Sacral Plexus Chakra and healing

N K Srinivasan Ph D
This chakra is very special because it relates to our sensuality and sexuality. In these days when sexual matters are commercialised, it is no wonder that this chakra and related tantric methods are getting much

importance in yoga literature. This chakra, second from below , is the seat of our sexual impulses and energy .Hindu philosophers have always taught that the sexual energy should be controlled and 'sublimated' so that they are not wasted but used for higher spiritual endeavors. This ,of course ,easily said than done. Sexual activities within limits is not forbidden by Yogis though the stimulation of this chakra can lead to enormous sexual appetites for the yogi. It should be noted that this sexual expression takes different forms for men and for women and within any gender ,there could be much variations. The balancing of this chakra is the method to control this energy and use it ,not for pleasure, but for sublime bliss.

Mythological aspects Sacral pleaxus, close to genitals , is often worshiped as a Shakti or female goddess in the Hindu pantheon, often

identified with Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Parvati's role was always to bestow compassion, grace and divine knowledge on her devotee or disciple. Several chants such as "Lalita Sahasranama" [1000 names of Goddess Lalita] are used to invoke this deity and seek her grace.

Goddess Parvati is full of wisdom, apparently derived from her husband Lord Shiva. There are many verses and poems detailing the question and answer sessions between Shiva and His consrot Parvati on esoteric and divine knowledge. Parvati is not only full of divine wisdom , she is also extremely beautiful and voluptuous for men. The Lord of Kama, Manmatha was apparently smitten by her beauty and had evil designs. Lord Shiva promptly burned him to ashes.![Sounds like a Greek drama written in Indian style.!][ The story goes on that Manmatha's wife begged Shiva to restore her husband's life.] I learned about the full meaning of this role of Parvati

after much introspection and reading a great text [a poem] supposedly written by the 8th century advaitin philosopher Adi Shankara---called "Soundarya

Lahari"...the wave of beauty or soundarya. In it, Adi

Shankara pays tribute to the extra-ordinary beauty of the Goddess [with poetic dsecriptions] and also her enormous compassion towards her children--we folks who get distracted in this life. He mentions how a mere glance form her will bestow virility to an aged man that he would attract several damsels to his side. Besides her beauty and compassion, Parvati is essentially a teacher. So the devotee should seek divine wisdom from her. A focus on her would wean away from our earthly attractions and sensuality.We should seek her grace in spite of worldly attractions. This is the recurrent theme in all such scriptural texts.

Opening up sacral chakra and healing This chakra is often closed due to guilty feelings and fear and also the feeling that 'sex could be a dirty thing". Though such feelings have been common in western

milieu, they are uncommon in Hindu/Indian environment. Sex was always accepted as part of one's life--but it should be controlled and accepted as a lower form of pleasure. Hindus believed that sexual impulses should be transcended after birth of a few children to continue the family line and then 'sublimated' for higher purpose. With this in mind, they showed erotic and graphic depictions of sexual

activities in the outer corridors of temples before entering the inner sanctum sanctorum for higher knowledge and serenity. This chakra is easily activated or healed by music and art. It is also kept healthy by herbal medicines.

Yoga for healing This chakra, being at the base of the spine, is the place from which lower back pain and other ailments arise. {Lower back pain has become very common in the present computer age when many sit in front of computers with wrong posture and torture their spine.] Yoga experts would suggest cobra pose [bhujanga asana] and also several crocodile poses to strengthen this region and totally eliminate these pains from this chakra. Such practices and other asanas can also heal one from impotency and increase virility easily in middle age. These yoga practices are very easy to perform. You should consult a qualified and experienced yoga teacher for such training. Practices such as fasting are recommended to control this healing process.

A caveat is in order. Such opening of the sacral plexus can lead to enormous sexual appetite that lot of energy

may be wasted by a man or a woman. Caution should be exercised with these yoga practices. It is important to chant 'mantras' or hymns and meditate on Goddess Parvati as the Ruler of this universe to bestow wisdom. The orange -red color is the color of this chakra. Therefore wearing cloth of this color by men and women would entail an awakening of sensual impulses. Some yogis chant " Om Namo Bhagavatiye Namah" as a means of receiving grace from the deity of this chakra. To sum up, let me add that sacral pleaxus chakra is the one to be handled with caution --as the seat of power that keeps the world in activity.