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Swadhisthana - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Swadhisthana (Sanskrit: , IAST:Svdhihna) or 'one's own abode' is the second primary chakra according to HinduTantrism.
Contents [hide] 1 Appearance 2 Characteristics 3 Association with the body 4 Practices 5 Comparisons with other systems 6 Alternative names 7 References 8 External links

Appearance

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Swadhisthana is described as a black lotus, with six vermillion-colored petals which have the following syllables written on them in the colour of lightning: ba, bha, ma, ya, ra and la. Inside this lotus is a white crescent moon, formed by two different sized inner circles, one inside the other. The crescent moon is the water region presided over by Varuna, who is white in color, four-armed, holds a noose and is seated on a crocodile. The two inner circles also have petals; the larger one eight outward facing petals, and the smaller one eight inward facing petals. The seed mantra, located in the innermost circle, is a moon-white va. Within the bindu, or dot, above the mantra is the deity Vishnu. He is dark blue, wears a yellow dhoti, and holds a conch, a mace, a wheel and a lotus. He wears the shriwatsa mark, and the koustabha gem. He is seated either on a pink lotus, or on the divine eagle Garuda. His Shakti is the goddess Rakini (or Chakini). She is black, dressed in red or white, seated on a red lotus. She is either one faced and two armed, holding a sword and a shield, or two faced and four armed, holding a trident, lotus, drum andvajra, or an arrow, skull, drum and axe.

Characteristics

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The six petals represent the following modes of consciousness, also known as vrittis:affection, pitilessness, feeling of all-destructiveness, delusion, disdain and suspicion. Swadhisthana is associated with the unconscious, and with emotion. It is closely related to the Muladhara in that Svadhisthana is where the different samskaras (potential karmas), lie dormant, and Muladhara is where these samskaras find expression. It is associated with the element of water, the sense of taste, and the act of procreation. Swadhisthana contains unconscious desires, especially sexual desire, and it is said,[1] to raise the kundalini shakti (energy of consciousness) above Swadhisthana is extremely difficult for this reason. Many saints have had to face the sexual temptations associated with this chakra. One who meditatates on Swadhisthana is believed to obtain the following siddhis or occult powers: freedom from enemies; the status of a lord among yogis; eloquence and clarity (words flowing like nectar in well-reasoned discourse); loss of fear of water; awareness of astral entities; and the ability to taste anything desired for oneself or others.

Association with the body

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Swadhisthana is located near the coccyx (tailbone), two finger-widths above the Muladharachakra. Its corresponding
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Swadhisthana - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

point in the front of the body (i.e. its kshetram) is the pubic bone. Being connected with the sense of taste, it is associated with the tongue, and being connected with reproduction, it is associated with the genitals. It is often associated with the testes and ovaries. These produce the hormones testosteroneor estrogen, which influence sexual behaviour, and are stores in which genetic information lies dormant, in the same way that samskaras lie dormant within Swadhisthana.[citation needed]

Practices

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Practices in kundalini yoga for controlling and balancing the energy in Svadhisthana chakra include vajroli mudra (contraction of the genitals), ashvini mudra (contraction of the anus), and various asanas and pranayamas.

Comparisons with other systems

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The equivalent chakra in the Vajrayana tantra systems of Tibet is called the Secret Place, four fingers below the navel. It is red in colour, with 32 downward pointing spokes. Meditation on this point produces great bliss.[2] In the Sufi system of Lataif, there is an energy center called the nafs, which is just below the navel. The nafs incorporates all the elements of man's 'lower self,' which must be tamed in order to attain closeness to Allah. Western occultists make the kabbalistic association of Swadhisthana with the SephirahYesod. Yesod is also associated with the sexual organs. Its function in the tree of life is to gather the different energies that have been created in the descent of the tree downwards and distribute them to Malkuth, the material world, where the energy can find physical expression.

Alternative names

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Tantra: Adhishthana, Bhima, Shatpatra, Skaddala Padma, Swadhishthana, Wari Chakra Vedas (late Upanishads): Medhra, Swadhishthana Puranic: Swadhishthana Sacral chakra [3]

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