1. Chakras

2. Contents
Background Information
Fact vs. Philosophy of Cakras
Individual Cakras
Conclusion
Bibliography

3. Background Information
Means “wheel” or “spinning disc” in Sanskrit, actually spelled cakra
Taken from Aryan tradition, then mentioned in the Vedas, and later in the Upanishads
Kundalini Yoga specifically focus on the chakras
A system of beliefs that is changing to this day.

4. Why Study Cakras? Western approach to medicine treats only symptoms
True healing comes from a holistic mindset
With rising costs of health insurance and care, individuals will need to take control of their health or face huge out of pocket expenses

5. Fact vs. Philosophy Facts Located at prominent nerve ganglia
Located close to major glands
Considered part of the Universal Energy Field (Auras)
Philosophy
Energy/ Psychic Centers that run up spine
Connections between the physical body and astral body
Junctions for the thousands of nadis

10. Nadis

11. Muladhara (Root Chakra)
Meaning: Root Support
Location: Perineum, base of spine, coccygeal plexus
Glands: Adrenal
Function: Survival

12. Muladhara (Root Chakra)
Excessive characteristics
Heaviness, sluggishness
Resistance to change
Obesity
Hoarding
Greediness
Workaholic
Excessive spending
Deficient Characteristics
Fear, Anxiety
Resistance to Structure
Anorexia
Flightiness
Disconnection from body
Restlessness
Difficult manifesting

13. Muladhara (Root Chakra)
Balanced Characteristics
Groundness
Physical Health
Comfortable in Body
Sense of Safety
Stability and Solidity
Prosperity

14. Muladhara (Root Chakra)
Practices to Help Muladhara
Physical Practice: Any poses that use legs, Mula Bandha
Taste: Eating protein
Sight: Wearing Red
Sound: Chanting “Lam” or va,sha,ssa,sa, Tribal music, heavy percussion, didgeridoo
Scent: Cedar, Basil, Clove, Pepper, Rosemary

15. Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra)
Meaning: Sweetness
Location: Lower abdomen, genitals, womb
Glands: Ovaries, Testicles
Function: Desire, pleasure, sexuality, procreation

16. Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra)
Excessive characteristics
Sexual Addiction
Obessive Attachments
Addiction to Stimulants
Mood Swings
Poor boundaries
Emotional Dependency
Instability
Deficient Characteristics
Rigidity in Body, Belief, or Behavior
Emotional Numbness or Insensitivity
Fear of Change
Lack of Desire, Passion, or Excitement
Avoidance of Pleasure
Excessive Boundaries
Boredom
Fear of Sexuality

17. Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra)
Balanced Characteristics
Ability to Embrace Change
Emotional Intelligence
Ability to Nurture Self and Others
Healthy Boundaries
Ability to Enjoy Pleasure
Passion

18. Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra)
Practices to Help Svadhisthana
Physical Practice: Pelvic Tilts, Cat/ Cow, Hip Rotation
Taste: Liquid
Sight: Wearing Orange
Sound: Chanting “Vam” or ba, bha, ma, ra, la, sensual music
Scents: Sandalwood, Orris Root, Gardenia, Damiana, Citrus, Hibiscus

19. Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra)
Meaning: Lustrous Gem or Lustrous Citadel
Location: Navel to Solar Plexus
Glands: Pancreas, Adrenals
Function: Will, Power, and Assertiveness

20. Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra)
Deficient Characteristics
Passivity
Lack of Energy
Poor Digestion
Tendency to be cold
Tendency toward submission
Blaming
Low Self Esteem, Lack of Confidence
Weak Will, Poor Self- Discipline
Use of Stimulants
Excessive Characteristics
Dominating
Controlling
Competitive
Arrogant
Ambitious
Hyperactive
Stubborn
Driven
Attracted to Sedatives

21. Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra)
Balanced Characteristics
Responsible, Reliable
Good Self- Discipline
Positive Sense of Self
Confident
Warm
Energetic
Spontaneous, Playful, Humorous
Able to Take Risks

22. Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra)
Practices to Help Manipura
Physical Practice: Sit ups, Uddiyana Bandha (Belly Lock), any abdominals exercise
Taste: Eating Starches
Sight: Wearing Yellow
Sound: Chanting “Ram” or da, rda, nra, ta, dha, rdha, na, pa, pha. Marches or Opera
Smell: Saffron, Cinnamon, Ginger, Peppermint, Chamomile

23. Anahata (Heart Chakra)
Meaning: Unstruck
Location: Heart
Glands: Thymus
Function: Love

24. Anahata (Heart Chakra)
Excessive Characteristics
Codependency
Poor Boundaries
Jealousy
Being a Martyr
Being a Pleaser
Deficient Characteristics
Antisocial, Withdrawn
Critical, Intolerant
Lonely, Isolated
Lack of Empathy
Fear of Initmacy

25. Anahata (Heart Chakra)
Balanced Characteristics
Caring
Compassionate
Empathetic
Accepting
Self-Loving
Peaceful
Centered
Content

26. Anahata (Heart Chakra)
Practices to Help Anahata
Physical Practice: Chest Openers, Backbends
Taste: Eating Vegetables
Sight: Wearing Green
Sound: Chanting Lam or “Ay” as in “Play”
Smell: Lavender, Jasmine, Marjoram, Wild Rose

27. Visudda (Throat Chakra)
Meaning: Purification
Location: Throat
Glands: Thyroid, Parathyroid
Function: Communication, Creativity

28. Visudda (Throat Chakra)
Excessive Characteristics
Talking too Much or Inappropriately
Gossiping
Stuttering
Difficulty Being Silent
Excessive Loudness
Inability to Keep Secrets
Deficient Characteristics
Difficulty Putting Things in Words
Fear of Speaking
Speaking with Small, Weak, Voice
Secretiveness
Excessive Shyness
Tone Deafness

29. Visudda (Throat Chakra)
Balanced Characteristics
Resonant, Full Voice
Clear Communication with Others
Good Communications with Self
Good Listener
Good Sense of Timing and Rhythm
Lives Life Creativity

30. Visudda (Throat Chakra)
Practices to Help Visudda
Physical Practices: Moving Arms, Chataranga, Neck Rolls, Shoulderstand, Plough, Jalandhara Bandha (Throat Lock)
Taste: Eating Fruits
Sight: Wearing Blue
Sound: Chanting “Ham” or “Eee”
Smell: Frankincense, Chamomile

31. Ajna (Brow Chakra) Meaning: To Perceive, To Command Location: Brow
Gland: Pineal
Function: Seeing, Intuition

32. Ajna (Brow Chakra) Lack of Imagination Difficult Visualizing
Excessive Characteristics
Hallucinations
Delusions
Obsessions
Nightmares
Intrusive Memories
Difficulty Concentrating
Excessive Fantasizing
Deficient Characteristics
Lack of Imagination
Difficult Visualizing
Insensitivity
Excessive Skepticism
Denial
Inability to See Alternatives

33. Balanced Characteristics
Ajna (Brow Chakra)
Balanced Characteristics
Strong Intuition
Penetrating Insight
Creative Imagination
Good Memory
Good Dream Recall
Ability to Visualize
Guiding Vision for Life

34. Ajna (Brow Chakra) Practices to Help Ajna
Physical Practice: Eye Rolls, Developing Inner Visualization
Taste: Entheogens
Sight: Wearing Indigo
Sound: Chanting “Aum” or “Mmmm”
Smell: Star Anise, Saffron

35. Sahasrara (Crown Chakra)
Meaning: Thousandfold
Location: Top or slightly above head
Glands: Pituitary
Function: Understanding

36. Sahasrara (Crown Chakra)
Excessive Characteristics
Dissociation from the Body
Spiritual Addiction
Confusion
Over-Intellectualization
Living “in your Head”
Disconnection from Spirit
Excessive Attachments
Deficient Characteristics
Spiritual Cynicism
A Closed Mind
Learning Difficulties
Rigid Belief Systems
Apathy

37. Sahasrara (Crown Chakra)
Balanced Characteristics
Spiritual Connection
Wisdom and Mastery
Intelligence, Presence
Open-Mindedness, Ability to Question
Ability to Assimilate and Analyze Information

38. Sahasrara (Crown Chakra)
Practices to Help Sahasrara
Physical Practice: Meditation
Taste: Fasting
Sight: Wearing Indigo
Sound: Silence or “Ngngng”, high note ay-eeee or high note Huuuuuu
Smell: Lotus, White Mountain Sage

39. Conclusion Chakras and their relationship to our health and wellness.
Take a proactive approach to healing and maintaining wellness.
Deepen your yoga practice!

40. Mantras Brihdaranyaka Upanisada 1:3:28 ~ India
Play the mantra as an MP3
Asato Ma Sadgamaya
Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya
Mrityor Ma Amritamgamaya
Oh Almighty! Lead us from the unreal (falsity) to the real (truth) from darkness to light! From death to immortality! Oh Almighty! May there be Peace! Peace! Peace!
Biblo. 13

41. Brihdaranyaka Upanisada
Brihadaranyaka
‘The great forest of knowledge’
The Upanishad is widely known for its philosophical statements and is ascribed to Yajnavalkya. Its name means "great-wilderness-Upaniṣad" or the "great forest of knowledge". It includes three sections: Madhu Kanda, Muni Kanda (orYajnavalkya Kanda) and Khila Kanda. The Madhu Kanda explains the teachings of the basic identity of the individual or Atman. Muni Kanda includes the conversations between the sage Yajnavalkya and one of his wives, Maitreyi. Methods of meditation and some secret rites are dealt in the Khila Kanda. The doctrine of "neti neti" (later on understood as "neither this, nor that") and an often quoted verse, "Asato Maa", is found in this Upanishad.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is a commentary on Purush Sukta of the Vedas. Being an intuitional revelation it is rich in the use of metaphors, symbolism and imagery to describe the nature of Reality. Instead of using deduction to derive the truth, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad uses self-evident psychological arguments. The Upanishad uses the imagery of Asvamedha sacrifice, described in Purusha Sukta, to depict the creation of the universe. Prajapati, or the creator, is identified with ‘Asva’ or ‘the horse’ and ‘Medhya’ is the sacrifice. Verse of the Upanishad describes the reason for using ‘the horse’ as a symbol for Prajapati. The horse being a substratum for demons, gods and humans is an apt symbol for Prajapati, the substratum of the whole universe. In verse 1.4.7, name and form are given as reasons for appearance of differentiation in an undifferentiated Absolute. In verse , the truth is described as nothing but one’s own ‘Self’. This is elaborated in the metaphysical statements in the Upanishad.

42. Brihdaranyaka Upanisada
Ethics
in the Upanishad revolve around the five Yajnas or sacrifices. These sacrifices are described as a person’s duty towards gods, rishis, ancestors, fellow humans and animals. In section 5.2, three disciplines are described using three ‘da’s’: damyata (self control), datta (charity), dayadhvam (compassion).

43. Brihdaranyaka Upanisada
Psychology
The verses in the Upanishad contain numerous statements pertaining to psychology. Verse describes the desire for progeny as the desire for self-assertion and the desire for wealth as the desire for material comfort. Eyes and ears are mentioned as the instruments of wealth because it is through the eyes and ears that we come to know of the names and forms of the objects which are regarded as wealth. Objects of wealth are often symbolically represented as food in the Upanishad. For instance, verse enunciates that the food stuff is never exhausted because the consumers of the food themselves create food, implying that objects of desire never get exhausted as long as the desire persists in the subject. Eight grahas (sense organs) and atigrahas (object of senses) are conveyed in the Upanishad: nose-odour, speech-name, tongue-taste, eye-colour, ear-sound, mind-desire, hands-work, skin-touch. The purpose of the mind is described as desire purnam udacyatepurnasya purnam adaya purnam evavasisyate.“From infinite or fullness, we can get only fullness or infinite”. The above verse describes the nature of the Absolute or Brahman which is infinite or full, i.e., it contains everything. Upanishadic metaphysics is with its basis in pleasure. In section 4.3 of the Upanishad an analysis of dreams and deep sleep is presented. Section 4.3 goes on to explore the state of deep sleep where the reason for lack of sensory experience is proposed to be the merger of senses with the perceiver. The Upanishadic psychology concludes when Yajnavalkya explains to Maitreyi that one does not love an object for the sake of the object but for the sake of the Self.

44. Brihdaranyaka Upanisada
Metaphysics
Verse acknowledges that metaphysical statements in Upanishads are meant to guide the reader from unreality to reality. The metaphysics of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is non-dualistic. For instance, in verse Yajnavalkya asserts that everything in the universe is covered with the Self. Section 1.6 implies that the reality is covered with name, form and work. The nature of reality or Self is described as consciousness-bliss in verse Neti-neti or (not this—not this) is a method of negation described by Yajnavalkya to negate empirical reality. It implies that Absolute reality cannot be understood by the senses, mind or the intellect. The heart of the Upanishadic metaphysics appears in the verse 5.1 which also appears at the invocation and conclusion of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.
puranam adah, purnam idam, purnat further elucidated in the Madhu Vidya(honey doctrine), where the essence of every object is described to be same to the essence of every other object which is held to be Brahman.

45. Brihdaranyaka Upanisada
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad looks at reality as being indescribable and its nature to be infinite and consciousness-bliss. Human beings are looked upon as the synthesis of the organ of speech, mind, prana(cosmic energy) and the twin cosmic desires of differentiation and unison. The cosmic energy is thought to integrate in the microcosm various sensations like sound, smell and sight and in the macrocosm integrate the individual to the universe.

46. Brihdaranyaka Upanisada
shlokas
ॐ असतोमा सद्गमय । तमसोमा ज्योतिर्गमय । मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय ।। ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्तिः ।। – बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद्
oṁ asato mā sad gamaya tamaso mā jyotir gamaya mṛtyor mā amṛtaṁ gamaya oṁ śānti śānti śāntiḥ – bṛhadāraṇyaka upaniṣad
This shloka was used in the climactic battle theme, "Neodämmerung", of the 2003 American science fiction action film The Matrix

47. SHANTI or PEACE MANTRA
The "sarveshaam mantra" is one of the peace or shanti mantras which may be used to invoke harmony and tranquility in the environment in which puja or prayers are performed. This shanti mantra may be repeated three or eleven times, as time permits. The mantra may perhaps be used as a closing prayer for the puja, to bless all those in attendance. AUM sarveshaam svastir bhavatu, sarveshaam shaantir bhavatu sarveshaam poornam bhavatu, sarveshaam mangalam bhavatu sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niraamayaah sarve bhadraani pashyantu, maa kashchidh dukh bhaag-bhavet. Meaning of the Sarveshaam Shanti Mantra Let it be so ordained (-bhavatu), that all the people (-sarveshaam), experience well-being (-svastir) ; let all the people experience peace or tranquility (-shaantir). Let all the people experience wholeness and completeness (-poornam) ; let them experience prosperity and auspiciousness (-mangalam). May it so happen (-bhavantu) that everyone (-sarve) receives happiness (-sukhinah) ; let them all be saint-like (-santu) and be without disease and in good health (-niraamayaah). Let them see with their own eyes (-pashyantu) the goodness of life (-bhadaraani) ; And let them not (maa) contemplate in their conscious mind (-kashchidh) any sorrow inducing (dukh) thoughts while they remain beneficiaries (-bhavet) of good fortune (-bhaag). Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

48. Sanskrit Version of the Sarveshaam Shanti Mantra
SHANTI or PEACE MANTRA
Sanskrit Version of the Sarveshaam Shanti Mantra
The Sanskrit version of the sarveshaam mantra, as produced from the itrans transliteration is
1. ॐ सर्वेशां स्वस्तिर्भवतु । 2. सर्वेशां शान्तिर्भवतु । 3. सर्वेशां पुर्णंभवतु । 4. सर्वेशां मङ्गलंभवतु । 5. ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

49. SHANTI or PEACE MANTRA
Meaning: 1: May there be Well-Being in All, 2: May there be Peace in All, 3: May there be Fulfillment in All, 4: May there be Auspiciousness in All, 5: Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

50. Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyoyonah Prachodayaat
The Gayatri Mantra
Om Bhur Bhuvas Suvaha
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyoyonah Prachodayaat
Note from Lisa: The Bhakti House Band is the most favorite recording.
Translation May there be peace on mortal, immortal and divine planes. I meditate upon the most brilliant splendor of the sun God. May he stimulate our intellect so the we are inspired to take the right action at the right time.

51. Mantra | Ganapati Om
Complete Mantra:Ganapati Om Ganapati Om Jaya Ganapati Om Ganapati Om Jaya Ganapati Om Ganapati Ganapati Tatvamasi Tatvamas

52. Ganapate Om
Om namaste Ganapataye Tvameva pratyaksham tattvamasi Tvameva kevalam kartaasi Tvameva kevalam dhartaasi Tvameva kevalam hartaasi Tvameva sarvam khalvidam brahmaasi Tvam saakshad aatmaasi nityam Language: Sanskrit

53. Ganapate Om
Translation:A prayer to Ganesha (Ganapati), who purifies and removes the obstacles of the mind. Jaya is hail or victory, Ganapati means lord of the multitudes. Gana = multitudes, Pati = lord Tatvamasi = thou art that Om. Salutations to the lord of the multitudes. You alone are the visible manifestation of Thou art That. You alone create all this. You alone sustain all this. You alone destroy all this. You alone are all this. You are Brahman. You are the eternal, evident Self.

54. Bibliography
1. Brennan, Barbara Ann, Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field, New York, Bantam Books,1987.
2. Judith, Anodea, Chakra Balancing, Boulder, Sounds True, 2003.
3. Judith, Anodea, Eastern Body, Western Mind, Berkeley, Celestial Arts, 1996.
4. Judith Anodea, Wheels of Life: A User’s Guide to the Chakra System, Woodbury Publications, Llewellyn, 1987.
5. Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, Yoga Mind and Body, New York, DK Publishing, 1996. 6. 7. 8. 9.
10.
11.

55. Bibliography 12. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brihadaranyaka_Upanishad
13.
14. Mantra Mom CD- i am | Discovering your inner beauty through divine Sanskrit Mantras
15. Rachel Taylor
16. Matrix theme Asato Ma
17.Ganapati Om
18. Peace Mantra
19.