Hrit- or Hridaya-Chakra

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Hello Everyone,

 

I am new member of your group.

I am currently searching for information about the Hrit- or Hridaya-Chakra, 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.

 

Now some information about the name Hrit Chakra or Hridaya Chakra: There are

many different names given to this special chakra in different spiritual

traditions. My information about this chakra comes from the Book "Layayoga: the

definitive guide to the chakras and kundalini" by Shyam Sundar Goswami, ISBN:

0-89281-766-6. The author writes there, that this chakra is named by the

following names:

 

in the Vedic tradition: hridaya chakra, hrit padma, hridaya padma, hridaya

kamala, hridaya amburuha, hridaya padmakosha, hritpundarika, hemapundarika

in the Tantric tradition: hrit padma, hritpundarika, hridayambhoja,

eight-petalled padma, eight-petalled kamala, sixteen-petalled padma

in the Puranic tradition: hrit padma, hritpadmakosha, hritpundarika,

hritpankaja, hritsaroruha, hridabja, hridambuja, hridambhoja, hridayambhoja,

hridaya kamala, hridaya pundarika, hridaya, hrit desha, ashtapatra, adi shodasha

chakra

 

Happy New Year!!! for you and your families and friends,

Kind regards,

Alexandra (alexandra.kafka)