Svadhishthana Chakra

In many schools of yoga, and in the esoteric ritual tradition known as tantra,
the svadhishthana chakra is one of the
six psychic centers (chakras) believed to
exist in the subtle body. The subtle body
is an alternate physiological system,
believed to exist on a different plane
than gross matter but with certain correspondences to the material body. It is
visualized as a set of six psychic centers,
which are conceived as multipetaled
lotus flowers running roughly along the
course of the spine, connected by three
vertical channels. Each of these chakras
has important symbolic associations—
with differing human capacities, with
different subtle elements (tanmatras),
and with different seed syllables (bijaksharas) formed from the letters of the
Sanskrit alphabet, thus encompassing
all sacred sound. Above and below these
centers are the bodily abodes of Shiva
(awareness) and Shakti (power), the two
divine principles through which the
entire universe has come into being. The
underlying assumption behind this
concept of the subtle body is thus
the fundamental similarity and interconnectedness of macrocosm and
microcosm, an essential Hindu idea
since the time of the mystical texts
known as the Upanishads.
The six chakras are traditionally listed from the bottom up, and the svadhishthana chakra is the second. It is
visualized as a six-petaled lotus located
in the region of the genitals. The petals
each contain a seed syllable formed
from a letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, in
this case the consonants from “ba”
to “la.” On a symbolic level, the
svadhishthana chakra is associated with
the human capacity for reproduction. It
is also identified as the bodily seat for
the subtle element of water, the fluid
medium through which reproduction is
possible. For further information see
Arthur Avalon (Sir John Woodroffe),
Shakti and Shakta, 1978; and Philip S.
Rawson, The Art of Tantra, 1973.