Editing Chakra (section)

{{Short description|Subtle body centers in esoteric traditions}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Distinguish|Chakram}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}} 
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}

[[File:Crown Brow Throat Chakras, Rajasthan 18th Century.jpg|thumb|In meditation, chakras are often visualised in different ways, such as a lotus flower, or a disc containing a particular deity.]]
A '''chakra''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|tʃ|ʌ|k|r|ə|,|ˈ|tʃ|ae|k|-|,|ˈ|tʃ|ɑː|k|-}};<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Wells |editor-first=John |editor-link=John C. Wells |title=Longman Pronunciation Dictionary |publisher=Pearson Longman |edition=3rd |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-4058-8118-0}}</ref> {{langx |sa|text=चक्र |translit=cakra |translit-std=IAST |lit=wheel, circle}}; {{langx|pi|cakka}}) is one of the various focal points used in a variety of ancient [[meditation]] practices, collectively denominated as [[Tantra]], part of the inner traditions of [[Hinduism]] and [[Buddhism]].<!--<ref name="britchakra">--><!--<ref name="grimes100"/><ref name="Lochtefeld2002p137"/>-->

The concept of the chakra arose in Hinduism.<!--<ref name="JonesRyan2006p102"/>--> Beliefs differ between the Indian religions: Buddhist texts mention four or five chakras, while Hindu sources often have six or seven.<!--<ref name=britchakra/><ref name="grimes100"/><ref name="Heilijgers-Seelen 1992"/>--> 

The modern "Western chakra system" arose from multiple sources, starting in the 1880s with [[H. P. Blavatsky]] and other Theosophists,<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. XII (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 616.</ref> followed by Sir [[John Woodroffe]]'s 1919 book ''The Serpent Power'', and [[Charles W. Leadbeater]]'s 1927 book ''The Chakras''. Psychological and other attributes, [[rainbow colour]]s, and a wide range of supposed correspondences with other systems such as [[alchemy]], [[astrology]], gemstones, [[homeopathy]], [[Kabbalah]] and [[Tarot]] were added later.