Manipura (Navel Chakra)Location: Solar plexus area
Colour: Yellow Associated Organs: digestive system Element: Fire Referred to as the “gem centre” this chakra is a place of fire and emotions and passions (Jung, 76). The inverted red triangle is related to the element of fire with swastika marks on the three sides evoking the sacred force of shakti (Radha, 121; Mookerjee, 40). This chakra is also referred to as the seat of digestion as it is the churner of heat within the body, being the fire centre (Gauri, 2011). The presiding deity of the manipura is Rudra, who represents the power of destruction; he is seated on a tiger which typically is used as a symbol for the mind that resides in the forest of desires (Gauri, 2011). The female deitiy is Lakini-Shakti, the benvolent form of the goddess of destruction, Kali (Gauri, 2011). Lakini encourages goal setting and concentration to achieve our aspirations (Gauri, 2011). The animal of this chakra, the ram, is said to represent the will and determination (Tantra Kundalini). |
Jung on the Manipura
Carl Jung makes an interesting symbolic interpretation of the manipura. He says this chakra is noted as the centre of digestion, digestion is a process of tranformation (Jung, 44). This chakra is right below the abdomen which marks the division between manipura and anahata, where entirely new phenomenon can be found; a move from the visible to invisible, the tangible to the intangible (Jung, 44). For the anahata is goverened by the air element which is no longer "gross matter" (Jung, 44). Essentially the desires and passions encountered in the manipura are processed into feelings and thought by the anahata- the chakras work together.