Origins of the chakras
Root chakra
Sacral chakra
Solar plexus chakra
Heart chakra
Throat Chakra
Third eye chakra
Crown Chakra
You may have already heard of the chakra system, which refers to disks of metaphysical energy in our bodies, the balance of which is key to our overall well-being. Yet there are many things you may not yet know about the chakras.
- For example, who invented chakras?
- How far back did the origin of the chakras go?
- Additionally, are chakras Hindu or Buddhist?
- What religion do chakras come from?
If you have such questions in mind, you are on the right page.
What is the origin of the chakra system?
Many scholars believe that chakras appeared somewhere between 1500 and 500 BC in India, at least that is what the early scriptures of the Vedas show. However, you might be surprised to learn that chakras originated long before this time.
Is this possible if there is no text to prove it?
Well, yes, because in ancient times, any form of wisdom, whether it was chakras or anything else, was passed on to the next generation by word of mouth, from masters to disciples, from parents to parents. children, etc.
How do we know this?
Now this information can be considered true because there are still generations who have such great wisdom about the different types of chakras that no one can even find in ancient books.
The word “chakra” means wheel, which is originally written “cakra”. The oldest reference to these wheels is that of the chariot wheels of the cakravartins, considered the first rulers of the universe.
Now can you imagine how old the chakras are?
The mind gets confused just thinking about it, doesn't it? But now let's move on to what we know or how specialists interpret the origin of different types of chakra systems.
Read on to find out more.
Origin of the 7 chakra system
Despite the lack of clarity on the absolute origin of the chakra system, we must admit that the chakra system that has become the most popular in the Western world, namely the 7 chakra system, has a written basis.
I must mention here the researcher Sir John Woodroffe, whose early work on the chakra system included the book "The Serpent Power."
This book was in some ways the Holy Grail of Western chakra philosophy. But where did Sir Woodroffe get the information he set out in his book?
To understand this, we must turn again to the authors of ancient India.
A 16th century book written by an Indian sage, Swami Purananda, formed the main basis for Sir Woodroffe's work. This book, titled "Shri-Tattva-Cintamini", included a chapter known as Sat-Cakra-Nirupana.
In it he mentions in detail the six centers or chakras, including how to realize the power of each chakra, how to stimulate them and how to achieve the state that gives rise to kundalini (the serpent goddess).
But wait, the story doesn't end there.
Sir Woodroffe's work is not the only one that has interpreted ancient Indian texts to bring the seven chakra system to the Western world as we know it today. Significant contributions were made by the British-American theosophical author Alice Bailey.
Bailey based his chakra work on his communications with the Tibetan master Djwhal Khul, among other sources. All of these sources gave rise to the 7 chakra system which is praised by theological and esoteric communities around the world.
How many chakra systems are there in the original tradition?
Well, the 7 chakra system seems to be the most popular. Does this mean that other chakra systems might even be better than this one?
Well, yes, there are several other chakra systems, and no, there is no way to tell if one system is better than the others.
In the original tradition itself, many chakra systems arose from different branches of Tantrism. For example, in traditional Buddhism, monks often practice the 5 chakra system.
And of course, it's not even necessary to separate chakra systems by religion. The Hindu sources themselves have given rise to many different systems, such as the six chakra system, the nine chakra system, the twenty-one chakra system, etc.
So why are there so many different chakra systems? Are there really that many chakras in our body?
The answer is not that simple, but let me try to explain it to you as simply as possible.
Chakra systems are different because chakras are not physical objects. They have more to do with feelings and emotions that exist on a different plane within your physical being.
The chakras cannot be seen; they can only be experienced as flowing sources of energy. Naturally, the number of chakras a person has depends on how they evaluate their feelings.
That said, three chakras are common to all types of chakra systems. The first is the crown chakra, or above the head (again, we're only talking about metaphysical positions). The second is the heart chakra, which, as you might have guessed, governs the heart area. The third chakra is the sacral chakra, which is located below the navel and governs a person's sexual emotions.
These three chakras are common to all systems because they govern a person's main emotions. The other chakras vary from person to person and even depend on their theosophical ideology.
If you are still confused, let me give you an example.
You and your sibling have most things in common, including your families. And yet, you don't feel the same way about everything. Do you know ? You're probably a little more emotional about your material possessions, while your brother or sister couldn't care less about losing their smartphone.
Because you possess different emotions, the chakras that govern your well-being are also different, except, of course, the three central chakras, as previously mentioned.
In summary, people are different, and that is why there are so many different chakra systems to respond to all feelings.
Origin of the 114 chakra system
Now you may be wondering if anyone has ever defined the actual number of chakras present in our being. Some say 5, some say 7, some say 21, but what is this total number?
Not long ago there was no clear answer to this question, but thanks to recent research by Dr. Amit Ray, we now know that there are a total of 114 chakra systems that flow as sources of energy through a human being.
Amit Ray, who studied the meaning of chakra systems with a scientific mind, immersed himself in ancient tantric philosophies, read the ideas and wisdom passed down for centuries, and then came up with the notion of a 114 chakra system.
He named all the chakras in 2018, and through his research we now know that certain chakras govern all aspects of our body, including the gut, neurons, hormones, and more.
But how do these chakras heal our body and soul? Do all 114 chakras work at the same time?
According to Dr. Ray's research, our body consists of 72,000 nadis, which are nothing more than routes for fluid energy to travel. This energy is purified when it reaches one of the 114 chakras. Depending on the state of a person's body and mind, some chakras remain active while others are dormant.
Do these 114 chakras have anything in common with the familiar 7 chakra system?
Yes of course ! Dr. Ray says that we all have 7 major chakras, including the famous three (heart, crown and navel) that we talked about previously.
In addition to these, there are 21 minor chakras and 86 micro chakras. While the major chakras are located along the spine, the minor chakras and micro chakras are distributed throughout the rest of the body, each acting as a center for purifying vital energy and contributing to the balance of our be physical and spiritual. This balance allows us to heal from illnesses and pain and connect to our inner consciousness.
Root chakra
Sacral chakra
Solar plexus chakra
Heart chakra
Throat Chakra
Third eye chakra
Crown Chakra
To remember
All things considered, the Western world is still heavily influenced by the 7 chakra system. This system has been put forward in recent decades by Christopher Hills, author of the book "Nuclear Evolution".
In his work, he paved the way for a new thought process by associating the seven chakras with the seven colors of the rainbow. He also rated the different chakras based on people's different personality types.
Although not all of these assessments came from the traditional sources of the chakra systems, namely the Hindu and Buddhist scriptures, they were more perceptible to the common man in the Western world. These interpretations have made the chakras a more well-known name than the original Vedic scriptures. Needless to say, it made the chakras look easy.
So, what does the future hold for this centuries-old tantric concept?
It is true that some people will still want to wait for scientific research and proof of the value of chakras. However, as more and more people understand the subtle power of the healing energies that the chakras provide, the benefits of using a chakra system (any chakra system) will more quickly become apparent as a path to physical and emotional well-being.
