Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori

THE HUMAN BODY 49
CAKRAS
There are six cakras, or dynamic Tattvik centres, in
the body—viz., the mūlādhāra, svādhiṣṭ hāna, maṇ i-
pūra, anāhata, viśuddha, and ājñā—which are described
in the following notes. Over all these is the thousandpetalled
lotus (sahasrāra-padma).
MŪLĀDHĀRA
Mūlādhara 1 is a triangular space in the midmost
portion of the body, with the apex turned downwards
like a young girl’s yoni. It is described as a red lotus of
four petals, situate between the base of the sexual organ
and the anus. “Earth” evolved from “water” is the
Tattva of the cakra. On the four petals are the four
golden varnas—“vaṃ,” “śaṃ,” “ṣaṃ” and “saṃ.” 2 In the
four petals pointed towards the four directions (Īśāna,
etc.) are the four forms of bliss—yogānanda (yoga bliss),
paramānanda (supreme bliss), sahajānanda (natural
bliss), and virānanda (vira bliss). In the centre of this
lotus is Svayaṃbhū-linga, ruddy brown, like the colour
of a young leaf. Citriṇ ī-nāḍ ī is figured as a tube, and
the opening at its end at the base of the linga is called
the door of Brahman (Brahma-dvāra), through which
the Devi ascends. 3 The lotus, linga and brahma-dvāra,
hang downwards. The Devi Kuṇ ḍ alinī, more subtle
1 Mūla, the root; ādhāra, support; for the mūlādhāra is the root of
Suṣumnā and that on which Kuṇḍalinī rests.
2 It need hardly be said that it is not supposed that there are any actual
lotuses or letters engraved thereon. These and other terms are employed to
represent realities of yoga experience. Thus the lotus is a plexus of nāḍīs, the
disposition of the latter at the particular cakra in question determining the
number of the petals.
3 Hence She is called in the Lālitā-sahasra-nāma (verse 106) Mūlādhārāṃ
-bujārudh.