The seven chakras in classical tradition.
The classical Indian seven-chakra system. One deep-dive per chakra with Sanskrit attributes, signs of balance, and practices.
For a personal reading that identifies your dominant chakra from one selfie, try the Aura Reading tool.
- 1 / 7Base of the spine
Root chakra
Muladhara (मूलाधार)
Muladhara, the root chakra, is the first of the seven main chakras in the classical Indian system. Located at the base of the spine, it is associated with the element earth, the color red, and the seed sound 'lam'. It is read as the foundation of the system: the chakra of survival, grounding, physical security, and the basic right to exist. When the root chakra is balanced, the entire upper system rests on stable ground.
Element: EarthColor: RedRead the chakra - 2 / 7Lower abdomen, below the navel
Sacral chakra
Svadhisthana (स्वाधिष्ठान)
Svadhisthana, the sacral chakra, sits below the navel and above the root. It is the chakra of water: fluidity, emotion, creativity, and sensuality. Where Muladhara holds the foundation, Svadhisthana holds the first flow of life force upward, the felt sense of pleasure, the creative impulse, and the emotional life. It is associated with the color orange, the seed sound 'vam', and the right to feel.
Element: WaterColor: OrangeRead the chakra - 3 / 7Upper abdomen, between navel and sternum
Solar plexus chakra
Manipura (मणिपूर)
Manipura, the solar plexus chakra, sits between the navel and the sternum. It is the chakra of fire: will, direction, personal power, and self-confidence. Where Muladhara provides the foundation and Svadhisthana the flow, Manipura provides the directed force that turns flow into action. It is associated with the color yellow, the seed sound 'ram', and the right to act.
Element: FireColor: YellowRead the chakra - 4 / 7Centre of the chest
Heart chakra
Anahata (अनाहत)
Anahata, the heart chakra, sits in the centre of the chest. It is the bridge of the seven-chakra system: three chakras below (root, sacral, solar plexus), three chakras above (throat, third eye, crown). It is associated with the element air, the color green, and the seed sound 'yam'. The heart chakra is the chakra of love, relationships, compassion, and the experience of connection itself.
Element: AirColor: GreenRead the chakra - 5 / 7Throat
Throat chakra
Vishuddha (विशुद्ध)
Vishuddha, the throat chakra, sits at the base of the throat. It is the first of the upper chakras, the bridge between the felt-experience chakras of the lower body and the perception chakras of the upper body. Vishuddha is the chakra of expression: voice, truth, communication, and the right to speak. It is associated with the element ether (space), the color blue, and the seed sound 'ham'.
Element: Ether (space)Color: BlueRead the chakra - 6 / 7Forehead, between the eyebrows
Third eye chakra
Ajna (आज्ञा)
Ajna, the third eye chakra, sits between the eyebrows. It is the chakra of perception: insight, intuition, inner vision, and the right to see. Where the lower chakras handle the embodied experience and Vishuddha handles expression, Ajna handles the capacity to perceive clearly, both the outer world and the inner one. It is associated with the element light, the color indigo, and the seed sound 'om'.
Element: LightColor: IndigoRead the chakra - 7 / 7Top of the head
Crown chakra
Sahasrara (सहस्रार)
Sahasrara, the crown chakra, sits at the very top of the head. It is the highest of the seven main chakras and the most ineffable. Classical teachings describe Sahasrara as 'beyond' the chakra system: the place where individual consciousness opens into transcendent awareness. It is associated with the color violet (sometimes white), no specific seed sound (sometimes 'om'), and the right to know.
Element: Thought or pure consciousnessColor: Violet or whiteRead the chakra