Gorakhnath and the Kanphata Yogis c19.79

c19.79

The lotuses, circles, wheels, centres, vital stations (padma cakra, ādhāra) may be conceived of as positions or locations in the body where various aspects of vital force reside. They are often identified with the ganglia at various levels along the spinal cord; but this may not be accurate. They are not in the plexuses, but in the spinal column.⁹ They are most complicated in their symbolism and are not easy to describe. Conceived of as stations along the suṣumṇā, which passes through them, they are viewed in relation to the successive positions which Kuṇḍalinī reaches in her ascent to the place of Śiva. From the standpoint of creation, each padma may be conceived of as a place of union of Śakti and Śiva, each having within itself both male and female, divinities and forces. Each, except the last, may be viewed as a microcosm, containing all the forces of creation. Besides, each contains the union symbol of the yoni-liṅga, in triangle and liṅga, or letter and bindu, crescent and circle. They are described as lotuses (padma) with varying numbers of petals, each leaf having its letter, called bīja with bindu, and all drawn with symbolic use of colour, and mythical animals. The various figures, triangles, squares, and the like belong to yantra, the letters with their bindus to mantra. The latter as (mantras) are to be meditated upon in turn proceeding from right to left.