MORE ABOUT CHAKRAS

     I did write about the Chakras  and I did a you tube video on the same .If you are interested in watching the video, please check out Just A talk @justatalk2648.The information that I wrote in last blog is related to PANCHMAHABHUTE or the GREAT elements that are involved in making this universe . As I had stated that these element undergo what is called PANCHIKARAN and then the micro and macrocosm are created. But today I am talking about Human body and the nerve plexus. In Anatomy we do know that the nerves come out of spinal column and then form what is referred to as plexus. These plexus are present at various levels of spine and are named in the same way as the vertebra are. In Hindu religion , we have these nerve plexus called as chakras . As I understand it ,they are in ASTRAL BODY or SUKSHM SHARIR and as one knows the Astral body and Causal Body-also known as KARAN SHARIR, are glued together along with Physical Body when we are alive. These Chakras rotate and they have one letter Mantra to stimulate.

   The lowest level in spine is coccyx - tail bone and we have a CHAKRA named as MULADHAR CHAKRA. The deity controlling this is GANAPATI  and it is related to the great element of PRUTHVI or the Earth -SOLID element. It is related to the physical body function of Excretion. It has 4 petals and it's color is red . In Mahabharat Sahadeo represents this chakra and it is the related to our previous life SAUSHARAS or impressions. 

    The next one - higher up -is the SACRAL area CHAKRA  named SWADHISTAN CHAKRA. Th controlling deity is BRAHMA. and it is related to the great element of WATER -LIQUID element. It is related to the physical body function of PROCREATION and it has 6 petals and the color is orange. In Mahabharat NAKUL represents this Chakra and it is related to function of obeying the rules and emotional balance. 

   Just as a note , the physical body spinal column ends at Lumbar area and the sacral and coccyx nerves just come out of bony spine at sacral and coccygeal area, we do not have spinal column at that level . 

 The higher up at Lumbar level is the Chakra named MANIPOOR . It is related to the great element of FIRE or Energy. The controlling deity is VISHNU . It is Yellow in color and has 10 petals and it has function of SELF CONTROL Arjun represents this Chakra in Mahabharat.

    The next and in dorsal spine or at the level of heart is the Chakra named ANAHAT. It is related to the great element of WIND-AIR The controlling deity is RUDRA. It has 12 petals and the color is green . The function is controlling PRANA or energy or breath. Bhima from Mahabharat is the representing this Chakra. 

    The next one is located at the Cervical spine or THROAT area . It is called VISHUDHHA Chakra. It is related to the great element of ETHER or SPACE - AKASH . It has 16 petals and color is blue, .It has function of self control, speech etc. .Panchavakra SIVA is the deity controlling it. Dharmaraj from  Mahabharat is the representative of the representative. 

   There are 2 more Chakras and they are called AADNYA CHAKRA and SAHASARA CHAKRA .

I will write about them in next blog. The Chakras also rotate and when one does meditation , he has to concentrate on the Chkra and try to imagin rotation by saying the MANTRA. 

 

MEDITATION AND WHY WE CANNOT DO IT

             I have been asked many  a times as to why I can not concentrate . The common complaints that I get is that when we try to meditate and concentrates , the thoughts come and hen the mind gets distracted. The Patanjali  Sutra Yoga states in second verse that 'controlling the tendencies of mind - or Chitta - is yoga .'So even Patanjali the great sage, knew about the problems that an average person has when they try to meditate. I am often also told that the SWAMI or Sages have nothing to worry about as they never get married and have kids etc., There lies the answer of the question as to why average person can not concentrate or do a perfect meditation. We create our own problems . We  get educated and seek for a job or have business and  try to make money . Once we have that we try to make more and more . We get married and then we want to have children and we have high goals or aims for our kids . We buy house and then want to have bigger one and we have a car and then get more expensive cars . This increase in our 'ATTACHMENTS ' leads to our down fall. When we try to meditate or concentrate on what ever symbol of the God we have in our mind , then we get thought RELATED TO OUR INVOLVEMENETS OR ATTACHMENTS in our personal lives. We get a thought of our son or daughter -that leads to his or her education - job - marriage - kids and so on. So, the mind wanders all over . The mind is like monkey. It does not stay steady and has to be trained .

    The attachments that we have created cause distraction of our mind and thoughts. The bigger house and expensive car need more money to maintain and so now we worry as to how to get it and also worry about someone stealing it

   So the best thing would be what most of the Swamies or sages did. They did not get involved in the SAUNSAR -FAMILY LIFE .But that is not necessary and one can still do a reasonable meditation.

   The answer is there -may not be easy and always successful. 

      There are External and Internal disturbances in our mind and we an control some of them. So Select a time when the External disturbances are least. If one is pressed for the time -like 8 am ,when he or she has to go to work at 9 am , it is is difficult not to think about the work. If one does do meditation, without shower or going to toilet, the mind is going to be sleepy or bodily needs will distract the mind . If there is radio or TV on, then that will also cause he distraction . So select time when one is not pressed for time . Do it after one has satisfied bodily needs - toilet to hunger -thirst etc . There should be no TV or radio noise .So the BEST TIME IS EARLY MORNING - MAY BE 5 AM if one has to go for work after 8 am. One must engage his all senses in the act of meditation . A small light - a statue or picture of the Deity that one is to concentrating will help. No music or soft music that is pleasing not distracting to engage hearing and some fragrance will help. When a thought comes - let it go -DO NOT HAVE SECONDARY THOUGHTS TO IT. e.g. If one thinks of his child - let it not go from his education to job to conflicts and marriage etc . Let the thought come -OBSERVE AS A THIRD PERSON ns let it go and  bring back the mind to the DHARANA -OBJECT of meditation.. 

     Set a time limit -20 to 30 minutes. For ordinary - house holder - it is very difficult to go beyond that. DO NOT EXPECT ANT SPECIAL POWERS after doing the meditation. It is not like taking Tylenol and seeing fever come down or pain go away. 

   JUST DO IT AND YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.