Chakra centres of consciousness

The various mystical traditions of the world know a number of [chakras]

or centres of consciousness - [caitanya]

. These have their spiritual counterparts and are where conscious energy connects and transfuses the body. Depending on the system in question, varying descriptions are used for up to twelve centres, some of them lying outside the body. Most emphasized are: the [muladhara chakra]

in the pubic/anal region; the [svadhisthana chakra]

at the level of the genitals (sometimes described as at the navel); the [manipura chakra]

at the navel (or the pit of the stomach); the [anahata chakra]

at the heart (sometimes described as at the root of the nose); the [visuddha chakra]

at the throat (or between the front sinuses); [ajnakhya]

or [ajna chakra]

between the front sinuses ("third eye") - or at the top of the head (the fontanelle); and the [sahasrara chakra]

the centre at the top of the head or, according to some traditions, beyond the physical body, above the crown of the head. In this sense the last transcends the other six chakra which together constitute the [shat-chakra]

or [sat cakra]

. The first five are connected with the five elements - earth, water, fire, air and ether, as are the planes - [loka]

- of these five chakras. The final two chakras are beyond the elements.

Kundalini yoga recognizes the seven chakras as centres of [kundalini]

subtle energy - [prana]

. They are distributed along the [susumna]

(central energy channel) which interconnects the chakras. Physiological correspondence is the spinal nerve channel. The life-force - [kundalini]

- at the base of the spine - [muladhara chakra]

- initially unawakened like a coiled snake, is drawn upwards from one chakra to the next by tantric ritual and kundalini yoga exercises, and merged with the supreme consciousness at the top of the head, resulting in samadhi. Yogic practice first reaches tapas loka (austerity). If self-realization is not completed one is born again as an ascetic, avatara, bodhisattva or prophet. Further practice takes one beyond the gunas through the practice of awakening [kundalini]

which, after sequentially traversing the chakras, finally reaching the sahasrara chakra and uniting with Siva, descends and restores the powers of the chakras and the deities dwelling in them. From then on one lives in an extended state of consciousness - a changed person, exhausting karma, so that on leaving the body nirvana is achieved.

[Lila]

, the game of life, recognizes seven [chakras]

all within the body. There is an eighth plane outside the body but this is said to be beyond the chakras. Each centre is ascribed a particular mode of perception of the world. The activated centres are the concomitants of corresponding qualities of subtle energy - [prana]

.