The Solar Plexus Chakra or manipura is the third of the seven primary chakras that constitutes part of the subtle body and acts as the main portals of the flow of energy between the body and the cosmos. Also popular by the name of ‘city of jewel’, as in sanskrit mani means ‘jewel, the precious one’ and pura is ‘city of place’.
While the first two chakras, muladhara and swadhisthana governs basic survival instincts and creative thoughts respectively, the third manipura chakra deals with the action. Where the power to act on the creative thoughts of sacral chakra resides is the place called solar plexus. Our actions are our identity thus solar plexus also governs self identity.
Moreover, the chakra is concerned with vibrancy of youth, will power, dedication, confidence, self esteem, motivation. In addition, the desires which come into actions, will power to stay firmly on ethics, confidence of success, strength to achieve are dealt by solar plexus chakra.
Solar Chakra As The Transformer
Solar chakra is the seat of transformation and fire has the power of transformation and conversion. Thus the two are related. The fire transforms raw gold to the refined one making it more precious. In the same way the food we eat gets transformed into blood, repaired cells, energy, by the fire in stomach called jatharagani. Similarly our thoughts take the shape of action by the fire only. The kind of thoughts we have, we act accordingly. By the above examples we can say that “the fire inside which converts is power of chakra”. But as we know if we provide more heat than required, the food gets burn same is the case with thoughts. On the contrary less heat will not let the food get cooked or digested. So it is important to have the fire in the balanced way and to move in the right direction.
As said above the fire at the solar plexus has power of conversion. Thus we can say that it is responsible for the conversion of idea into action, food into energy and a raw gold into valuable piece.
Location
The approximate location of manipura chakra in the physical body of any person is above the navel in the the solar plexus region, hence it is named as “solar plexus chakra”. The solar plexus chakra has a definitive influence upon the working of the digestive system which is mainly responsible for the conversion of the food in physical body. The organs which have an intimate association with this chakra are the pancreas, liver, upper abdomen area, stomach and muscles present there.
The 10 Petals of Manipura Chakra
The total symbol for this chakra consists of ten petals, which has a downward triangle along with sun at the centre while a running ram is there at its base portion.
The 10 petals are the pranas. The prana is the life force which connects our mind body and soul. As per hindu sacred texts they are total ten in number. Thus these ten pranas represents the 10 petals of the solar chakra. The five are the prana vayus, the main pranas and other five are the up prana. Five main prana also called five prana vayus and samaana vayu is one of them which balances the other pranas. And solar plexus region is the region of the samaan vayu, also called central prana vayu. If smaana gets imbalanced the other prana also get affected badly.
The five main Prana or Panch vayu are:
- Prana – The prana vayu resides at the heart region. It is responsible for taking in the breath.
- Apana – It is below the navel which throws the waste out of the body.
- Samaana – It is in between prana and apana, balances both. Besides it segregates what to keep inside the body and what not.
- Udana – It resides above heart, in the throat and above region, maintaining the senses.
- Vyana – It is in all the body.
The five up pranas or the sub prana are Nāga, Kūrma, Devadatta, Krikala and Dhananjaya.
The Element Fire
The element of the manipura is ‘fire’ or ‘Agni’. This is the energy we require for the digestion process and the holy fire can shine our life when a solar plexus chakra is healthy and balanced.
Like the fire in the sun makes it bright, luminous, the source of energy same is the fire of the solar chakra. It maintains the temperature of the body, digests the food. But in case of weak digestive fire or mandagni, body could not digest the food and turns into the ama, which is very harmful for the body. A balanced Solar chakra represents the strong jatharagni, digestive fire. As it converts food, similarly it works on subtle levels to convert the thoughts into action.
Weak solar plexus weakens the urge to to do. In Spite of that a simple way to make it strong is ‘to act’. Work on your ideas, be confident and enthusiastic. When we take actions, of course we get results and hence more confident we become. We all have must have experienced this. On the other hand if this fire becomes destructive it turns everything into ashes. So balancing the fire is important to get the pleasurable results out of the actions. Underactive fire makes you lazy, but overactive fire makes you destructive, for this reason balance the chakra and give the right direction to the fire. Let it convert not burn!
The Blocked or Imbalanced Solar Chakra
When the solar plexus chakra is out of alignment means that it is not allowing enough life force energy in it throws you as a being out of equilibrium. It becomes a serious imbalance within the system when chakras are out of alignment. Moreover they appear very small and they do not allow or absorb very much energy. They also change their colour pattern, texture and sound.
Understanding the character and purpose of each chakra is the critical beginning in balancing the chakras and demonstrating the balanced flow of life. Undoubtedly all of these seven chakras are interlinked therefore balancing one chakra can make a difference in the others. If you are lacking power at your experience of fighting with self-confidence, get your attention and turn into acquainted with the solar plexus chakra.
In Hindu practice, the seven chakras regulate the life flowing through the body. A blockage or an unbalanced chakra may cause both physical and psychological symptoms, including chronic illness or mental disruptions. This solar plexus chakra is one of the most commonly blocked chakras. As the area of the emotional process and physical purpose, the Solar Plexus Chakra tends to show and keep unresolved issues.
Symptoms of An Imbalanced Solar Chakra or Manipura Chakra
- Anxiety
- Low self-esteem
- Jealousy
- Digestion and liver problems
- Weakness
- Lack of confidence
- Insecurity
- Feeling trapped
- Lack of integrity
- Mandagni
- No sense of self authenticity
- Worthlessness
- Ego if overactive
- Self Boosting in case if the chakra is hyperactive
- Hyperactive in day today life
Failure in career, job or business, not able to achieve something, social issues like black skin issues etc which breaks the confidence can be the reasons of the blocked or imbalanced solar chakra. Other than this getting greedy to do more and more, never satisfying attitude, to compete at the cost of anything also imbalances the manipura as being overactive.
Symptoms Of Balanced Solar Chakra
The solar plexus chakra is the centre of personal power as well as personal identity. Because of this it’s directly related to personal willpower, personal freedom, confidence, proactivity, reliability, self-esteem, authenticity, personal honour, and confirmation a sense of personal control. This chakra quite frankly converts inertia into movement and boosts the above aspects. Hence the result is “happy and confident you”!
Eventually you feel more pranic energy as pranas are balanced. You will feel energetic, full of life, love to live, and more self-love. In balanced state one choose the right paths and work on them with responsibility. Thus being confident on personal choices and sense of responsibility comes with the balanced solar chakra. Furthermore your values and ethics will be strong and you will feel more integrated.
Thus, the healed and balanced solar chakra or manipura chakra is very important for achieving goals and true self identity.
Significance Of Color & Sound Of Manipura
The Color
The colour associated with Solar Plexus Chakra is Vibrant Yellow exactly same as when sun brightens up the sky. The color of the sun at day time when it shines like a jewel is the color of manipura. It is the colour of energy, courage, optimism, and joy. This brings to forth its radiant nature, which renders individuals with vibrancy, and a whole lot of positive energy to strive for new beginnings in every phase of life. In low times it makes you work with confidence and keep believing in yourself. It will not make you depressed, in fact it will always push to work on the solutions in case of failures and problems.
VAM – The Beej Mantra of Solar Chakra
Beej Mantra or the sound of solar plexus chakra is ‘Ram’. Repeating the one-syllable beej sound can have positive effects on this Chakra. Everything in the universe is sound, so are the chakras and the solar chakra vibrates on the sound of ‘RAM’. Sound of beej mantras has powerful impact on the individual.
Undoubtedly vibrations of RAM tunes up the chakra taking away the blockages. The prana shakti, life force boosts with chant of RAM. Sense of positivity, being active, feeling happy, working for goals, self confidence are the signs of balanced solar chakra.
Along with the above, practising meditation on mantra RAM reveals the secrets of this shining chakra.
How To Open & Balance The Solar Chakra
The Sound
As we know the sound of Solar Chakra is ‘Ram’. Chanting the Bija Mantra (the seed mantra) ‘Ram’ cleans, opens and balances the chakra.
In fact meditation and chanting on the sound ‘RAM’ is one of the best technique to balance solar chakra. As we all are originated from sound, meditating on sound will affect quickly.
For the meditation or chanting sit in a comfortable meditative pose like padmasana with the erect spine. Or you can sit in sukhasana simply or in any other pose in which you can sit comfortably without movement. Being in the clean place is always good as surroundings too affects our mind. Turn on the sound ‘RAM’ or chant on your own. Eventually by listening, chanting or meditating you will attune to the sound of ‘Ram’. Choose the method according to your inner voice.
With Color and Symbol
Solar chakra is a ten petalled lotus with an inverted triangle which represents the power. Visualize the symbol in yellow color inside and petals in blue color with Ram written in the center. Feel the symbol in your upper abdominal area, solar plexus region. The more you visualize, the better is the result. Now, imagine the yellow color is spreading all over and the petals are blossoming. Follow this practice with calm state of mind daily or whenever you feel at least for 10 to 20 minutes. Although there is no hard and fast rule you can sit as long as you want.
The another method is to focus on the picture of symbol. Keep it in front of the you at the same angle of eyes. Practice tratak, a method of concentration with open eyes first. And gradually when you feel close the eyes and visualize the symbol within.
Another way is, place your hands over your solar plexus chakra and visualize it as a ball of yellow light glowing in your stomach. With every breath you take in feel more yellow light is entering your body and going straight to the solar plexus. Imagine it glowing and even brighter. As it radiates your confidence and your power are going to grow as well. Imagine this ball of yellow light begins to spread throughout your entire body. Visualize every cell of your body is shining with yellow light. Feel yourself becoming more and more empowered.
Surely it is an effective way of balancing the ‘Manipura Chakra’.
With Reiki Healing – Solar Chakra Healing
Reiki is an ancient method to balance the energies and to remove the blockages. It works on the principle of energy and light. One can opt for reiki to heal the chakras. Cleaning and enhancing the aura along with balancing the chakra are quite effective with this healing method. Take the sessions from the reiki healer or learn the technique to heal yourself. These sessions are really effective and usually one feels relaxed and balanced direct after a reiki session. However the time or days of healing depends on the blockages one has. So having faith is important to clear up the negativities.
With Stones, Gems and Crystals
Using crystals and stones that resonate with the solar plexus chakra can help bring balance and healing to manipura chakra. Either wear the crystals in the form of pendant, ring or you can simply keep a stone in raw form. Because the main purpose is to be in the field of the gemstone or the crystal. Tiger Eye is an effective stone for protecting and balancing the energies of the solar chakra. Another stone Pyrite is shining golden stone filling us with more sun energy. Other stones are Citrine, Yellow Calcite, Golden Quartz, Yellow Topaz, Sunstone and many more. Amber is used to soothe the overactive chakra.
With Yoga Asanas
Yoga also tends to help in profoundly healing solar plexus chakras by infusing the prana vital energy source to chakras as a way of stimulating them. Some of the yoga asanas which help in balancing the solar plexus chakra are Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar), Child’s Pose (Balasana), Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend), Boat Pose (Navasana) and other asana related to core. Daily practice of the Surya Namaskar is of great help. Know more and learn about the sun salutations with mantra here.
Balance the Solar Chakra With Thoughts & Affirmations
Affirmations can assimilate into Chakra balancing, say them out loud or in your head to give a boost specifically to the Third Chakra. You can repeat the following affirmations daily during meditation or yoga.
- I act with courage and confidence.
- I have achieved my goals.
- I am strong and confident.
- I know who I am.
- I am motivated and ready to act.
Fill with positive thoughts! Be regular in practice of meditation of the chakra! Attune with ‘Ram’!
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Excellent article, Many merits and thanks