to Higher Consciousness, Hiroshi Motoyama, p. 170 8
The Serpent Power: The Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga, Arthur Avalon, p. 366 9
The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, Cyndi Dale, p. 257 7
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Anahata Chakra: •
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12 bright red petals Letters Ka, Kha, Ga, Gha, Ṅa, Ca, Cha, Ja, Jha, Jña, Ṭa, Ṭha are vermillion Yantra: the ‘sat-­‐kona’-­‐ six interlacing triangles-­‐ are ‘smoke-­‐colored’; upward pointing triangle represents male energy, downward pointing triangle represents female energy Upward facing triangle may also represent physical matter rising to meet spirit, downward facing triangle being the “descent of spirit into body”10 Bija “yaṃ“ is smoke-­‐grey Innermost triangle is golden Animal: black antelope represents passion and joy God: Siva is golden Goddess: Kakini is shining yellow Also attached is a small 8-­‐petalled red lotus mandala below called “Ananda-­‐
kanda” 10
Wheels of Life: The Classic Guide to the Chakra System, Anodea Judith, p. 193 5
Visuddha Chakra: •
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Sixteen petals are smokey purple or violet blue 16 vowels on petals (a, ā, i, ī, u, ū, ṛ, ṝ, ḷ, ḹ, e, ai, o, au, am, ah) are crimson Bija “Haṃ” is white Yantra: downward facing triangle (“symbolizes the manifestation of speech”11) within a circle Circle (that is often) inside the triangle is white and symbolizes the full moon (the word ‘Visuddha’ means “purification’, and the colors reflect that) Animal: white elephant with 6 trunks, represents harmony and grace, element is ether and mandala is mainly white, God: Sadasiva as Ardhvanarisiva, half white, half golden Goddess: Sakini is white, clothed in yellow 11
Wheels of Life: The Classic Guide to the Chakra System, Anodea Judith, p. 239 6
Ajna Chakra: •
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2 petals, (potentially representing Ida and Pingala, the two main channels of Energy that run along the spine, or manifest and unmanifest reality) Petals are moon white Letters Ha and Kṣa on petals are also white Bija “Aum” or “Om” Yantra: an inverted “moon-­‐white” triangle signifying the female, containing the OM Above it a crescent moon Animal: none God: ParamaSiva Goddess: Hakini, who is moon-­‐white with six red faces 7
Sahasrara Chakra: •
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Thousand petalled lotus facing down (the only one that does) – imagine the energy showering or raining down, “showering of the subtle body with cosmic radiations”12 Petals “whiter than the full moon”13 represent the 50 Sanskrit letters and their 20 permutations Bija: none Yantra: only the Lotus itself Animal: none God and Goddess: Shiva and Shakti are said to have “blissful union” here 12
Kundalini: The Arousal of the Inner Energy, Ajit Mookerjee, p. 44 The serpent Power: The Secrets of Tantic and Shaktic Yoga, Arthur Avalon, p. 419 13
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BIBLIOGRAPHY Theories of the Chakras: Bridge to Higher Consciousness Hiroshi Motoyama The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy Cyndi Dale The Serpent Power: The Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga Arthur Avalon Kundalini: The Arousal of the Inner Energy Ajit Mookerjee Kundalini Tantra Swami Satyananda Saraswati Wheels of Life: The Classic Guide to the Chakra System Anodea Judith A Chakra & Kundalini Workbook Dr. John Mumford 9