Muladhara (Sanskrit: मूलाधार, Mūlādhāra) is one of the seven primary chakras according to Hindu tantrism. It may be represented by the color red, but its root square form is usually yellow.
Location
Muladhara is said to be located near the basal end of the spinal column in the vicinity of the coccygeal plexus beneath the sacrumit, while its kshetram, or superficial activation point, is located on the perineum.
Appearance
Its symbol is a yellow, square lotus, surrounded by eight shining spears on the sides and with four red petals at its corners. The deity of this region is Indra, who is yellow in color, four-armed, holding a vajra and blue lotus in his hands.[clarification needed] He is mounted upon the white elephant Airavata, who has seven trunks, denoting the seven elements vital to physical functioning. Occasionally, instead of Indra, the deity may be Ganesha, with coral orange skin, wearing a lemon yellow dhoti with a green silk scarf draped around his shoulders. In three hands he holds a laddu, a lotus flower and a hatchet, and the fourth is raised in the mudra of dispelling fear.
Seed mantra
The seed mantra syllable is लं laṃ. Within the bindu, or point that forms a part of the letter, just above it, is Brahma, who is deep red, with four faces and four arms, holding a staff, a sacred vase of nectar, a Jappa Mala, and making the gesture of dispelling fear. Alternatively, instead of the staff and Jappa mala, he may be holding a lotus flower and the sacred scriptures. He is seated on a swan. A goddess called Dakini is his shakti, or his source of empowerment. She is beautiful, with three eyes and four arms. Dakini is usually depicted shining red or white, holding a trident, a skulled staff, a swan, and a drinking vessel, and is seated on a swan. Instead of a swan and drinking vessel, at times she holds a sword and a shield.
Seat of Kundalini
In the center of the square, below the seed syllable, is a deep red inverted triangle. The great spiritual potential, the kundalini, shakti sleeps here, waiting to be aroused and brought back up to Brahman, the source from which it originated. She is represented as a snake wrapped three and a half times around a smoky grey lingam.
Petals
The four petals are red, with the Sanskrit syllables वं vaṃ, शं śaṃ, षं ṣaṃ and सं saṃ written in gold upon them, representing the four vrittis: greatest joy, natural pleasure, delight in controlling passion, and blissfulness in concentration. Alternatively, they may represent dharma (psycho-spiritual longing), artha (psychic longing), kama (physical longing) and moksha (longing for spiritual liberation).[3]
Additional
Muladhara is the base from which the three main psychic channels or nadis emerge: the Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. It is also believed that Muladhara is a subtle abode of the Hindu God, Ganapati. And in the highest revered prayer for Ganapati, the Ganapati Atharvashirsha, it is mentioned that "one who worships Lord Ganapati would easily grasp the concept and realise Brahman".
Function
Muladhara is considered the foundation of the "energy body". Yogic systems stress the importance of stabilising this chakra. Kundalini awakening begins here. It is also known as the seat of the "red bindu" or subtle drop, which rises up to the "white bindu" in the head to unite the female and masculine energies, or Shakti and Shiva.
It is associated with the element of earth, the sense of smell and the action of excretion.
"By meditating thus on Her who shines within the Muladhara Chakra, with the luster of ten million Suns, a man becomes Lord of speech and King among men, and an Adept in all kinds of learning. He becomes ever free from all diseases, and his inmost Spirit becomes full of great gladness. Pure of disposition by his deep and musical words, he serves the foremost of the Devas."
Association with the body
Muladhara is located at the base of the spine, and is related to the perineum, near the anus. Being associated with the sense of smell, it is associated with the nose, and being associated with excretion, it is associated with the anus.
Practices
In kundalini yoga, there are various yogic practices held to incite the energy in Muladhara including: asanas (such as Garudasana, Shashankasana and Siddhasana); nosetip gazing, or Nasikagra Drishti; specific pranayamas; and most importantly the practice of Mula Bandha, involving the contraction of the perineum, which awakens kundalini, and is also important for the retention of semen.
Location
Muladhara is said to be located near the basal end of the spinal column in the vicinity of the coccygeal plexus beneath the sacrumit, while its kshetram, or superficial activation point, is located on the perineum.
Appearance
Its symbol is a yellow, square lotus, surrounded by eight shining spears on the sides and with four red petals at its corners. The deity of this region is Indra, who is yellow in color, four-armed, holding a vajra and blue lotus in his hands.[clarification needed] He is mounted upon the white elephant Airavata, who has seven trunks, denoting the seven elements vital to physical functioning. Occasionally, instead of Indra, the deity may be Ganesha, with coral orange skin, wearing a lemon yellow dhoti with a green silk scarf draped around his shoulders. In three hands he holds a laddu, a lotus flower and a hatchet, and the fourth is raised in the mudra of dispelling fear.
Seed mantra
The seed mantra syllable is लं laṃ. Within the bindu, or point that forms a part of the letter, just above it, is Brahma, who is deep red, with four faces and four arms, holding a staff, a sacred vase of nectar, a Jappa Mala, and making the gesture of dispelling fear. Alternatively, instead of the staff and Jappa mala, he may be holding a lotus flower and the sacred scriptures. He is seated on a swan. A goddess called Dakini is his shakti, or his source of empowerment. She is beautiful, with three eyes and four arms. Dakini is usually depicted shining red or white, holding a trident, a skulled staff, a swan, and a drinking vessel, and is seated on a swan. Instead of a swan and drinking vessel, at times she holds a sword and a shield.
Seat of Kundalini
In the center of the square, below the seed syllable, is a deep red inverted triangle. The great spiritual potential, the kundalini, shakti sleeps here, waiting to be aroused and brought back up to Brahman, the source from which it originated. She is represented as a snake wrapped three and a half times around a smoky grey lingam.
Petals
The four petals are red, with the Sanskrit syllables वं vaṃ, शं śaṃ, षं ṣaṃ and सं saṃ written in gold upon them, representing the four vrittis: greatest joy, natural pleasure, delight in controlling passion, and blissfulness in concentration. Alternatively, they may represent dharma (psycho-spiritual longing), artha (psychic longing), kama (physical longing) and moksha (longing for spiritual liberation).[3]
Additional
Muladhara is the base from which the three main psychic channels or nadis emerge: the Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. It is also believed that Muladhara is a subtle abode of the Hindu God, Ganapati. And in the highest revered prayer for Ganapati, the Ganapati Atharvashirsha, it is mentioned that "one who worships Lord Ganapati would easily grasp the concept and realise Brahman".
Function
Muladhara is considered the foundation of the "energy body". Yogic systems stress the importance of stabilising this chakra. Kundalini awakening begins here. It is also known as the seat of the "red bindu" or subtle drop, which rises up to the "white bindu" in the head to unite the female and masculine energies, or Shakti and Shiva.
It is associated with the element of earth, the sense of smell and the action of excretion.
"By meditating thus on Her who shines within the Muladhara Chakra, with the luster of ten million Suns, a man becomes Lord of speech and King among men, and an Adept in all kinds of learning. He becomes ever free from all diseases, and his inmost Spirit becomes full of great gladness. Pure of disposition by his deep and musical words, he serves the foremost of the Devas."
Association with the body
Muladhara is located at the base of the spine, and is related to the perineum, near the anus. Being associated with the sense of smell, it is associated with the nose, and being associated with excretion, it is associated with the anus.
Practices
In kundalini yoga, there are various yogic practices held to incite the energy in Muladhara including: asanas (such as Garudasana, Shashankasana and Siddhasana); nosetip gazing, or Nasikagra Drishti; specific pranayamas; and most importantly the practice of Mula Bandha, involving the contraction of the perineum, which awakens kundalini, and is also important for the retention of semen.
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