The second energy center controls the liquid factor in the body and governs the crudest and heaviest emotions: its vrttis, what follows when it is weak, and how to strengthen it.
Main characteristic: flowing water Animal symbol: a crocodile (no compassion, only the instincts of self-preservation and survival) Factor: liquid Glands: sex glands (testes and ovaries, as with the múládhára cakra)
This is the second energy center, located at the level of the sex organs, roughly six finger-widths from the navel. This center controls the liquid factor in the body and is responsible for the crudest and heaviest emotions.
Energy enters the human body from below and moves upward along the central energy channel, the suśumná, from the root múládhára A center of psychic energy in the body; seven major ones lie along the spine. to the topmost sahasrára cakra. As it rises, the energy passes through all the cakras, the svádhiśt́hána among them. When the svádhiśt́hána cakra is deformed, part of the energy rising from the múládhára cakra is dissipated at the level of the svádhiśt́hána. So this part of the energy does not reach the other cakras located above the svádhiśt́hána.
The level of the svádhiśt́hána cakra is the level of consciousness of reptiles, since for them it is the highest cakra. That is why the svádhiśt́hána cakra is represented by the symbol of the crocodile, and its qualities can be studied in the behavior of reptiles. In critical moments of life, a person's emotions switch on precisely at the level of the svádhiśt́hána cakra.
However, yoga has a rule: the stronger the cakra, the stronger a person's ability to control the emotions contained in that cakra. This means it is possible to strengthen the higher propensities and not allow animal qualities to show themselves, let alone dominate a person's life.
When the svádhiśt́hána cakra is developed, a person shows tact and neatness, and has a harmoniously developed sense of taste and beauty. For example, if a person tends to dress sloppily, one can say that their svádhiśt́hána cakra is undeveloped or not working properly. This is almost always reflected in a person's character. Disturbances in the svádhiśt́hána cakra bring very serious problems in life.
Let us look at the qualities of the svádhiśt́hána cakra, which propensities of the mind (A mental tendency or propensity, such as fear, longing or love; fifty are described in all.) it controls, and how to make it strong.
The svádhiśt́hána cakra is a flower with six petals. Each petal is a particular propensity of the mind (vrtti). The center of the cakra controls the working of the petals. At the level of the svádhiśt́hána cakra there is crude energy that seeks expression on the physical plane.
The first vrtti (propensity of the mind) is called avajiṋá, which means belittling others. In everyday life we can observe how people assert themselves. A developed person, whose consciousness is at the level of the anáhata cakra or higher, encourages and supports others. For such a person, the better off the world around them, the happier they are themselves.
People whose consciousness is at the level of the svádhiśt́hána, however, act in the opposite way. These people, who carry a deep fear complex, feel insecure, and this shows itself in humiliating others. Such a person feels comfortable when dominating those around them. They will try to display their strength and power. This person looks for the weaknesses of others so as to control them later by leaning on those weaknesses.
Insecurity shows itself in two ways: lack of confidence in oneself and distrust of others. Distrust of people shows itself as paranoid thinking in the form of suspicion and disbelief, as a striving to control another person's life totally, as an inability to trust and surrender to the flow of life. Such behavior creates tension not only in the person but also in the lives of those around them. If a person's svádhiśt́hána cakra is badly weakened, this shows up as the mental illness called paranoia.
The second vrtti of the svádhiśt́hána cakra is called prashraya, which translates from Sanskrit as indulgence, giving in to one's desires. This includes the simplest desires: food, sleep and sex. Having desires is normal, since every person has needs.
But when a person cannot deny themselves pleasures and gives in to their weaknesses, a problem arises. This is where addictions of all kinds come from. It can be alcohol, drugs or smoking, or it can be watching television, an excessive love of sweets, a passion for gambling, for the internet and so on.
The third vrtti is called krurata in Sanskrit and translates as crudeness. Crudeness here means a lack of tact: the person cannot understand other people's feelings or read between the lines, and does not get hints. Their jokes are out of place and flat. Crude manners show themselves as insensitivity to the pain of others, a lack of compassion, indifference to how other people feel. Such a person sincerely cannot understand that their actions cause someone else pain.
The fourth vrtti is called múrchá in Sanskrit, and it shows itself as stupor. In a mild form it is a block at the level of thought, dogmatic thinking. It is hard, and often simply impossible, to change such a person's mind, if only because reasoning at the level of logic is not their thing.
A deeper expression of múrchá is a retreat into emotional and even physical stupor. This behavior can be seen in animals or insects: in danger the animal freezes, because the thought of imminent death brings on a paralyzing fear of death that freezes the whole body.
The consequences of problems in the svádhiśt́hána cakra
Dealing with people whose consciousness is at the level of the svádhiśt́hána cakra is very difficult, because they learn poorly and are unreliable. For example, having offered help themselves, they may disappear without warning and never do the work. They do not stop to think that they are doing harm to others by this, since they are interested only in personal gain or in getting pleasure.
As a rule they have no moral values. You may have heard the words of the famous gangster Al Capone: "Nothing personal, it's just business." This way of thinking vividly characterizes people whose consciousness is in the svádhiśt́hána.
There are, however, developed people in whom the higher energy centers are active. If their svádhiśt́hána cakra is weak, it shows up as manias, phobias and addictions. Such people notice their problem and see the crudeness and inappropriateness of their actions.
Strengthening the svádhiśt́hána cakra
Once a person sets out on the spiritual path, they transform the energy in the svádhiśt́hána cakra, and thanks to this a sense of taste, of measure and of beauty comes. The person becomes tactful, sensitive to people's feelings, able to understand another person's soul. That is why it is very important to work with the svádhiśt́hána cakra. So what does this work consist of?
Regular practice of ásanas, physical exercises (for example, gomukhásana, yoga mudrá). Since the energy of ignorance (tamas), which is in a static state, is present in this cakra, constant effort is needed.
Through the practice of ásanas the vital force (prańa) circulates in the cakras, which removes various blocks. In this way the cakra is restored. After six months of doing A yoga posture held steadily and comfortably; it balances the glands and quiets body and mind for meditation. twice a day, positive changes can be observed in the mind.
For example, the functioning of the urogenital organs depends entirely on the svádhiśt́hána cakra. With systematic practice of a set of ásanas for this cakra, a gradual restoration of the functioning of the pelvic organs can be observed within six months.
- yoga mudrá (the pose of union)
- dirgha prańáma (the long salutation)
- shalabhásana (the locust pose)
- uśt́rásana (the camel pose)
- gomukhásana (the cow's head pose)
- utkata vajrásana (the lightning pose)
- bhujaungásana (the cobra pose)
\+ any work on the abdominal muscles
Drinking enough water during the day. Since the svádhiśt́hána cakra has the energy of the water factor, the cakra is restored, among other things, with the help of water. Tea, coffee and other drinks do not count here. It must be plain clean water.
Proper functioning of the digestive system. The intestines are partly connected with the working of the svádhiśt́hána cakra, and when there is constipation the vrttis of the cakra grow stronger. Constipation is a serious problem in itself, since the toxins it produces poison and damage not only the body but also the brain. So one should avoid food of a static nature (tamasic foods), which heats the intestines. Such foods include meat, fish, eggs, onions, garlic and mushrooms. On a tamasic diet it is much harder to bring the lower cakras under control.
Moderate physical restraint. Unbridled sexual desire has a destructive effect on the svádhiśt́hána cakra. That is why it is recommended to keep sexual relations under control. People's sexual temperaments differ, so each needs to understand for themselves how many sexual contacts a month are not destructive for their physical and mental health. On average this is 4 times a month, but obviously the question must be approached individually, with the understanding that sexual contact requires a great deal of vital energy. It is necessary to refrain from masturbation, which can also contribute to deforming the cakra. Parents should pay special attention to this when raising children.
Using water after urination and defecation. The genitals should be kept clean. Urine is a very tamasic liquid. The water for cleansing should be cool, because then the muscles of the sex organs contract, pushing out the remaining urine. In this way the cleansing is more thorough. When the genitals are cooled, the mind calms down as well.
Men wearing a langota. A langota is a loincloth that holds the sex organ in a certain position. This makes it possible to conserve as much energy as possible in the svádhiśt́hána.
The recommendations above for restoring and strengthening the svádhiśt́hána cakra act on the physical plane. Anyone can follow them, whatever their state of health or level of knowledge. They are completely safe.
There are, however, practices that must be done with care and with the permission of a spiritual teacher.
Tattva dhárańá and cakra shodhana are exercises that a person receives as personal instructions after gaining experience in certain practices. Here the cakras are worked on by means of the mind.