Editing Chakra (section)

==Seven chakra system==

[[File:Chakras map.svg|thumb|upright|One schema of seven chakras is as follows, from bottom to top: 1. [[Muladhara]] 2. [[Svadhishthana|Svadhisthana]] 3. [[Manipura]] 4. [[Anahata]] 5. [[Vishuddha|Vishuddhi]] 6. [[Ajna]] 7. [[Sahasrara]].<ref name="grimes100"/> The colours are modern.<ref name="Leland 2017"/>]]

The most studied chakra system incorporates six major chakras along with a seventh centre generally not regarded as a chakra. These points are arranged vertically along the axial channel ([[Nadi (yoga)|sushumna nadi]] in Hindu texts, Avadhuti in some Buddhist texts).<ref>{{cite book |first1=Geoffrey |last1=Samuel |author-link=Geoffrey Samuel |first2=Jay |last2=Johnston |title=Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West: Between Mind and Body |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w_qOz641rV0C |year=2013 |publisher= Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-76640-4 |pages=39–42}}</ref> According to Gavin Flood, this system of six chakras plus the ''sahasrara'' "center" at the crown first appears in the ''Kubjikāmata-tantra'', an 11th-century [[Kaula (Hinduism)|Kaula]] work.<ref>{{cite book |last=Flood |first=Gavin |author-link=Gavin Flood |title=The Tantric Body: The Secret Tradition of Hindu Religion |publisher=[[I.B.Tauris]] |year=2006 |isbn= 978-1845110123 |page=157}}</ref>

It was this chakra system that was translated in the early 20th century by [[Sir John Woodroffe]] (also called Arthur Avalon) in his book ''The Serpent Power''. Avalon translated the Hindu text ''Ṣaṭ-Cakra-Nirūpaṇa'' meaning the examination (nirūpaṇa) of the six (ṣaṭ) chakras (cakra).<ref name="White 2003 221">{{cite book |last=White |first=David Gordon |author-link=David Gordon White |title=Kiss of the Yogini |year=2003 |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |location=Chicago |isbn=0-226-89483-5 |page=221}}</ref>

The Chakras are traditionally considered meditation aids. The yogi progresses from lower chakras to the highest chakra blossoming in the crown of the head, internalizing the journey of spiritual ascent.<ref name="Banerjea175">{{cite book |first=Akshaya Kumar |last=Banerjea |title=Philosophy of Gorakhnath with Goraksha-Vacana-Sangraha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ljn1koKa0CQC&pg=PA175 |year=1983 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=978-81-208-0534-7 |pages=175–184}}</ref> In both the Hindu kundalini and Buddhist candali traditions, the chakras are pierced by a dormant energy residing near or in the lowest chakra. In Hindu texts she is known as [[Kundalini]], while in Buddhist texts she is called Candali or [[Tummo]] (Tibetan: ''gtum mo'', "fierce one").<ref name=johnston40/>

Below are the common [[new age]] description of these six chakras and the seventh point known as sahasrara. This [[new age]] version incorporates the [[Spectrum|Newtonian colours]] of the rainbow not found in any ancient Indian system.<ref name="Leland 2017">{{cite journal |last=Leland |first=Kurt |title=The Rainbow Body: How the Western Chakra System Came to Be |url=https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/the-rainbow-body-how-the-western-chakra-system-came-to-be |journal=[[Quest (Theosophical magazine)|Quest Magazine]] |publisher=[[Theosophical Society in America]] |volume=105 |issue=2 (Spring 2017) |date=2017 |pages=25–29}}</ref>{{-}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[New age]] descriptions of the chakras
|-
! style="width:  60px;" | Image 
! style="width:  60px;" | Name 
! style="width:  60px;" | [[Sanskrit]]
! style="width:  60px;" | Location 
! style="width:  60px;" | No. of petals 
! style="width:  60px;" | Modern colour 
! style="width:  60px;" | Mantra & element 
! style="width: 500px;" | Description
|-
| [[File:Sahasrara Mandala.svg|center|80px]] || '''[[Sahasrara]]''' || सहस्रार (सहस्र-आर) <br /> "Thousand-petaled" || Crown || 1000 || White or Violet || ''-''<br />(Time & Space , Divine Consciousness) || Highest spiritual centre, pure consciousness, containing neither object nor subject. When the feminine [[Kundalini energy|Kundalini]] Shakti rises to this point, it unites with the masculine [[Shiva]], giving self-realization and [[samadhi]].<ref name="grimes100"/> In esoteric Buddhism, it is called Mahasukha, the petal lotus of "Great Bliss" corresponding to the fourth state of [[Four Noble Truths]].<ref name=johnston40>{{cite book |first1=Geoffrey |last1=Samuel |author-link=Geoffrey Samuel |first2=Jay |last2=Johnston |title=Religion and the Subtle Body in Asia and the West: Between Mind and Body |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w_qOz641rV0C |year=2013 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-136-76640-4 |pages=40–42}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Ajna Mandala.svg|center|80px]] || '''[[Ajna]]''' || आज्ञा <br /> "Command" || Between<br />eyebrows || 2 || Indigo || ''Om''<br />(Light Or Darkness) || Guru chakra, or in New Age usage third-eye chakra, the subtle center of energy, where the tantra [[guru]] touches the seeker during the  [[shaktipat|initiation ritual]]. He or she commands the awakened [[kundalini]] to pass through this centre.<ref name="grimes100"/>

Corresponds to the upper dantien in the Qigong system.
|-
| [[File:Vishuddha Mandala.svg|center|80px]] || '''[[Vishuddha]]''' || विशुद्ध <br /> "Purest" || Throat || 16 || Blue || ''Ham''<br />(Space) || 16 petals covered with the sixteen Sanskrit vowels. Associated with the element of space ([[akasha]]). The residing deity is Panchavaktra shiva, with 5 heads and 4 arms, and the Shakti is Shakini.<ref name="grimes100"/> 
In esoteric Buddhism, it is called Sambhoga and is generally considered to be the petal lotus of "Enjoyment" corresponding to the third state of [[Four Noble Truths]].<ref name=johnston40/>
|-
| [[File:Anahata Mandala.svg|center|80px]] || '''[[Anahata]]''' || अनाहत (अन्-आहत) <br /> "Unstruck" || Heart || 12 || Green || ''Yam''<br />(Air) || Within it is a yantra of two intersecting triangles, forming a [[hexagram]], symbolising a union of the male and female, and the element of air ([[vayu]]). The presiding deity is Ishana Rudra Shiva, and the Shakti is Kakini.<ref name="grimes100"/>
In esoteric Buddhism, this Chakra is called Dharma and is generally considered to be the petal lotus of "Essential nature" and corresponding to the second state of [[Four Noble Truths]].<ref name=johnston40/>

Corresponds to the middle dantien in the Qigong system.
|-
| [[File:Manipura Mandala.svg|center|80px]] || '''[[Manipura]]''' || मणिपुर (मणि-पुर) <br /> "Jewel city" || Navel || 10 || Yellow || ''Ram''<br />(Fire) || For the [[Nath]] yogi meditation system, this is described as the ''Madhyama-Shakti'' or the intermediate stage of self-discovery.<ref name="Banerjea175"/> This chakra is represented as a downward pointing triangle representing fire in the middle of a lotus with ten petals. The presiding deity is Braddha Rudra, with Lakini as the Shakti.<ref name="grimes100"/>
|-
| [[File:Swadhisthana Mandala.svg|center|80px]] || '''[[Svadhisthana|Svadhishthana]]''' || स्वाधिष्ठान (स्व-आधिष्ठान) <br /> "Where the self<br />is established" || Root of<br />sexual organs || 6 || Orange || ''Vam''<br />(Water) || Svadhisthana is represented with a lotus within which is a crescent moon symbolizing the water element. The presiding deity is Brahma, with the Shakti being Rakini (or Chakini).<ref name="grimes100"/> 
In esoteric Buddhism, it is called Nirmana, the petal lotus of "Creation" and corresponding to the first state of [[Four Noble Truths]].<ref name=johnston40/>

Corresponds to the lower dantien in the Qigong system.
|-
| [[File:Muladhara Mandala.svg|center|80px]] || '''[[Muladhara]]''' || मूलाधार (मूल-आधार) <br /> "Root" || Base of<br />spine || 4 || Red || ''Lam''<br />(Earth) || Dormant [[Kundalini energy|Kundalini]] is often said to be resting here, wrapped three and a half, or seven or twelve times. Sometimes she is wrapped around the black Svayambhu linga, the lowest of three obstructions to her full rising (also known as knots or granthis).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=C. Mackenzie|title=The Devī Gītā: the Song of the Goddess: a translation, annotation, and commentary|date=1998|publisher=State university of New York press|location=Albany (N.Y.)|isbn=978-0-7914-3940-1|page=195}}<!--|access-date=18 December 2014--></ref> It is symbolised as a four-petaled lotus with a yellow square at its center representing the element of earth.<ref name="grimes100"/>
The seed syllable is ''Lam'' for the earth element<!--ref: Mumford (1988)-->. All sounds, words and mantras in their dormant form rest in the muladhara chakra, where [[Ganesha]] resides,<ref>{{cite book |last= Tigunait |first= Rajmani |title= Tantra Unveiled: Seducing the Forces of Matter & Spirit |publisher= Himalayan Institute Press |date=1999 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=EudU6IxUxYUC&q=ganesha+muladhara&pg=PA87|page=87|isbn= 9780893891589 }}</ref> while the Shakti is [[Dakini#In Hinduism|Dakini]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Ecstasy Through Tantra |first=John |last=Mumford |publisher=[[Llewellyn Worldwide]] |year=1988 |edition=Third |page=72 |isbn=0-87542-494-5}}</ref> The associated animal is the elephant.<ref>{{cite book |title= Dreambody: the body's rôle in revealing the self |last1=Mindell |first1=Arnold |last2=Sternback-Scott |first2=Sisa |author3= Goodman, Becky |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |year=1984 |isbn=0-7102-0250-4 |page=38}}</ref>
|}