Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra)

Understanding Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra) in Vedic Astrology

Anahata also known as heart chakra is the fourth chakra and is also a primary chakra according to Hindu yogic, Shakta and Buddhist Tantric traditions. In Sanskrit language 'anahata' means 'unhurt, unstruck and unbeated' This chakra is associated with calmness, serene sound devoid of any violence. When it is balanced it shows conscience and compassion and it is all about how you manifest love, forgive other and preserve your feelings. This is quite a powerful chakra and this is where one arrives at the Centre of the seven. The place where this chakra is located is considered to be a very powerful location in the body and is directly connected to the third eye and the crown chakra. In case this chakra becomes overactive the ego will take over and it leads to lack of love in the heart of the person. Those who do not have this chakra in control will be very cold and devoid of feelings and emotions. To use one word to describe them would be 'inconsiderate'. They are almost numb and not at all in touch with their feelings, which can be quite frustrating for others around them. They become too selfish and self-centred. However it is exact opposite for those who have it under control.

Vedic Astrology Analysis

Associated Element : Air
Governing Planet : Venus
If Anahata chakra is blocked

Mental problems related to that are: Love failure, extreme attachment to materialistic things, importance to luxuries, and unhealthy relationships
physical problems related to that are: Throat, neck, Sexual organ, pelvis, menstrual irregularity, semen, urinary bladder, kidneys.

Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra) Location

This chakra is located in the central channel in the spine at the heart with its kshetram or the superficial activation site between the breasts. This is considered to be quite a powerful location in the body.

Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra) Appearance

This chakra is being represented by a smoke grey lotus flower with 12 petals. Inside of this is a smoke coloured region made from the intersection of two triangles, creating a shatkona. The Shatkona is a symbol used in Hindu Yantra representing the union of the masculine and feminine. In specific terms it is meant to represent the Purusha or the Supreme Being and Prakriti or Mother Nature and is often represented by Shiva and Shakti. The main deity of this chakra is Vayu who is a smoke coloured and four armed holding a kusha and riding an antelope or the chakra's animal.

Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra) Seed Mantra

The beej mantra or the seed mantra of this chakra is the Yam. Just above the syllable in the bindu lies the deity Isha which is bright white or blue in colour. It has one or five faces with three eyes or each face and has two, four or ten arms and is clad in a tiger skin. He holds a trident and a drum and grants blessings and dispels fear. The main source of his Shakti is Kakini who is shining yellor or rose coloured. He also has a number of variations from one, three or six faces and has two or four arms and also holds a variety of implements which occasionally is a sword, shield, skull or trident. The deity is seated on a red lotus.

Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra) Seat of Kundalini

In this chakra the Kundalini Shakti appears for the first time as a beautiful goddess. She sits in a lotus posture within a triangle and is dressed in a white saree and looks serene and centres within herself. She is the virgin mother and is synonymous with Shakti.

Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra) Petals

This chakra has twelve petals which are vermillion coloured and have syllables like kam, kham, gam, gham, ngam, chham, jam, jham, nyam, tam and tham inscribed to it in Sanskrit. These petals match the vrittis of lust, fraud, indecision, repentance, hope, anxiety, longing, impartiality, arrogance, incompetence, discrimination and defiance. The Yantra is at the centre of the chakra and is composed of two overlapping intersecting triangles. One triangle facing upward and symbolizes Shiva who is the male principle and the other triangle facing downward symbolizes Shakti, the female principle. When these two forces are joined in harmony a balance is attained.

Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra) Function

This chakra is considered to be the seat of Jivatman and Parashakti. In the Upanishads it is described like a tiny flame inside the heart. It gets its name from the fact that here the sages hear the sound (Anahata - Shabada) which comes without the striking of two things together. It is believed to be associated with air, touch and actions of the hands. This chakra instils in you the ability to make decisions outside the realm of karma. In Manipur and below man is bound by the laws of karma and fate. It also allows one to make decisions based on one's higher self, not the unfulfilled emotions and desired of lower nature. For this reason this chakra is also known as the heart chakra. It is associated with love, compassion, charity and psychic healing. If you meditate on this chakra it helps to bring about the following siddhis - being the lord of speech, dear to women, one whose presence can control the sense of others, one who has the power to leave and enter the body at will.

Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra) Association with the body

This chakra is believed to be near the heart. As it is connected to touch it is associated with the skin and because it is connected to the action of the hands it is associated with the hands. In the endocrine system this chakra is said to be associated with the thymus.

Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra) Practices and awakening process

To awaken and balance it, in Kundalini yoga one can use various methods like asanas, pranayamas, the practice of ajapa japa ( it is a japa without the mental effort to normally needed to repeat the mantra and purified by Bhakti or devotion.

Anahata Chakra (Heart Chakra) Comparison with other systems

In Tibetan Buddhism the heart wheel is the location of the indestructible red and white drop. It is also considered to be important for meditation. According to Kabbalah or on the tree of life, the central sephirah is associated with the heart and in Sufism they have a system of Lataif-e-sitta at a number of points on the body; at the heart there are three which are positioned horizontally. On the left side of the chest is the Qalb or the heart and the Ruh is on the right side of the chest and the Sirr or innermost heart is between them.