Yoga, Chakra and its Interpretation
by Roshni Khanna
From the beginning of civilization, when organic life began to manifest itself on earth, it has been a constant endeavor of all living forms to reach higher levels of consciousness. From the simplest forms like the single celled organisms to the most complex ones like the human species there has been an endeavor to grow from a nascent state of awareness, restricted to survival, reproduction and replication of self to the most sophisticated thought structures and cultural life-styles represented by the human race. This pattern of growth is what that has come to be known as evolution.
It is an amazing fact that as early as in the 2nd and 3rd century B.C the ancient Indian civilization had reached the pinnacle of growth in its pursuit of “truth” and “reality”, not as it is apparent but as it actually is. There was a realization that man is much more than his or her physical body or entity; that he can comprehend; a fact that the western world and modern science have only today begun to understands. It was believed that man, in his elemental state is also energy and that his dynamic state of being is a manifestation of that same energy that the cosmos is made of. It was thus possible to gain a complete understanding of the entire universe, through the study of his body and its intricacies. This could be achieved by the in-depth study of the science of Yoga.
Seen in this light, Yoga is a Sanskrit term; the coming-together or the union of the smaller parts in order to attain the whole. It was believed that man, in his present state is fragmented in his being and thinking. His understanding of himself and the universe is limited and the the ultimate aim was to gain complete knowledge of himself, his life and the purpose of his life. In other words Yoga is the practice of a complete system devised by the stalwarts of that age through which man could gain complete understanding of not only his own body but also that of the environment around him in order to live a life to the fullest potential. Thus, the science of yoga is a legacy left behind by our ancestral race to the benefit of entire mankind because it has stood the test of time and has the same relevance and application even to this day.
No doubt, science has helped the advancement of the material world but has little to contribute to its spiritual advancement, whereas the science of yoga, by its holistic approach, promotes all round growth and advancement. How can this be achieved? This can be achieved by a complete understanding of yoga and its constant and systemic practice in the form of not only prescribed physical exercises but also mental discipline. In this sense, yoga would also mean an effort or as it is known in Sanskrit, a sadhana by its practitioner in achieving the ultimate goal or purpose of life, which is to understand truth in all its totality and live a holistic state of existence in the body, mind as well as the spirit.
Chakra-Yoga is a complete and a highly developed system of this science of yoga which, when practiced, enables a human to reach a higher state and be able to maintain a complete balance between his body, mind and spirit which would be a prerequisite to his eternal quest in the pursuit of excellence. As with any ancient science, a number of theories abound regarding the origin, forms and varieties often Chakra Yoga. The most accepted form is though the seven Chakra format which was propounded by ancient sages and which also finds mention in Vedic literature of ancient Indian origin. As per the Vedas, human can exist in a higher state of consciousness if he or she can invigorate the chakras in the body. The chakras have also been associated with the physical well being of the human body. The Chakras have been associated with the endocrinal glands and a number of common, and not so common, ailments which a human can suffers from are know to be treated by activating the chakra concerning the same. It is believed that the Chakras are located along the spine in the human body and they are formed where the energy fields or the centers of energy exist. The lowermost chakra or the Muladhara is the root chakra which is associated with the earth. Each Charka has an analogy to the asanas and symbols. These include the Cobra for the second Chakra, The Bow for the third, the Camel for the fourth and the Fish for the fifth. The sixth Chakra is associated with the figure of the seated man and the seventh or the divine chakra is associated with the meditation pose.
It is believed that the electromechanical energies and the related frequencies hold the key to Chakra activation. Each chakra is said to be associated with a fundamental frequency which if used to resonate with the body assists that Chakra to get invigorated. If the chakra is in resonance with the body frequency, then the body is health and free f all ills. If the body gets out of synch, ailments related to the chakra organs begin to form. If the human body comes in synch with nature and its surroundings and the frequencies meet, it is said that the body meets the divine. Thus, to lead a meaningful, health and purposeful life it is necessary to understand the meaning of the chakras and balance them with the surroundings.
© 2008 Six Senses Yoga Society
