Hrit- or Hridaya-Chakra

December 25, 2001

Hello Everyone,

I am new member of your group.

I am currently searching for information about the Hrit- or Hridaya-Chakra, a

chakra situated near the well-known Anahata Chakra and not commonly described in

books about the Indian Chakra tradition.

I am in need for this information because it is stated that in this Chakra there

is the spiritual heart, it is the seat of the Atman and the place where ones

Ishtadevata should be worshiped. But so far I could not find a satisfactory

description of this Chakra. It is variously described as a lotus with 8, 16, or

1000 petals, being golden, red, or white of colour; inside of the lotus there

are circular regions of sun, moon, and fire and in the centre of the Chakra,

there are a whishing-tree (kalpavriksha), a throne consisting of Matrika letters

(symbolizing the spiritual heart of the aspirant) on which he/she should place

his or her Ishtadevata in meditation, and an altar.

However, I am not sure what is meant with these "circular regions" - does that

mean one should visualize sun and moon circling round over the top of the

wishing-tree, and fire burning around it? How does a throne consisting of

Matrika letters look like? And where is the altar to be placed in

meditation-imagination - before or at side of the throne?

If you have some more information or know where I can find a better description

of this chakra, I would be most grateful for your kind help.

Now some information about the name Hrit Chakra or Hridaya Chakra: There are

many different names given to this special chakra in different spiritual

traditions. My information about this chakra comes from the Book "Layayoga: the

definitive guide to the chakras and kundalini" by Shyam Sundar Goswami, ISBN:

0-89281-766-6. The author writes there, that this chakra is named by the

following names:

in the Vedic tradition: hridaya chakra, hrit padma, hridaya padma, hridaya

kamala, hridaya amburuha, hridaya padmakosha, hritpundarika, hemapundarika

in the Tantric tradition: hrit padma, hritpundarika, hridayambhoja,

eight-petalled padma, eight-petalled kamala, sixteen-petalled padma

in the Puranic tradition: hrit padma, hritpadmakosha, hritpundarika,

hritpankaja, hritsaroruha, hridabja, hridambuja, hridambhoja, hridayambhoja,

hridaya kamala, hridaya pundarika, hridaya, hrit desha, ashtapatra, adi shodasha

chakra

Happy New Year!

Kind regards,

Alexandra (alexandra.kafka)

December 27, 2001

Hrit- or Hridaya-Chakra

REPLY FROM : PVS.CHANDRA :-

e-mail :pvsc

The question is very interesting and probably to give a satisfying

reply seems very difficult for any individuals even including great

sages/sadhaks.

As you informed that the Hridaya chakra which locates in the

Anahata region ( lungs & heart). As you have spelled out that it

has vivid names even in the Hindu yoga tradition. One thing is

true that no such

chakras located in the body system are visibile or possibly to

explain to other. Rather in simple terms it can only be

experienced. For e.g., Sugar is sweet . What is sweetness in that

taste can only be experienced and then understood. Then a person

realised Oh., sweet means it sweetens the taste like this. Who

can experience same means a person who is having intellect can only

express it is sweet. The person who has no intellect

(lunatic/baby/Mental handicapped ) cant experience the taste of

sweet. The intellect is governed by the mind. Similary Yoga is

also a compendium of experiences of individuals. This can be

described by each individual as per his divine visualisation and

to the extent he understood the same knowledge. That is the

reason each author express his own individual experience in his

own style. There cannot be a standardised homogeneous rule express

the experience.

Therefore in specific to your question that you need information

on Hridaya chakra/Anahata chakra what you have read in the books

and understood is more or less same you find every book on Yoga

about Hridaya Chakra.

Regarding the colours/Petals, seat of the Atman the innermost

"self" the root for indentity being yourself in physical state

are the experiences. The same can be understood with one's own

intellect after experinecing same. For such experiences can be

known thru mind when it is in stable state. The stable or calm

state of mind is achieved only thru concentrated meditation

which is possible only thru controlling the mind which always

tries in its own way to skip out of control as it has very

high attachment of sense organs(Eye, Ear,Nose,Tongue & intellect).

As per the Books available on the Yoga you can experience once

you are in concentration of mind the chakra

regions in the body syste. The light inside the body is our

pure absolure imagination the more is the concentration of our

mind more will be the intensification of the light witnessed by

our mind which projects the primary 7 colors.

If our practices of Yoga combined with the meditation and and

chanting the sacred mantra of our choice the vibration which

emanated thru entire body will spill over the body and we sense

some excitement and rejoice, and divine ecstacy. At this ecstatic

state the mind shall witness a vibrant light siting in the heart

chakra and also moves all over the body organs. In this state of

mind if you imagine your god or goddess figure you can visualise

thru your imagination centering in the Heart chakra or Ajna Chakra

( In the Fore head region) or Sahasrara chakra (in the Head region).

If an indivikdual much more successfull in imagining the God in

the above chakras continuously a feeling that arise inside the body

having detached completely from the world affairs.

There are many sadhaks or sadhus / Sages of india who went into

meditation in the sitting posture sat in their positions months

and years together without having water/Food. This state of mind

is called Samadhi avastha ( a body feeling that completely detached

from the worldly affairs). Your questions on the chakra are can

possible experienced only at this state of mind which means person

to reach absolute concisousness. Then it becomes divine experience an

individual had. The same experience cannot be proved to others

because other peroson to know the real state of mind and enjoy

the absolute happiness means he should also undergo inthe same

fashion. The books can give only knowledge of the Yoga the

satisfaction of happiness can only comes out of pure experience

and practice.

In search of divine solutions.

God bless you !

PVS.Chandra

December 28, 2001