Root Chakra Meaning
The root chakra is the foundation of your chakra system, and one of its main functions is to keep you grounded in the physical world.
Other important functions of the root chakra are: survival, stability, comfort, security and personal identity.
The element associated with the root chakra is Earth, and the color of the root chakra symbol is red.
The root chakra symbol resembles a lotus mandala and it consists of the following elements:
- 4 petals.
- A square.
- The downward facing triangle inside a square.
- The symbol of the LAM mantra लं in seed in the center.
- Red color.
Let's take a look at each of these elements individually and find out what they mean.
Root Chakra Symbol: 4-Petal Lotus Meaning
The root chakra symbol represents the birth of human consciousness and, according to Sankhya philosophy, the four lotus petals of the root chakra symbolize 4 aspects of the human spirit:
- The spirit: Manas.
- The intellect: Buddhi.
- Consciousness: Chitta.
- The ego: Ahamkara.
Together these 4 aspects are called Antahkarana.
Let's see the meaning of each aspect:
Other sources indicate that the 4 petals of the root chakra symbol are linked to the Hindu concept of Purusartha.
In Hinduism, the Purusarthas (पुरुषार्थ in Sanskrit) are 4 objectives in human life:
- Dharma - righteousness, and living with moral values.
- Artha – the purpose of life and the ethical pursuit of abundance and prosperity.
- Kama – pleasure, love and enjoyment of life.
- Moksha – spiritual liberation and feeling of oneness with the Divine.
Root chakra symbol: Square with triangle
The square is a basic geometric shape, which has a founding energy. It represents balance, physicality, stability and structure.
The square is associated with the number 4.
In the physical realm, the number 4 plays an important role, because it represents some fundamental laws of nature:
- There are 4 seasons in a calendar year: spring, summer, fall and winter.
- There are 4 directions in which we can move on Earth: north, south, east and west.
- There are 4 elements in nature: earth, water, fire and air.
The downward-facing triangle symbolizes the expansion and unfolding of our consciousness.
The inverted form symbolizes the direction of our expansion and evolution: we all start from seed (rooted in the base chakra) and blossom to the peak of our human potential.
Root chakra symbol: Color red
Red is the color that immediately grabs your attention, which may be related to the survival function of the root chakra.
Red is also a color of vitality, power and confidence which encourages us to be more grounded.
The wavelength of the color red is the slowest among all colors in the visible light spectrum.
Deity symbol of the root chakra: Ganesha
The deity of the root chakra is the Hindu god Ganesha, who is sometimes depicted in the middle of the root chakra symbol.
Ganesha is an elephant-headed god, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
As the god of the first chakra, Ganesha blesses all beginnings and asks us to connect to our physical body and ground ourselves into the earth.
Ganesha's elephant head represents the soul (atman) and a human body symbolizes the physical realm (maya).
