SEEDS OF LIGHT FREE INTERNET MAGAZINE.

THE THIRD CHAKRA

The Manipura Chakra. A DESCRIPTION FROM: THE KUNDALINI YOGA SYSTEM OF SHAKTISM.

• Image and Description.

• DeitieS.

• Table of Aspects.

• Further Associations.

In the Indian Tantric tradition, the Manipura chakra, or "place of gems", is described as having ten petals, yellow in colour with a downward pointing triangle, representing the tattwa of fire.  This chakra is traditionally located at the navel (hence the alternative name of nabhi (navel) chakra), but in many modern (especially Theosophical and New Age orientated) chakra formulations it is placed at the Solar Plexus.  This latter however seems to refer to a distinct (minor) chakra - the Solar Plexus chakra.

Deities within the Manipura Chakra.

Clockwise from the bottom: Vahni, Rudra, Lakini.

---

Table for Manipura Chakra 3.

Terminology	Tantric	manipura, manipuraka, dashapatra, dashadala padma, dashapatrambuja, dashachchada, nabhipadma, nabhipankaja
	Vedic (late Upanishads)	manipura, manipuraka, nabhi chakra
	Puranic	manipura, nabhi chakra
Position		externally, navel region
Petals	number	ten, arranged from right to left
	colour	black, dark-green or dark-blue
Matrika-letters	on petals	ten in number: Dang Dhang Nang Tang Thang Dang Dhang Nang Pang, Phang, arranged from right to left
	colour	dark-blue, black, lightning-like
Vrittis	on petals	ten in number, arranged from right to left
	name	1 spiritual ignorance; 2 thirst; 3jealousy; 4 treachery; 5 shame; 6 fear; 7 disgust; 8 delusion; 9 foolishness; 10 sadness
In the pericarp		triangular 'fire'-region
colour of the Fire Region		red, deep red
Fire Bija in Fire Region		Rang
colour of Fire-bija		red
Form of Fire-bija		deity Vahni
Concentration form of Vahni		Vahni is shining red; four-armed, holding a rudraksha rosary and a spear, and showing the gestures of granting boons and dispelling fear; seated on a ram
In the bindu of Rang		deity Rudra
Concentration form of Rudra		Rudra is red or white; three-eyed; two-armed, showing the gestures of granting boons and dispelling fear; seated on a bull
Presiding divinity		power Lakini
Concentration of Lakini		Lakini is black or dark-blue vermilion, pale-red, or deep red in colour; three-eyed, or three-faced with three eyes in each face; four-armed, holding Vajra and a spear, and making the gestures of granting boons and dispelling fear; or two-armed holding a noose and a goad, as showing the gestures of granting boon and dispelling fear; dressed in yellow raiment, or white raiment; seated on a red lotus

 

In addition to the front (navel) and rear (kidney) "Manipura" Centres, there is a third Centre, red in colour, located in the central "Thrusting Channel" that links the Perineal and Crown Chakras.  In Tibetan Buddhism this centre is called the Wheel of Emanation (corresponding to the Nirmanakaya or manifest physical body), it is said to have sixty-four petals, a central triangle, and is the source of the Red Drop or Tumo that when activated ascends and unites with the descending White Drop in the central Heart Chakra.  This centre links to the Pubic and Perineal chakras.  It is not part of the normal microcosmic orbit, but is associated with higher yogic consciousness.

This centre is equivalent to what Barbara Brennan calls the Tan Tien, and describes it as the one note that holds our physical body in manifestation [Light Emerging, p.289].  She describes it as being one and a half inches below the navel - about the position of the Sea of Chicentre, and is linked downward to the molten core of the Earth.  This inner Tan Tien or central Muladhara would in fact stand behind and suport the outer Tan Tien or Lower Elixar Field, just as the entire chakra system supports the physical body.

Perhaps it is this central Manipura or Lower Tan Tien centre that represents the red or Fire-polarity usually associated with the central part of the Tantric Manipura chakra; remember that in Tantra, the central and the rear chakra-series are confused.

Astrologically (in terms of the etheric body of the solar system), the planet or Celestial Sphere that links with the Manipura in the Geocentric astrological arrangement, is Venus, and hence the Lower Emotional Body.  The spiritual philosopher Oscar Marcel Hinze, in his essay "Understanding Archaic Astronomy", relates Mercury to the Swadhisthana chakra (which however I would associate with the Moon), and Venus to the Manipura, which does match this association.

However, in the Heliocentric arrangement, the astrological planet or macrocosmic chakra associated with the Manipura is the Celestial Sphere of Mercury (again, not the same as the physical planet).

Vrittis on petals ten in number, arranged from right to left name 1 spiritual ignorance; 2 thirst; 3jealousy; 4 treachery; 5 shame; 6 fear; 7 disgust; 8 delusion; 9 foolishness; 10 sadness In the pericarp triangular 'fire'-region colour of the Fire Region red, deep red Fire Bija in Fire Region Rang colour of Fire-bija red Form of Fire-bija deity Vahni Concentration form of Vahni Vahni is shining red; four-armed, holding a rudraksha rosary and a spear, and showing the gestures of granting boons and dispelling fear; seated on a ram In the bindu of Rang deity Rudra Concentration form of Rudra Rudra is red or white; three-eyed; two-armed, showing the gestures of granting boons and dispelling fear; seated on a bull Presiding divinity power Lakini Concentration of Lakini Lakini is black or dark-blue vermilion, pale-red, or deep red in colour; three-eyed, or three-faced with three eyes in each face; four-armed, holding Vajra and a spear, and making the gestures of granting boons and dispelling fear; or two-armed holding a noose and a goad, as showing the gestures of granting boon and dispelling fear; dressed in yellow raiment, or white raiment; seated on a red lotus

In addition to the front (navel) and rear (kidney) "Manipura" Centres, there is a third Centre, red in colour, located in the central "Thrusting Channel" that links the Perineal and Crown Chakras.  In Tibetan Buddhism this centre is called the Wheel of Emanation (corresponding to the Nirmanakaya or manifest physical body), it is said to have sixty-four petals, a central triangle, and is the source of the Red Drop or Tumo that when activated ascends and unites with the descending White Drop in the central Heart Chakra.  This centre links to the Pubic and Perineal chakras.  It is not part of the normal microcosmic orbit, but is associated with higher yogic consciousness.

This centre is equivalent to what Barbara Brennan calls the Tan Tien, and describes it as the one note that holds our physical body in manifestation [Light Emerging, p.289].  She describes it as being one and a half inches below the navel - about the position of the Sea of Chicentre, and is linked downward to the molten core of the Earth.  This inner Tan Tien or central Muladhara would in fact stand behind and suport the outer Tan Tien or Lower Elixar Field, just as the entire chakra system supports the physical body.

Perhaps it is this central Manipura or Lower Tan Tien centre that represents the red or Fire-polarity usually associated with the central part of the Tantric Manipura chakra; remember that in Tantra, the central and the rear chakra-series are confused.

Astrologically (in terms of the etheric body of the solar system), the planet or Celestial Sphere that links with the Manipura in the Geocentric astrological arrangement, is Venus, and hence the Lower Emotional Body.  The spiritual philosopher Oscar Marcel Hinze, in his essay "Understanding Archaic Astronomy", relates Mercury to the Swadhisthana chakra (which however I would associate with the Moon), and Venus to the Manipura, which does match this association.

However, in the Heliocentric arrangement, the astrological planet or macrocosmic chakra associated with the Manipura is the Celestial Sphere of Mercury (again, not the same as the physical planet).