Hrit- or Hridaya-Chakra

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone,

 

I am new member of your group.

I am currently searching for information about the Hrit- or

Hridaya-Chakra (1), a chakra situated near the well-known Anahata

Chakra and not commonly described in books about the Indian Chakra

tradition.

I am in need for this information because it is stated that in this

Chakra there is the spiritual heart, it is the seat of the Atman and

the place where ones Ishtadevata should be worshiped. But so far I

could not find a satisfactory description of this Chakra. It is

variously described as a lotus with 8, 16, or 1000 petals, being

golden, red, or white of colour; inside of the lotus there are

circular regions of sun, moon, and fire and in the centre of the

Chakra, there are a whishing-tree (kalpavriksha), a throne consisting

of Matrika letters (symbolizing the spiritual heart of the aspirant)

on which he/she should place his or her Ishtadevata in meditation,

and an altar.

However, I am not sure what is meant with these "circular regions" -

does that mean one should visualize sun and moon circling round over

the top of the wishing-tree, and fire burning around it? How does a

throne consisting of Matrika letters look like? And where is

the altar to be placed in meditation-imagination - before or at side

of the throne?

If you have some more information or know where I can find a better

description of this chakra, I would be most grateful for your kind

help.

 

1 There are many names given to this chakra in different traditions:

 

Veda: hridaya chakra, hrit padma, hridaya padma, hridaya kamala,

hridaya amburuha, hridaya padmakosha, hritpundarika, hemapundarika

Tantrika: hrit padma, hritpundarika, hridayambhoja, eight-petalled

padma, eight-petalled kamala, sixteen-petalled padma

Puranas: hrit padma, hritpadmakosha, hritpundarika, hritpankaja,

hritsaroruha, hridabja, hridambuja, hridambhoja, hridayambhoja,

hridaya kamala, hridaya pundarika, hridaya, hrit desha, ashtapatra,

adi shodasha chakra

 

(information taken from: "Layayoga: the definitive guide to the

chakras and kundalini" by Shyam Sundar Goswami, 0-89281-766-6)

 

Kind regards from Alexandra (alexandra.kafka (AT) aon (DOT) at)