Meditation on Mooladhara

                                             

Mooladhara represents the element earth. The significance of meditating on mooladhara is to ground yourself to strengthen you. Being the base chakra, start meditating on mooladhara to build up your strength both physically and emotionally to have a secure feeling in your life.

Sit comfortably with spine straight on a chair or on the floor in sukhasana or padmasana. Keep your palms facing upward on the respective knees holding prithvi mudra. Prithvi mudra is done by touching the tips of the thumb and ring finger. Feel relaxed and breathe normally. Close your eyes. Concentrate on mooladhara. Feel the chakra is lighted up. Feel a sense of grounding by rooting yourself into the earth. Imagine yourself as an unshakable rock on the earth. Think that you are becoming more and stronger like a hill on the earth. Feel that the bones and muscles in your body is getting stronger. Imagine a red light spreads in your whole body grounding you more to the earth. Continue meditation on the chakra with a feel that you are so strong and stable. Meditate for 15 to 20 minutes. Bring back your physical awareness to the original state. Feel grateful to mother earth for enabling you to be grounded. Imagine the mooladhara chakra is opened, cleansed and balanced. Experience the secure feel within. Rub your hands strongly, feel the warmth in your palms on the mooladhara chakra and spread to the whole body. Slowly open your eyes and conclude the meditation by saying Om Shanti! Shanti!! Shanti!!!

                                                                                                  

Significance of the Seven centres (chakras)

The Sanskrit word chakra is literally wheel. Chakra is the energy centre in the body. Chakras are part of the subtle body and are meeting points of nadis, the subtle energy channels. The life force or valid energy moves through the nadi. Even though it is believed that there are many chakras in the subtle human body there are seven main chakras in our body. The main chakras are located vertically along the central channel, sushmna nadi (spinal cord). Chakras are the energy pools which govern our emotions. This invisible energy, ‘Prana’, keeps us alive and healthy. Each chakra has its own responsibility and vibration frequency that governs organal function to the immune system. Since life force needs movement it is essential that the seven chakras should be aligned and opened. The blockage in the chakras leads to physical and mental illness lacking the inner peace. Out of the seven chakras three are located in the lower body which govern personality and the rest four in the upper body which govern the mental attitude.

Root chakra is the first one, Mooladhara in Sanskrit, located at the base of the spinal cord. The energy is based on the earth element and is associated with the security feeling in the entire life. Sacral chakra is the second one, Swadhistana in Sanskrit, located about 3-4 inches below the belly button. The energy is based on the water element and so related to our emotions and with the sense of belongingness and well being. Solar Plexus chakra is the third one and is known as Manipura in Sanskrit. It is located 3-4 inches above the belly button and is based on the element fire. This chakra is associated with personal will power, happiness and self-esteem. Heart chakra known as Anahata in Sanskrit is located in the centre of the chest region and is based on the element air. This chakra is associated with love and compassion. Throat chakra known as Vishuddhi in Sanskrit is located in the centre at the base of the neck and is based on the element ether or space the pure medium through which sound travels. It controls the communication and expression. Third eye chakra, the sixth chakra, known as Ajna in Sanskrit is located in between the eyebrows of the forehead. Women wear bindi on the point to remind the power of intuition and foresight. This chakra is associated with the ‘Supreme Power’. Crown chakra is the top most chakra known as Sahasrara in Sanskrit. It is located on the top of the head and associated with brain and nervous system. This chakra drives us to higher state of consciousness and visions enabling us to be in touch with the universe. Meditate on the qualities of the chakras to balance them. Chakras are the portals to a deeper inward realisation of self. Mindfulness is the essential key to meditate effectively on balancing the chakras.

                                                                                                       

Meditation on a Point

                                                             

Focusing on a point enables to concentrate on a single object/single task/single thought excluding all the distractions of everything else from outside and from within. Mind can be still and by developing concentration helps one to be more efficient to take charge of one’s own life. Concentration improves memory, makes more creative and helps in focussing on a goal. It also makes the mind to be more conscious to engage in positive thoughts gaining mental mastery to attain peace of mind. Meditating on a point should be practised with positive attitude and joy to get the best results such as inner strength and happiness, stronger will power, creative visualization and successful meditation.

Hang the picture of your favourite holy symbol such as lotus, Om, swastika, mandala, hamsa or whatever you like and prefer about 2-3 ft away from your eyes where you sit for meditation. Sit comfortably in sukhasana on a mat with back straight in a relaxed mood holding ‘Anjali mudra’. Anjali mudra is the Namaste posture performed by pressing the palms gently together in front of your chest. Focus on the symbol in the picture and start meditation. Breathe normally. Think about the significance of the holy image and spread the importance of the message within consciously. If you feel any strain in your eyes blink 3-5 times and continue meditation. Again if any stress in your eyes, feel free to close your eyes for a few seconds and open it to focus on the symbol. Continue meditation for 10 to 20 minutes. While concluding pay gratitude to the Supreme Power for the skill you attain in making your mind calm, still and sharp.

 

                                                                                                     

 

Meditate in a Holy Place

                                   

As part of pilgrimage, tour or by special chance we get an opportunity to visit holy places, prayer halls, meditation halls and sanctum sanctorum. Those are the sacred places to meditate and enter into a sublime state of mind. I remember my first experience of sanctity was at the ‘Temple of Consciousness’ at Aliyar near Pollachi in Coimbatore. The meditation hall was opened for all. As I entered the sanctum something extraordinary happens in me. The total silence changes the thought level and a feeling of positivity brightens me up.

The atmosphere in a meditation hall is filled with good vibrations and the divine energy elucidates bliss and ecstasy. The fights in our mind will get a sudden break down and our mind will get tuned to the point where we want to be. The positive energy awakes the divine energy within us and leads to a meditative state within seconds. Some other places where I experienced positive vibrations were Swami Vivekananda rock in Kanyakumari, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Varanasi, Lotus Temple, N. Delhi, Buddhist Bliss Culture Mission, Perth and Bahayi Temple, Chicago. The silence leads to the feel of oneness and enables to experience the calm and peace. Don’t miss an opportunity you get in a holy place to meditate, it measures more than what you think.

Sit down comfortably in the space provided and feel relaxed. Close the eyes. Take a few normal breathes to get in tune with the environment. While inhaling, draw the divine energy into your mind; spread it throughout your body passing through the life centres. While exhaling, send out the energy along with your energy of consciousness. Do the meditation at least for 10 minutes. The more you are able to meditate the more you can experience the divine energy of both the celestial and terrestrial passing through your body to experience with yourself and the love for the universe. The combined energy coming out from you from this meditation returns to you connecting with the power of the ‘Holy Place’. Slowly open your eyes and conclude meditation with gratitude to the Almighty.

 

                                                                                                          

Meditate along with a Divine Music

                        

Those who love music can go for a music meditation. For me music is a true stress reliever. Concentrating on divine music enables our mind to focus on the serene music which is highly meditational and relaxing. The pleasant and cool vibrations makes one get merged fully and it soothes the mind and the soul. It makes one lightened, jovial and blissful.

                        Sit or lie down in a comfortable position and get ready for the meditation. Play the most loving divine music of your choice for a stipulated time of about 15 to 30 minutes. While listening to the music, travel through it, fill the music in your mind, then spread the essence of the music through our body. Focus on the music, repeat the process of filling and spreading the calmness of the music and the blissful moments in you. Let the music becomes your meditative object to immerse into meditation. This helps to free from distractions and enables to listen and concentrate on the ragas which relates to nature. The life centres in our body get energised and balanced in meditating on the divine vibrations of the gentle music. Once the music comes to an end be aware of your physical state, enjoy the bliss you experienced in your mind, soul and body. Conclude meditation with gratitude.

 

                                                                                        

 

'Om' Meditation...

'Om' is the root mantra which is found in a majority of mantras. Om is the humming sound of existence. Om represents the whole universe. Om can be pronounced as AUM. In Hinduism Om is the sound of the Supreme consciousness and when Om is repeatedly chanted it creates Godly presence. Repetition of Om dissolves in mind in its divine source. Chanting of Om purifies the atmosphere and self and makes the mind still and leads to self realisation and experience inner peace.
Sun rise and sunset are the best time to chant Om. Sit comfortably with hands on the knees in prana mudra. Prana mudra is done by joining the tips of the thumb, ring and middle fingers. Meditate for 10 to 15 minutes chanting Om. If you need set a timer to remind you about the time. Take some deep breaths to get ready. Close your eyes. Think about the significance of Om. Breathe normally and feel relaxed. Breath in slowly. Pronounce Om in a slow rhythmic way while breathing out. Allow the vibrations of the sound Om rise from your navel to ring at your nostrils. The length of each chanting should match your normal and natural breathe out. Give equal measure to each sound 'Oooommmm' rather than 'Ommm' or 'Oooom'. Chanting Om cleanses your 'Aura' and offers self healing power. It helps to feel peace, bliss and happiness embracing the whole body, mind and soul.

Meditation focussing on Breath

                     

                                                     Meditation focussing on breath is simple and easy technique for beginners. Meditation focussing on breath is quite powerful. One can experience inner peace and bliss by controlling the unwanted thoughts and making the mind still. This helps one to get rid of stress and fear. Also helps to build up a positive attitude towards life.

                                                     Sit comfortably with spine straight on a chair or in the traditional cross-legged posture. Let your breath be normal. Close your eyes to start the meditation. Concentrate on the normal breathing and become aware of the breath as it enters and leave the nostrils. Visualize the pure air enters while inhaling and the impurities are left out through the air while exhaling. Focus on the breath and concentrate only in the air entering and leaving the nostrils. If your mind gets distracted be aware to bring back your mind to the breath. While breathing in visualize every cells in your body is purified. Massage any points with your mind where you feel discomfort while inhaling and flush out the total feel of discomfort while exhaling. Once you are focussed on the breathing continue to meditate for ten more minutes. Before concluding, thank the ‘Supreme Power’ for the joyful opportunity of meditation. Pray for the wellness of the whole universe. Be aware of the physical state, rub your palms strongly and feel the warmth on your face. Slowly open the eyes and spread the warmth of your palms to the whole body.