History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c99.393

v7.c99.393

Cakras (subtle centres in the human body) : vide under nāḍīs) : are six, spoken of as lotuses (*padma*) viz. Ādhāra or Mūlādhāra, Svādhiṣṭhāna, Maṇipūra, Anāhata, Viśuddha, Ājñā; and there is the Brahmarandhra figured as the pericarp of the Sahasrāra (thousand-petalled lotus) within the crown of the head, 1061-2 and n, 1137-38; are often identified with the five elements and the mind, 1062n; often identified with the nerve plexuses of modern physiology, but that appears to be wrong 1062; Avalon in tr. of Ṣaṭcakranirūpaṇa (plates I to VII) illustrates the six cakras and sahasrāra together with their colours etc 1061n; speculations about C. are based on the Upaniṣads that the heart is like a lotus and on the Nāḍīs 1063n; work of C. W. Leadbeater on 'Cakras' with illustrations 1061n.