Pancha Tattva
Human body is made up of five element which are called pancha bhuta or
Panchatatva
- Prithvi
- Jala
- Agni
- Vayu
- Akash
Pancha Prana
Universal energy when manifested is called Prana. In human body Prana manifests
through breathing. It is the vital force which flows as energy in 49 directions in the
body termed as 49 Vayu. Prana is related to mind; through mind to the will;
through will to the individual soul, and through this to the Supreme Being.
The seat of Prana is the heart. Prana is one; but it has many functions to do. Hence
it assumes five names according to the different functions it performs, viz., Prana,
Apana, Samana, Udana and Vyana. According to the different functions they
perform, they occupy certain places in the body.
| NAME | COLOUR | LOCATION | REGION | FUNCTION | SUB-PRANAS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prana | Yellow | Anahata Chakra | Chest | Respiration | 1. Naga does eructation and hiccup. |
| Apana | Orange red | Muladhara Chakra | Anus | ischarge of urine and faeces | 2. Kurma performs the function of opening the eyes. |
| Samana | Green | Manipura Chakra | Navel | Digestion | 3. Krikara induces hunger and thirst. |
| Udana | Violet blue | Vishuddha Chakra | Throat | Deglutition. Takes the Jiva to Brahman in sleep. Separates the physical body from the astral body at death | 4. Devadatta does yawning. |
| Vyana | Rose | Swadhishthana Chakra | Entire body | Circulation of blood | 5. Dhananjaya causes decomposition of body |
Nadis
Nadis are the astral tubes made up of astral matter through which Prana flows in the body. The Sanskrit term ‘Nadi’ comes from the root ‘Nad’ which means ‘motion’. Being made up of subtle matter they are invisible through naked physical eyes. Sages through their insight confirmed that about 72,000 nadis are coursing through the subtle body that supports the physical body and its various systems. All the Nadis starts from the Kanda. Some say, that this Kanda is 2 inches above the anus on the spinal chord. Out of the innumerable Nadis 14 are said to be important.
- 1. Sushumna
- 2. Ida
- 3. Pingala
- 4. Gandhari
- 5. Hastajihva
- 6. Kuhu
- 7. Saraswati
- 8. Pusha
- 9. Sankhini
- 10. Payasvini
- 11. Varuni
- 12. Alambusha
- 13. Vishvodhara
- 14. Yasasvini
Chakras
The thousands of nadis intersects in different location in our body are called Chakras. Out of them the chakras formed by the intersection of Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna are of important for Yoga. Corresponding to each chakra is a major nerve plexus and endocrine gland.
PETALS ON CHAKRAS
The Rishis has termed the Chakras as Kamal i.e. Lotus considering their structure and formation. Each petal of the lotus has a particular number of petals with a Sanskrit alphabet on each petal. The vibration that is produced at each petal is represented by the corresponding Sanskrit letter. From each Chakra a particular number of Yoga Nadis crop up. The Chakra gives the appearance of a lotus with the Nadis as its petals. The sound produced by the vibrations of the Yoga-Nadis is represented by the corresponding Sanskrit letter. The Chakras with their petals hang downwards when Kundalini is at the Muladhara Chakra. When it is awakened, they turn towards Brahmarandhra.
The numbers of petals of the lotuses are
- Muladhara --4
- Svadhishthana--6
- Manipura--10
- Anahata--12
- Vishuddha –16
- Ajna -- 2
The total 50 number of petals corresponds to the 50 alphabets of Sanskrit.
The two other chakras are
Sahasrar Chakra
LALANA CHAKRA
Three groups within six chakras : The chakras function within three general groups of process, going along with a predominance of the three primal elements or gunas:
- Tamas : The first two chakras relate to the primal activities that operate in relation to the physical world, including the drives for self-preservation and procreation, effectively obscuring higher experience.
- Rajas : The third and fourth chakras, the navel and the heart centers, involve a subtler relationship with the world, working with one's individuality rather than just engaging the physical world.
- Sattva : The fifth and sixth chakras, the throat and the eyebrow centers, begin movement away from the outer towards the inner world of purity, intuition, creativity, and wisdom, from which the outer arises.
Open and Closed chakras : If a chakra is open, then the Kundalini continues to rise upwards to the next chakra. If they are all open, then it rises all the way to the Sahasrara. However, this is commonly thought of in an opposite way. If a chakra is closed, then the Kundalini stops its upward journey, and one experiences that chakra more fully in an external way (what is typically called open). This can seem to be evidence of an open chakra, but the fact that the Kundalini does not keep going upwards means that the chakra is actually closed.
Three knots or granthis are broken : Along the Sushumna channel there are three knots (granthis) of energy that will be broken or untied along the upward journey of Kundalini, allowing the flow to go into and through the various chakras above that point:
- Brahma granthi : Blocking the flow from the first chakra, the root chakra, muladhara, upward to the others; related to bondage to desires.
- Vishnu granthi : Blocking the flow from the third chakra at the navel, manipura, upward to the fourth chakra, Anahat, the heart; related to bondage of actions.
- Rudra granthi : Blocking the flow beyond the sixth chakra between the eyebrows, Ajna chakra, upwards towards sahasrara; related to bondage of thoughts (compared to pure knowing).
Chakras (Corresponding Glands, Organs, Colours, Element, Function and their Emotions)
Sahasrar Chakra
Sahasrar Chakra is situated at the crown of the head and has 1000 petals. It is the kingdom of Lord Siva . This corresponds to Satya Loka.
Ajna Chakra
Ajna Chakra is situated at the space between the two eye-brows. This is known as Trikuti. The presiding deity, Paramasiva (Shambhu), is in the form of Hamsa. There is Goddess Hakini (Sakti}. Pranava ( Om ) is the Bijakshara for this Chakra. This is the seat of the mind. There are two petals on each side of the lotus (Chakra) and the vibrations of these Nadis are represented by the Sanskrit letters shown below. This is the place of Rudra Granthi. The Chakra is of pure Indigo clour with red colur surrounding it.
Vishuddha Chakra
Vishuddha Chakra is situated at the base of the throat (Kantha-Mula Sthana). This corresponds to Jana Loka. It is the centre of Akasa Tattva (ether element). The Tattva is of pure blue colour. The presiding deity is Sadasiva (Isvara Linga), and the Goddess is Shakini. 16 Yoga Nadis emanates from here forming 16 petals of a lotus. The vibrations that are produced by the Nadis are represented by the 16 Sanskrit vowels as shown in the figure. Akasa Mandal (the region of ether) is round in shape like the full moon. The Bija of Akasa Tattva “Hang” is in this centre. It is of white colour.
Anahat Chakra
Anahat Chakra is situated just behind the junction of the both side ribs in the Sushumna nadi. It has control over the heart. This corresponds to Maha Loka. The Chakra is of deep Green colour. Within this Chakra there is a hexagonal space of smoked green. This chakra is the centre of Vayu Mandal (Vayu Tattva). 12 petals are formed due to 16 yoga nadi. The sound that is produced by each Nadi is represented by the following Sanskrit letters shown below . The Bijakshara here is Yang, the Bija of Vayu. The presiding deity is Isha (Rudra) and Devi is Kakini. In the Anahat Chakra we have Bana Linga. Kalpa Vriksha, which gives all the desired things, is here. Anahata sound, the sound of Shabda Brahman, is heard at this centre. Here lies the Vishnu Granthi.
Manipura Chakra
Manipura is located within the Sushumna Nadi, in the Nabhi Sthana (region of navel). From this Chakra emanate ten Yoga Nadis forming ten petals. The clour of the petals are yellow. The vibrations that are produced by the Nadis are represented by the golden coloured Sanskrit letters. Within the charka, there is a space triangular in form called Agni Mandala. (Agni Tattva). The Bijakshara “rang” , the Bija of Agni, is here. The presiding deity is Vishnu and Goddess is Lakshmi. This Chakra corresponds to Svah or Svarga Loka.
SVADHISHTHANA CHAKRA
Svadhishthana Chakra having six petals located within the Sushumna Nadi at the root of the reproductory organ. This corresponds to Jala Mandal(Apa Tatva )and Bhuvah Loka.The colours of the petals are orange and the corresponding Sanskrit alphabets are as shown in the figure are of golden colour. Within this Chakra there is a space like a crescent moon or the form of a conch or Kunda flower of redish yellow colour. Godess of this Chakra is Rakini, God is Brahma and the Bija is “Vang”.
MULADHARA CHAKRA
Location of the Muladhara Chakra is at the base of the spinal column two fingers above the anus and about two fingers below the genitals, four fingers in width is the space. Kundalini Shakti arouses from Muladhara Chakra.
Four petals are formed as four Nadis emanate from here. The colours of the petals are red and in each petal Sanskrit alphabets in golden colour as shown in the fig are situated. Also Ganesha, Swaraswati, Brahma, and Jagatdhatri Shakti correspond to the petals. The yellow circle is called Dhara Bija contains the Prithvi Tattva. The reddish triangle corresponds to the Tripura and the golden color Bija “Lang” situated here. At the centre of the triangle Redish Linga called Sayambhu linga rests which is also called PARAM TEJAS. A Golden coloured snake has twisted 2.5 turn and the head of the snake emerged at the top of the linga. Near this Linga is the golden region known as Kula and the presiding deity is Dakini (Shakti). Below this chakra are the Sapta Petals termed as Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Rasatala, Mahatala and Patala Lokas. Above the chakra the Bhu Lokas as Bhuvah, Svah or Svarga, Maha, Jana, Tapa and Satya Lokas are situated.