Anahata – The Heart Chakra

The Heart Chakra, Fourth Chakra, colours our living with love, sympathy, balance, passion, and beauty. Driven by the rules of change and integration, the fourth life area is said to bridge earthly and religious ambitions. In order to know more about this chakra let’s explore what gives the meaning of the chakra and how to unravel its strong force to improve your life.

The sanskrit name of Heart Chakra is ‘Anahata’ which means “unstruck”. Anahata naad is a very popular term in yogic and other hindu traditions. It refers to the serene state Samadhi which is related to the continuous unstruct sound at heart region. The unbeaten sound is the sound that is not produced by touching two things. It is internal, self created, and pure. The chakra is also called Hridya Chakra, Hridya is heart in sanskrit.

Not only Heart Chakra bridges the gap between personal and spiritual realities but also governs the energies of cooperation, compassion, integration and healing. In seven chakra system heart chakra comes in center of seven chakras. Three chakras muladhara, swadhisthana, manipura are below the anahata while vishudha, ajna and sahasrara above the heart chakra. Hence it balances the chakra system. Heart Chakra is the unifier between the body and the spirit. It connects the material world to the spiritual world creating the balance. Integrating the energies of both the worlds, heart chakra allows the person to enjoy more, understand, feel love and sympathy both for yourself and others. Chakra is center of emotions and relationships. Like the two worlds, it maintains the harmony between us and others. Hence it also governs the relationships.

Location

Chakras are life centres, where organs have specified locations. As the name suggests, location of the chakra is the centre of the chest where heart resides. It is connected to the whole chest region, the heart, lungs, circulatory system, and cardiac plexus. This chakra is at the center of spine, three chakra above and three below distributed equally.

The Symbol Of Heart Chakra

By looking at the Heart Chakra, we can begin to decipher the symbolic shape, the meaning held by the force of the fourth chakra or Anahata. The symbol further described as ‘Yantra’ in some traditions, present thoughts, energies in physical and meanings. The symbolic component and the colours associated with Heart Chakra may differ from one tradition to another. We can traditionally see a God accompanying creature and the seed syllable. The God presiding the Heart Chakra has several names, dependent on the practice and translation. It is named as Rudra or Ishana Rudra Shiva and falls jointly with this God Kakini, regarded as the doorkeeper of Anahata Chakra.

The symbol of the chakra is the combination of two triangles upward and downward intersecting each other. Specifically in hindu tradition this is the symbol of shiva and shakti where intersection shows the balancing. The intersection of two triangles forms the hexagon (shatkona) inside. Thus the Heart Chakra composes of Shatkona, twelve petalled lotus flower around, Hindu deity Vayu sitting at the centre of the symbol, and an eight-petalled lotus inside the main circle.

When the two energies the masculine and feminine or we can say purusha and prakriti meet creation happens. When shiva and shakti get together balance comes and as a result evolution of consciousness happens. Further the universal reality manifests in the form of 12 adityas. These 12 adityas are the ‘creator gods or the sun god’. We can relate the 12 petals of anahata with the 12 adityas which are manifested by the union of male cosmic energy and feminine energy. Consequently the symbol depicts the balance, union and stability.

The Element Air

The element related to the fourth or Heart Chakra is Air. Actually our mind is also like air which wanders here and there. It relates to our mind’s activity and functions like thoughts, ever moving behaviour, flowing emotions, cognitive ability, and feelings.

A Yogic text Hatha Pradipika says

चले वाते चलं चित्तं निश्चले निश्चलं भवेत् ।
योगी स्थाणुत्वम् आप्नोति ततो वायुं निरोधयेत् ॥२॥
chale vate chalam chittam nischale nischalam bhavet
yogi sthanutvam apnoti tato vayum nirodhayet ||

Which means When the breath wanders, or is irregular, the mind is also unsteady. But when the breath is still, so is the mind and the yogi lives long. So one should restrain the breath.

This means the breath or air element is responsible for the wandering mind. More the air moves more mind works. On one hand if it is creating constructive thoughts then it can be damn creative but on the other hand if destructive thoughts are arising then it is not going to give any positive results. Although in both the cases mind is working too much and too much of anything is not good. Mind will lose the peace over everything. Therefore one need to balance this air element.

Similarly when this air conjoins the fire, fire raises and when it suppresses the fire, it extinguishes the fire.

In conclusion we can say the air element governs the thoughts, feelings and emotions of the individual. As said above too much thoughts, stuck with some feeling, not able let go, not able to flow with the life, too much of emotions, being too much sensitive are few signs of the imbalanced air element, thus imbalanced heart chakra.

The simple way to balance it is ‘to balance the attachment and detachment’. Give direction to the air and let it flow without obstruction. One cannot hold the air, and in case one tries it will be harmful. So better to give it right direction, control the speed of movement but not the movement.

The Blocked or Imbalanced Heart Chakra

People with Heart Chakra blockages frequently place others first, to their detriment. It is the part of these seven chakras, so it bridges the disparity between our higher and lesser chakras, and it also symbolizes our power to enjoy and interact with others. When out of placement, it will make us seem alone, insecure, and isolated. As one could have, the chakra is related to our ability to feel. Issues with heart, lungs, breathing and other cardiac problems, may represent the blockage of the Heart Chakra.

If chakras are surrounded by the negative energies or they are weak then they appear shrunken. Gradually if not resolved then their colour pattern, texture and sound also changes.

Because heart chakra is the center of seven chakras, thus balancing the anahata will have impact greatly on other chakras too. Immediately pay attention to the heart chakra if you are stuck up in emotions, lacking power of letting go, not able to think, not welcoming the new things.

A blockage or an unbalanced chakra may cause both physical and psychological problems, including chronic illness or mental disruptions. These days this is the chakra which is quite often seen imbalanced. As there is less or no harmony between the relations. In the rat race we are turning into the insensitive beings.

Symptoms of An Imbalanced Heart Chakra or Anahata Chakra

• Too much attachment if overactive
• Over sensitivity
• Jealousy
• Heart and lungs problems
• Over thinking and hence anxiety
• Lack of emotions if underactive
• Not feeling loved
• Dependent
• Envy
• Too Much Detachment if underactive
• No control of emotions and that may lead to outbursts
• Not being compassionate if underactive
• Not able to maintain the relationships
• Wavering emotions
• Lack of self – love
• One seems to be a humbug and deny any charity or help. He simply becomes self-centric.
• One behaves unkindly and sometimes brutally.

Traumatic events such as Break ups, divorces, death of closed ones, traumas in childhood, abusive relationship with anyone be it father, mother, brother, friend, beloved or husband in which you feel for someone are few reasons for the blocked heart chakra creating imbalance.

Symptoms Of Balanced Heart Chakra

Balanced emotions, and and compassion in heart are the signs of balanced heart chakra. The heart chakra is the centre of feelings and love for oneself and for others, Hence it defines the relation with yourself and with others. As it connects on the lower chakras to the higher chakras which has connection with the higher self, it defines the connection of us with the higher self. Other than that if the heart chakra is balanced raising above the self and being compassionate to others as we all are connected to the same source is what we attain as spiritual upliftment. In many traditions and cultures it is believed that God resides in the heart therefore pure the heart chakra better the connection with God who lives in us.

Once you have the balanced, open and active Anahata Chakra

• You are inclined to unconditional love. And you no longer detest others.
• Forgiving becomes your attitude and hence you sympathize with others and believe that humans are prone to mistakes.
• You accept your mistakes modestly. Ego or stubbornness are quite quite far from your nature.
• Helping others and charity comes automatically within you.
• You are at peace even in distress or challenging situations.

Eventually you feel more connected to others as the reflection of self. You will be more open in receiving and giving the love. Because heart chakra is a connecting bridge it shows the connection with self, others and higher consciousness. It is the place of true feelings. In addition balance, harmony and poise comes automatically with the balanced heart chakra.

As a result we can say the healed and balanced heart chakra or anahata chakra is very important for a right connection. Once you have balanced chakra you will attract the same sort of energy and vibes around. And in case you encounter one is suffering with the low phase you will be empathetic as you will be able to connect with him.

Significance Of Color & Sound Of Anahata

The Color

The Colour that is connected with Heart Chakra is the Green colour. The green colour symbolizes giving and receiving love and build harmony. In reiki it is the color of healing. Archangel Raphael has the aura of green color, he is responsible for healing and peace. Concurrently green color of heart chakra is the color of nature which signifies the tranquility, peace, calmness, health and in negative emotions it shows jealousy. The soothing and calming effect of the color gives peace to anxious or depressed heart. Due to this, one going through the emotional imbalance is advised to have a walk in nature. It is the color of hope and new beginnings like the new leaves.

Heart Chakra is also connected with the pink colour which represents unconditional and universal love. It also signifies the attraction and kindness which has a refreshing effect.

YAM – The Beej Mantra of Heart Chakra

The sound of Anahata is ‘Yam’. Undoubtedly the Bija mantra Chanting for the Anahata Chakra can heal an unbalanced Heart Chakra and glow the fourth Chakra with love, compassion, empathy, balanced emotions, and harmonious relationships. Repeating ‘Yam’ the one-syllable beej sound can have positive effects on heart Chakra as it vibrates on the frequency of ‘Yam’.

In fact vibrations of YAM tunes up the chakra releasing the blockages. Let go of the negative emotions and fill the heart with hope, love, joy and peace with Yam mantra.

Maintaining the balance, meditation on mantra YAM reveals the secrets of the anahata chakra during the practise.

How To Open & Balance The Anahata Chakra

The Sound

Chanting the Bija Mantra (the seed mantra) ‘Yam’ removes the blockages, activates the chakra, open it to flow like air. One should chant or meditate on the sound as the anahata chakra is directly related to the sound, the unstruck one. The vibration of “Yam” will affect the heart region and attune the chakra.

Get ready and sit in the meditation on the mantra of Heart Chakra. Sit in a comfortable meditative pose like padmasana with the erect spine. Or you can sit in sukhasana or in any other posture in which you can sit comfortably without movement. Choose the place and time free from disturbances around. Turn on the sound ‘YAM’. One can chant with the mantra or meditate on it by listening to the mantra attuning to the each breath. Including the practice in daily schedule will attune you to the sound of ‘Yam’.

With Color and Symbol

Visualize the symbol. The meeting of two opposite triangles as two opposite forces coming to balance. Imagine the YAM is written inside and 12 petals are beautifully spreaded outside. Feel and place the symbol in your heart. Gradually the green color is shining in your heart getting bigger and bigger, covering the whole you. You can follow this simple practice as long as you want to. But at least sit in the practice with calm state of mind daily or whenever you feel at least for 10 to 20 minutes.

However if you feel difficulty in visualization then keep the picture of symbol or yantra in front of the you at the eye level. Fix the gaze on the yantra and practice tratak. And gradually when you feel like closing the eyes, close them and visualize the symbol within.

Another way to heal the chakra is, place your palms on your heart and visualize it as a ball of green or pink light glowing inside. Then with each breath feel more light is entering your heart. Imagine it glowing and even brighter. Visualize every cell of body is shining with green or pink light. You are getting healing and thus becoming balance and healthy. One can imaging the rose flower instead of light blooming inside the heart. Feel yourself becoming more and more empowered.

Visualization with the mantra chanting is quite effective, so one can combine the two techniques.

Become Aware and Be Open To Your Emotions

We have to become aware of what is preventing our heart chakras from opening. Intuitively what emotions do you think you’re struggling with that are keeping your heart closed. A clear sense of awareness about your emotions and contemplating the root cause of negative emotions surrounding you can actually help in clearing away the negative energies stuck to the heart chakra.
Being open to emotions means express feelings and then allow them to go instead of clinging to them. Express yourself as much as possible. Share your feelings with family and friends or even an honest self-dialogue with yourself can help you feel more open and clear with your suppressed emotions.

With Reiki Healing – Heart Chakra Balancing

One of the best alternative therapy Reiki is an effective method to balance the energies and to remove the blockages of the chakra. It works on the principle of energy and light and symbols. At anytime one can opt for reiki to heal the chakras. Reiki healer will clean the aura and chakras and fill you with positive vibes. 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. Sometimes they too use the stones and crystals to heal the patient. However the time or days of healing depends on the blockages one has. So have faith in the process.

With Stones, Gems and Crystals

Great stones for healing heart chakra are Rose Quartz, Green Aventurine, Jade, green calcite. These crystals take away the negative energy from your heart. Just lay down and place them on your chest area and feel the vibrational energies removing the negativity effacing. Wear the crystals either in the form of pendant, ring or you can simply keep a stone in raw form so that you stay with the vibrations of the crystal. Rose Quartz is an pink coloured stone which is widely use to heal the relationships and to invite love in your life making you too more loving towards others.

With Yoga Asanas Open Anahata

Certainly yoga asanas can help heal your heart chakra. Yoga poses that involve chest movement are beneficial in opening Heart Chakra blockages. For example Bow pose (Dhanurasana), Camel pose (Ustrasana), Upward bow pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) are some of the yoga asanas for balancing and opening the Anahata Chakra.

Balance the Heart 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 Anahata Chakra. You can repeat the following affirmations daily during meditation or yoga.

• I love the whole universe unconditionally
• Helping, sharing, and loving is my way of life.
• I handle my relationships patiently
• I accept mistakes and forgive others
• My emotions are balanced
• I am guided by truth and love
• I am at peace

Feel The Love! Be regular in practice of meditation of the chakra! Attune with ‘Yam’! And Balance the Heart Chakra!

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