Words: Marin Vayu
Before I begin this article, I asked an AI to provide a brief definition of chakras. It described them as energetic centres within the human body, often depicted as wheels of energy. This definition, of course, mirrors what you’ll find on Wikipedia and in most yoga books. However, I believe it’s time to refine, or rather, upgrade this definition.
I hope to present sufficient evidence and insights in this article to warrant adding the Five Elements to the “official” definition, which should state that chakras are the energetic centres of the natural Elements within the human body. It’s widely known that the first five chakras are connected or related to the Five Elements of nature: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space. I’ve also frequently heard that each chakra is associated with a particular element, colour, mantra, deity, animal, planet and so on. I never attempted to memorise all these details, as I struggled to find a simple way to connect all these attributes to each individual chakra.
That was until I encountered a book from the Bihar School of Yoga, a highly respected tradition, where I discovered the symbols of the Five Elements within the chakras.
The Symbols of the Chakras
I immediately realised that these symbols of the Elements and chakras are, in fact, the core of the chakra symbols. We must understand that symbolism is one of the oldest forms of knowledge transmission, predating writing. Therefore, if the core of each chakra symbol is the symbol of an Element, it implies that the core of the chakra itself is the Element. If this is true, then chakras don’t merely connect to the Elements, they represent them.
The initial question is whether the core of the chakra symbol genuinely the symbol of the Element is. Indeed, you can research this yourself and find that all drawings of chakra symbols feature the symbols of the Elements within a circle, surrounded by a specific number of petals. Many drawings include additional details, while some are more minimalist. However, you’ll never find a chakra drawing without these two elements: the symbol of the Element and the circle with its petals.
The Approval
For me, these discoveries were sufficient, but I still sought confirmation. I presented this idea to many yoga teachers, all of whom liked it, but I needed confirmation from someone highly knowledgeable.
Years later, while travelling in India, I set the intention to find this confirmation. I knew the answer would come to me, without excessive searching, as is the way when you ask the right questions of the universe.
In Rishikesh, the home of Yoga, I asked my yoga teacher friend who the most knowledgeable person there was. He immediately suggested Pooja Swami, the most famous Guru there, who had written extensive books on Yoga and Chakras. I went to his ashram, but it happened to be during a large international Yoga festival he was hosting. The place was teeming with people, including prominent figures in the yoga world. Doubts arose; I thought it impossible to speak with him during those days. However, my intuition told me that if he was the right person, he’d come to me.
That’s precisely what happened. We visited the Beatles’ ashram with him. Hundreds of people surrounded him, and I stayed at the back. Suddenly, he changed direction and walked straight towards me, looking directly at me. Perhaps I was in his path, but I saw it as a sign and an opportunity. I asked if I could ask him something. He said yes, after the Pooja.
Following the large ritual on the Ganges River in front of his ashram, he went to his guest rooms, and I followed. For some reason, no one stopped me. He was talking and answering questions from many people, mostly about the festival’s organisation. Some important people were there, and after speaking with them, he’d subtly indicate they should leave. One by one, everyone left except me and another person. It was a strange and mysterious situation. Then, he looked at me, giving me a clear gesture that he was ready for my question.
Each of these geometric symbols is placed within a circle, not merely for design purposes, but because the circle represents the Space element, as all elements exist within space. The petals surrounding the circle are, of course, decorative, each with a specific number related to the elements, which I’ll discuss another time.
Five Chakras
The second question that arises is, if the first five chakras represent the Five Elements, what about the two chakras at the top? We must understand that the seven-chakra system, as we know it today, has developed gradually from ancient times to the present. Much of this knowledge, perhaps over 90%, has been added in the last century, primarily by Western mystics and writers. Buddhists, for instance, recognise only four or five chakras, while some Yogic traditions have eight.
Even if the two uppermost chakras were later additions, what do they signify? If the initial five represent the Five Elements, might these two also symbolise aspects of nature? Personally, I believe they do. They represent the Sun and Moon. The Sahasrara, located at the crown, is consistently depicted as the Sun. The Ajna, positioned between the eyebrows, could then be interpreted as the Moon, explaining why the god Shiva is sometimes shown with a crescent moon on his forehead. Consequently, each chakra can be associated with the five planets visible to the naked eye, alongside the Sun and Moon.
The connection of the Sun to the third chakra, Manipura, later known as the solar plexus, stems from Manipura’s association with the Fire Element. Similarly, the Moon’s association with the second chakra, Svadhisthana, arises from a misinterpretation of its water symbol. This symbol, rather than representing the Moon, depicts a cup or semi-circle. I shall elaborate on this point in a future discussion.
Symbol of the five elements
The symbols of these elements are:
• A square for Earth.
• A crescent, or a cup shape, for Water.
• A triangle for Fire.
• Two triangles, or a hexagon, for Air.
• A circle for Space.
Chakra Locations
Another clue indicating that chakras represent the Elements of nature is their location within the body. It’s not random; it’s logically derived from observing the human body.
The locations of these five chakras, from top to bottom, are as follows.
I knew I had to be brief and precise. My question was: “Is it true that chakras are the energetic centres of the elements of nature and nothing more?” He looked at me for a moment and said, “Yes.”
He didn’t hesitate, but in that brief moment, I saw him connect with the universe. His answer was direct. I thanked him and left. I had no further questions.
I hope you enjoyed this story. Next time, I’ll discuss the symbols of the Five Elements in chakras. The explanations of these symbols and why they represent each chakra are another lost piece of wisdom regarding the Five Elements in Yoga, which we’ll rediscover in the next article.
Om Nama Shivaya!
- The Vishuddhi chakra, representing the Space Element, is located in the throat area. However, I’d argue that the original version encompassed the entire head, due to its circular shape.
- The Anahata chakra, representing the Air Element, is in the chest area, which aligns with the air’s behaviour during breathing: the chest expands when we inhale and contracts when we exhale.
- The Manipura chakra, representing the Fire Element, is in the stomach area, reflecting how the energy of Fire “burns” food during digestion. I’d even suggest the heart belongs to the Fire chakra, as its beat accelerates when we increase our Fire energy through exercise.
- The Svadhisthana chakra, representing the Water Element, is situated in the lower abdomen, in the pelvic area, because excess “water” exits the body from this region.
- The Muladhara chakra, representing the Earth Element, is located at the base of the spine, near the anus, as excess “earth” material from food exits the body from this area.
Interestingly, this vertical order of chakras, representing the Elements of nature, mirrors the order of these Elements in nature. Earth is always at the bottom, even beneath the ocean. Water is above Earth but tends to flow downwards. Fire is above Water and tends to rise. Air is above Fire, and Space is everywhere, but particularly above Air.
Now it makes even more sense that the chakras of the Moon and the Sun are on the top and not somewhere in the middle or below.
Source of Energy
Another logical explanation for chakras representing the Elements of nature is that these Elements are the source of energy. Humans collect these energies from the source, primarily through the five senses, and store them in the body’s energetic centres. The human body is simply a device, and like all energy-dependent devices, it requires batteries.
Science tells us we obtain energy from food. Yes, I agree, but this is already processed energy. Plants collect energy directly from the Five Elements of nature, from the source. When we eat plants, we digest them, extracting energy and eliminating the rest. This is one way we consume energy, but it’s already been processed once. When we eat animals that eat plants, the energy has been transformed twice, which yogis perceive as heavier. When we eat animals that eat other animals, the energy has been transformed three times. I’d argue that the energy stored in chakras is primarily derived from the five senses, as it’s the purest energy.
This is why, when we’re in nature, present, and consciously connected with these Elements, we recharge ourselves with more energy.
I’ll share more about the chakras, including the two at the top, another time. I hope this has convinced you that chakras are the energetic centres of the Elements of nature within the human body.
Once we perceive chakras as Elements of Nature, understanding the characteristics of each chakra, its colours, associated animals, deities, and so on, becomes much easier.
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