Solar Plexus Chakra Symbol
The beautiful solar plexus chakra symbol depicts the main psychological and spiritual patterns associated with the solar plexus. The solar plexus chakra is located at the naval. This is the center of intuition, the place where you get a gut feeling about life.
Solar Plexus as the Third Chakra
The solar plexus chakra is the third chakra from the base of the spine. The lowest chakra is the root chakra, then the sacral chakra, and then solar plexus chakra. The solar plexus is connected to both service to other and your personal desires.
Seat of the Soul
The solar plexus chakra is the seat of the self and the center of transformation, emotions and abundance. The Sanskrit name for the solar plexus chakra is Manipura. The name Manipura translates as the “city of jewels.” “Mani” means “gem” or “jewel” while “pura” means “city.” When purified, this is the chakra of inner peace.
Role of the Solar Plexus Chakra
The solar plexus is connected to individuation and the ability to take on responsibility. This chakra can be a place of personal authority and emotional strength. If misused, the solar plexus becomes the seat of addictions.
Chakra Resources
This article includes the details of the solar plexus chakra symbol and links to other articles covering tools for balancing and healing the chakras including essential oils, mantras, healing stones and more.
Meaning of the Ten Lotus Petals
The solar plexus chakra is represented as a ten-petaled lotus. The lotus petals symbolize the unfolding of spirituality or divinity. The lotus is also connected to the energy of creation. In addition, each petal corresponds to specific Sanskrit syllables.
Sanskrit Syllables in the Lotus Petals
These Sanskrit syllables can be used in mantras that will strengthen the solar plexus chakra. The following are the syllables of the petals and the the states that they overcome:
- DAM (first petal): to tame, quiet or pacify as in the overcoming and subjugation of an enemy; this syllable can also mean “home” or “house”; using this syllable can help to overcome the negative characteristic of ignorance
- DHAM (second petal): to blow a wind instrument or a fire; to breathe out or exhale; to create sparks or melt something; a sacred dwelling place; this syllable helps to overcome unhealthy desire or thirst
- NAM (third petal): to bow or honor; to submit; this meaning is part of the words “namaste” (a respectful greeting or salutation) greet or “namah” (giving reverence); also means “Nme” especially ini reference to the name of God; this syllable helps to overcome jealousy
- TAM (fourth petal): seed syllable of Goddess Tara; represents the enlightened mind; eliminates disease, illusion and worry; this syllable helps to overcome treachery
- THAM (fifth petal): related to the root TAM (above) and the overcoming of distress; this syllable helps to overcome shame
- DAM (sixth petal): same as above; this syllable also helps to overcome fear
- DHAM (seventh petal): same as above; this syllable also helps to overcome disgust
- NAM (eight petal): same as above; this syllable also helps to overcome delusion
- PAM (ninth petal): the purified or transformed body of a deity; this syllable helps to overcome foolishness
- PHAM (tenth petal): the manifestation of compassion; this syllable helps to overcome sadness
Circle in the Solar Plexus Chakra Symbol
Moving from the outer petals towards the center of the solar plexus chakra symbol, the next aspect of the symbol is the circle. The circle represents the cycles of life, death, nature and the universe. As the most basic of all forms, the circle encloses physical matter.
Circles and Akasha
The circle symbolizes infinite space (the element akasha) and expansiveness. In Ayurveda, the ancient system of natural healing from India, all life is composed of five fundamental elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether or akasha. Among these, akasha is the most subtle and expansive.
Akasha as a Bridge
Akasha is not a tangible substance but rather the space in which all matter exists. It is the container for the other four elements and the bridge between the physical and the spiritual. The circle is the most fundamental of all forms, symbolizing infinite space.
Circles and Spiritual Oneness
The circle is present in all physical matter from the atom to planetary bodies. The central quest of spirituality is to experience the Oneness of these realms. In terms of the solar plexus chakra symbol, the circle holds the ten lotus petals together and encompasses the other inner symbols.
Triangle Meaning
Moving further towards the center of the sacral chakra symbol, the downward triangle represents water, a feminine element. An upward triangle would represent the masculine energy and the element of fire. The triangle is the primary form that can enclose space within straight lines. Symbolically, this is the first form to emerge from chaos.
Polarity of the Solar Plexus Chakra
The fundamental polarity of the solar plexus chakra is feminine. The kundalini energy is seen as the energy of the Divine Mother or the universal Goddess. This energy is drawn to the masculine energy of spirit in the higher chakras and the crown chakra.
Crescent Moon Meaning
Just above the triangle is a single stroke with a dot. This represents the moon and the emotions, another source of feminine energy. This also represents water energy. The unconscious, connected to all the three of the lower chakras, is sometimes symbolized as the ocean. Oceans represent the source of life and abundance.
Crescent Moon in the Solar Plexus Chakra Symbol
In Hinduism, the moon is seen as a source of light protecting individuals in the darkness of the night. All forms of light are welcomed, including the secondary light of the moon. The moon is associated with the god known as Chandra. The name Chandra means “bright and shining” in Sanskrit. The moon in Vedic astrology represents the mind, including thoughts, feelings, and psychology.
Symbolic Meaning of the Moon
The light of the moon is unstable, waxing, and waning through the month. Thus, the moon symbolizes the cycles of life. The moon is closely associated with human emotions. For example, dreams of the moon are typically related to intuition or that which is hidden. This can be a positive association such as hidden talents.
Light of the Moon as Wealth
The light of the moon is also associated with abundance. Moonlight is softer than the light of the sun, more like splendor than brilliance. The moon can also represent anything which has a strong pull, reflected in the way that the moon affect ocean tides. Ultimately, the moon represents the power of rebirth.
Bindu In the Solar Plexus Chakra Symbol
The dot above the crescent moon is the bindu, a term which simply means “point.” Similarly, the dot often applied to the center of the forehead between the eyebrows in the East is called the “bindi.” This is the feminine version of the word. The bindu is the point of both creation and unity. The bindi symbolically represents the bindu.
Male and Female in the Bindu Point
The dot in the solar plexus chakra symbol references both the bindu and the third eye. This is the place of spiritual vision or insight. Bindu encompasses both the masculine and feminine, Shiva and Shakti respectively. Most yantras and other sacred symbols (including all seven of the chakra symbols) contain the bindu as part of their sacred design.
Sanskrit Character Meaning
The center symbol is the Sanskrit character for the seed syllable RAM, the central sound for the solar plexus chakra. In the Vedic tradition, there is an energetic body surrounding each of us that is composed of sound. This is known as the mantra parusha.
Mantras for the Solar Plexus Chakra
The syllable RAM (pronounced RAHN or RUM) strengthens all of the related abdominal organs. An example of a Vedic mantra for the solar plexus chakra is “Om Ram Namaha Ram.” Listen to the sacral chakra mantra “OM RAM Namaha” in the article Chakra Mantras. Other mantras using the name “Ram” are beneficial for the solar plexus chakra. An example of this is the chant “Sita Ram” found on the Vocal Medicine Album Tracks page.
Click the image above to learn more about Chakra Sounds.
Solar Plexus Chakra Sounds
Other sounds related to the solar plexus chakra include “GA.” GA is part of the Eastern sargam system, which is similar to the Western system naming notes of the musical scale as DO-RE-MI-FA-SO-LA-TI-DO. Sargam actually preceded the Western system which was developed to help monks learn complex daily chants.
Vowel Sounds and the Solar Plexus
Another system is to use vowels for each chakra. Vowels can be held or extended for a kind of internal sound bath. Vowels are unformed energy when compared with the short sounds made when consonants are spoken or sung. Learn more in the article about Chakra Sounds.
More Chakra Resources
Author Kathleen Karlsen
Kathleen Karlsen is a musician, artist, writer and speaker. She is the author of three books (Flower Symbols, The Color-Music Connection and Vocal Medicine) and over 200 articles. Kathleen, her husband Andrew, and their five children live in Bozeman, Montana. More about Kathleen Karlsen.
SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA MEANING SUMMARY
The solar plexus chakra is the seat of gut feelings and intuition. The physical organs related to the solar plexus chakra are organs of the digestive system. This article includes explanations of the solar plexus chakra symbol, healing stones, essential oils and Hindu deities that are associated with solar plexus chakra meaning.
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