The Chakra Lotus Mandalas Alexandra Rosenblum The text of the Shat- Chakra Nirupana contains in it s description of the Chakras a description also of their Mandalas, and it is clearly stated that each chakra has a specific coloration, a fixed number of petals with a designated Sanskrit letter on each, a geometric figure (yantra) within the pericarp of the lotus, a designated animal or deities whose iconography represents aspects or powers associated with the chakra, and a bija mantra. 1 The following information is a summary of the petal numbers, colors, shapes and sounds for the Chakra Mandalas that are provided by Grounded Kids, LLC. Other Mandala imagery often includes the Sanskrit lettering (which I included as it could be an interesting project for older students), as well as the gods and goddesses for each Chakra, as well as the animals, which act as carriers for the Bija (seed sounds) which appear in the center of the Mandalas in standard representations, and also, according to the Shat- Chakra Nirupana, have a color. The number of lotus petals increases as ones moves up the Chakra system along the spine (Sushumna Nadi) and may be taken to indicate the rising energy or vibration- frequencies of the respective chakras 2. Letters represent sound vibrations, and also the intensities of the energies of the Chakras. 1 Theories of the Chakras: Bridge to Higher Consciousness, Hiroshi Motoyama, p. 183 2 Kundalini: The Arousal of the Inner Energy, Ajit Mookerjee, p. 39 1
Muladara Chakra: 4 petals are red On the petals are the letters Va, Śa, Ṣa, and Sa in the color gold Bija laṃ is yellow Yantra: square is yellow like lightning and represents earth element or material world 8 spears Animal: elephant, represents that which is solid, dependable, persevering 3 God: child Brahma, who is red Goddess: Dakini, who is red 3 The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, Cyndi Dale, p. 252 2
Svadhistana Chakra: 6 petals are vermillion (orange red) or white letters Ba, Bha, Ma, Ya, Ra, and La each with a Bindu on top are the colour of lightning 4 (gold or white) Bija vaṃ is white Yantra: Crescent Moon within a circle- described as shiney and white, moon also moves and pulls the earth s oceans (Svadhistana s element is water) Animal: white Makara (alligator- like animal), represents unseen desires (imagine the moon s pull on the tides 5 ) Additional 8- petalled lotus inside the half moon God: Vishnu is dark blue Goddess: Rakini is blue with red eyes 4 The Serpent Power: The Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga, Arthur Avalon, p. 365 5 Wheels of Life: the Classic Guide to the Chakra System, Anodea Judith, p. 117 3
Manipura Chakra: 10 petals represent our ability to interact with the world, like our 10 fingers manipulate our surroundings, 10 is also the number for beginnings of new cycles Petals are blue as the center of a hot flame 6, or the color of heavy laden rain clouds 7 On the petals the letters Ḍa, Ḍha, Ṇa, Ta, Tha, Da, Dha, Na, Pa, and Pha Bija raṃ is red Yantra: Inverted triangle is red and shining like the rising sun 8 Svastikas (T shapes) are Hindu symbols for well- being and fire Animal: Ram, representing strength, wisdom, and bravery 9 God: Rudra, who is red but covered in white ashes Goddess: Lakini, who is blue but wears yellow 6 The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, Cyndi Dale, p. 257 7 Theories of the Chakras: Bridge to Higher Consciousness, Hiroshi Motoyama, p. 170 8 The Serpent Power: The Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga, Arthur Avalon, p. 366 9 The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, Cyndi Dale, p. 257 4
Anahata Chakra: 12 bright red petals Letters Ka, Kha, Ga, Gha, Ṅa, Ca, Cha, Ja, Jha, Jña, Ṭa, Ṭha are vermillion Yantra: the sat- kona - six interlacing triangles- are smoke- colored ; upward pointing triangle represents male energy, downward pointing triangle represents female energy Upward facing triangle may also represent physical matter rising to meet spirit, downward facing triangle being the descent of spirit into body 10 Bija yaṃ is smoke- grey Innermost triangle is golden Animal: black antelope represents passion and joy God: Siva is golden Goddess: Kakini is shining yellow Also attached is a small 8- petalled red lotus mandala below called Ananda- kanda 10 Wheels of Life: The Classic Guide to the Chakra System, Anodea Judith, p. 193 5
Visuddha Chakra: Sixteen petals are smokey purple or violet blue 16 vowels on petals (a, ā, i, ī, u, ū, ṛ, ṝ, ḷ, ḹ, e, ai, o, au, am, ah) are crimson Bija Haṃ is white Yantra: downward facing triangle ( symbolizes the manifestation of speech 11 ) within a circle Circle (that is often) inside the triangle is white and symbolizes the full moon (the word Visuddha means purification, and the colors reflect that) Animal: white elephant with 6 trunks, represents harmony and grace, element is ether and mandala is mainly white, God: Sadasiva as Ardhvanarisiva, half white, half golden Goddess: Sakini is white, clothed in yellow 11 Wheels of Life: The Classic Guide to the Chakra System, Anodea Judith, p. 239 6
Ajna Chakra: 2 petals, (potentially representing Ida and Pingala, the two main channels of Energy that run along the spine, or manifest and unmanifest reality) Petals are moon white Letters Ha and Kṣa on petals are also white Bija Aum or Om Yantra: an inverted moon- white triangle signifying the female, containing the OM Above it a crescent moon Animal: none God: ParamaSiva Goddess: Hakini, who is moon- white with six red faces 7
Sahasrara Chakra: Thousand petalled lotus facing down (the only one that does) imagine the energy showering or raining down, showering of the subtle body with cosmic radiations 12 Petals whiter than the full moon 13 represent the 50 Sanskrit letters and their 20 permutations Bija: none Yantra: only the Lotus itself Animal: none God and Goddess: Shiva and Shakti are said to have blissful union here 12 Kundalini: The Arousal of the Inner Energy, Ajit Mookerjee, p. 44 13 The serpent Power: The Secrets of Tantic and Shaktic Yoga, Arthur Avalon, p. 419 8
BIBLIOGRAPHY Theories of the Chakras: Bridge to Higher Consciousness Hiroshi Motoyama The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy Cyndi Dale The Serpent Power: The Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga Arthur Avalon Kundalini: The Arousal of the Inner Energy Ajit Mookerjee Kundalini Tantra Swami Satyananda Saraswati Wheels of Life: The Classic Guide to the Chakra System Anodea Judith A Chakra & Kundalini Workbook Dr. John Mumford 9