The Powerhouse within
Tribune News Service,
November 17, 2007, Chandigarh, India
Jyotii Subramanian

Chandigarh, November 17
U nderstanding the chakras is an integral part of learning yoga. Chakras are spinning vortexes of energy situated above the plexuses and control the inflow of energy into the body. When working efficiently they keep the physical, emotional and mental body free of disease. Adept yoga practitioners learn to cleanse, activate and balance them.

Manipur, the navel chakra, is third and placed on the epigastric plexus. The term Manipur means 'city of jewels' and is seen as the dynamo of the body. It is often compared to the sun in the scope of its life generating power. Symbolised as golden yellow in colour its element is fire. One of the tasks of this terminal is to distribute energy in the organs of the body and make them function efficiently.

The power produced here can be used both constructively to develop ones unique and individual nature positively or misused for anger and aggression at home and outside. The physical organs that are effected are the stomach, liver, intestine, pancreas and spleen. Emotionally, imbalance can show up as excessive anger, hyperactivity or the lack of vitality, obsessive behaviour and submissive ego.

The diseases that are associated with this chakra are ulcers, indigestion, diabetes, liver dysfunction. It is to be noted that anger and hyperactivity frequently lead to ulcer and indigestion and the lack of vitality is often the result of a sluggish liver. Balance here leads to a body free of diseases, ability to command and organise, enhancement of leadership qualities and readiness to face life's challenges.

Anahat the heart chakra on the cardiac/solar plexus is the junction where the passions of the lower three chakras with their emphasis on the worldly begin to soar to the spiritual qualities of compassion, love, creativity and connection to the divine. It is important to understand the distinction between human charity and spiritual compassion; while the first may be tinged with ego and emotional need; the other functions without limits, conditions or boundaries. A cold loveless environment, an excessive smothering of 'love' from selfish parents, losing loved ones, trauma of divorce, can all cause imbalance in this area. The organs that are effected are the heart, lungs, gall bladder, the thymus, the arms leading to diseases such as blocked arteries, heart disease, palpitations, bronchial problems, arthritis in the arms and bad circulation.

People with congestion here find it difficult to share and receive love. Consequently balancing this chakra results in a blossoming that communicates sharing ones joy and bliss with the world and humanity.

Tip: One easy way to balance the chakras is to spin without fear as we see small children do, hands outstretched, round and round. It's symbolised in the enactment of the raas leela, the grabha, the kolattam; the sufi dervishes and the Tibetan monks use this technique that has filtered down from the tradition of rishis and yogis.