Yogic Chakra Meditation

Yogic Meditation involves the manipulation of physical and psychological aspects of the human system through certain well-defined techniques and methods. Its ultimate objective is to reach the Samadhi state. In order to reach Samadhi, Yogis perform a series of Yogic practices such as Asanas, Bandhas, Mudras, Shat Karma, concentration and meditation. It is quite easy for a Yogi to reach the Samadhi state once he is fully established in the practices of meditation.

The first step in Yogic Meditation begins with ordinary concentration of the mind on some external object such as gazing at the lighted candle (Trataka), or looking intently at a small dot, a ball, a statue, the tip of the nose (Nasikagra Drishti), eyebrow centre (Shambhavi Mudra) etc., for a considerable period of time. This is done in order to control the wavering mind.

Another form of Yogic Meditation is repeating certain mantras either mentally or vocally. The mental repetition of mantras forms part of Transcendental Meditation.

An advanced form of Yogic Meditation is to concentrate on the seven Chakras situated in different parts of the body. These Chakras are associated with major nerve plexuses and endocrinal glands in the body. The entire human system is controlled by these Chakras and they have profound influence on the total personality of individuals. During meditation awareness must be focused on these Chakras.
The particulars of different Chakras with their related importance to the practice of meditation are given below:

1. Mooladhara Chakra: Located at the base of the spinal column, it lies between the origin of the reproductory organ and the anus. Its position is the lowest of all the Chakras. It is related to the earth element in nature and corresponds to the Sacro-coccygeal Plexus in the physical body.

Mooladhara is considered the seat of primal energy known as Kundalini Shakti or sexual energy. This energy can be transformed into potential motive force for the development of physical, mental and psychic powers in man. By meditating intensely on this Chakra, the Yogi is capable of stimulating the Kundalini Shakti, which will begin to rise. When it reaches the next Chakra, i.e. Swadhisthana, the sexual power and energy of the Yogi is very heightened. At this stage, he is expected to control his sexual passion and meditate further on the other charkas. This process should continue until the Kundalini Shakti reaches the last one, Sahasrara, and he attains the state of Samadhi.

2. Swadhisthana Chakra: This is located above the Mooladhara Chakra in the spinal region directly behind the genital organ. The corresponding centre in the physical body of the nervous system for this Chakra is the Prostatic Plexus. This Chakra is mainly associated with the organs of excretion and reproduction. Meditation on the Chakra will rectify any disorders in these functions. It relates to the water element in nature and a person meditating on this Chakra will have no fear of water. Moreover, such persons will get many psychic powers, intuition and a perfect control over the senses.

3. Manipura Chakra: This is the third one from the Mooladhara Chakra situated within Sushumna Nadi near the navel region. It has control over digestive organs. Meditation on this Chakra is supposed to increase digestive capacity. This Chakra represents the fire element and is associated with vitality and energy. It corresponds to the Solar Plexus in the body.

4. Anahata Chakra: This is situated near the heart region. It corresponds to the Cardiac Plexus in the physical body. Related to the air element in nature, it ~ associated with the heart and lungs and the functions of circulatory and respiratory systems. Practitioners of Yoga should meditate on this Chakra while performing Asanas in order to get relief from diseases connected with the heart and lungs: bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, anaemia, hypertension, etc.

5. Vishuddhi Chakra: This is located within the Sushumna Nadi at the base of the throat in the region of the Adam's apple. This corresponds to the Laryngeal Plexus in the physical body. This Chakra influences the vocal cords and the region of the larynges, thyroid and parathyroid glands. By meditating intent!r on this Chakra, one can remove disorders in this area of the physical body. II relates to the ether element in nature.

6. Ajna Chakra: This is also situated within the Sushumna Nadi at the space between the eyebrows. The corresponding centre in the physical body is the Cavernous Plexus. This Chakra is a well-known centre used for concentration in many systems of meditation. For concentration, the eyebrow centre is selected, but the real seat of Ajna Chakra is within the area of the brain. Its corresponding physical part is the pineal gland, a tiny pea-sized gland within the brain. On the psychic plane this delicate point is the bridge between the physical, mental and psychic bodies. By meditating on this Chakra, one can develop supramental faculties, such as clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy and other abilities thatlie latent in every human being.

7. Sahasrara: This is not considered a Chakra but supposed to contain all the other Chakras within itself. It is the abode of the highest consciousness. The five lower Chakras are related to finer elements progressing up to the Ajna Chakra, which is the subtlest. Mooladhara - earth, the grossest element in nature; Swadhisthana - water, less grosser than earth; Manipura - fire, subtler than water; Anahata - air, subtler than fire; Vishuddhi - ether, subtler than the rest. Ajna - the subtlest of all the five elements of nature represents consciousness. The five elements of nature assigned to the first five Chakras and consciousness representing the Ajna Chakra and Sahasrara are only symbolic and the real significance is that through constant meditational practices the Yogi is expected to transcend his personality from the grossest manifestation of worldly desires, passions and instincts to that of the subtlest one of intuition, inspiration, creativity and bliss constituting the way to spiritual emancipation.

It was stated earlier that Mooladhara Chakra is the seat of Kundalini Shakti. One of the aims of the practice of Yogic Meditation is to awaken this Kundalini Shakti through self-purification and concentration of mind on various Chakras referred to above. When the Yogi succeeds in his meditational practices, Kundalini Shakti, the primal energy in man, moves upward through all the other Chakras, step by step, according to the duration and intensity of meditation, and then reaches the topmost one, Sahasrara. At this stage, the Yogi attains Samadhi and experiences supreme joy, happiness and bliss.