Visuddha: The Throat Centre

CHAKRA 5

Vishuddi chakra is the center of purification (vishuddi means to purify). It is symbolized by a smoky violet lotus with sixteen petals, inscribed with the sixteen vowels of the Sanskrit alphabet. These are am, am, im, im, um, um, rim, rim, lrim, lrim, em, aim, om, aum, m and h.

In the center of the lotus is a white circle and the bija mantra ham seated upon a white elephant. The elephant is symbolic of ether. The presiding deity is Ardhanariswara, the form of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati combined in one body, half male, half female. The goddess of this center is Sakini, presiding over the element of bone.

Vishuddhi chakra influences the vocal cords and the region of the larynx, thyroid and parathyroid glands. Disorders in this area of the physical body can be remedied by concentrating deeply on this chakra.

The throat center is the place where divine nectar amrita (the mystical elixir of immortality) is tasted. This nectar is a kind of sweet secretion produced by the gland known as the lalana chakra, which is located near the back of the throat. By higher yogic practices such as kechari mudra, the nectar gland is stimulated. It secretes the nectar on which the yogi can exist for any length of time without food or water. Many yogis in India have demonstrated the feat of being buried alive for day on end by virtue of their mastery over lalana chakra. Any practice which is utilized to stimulate this gland should not be undertaken without the guidance of a competent guru, for there are certain dangers involved. A bitter poisonous secretion is produced when the aspirant is not in the proper condition to take up such advanced practices.

One may meditate on vishuddi chakra by trying to feel that the cold, sweet drops of nectar are falling down into it, giving a feeling of blissful intoxication.

The throat centre is seated on the spine at the level of the throat. At this level we experience the quality of space alone. This is the characteristic of the element of ether.

We have seen that the four lower elements all have qualities which are basically activities within space: ether is the space itself within which these activities rake place.

The ether or quintessence, as it was termed by alchemists, is the mixing bowl, so to speak, within which the four lower elements are formed. It is the latency behind them. It is the basis from which each element arises and to which each returns when its period of activity is ended and another element manifests in its place. The four elements are therefore really modifications of the basic ether which can turn itself into any of them. In modern radio terms the ether is the carrier wave for the four elements.

The sense of sound is derived from the element of ether. If one goes to a place where complete and absolute silence reigns and then listens intently, one will eventually become aware of a certain something which is still there behind the silence: a subtle pervasiveness which has been described as the 'noiseless sound'. When one has experienced this one has learned to recognize the etheric element in oneself; but it is more difficult than recognizing the four lower elements.

Through the ether the four elements are controlled. The throat chakra is a vital bridge between the principle of thought at the brow chakra and these four elements. This confirms the biblical dictum 'In the beginning was the Word'. Sound is the most potent of the five lower vibrations and affects them all. The voice can take on the quality of any of the four lower elements.

The voice may be heavy and unresponsive - the sort of voice one associates with solid officialdom at the earth level. It may be ripe and sexual at the watery level, or warm and passionate at the solar level. The heart voice is gentle and sympathetic. Naturally there are combinations of these qualifies and the student can learn much from studying the voice in both himself and in others.

FIFTH CHAKRA QUALITIES AND ATTRIBUTES