chakra

Chakra is a term used in Indian spiritual traditions to describe energy centers within the subtle body through which prana, or life force, flows. In yoga and tantra, chakras are imagined as wheels or vortices that regulate the distribution of energy along channels called nadis, notably the sushumna, ida, and pingala. The chakra framework is used as a map for physical, mental, and spiritual processes, and serves as a focus for meditation, healing practices, and personal development.

Traditionally, seven main chakras are described along the spine from the base to the crown. Muladhara (root) is at the base of the spine; Swadhisthana (sacral) lies in the lower abdomen; Manipura (solar plexus) is in the upper abdomen; Anahata (heart) is in the chest; Vishuddha (throat) at the throat region; Ajna (third eye) between the eyebrows; and Sahasrara (crown) at the top of the head. Each chakra is associated with a color, an element, and a set of psychological and physiological functions. For example, Muladhara is tied to earth, the color red, grounding and security; Ajna to light and indigo, intuition; Sahasrara to crown consciousness, often represented by violet or white.

In practice, balancing or activating chakras typically involves breathing techniques, focused visualization of the chakra locations, mantra recitations, and certain postures. The concept is also linked to the idea of kundalini energy rising through the sushumna to awaken higher states of consciousness.

Historically, the chakra model was developed in post-Vedic traditions, especially within yoga and tantric texts from the first millennium CE onward. In modern times, chakras are widely referenced in New Age and holistic wellness contexts, though they are regarded by science as a symbolic or metaphorical framework rather than an empirically validated system.