Crown Chakra Deities
by Kathleen Karlsen, Author of Vocal Medicine
One of the presiding deities for the crown chakra is Shiva— often depicted in a dancing form known as Nataraja—Lord of the Dance. Shiva is one of the principal gods of Hinduism, part of the trinity composed of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The goddess for the crown chakra is Chamunda, often interchanged with the goddesses Kali or Durga.
Nataraja: Crown Chakra Cosmic Dancer
Nataraja is the dancing form of Shiva, a joyful being spinning and dancing through creation. Nataraja represents the ecstatic state of enlightenment. Shiva is the destroyer of evil, akin to the Holy Spirit in the Christian trinity. Learn more about the sounds and seed syllables for the crown chakra in the article Chakra Sounds. Or listen to a Shiva Mantra.
Symbols of Nataraja
Shiva is often shown in association with serpents. In addition, he has a crescent moon in his hair as an adornment. The river Ganges is sometimes flowing from his hair or flowing nearby. As Nataraja, he shakes a drum known as a damaru. The snake around his neck represents the endless cycle of birth and death. The trishula or three-fold symbol held in one hand represents the divine as a trinity.
NATARAJA MANTRA VIDEO: Watch Video – Nataraja, Nataraja, Nartana Sundara Nataraja; Shivaraja, Shivaraja, Shivakami Preya Shivaraja; Chidambaresa Nataraja, Parthi Puresa Shivaraja
Chamunda: Crown Chakra Goddess
The Goddess Chamunda is a fearsome form of the goddess Chandi. She is the goddess of war, time, death and disasters. Chamunda may have originated as a tribal goddess and been assimilated into mainstream Hinduism at a later date. Chamunda is often viewed as interchangeable with the goddesses Kali and Durga.
CHAMUNDA MANTRA VIDEO: Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundaye Vicche
Understanding the Goddess Kali
Kali is a more well-known version of this fierce goddess. She is an intimidating figure, brandishing multiple weapons with her many arms. Kali wears a skirt of severed arms and a gruesome garland of heads. These grisly body parts are symbolic of the demonic forces that she slays to protect her devotees. Learn more in Kali Mantra: Goddess of Time and Death.
Durga the Divine Mother
Durga is a principal form of the Divine Mother in Hinduism. She personifies the vibration of the fierce mother, moving into battle to protect her own and never simply for the sake of violence. The name Durga means a fort or a place that is difficult to overrun. This is appropriate for a goddess representing the crown chakra. Once the goddess energy has reached this level, the chances of being overcome with worldly desires or ambitions is relatively low. More in Durga Mantra & Stories of the Goddess.
More Chakra Resources
Chakras and Musical Notes: Chakras and musical notes have been paired in a number of ways. Learn about both Western and Eastern systems.
Chakra Names: Chakra names reveal the roles of the chakras in the body on psychological, spiritual and emotional levels. Includes explanations of English and Sanskrit chakra names.
Chakra Flowers: Chakra flowers offer unique symbolic meaning for each of the seven major chakras. Flowers are among the oldest spiritual symbols, revealing the meaning of each chakra.
Kathleen Karlsen is an author, musician, artist, and composer. She has written three books (The Color-Music Connection, Flower Symbols, and Vocal Medicine) and over 200 articles. Her YouTube channel features over 600 videos. Kathleen and her family live in Bozeman, Montana, USA.
Crown Chakra Deities Article Summary
This article covers the chakra gods and goddesses in the Hindu tradition. Pairing together the functions of the chakras and the personifications of the chakra energies helps to clarify the purpose of particular chakras. Each of the seven major energy centers are associated with one or more of the chakra gods and goddesses in the Hindu pantheon.
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