According to the Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga tradition codified by Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri, there are six lower and six higher Chakras making a total of twelve Chakras. The lower Chakras known as the Pinda Chakras are related to the physical body while the higher six Chakras, the Anda Chakras are related to the Cosmos. Chakras vibrate at very high speeds of vibration and at their highest speeds of vibration are related to the cosmos. Each of the lower six Chakras has various neuro-endocrine correlates and is associated with one of the five Jnanendriyas and Karmendriyas as also different psychological qualities. This book deals with the Chakras in a detailed manner with magnificent images that were conceptualized by Pujya Swamiji more than 50 years ago. Asanas related to each Chakra and their specific Mandala Pranayamas are elaborated in detail. The unique practices of Chakra Mediation and Mandala Dharana are also added bonuses in this book. To order this book and others from ICYER at Ananda Ashram, Pondicherry, India please visit www.icyer.inChakras ebook sample

2. CHAKRAS
THE PSYCHIC CENTRES OF
YOGA
AND
TANTRA
By
Yogacharya Yoga Bhismacharya
Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani
M.B.B.S., A.D.Y., D.S.M., D.P.C., P.G.D.F.H., P.G.D.Y., F.I.A.Y.,
Chairman: International Centre for Yoga
Education and Research, Puducherry, South India
www.icyer.com

3. Yogamaharishi
Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj
(24.07.1907 - 29.12.1993)
Who protected the Purity of Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga
with his Mighty Roar of Truth

4. © 2008 By Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani
All rights reserved
First Edition : Puducherry 2008
Published by : Dhivyananda Creations
44, 1st Cross, Iyyanar Nagar,
Puducherry - 13. South India.
Tel : 0413 - 2241561
e-mail : dhivyananda@gmail.com
Designed and Printed by : Sri Sarguru Printographs
Villupuram. Mobile : 94433 97875
Yoga Asana Models : Asami Koike, Shobana,
G. Dayanidy, Aishwariya,
Dr. Nalini Devi, S. Devasena,
R. Chandrasekar,
S. Tamilsengolan
Graphic Images : A. Ramesh B.F.A.,
Any material reproduced from this book may be done
so only with prior permission of the author and with
due credit to the source. This is an important aspect of
Yogic Culture and we request all readers to follow this
request in the true spirit ofYama and Niyama.

5. CONTENTS
Introduction
Mooladhara Chakra
Swadhisthana Chakra
Manipura Chakra
Anahata Chakra
Vishuddha Chakra
Ajna Chakra
Sahasrara Chakra
Chakra Awareness
Mandala Dharana
Chakra Meditation
01
08
15
20
23
28
32
37
42
44
47

6. CHAKRA AWARENESS WITH HASTHA MUDRAS
Hastha Mudras or the hand gestures can be used to increase
awareness of the energies at the differentChakric levels.
Sit in Vajra Asana or in the toes turned under posture known as
Vajra Veera Asana.
Stretch your arms upwards and join your palms together in the
AnjaliMudra. The whole back is given an
excellent stretch in this posture.
The entire Pranamaya Kosha aswell as the
Sahasrara Chakra and all the higher
Chakras that exist above it are energized
by thisMudra.
Slowly bring your
hands down to
your head with
y o u r w r i s t s
touching the top
of your head thus
forming a beautiful triangular frame for
your face.
This is the Kailash Mudra that energizes
the SahasraraChakra.
42

7. When the hands are brought down from
the Kailash Mudra and placed in front of
the forehead we can energize our Ajna
Chakra or centre of inner intuition. This
energizes our Pituitary Gland that is the
master conductor of our endocrine
orchestra and helps us to obtain excellent
glandular health.
As we bring the
Namaskar Mudra
to the front of the
neck we can feel
th e e n e r g e t i c
vibrations that
r e c h a r g e t h e
V i s h u d d h a
C h a k r a a n d
normalize our
thyroid function.
When the Namaskar Mudra is brought
down to the chest region we can feel the
healing energies flood through our
Anahata or heartChakra.
When practised in the proper manner, this sequence of Mudras
helps us to recharge the psychic battery of our Pranamaya Kosha
and produces health andwell being at all levels of our existence.
43

8. The system of meditation known as Yantra, based on Drishti or a
fixed gaze and sacred geometric shapes known as Mandalas is
almost identical in classical Yoga and Tantra.
Mandalas are geometric Yantras or forms of Shakti embodied
within the Chakras of the body. Each centre has its ownMandala
which is also associated with the element of the Mahabhuta
associatedwith the centre.
The Jnanendriyas and Karmendriyas of each centre are also
subservient to the power of theMandala.
The symbols used for Mandala Dharana or Mandala Dhyana
differ slightly with the symbols used for the Chakras themselves,
and vary according to the Yoga or Tantric school of instruction.
The Mandala or Yantra can be used as a form of Dharana or
concentration alone without entering into the
meditative aspect as suggested in Laya and
Yoga.
Mooladhara Chakra is represented by the
the Earth Symbol that is a
Prithvi Mandala,
YellowSquare
Swadhisthana Chakra is represented by the
the Water Symbol that is a
Apas Mandala,
Silver Crescent
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