Dancing with Siva

Resource 8: Charts

HREE CHARTS ARE GIVEN IN THIS RESOURCE. Due to their complexity, on the web we are only providing PDF's of the charts. The first chart shows Hindu cosmology, (Vedic-Agamic Cosmology; The Inner and Outer Universe) correlating the various divisions and categories of manifestation, as well as the bodies, sheaths,chakras and states of consciousness of the soul. It is organized with the highest consciousness, or subtlest level of manifestation, at the top, and the lowest, or grossest, at the bottom. In studying the chart, it is important to remember that each level includes within itself all the levels above it. Thus, the element earth, the grossest or outermost aspect of manifestation, contains all the tattvas above it on the chart. They are its inner structure. Similarly, the soul encased in a physical body also has all the sheaths named above -- pranic, instinctive-intellectual, cognitive and causal. Here, now, is a brief description of the major parts of the cosmology chart.

Vedic-Agamic Cosmology;
The Inner and Outer Universe Chart
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lokas (3 worlds & 14 planes): These are the classical divisions of consciousness, traditionally numbering 14, as listed. A simpler breakdown shows in column one the three lokas: causal, subtle and gross. The 14 planes correspond directly to the chakras, psychic force centers within the inner bodies of the soul, also listed in column two. The 14 chakras are "doorways" within man to each of the 14 planes.

kala (5 spheres): The center of the chart lists the five kalas -- vast divisions of consciousness or "dimensions" of the mind. Note that the five states of mind -- superconscious, subsuperconscious, conscious, subconscious and subsubconscious -- are also listed in this column.

tattva (36 evolutes): The 36 tattvas, listed to the right of the kalas, are the basic "building blocks" of the universe, successively grosser evolutes of consciousness. These are in three groups, as shown.

kosha & sharira (3 bodies & 5 sheaths): The sheaths or bodies of the soul are given in the two right-hand columns. Note the correlation of these and the worlds by reading across the chart to the left to the two columns named "three worlds," and "14 planes."

On the second chart, the 14 chakras and their attributes are listed, and on the third, a complete list of all 36 tattvas is given. We also provide below a deeper elucidation of the chakras and the three primary nerve currents of the inner body: ida, pingala and sushumna. For more insights on the subjects in the chart, please refer to the Glossary.

Twenty One Chakras Chart
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The chakras are nerve plexuses or centers of force and consciousness located within the inner bodies of man. In the physical body there are corresponding nerve plexuses, ganglia and glands. The seven principal chakras can be seen psychically as colorful, multi-petalled wheels or lotuses situated along the spinal cord. The seven lower chakras, barely visible, exist below the spine.

Seven Chakras Above: The most subtle of the chakras lie above and within the crown chakra at the top of the head. Buddhist literature cites thirty-two chakras above. Agamic Hindu tradition delineates seven levels of the rarified dimensions of paranada, the first tattva and the highest stratum of sound. They are: vyapini, vyomanga, ananta, anatha, anashrita, samana and unmana. The higher chakras have been experienced by a rare few as a conglomerate of nadis, spiritual nerve currents, which when stimulated and developed by many samadhi experiences, slowly descend into the mental and astral bodies, effecting a permanent transformation of the entire being.

7. Sahasrara Illumination, Godliness. The spiritual mountaintop, pinnacle of light, energy and consciousness. Aham Brahmasmi, "I am That," is unveiled. Here liberated ones abide in communion with the Self. Meaning: "thousand-petaled." Location: top of the cranium. Deity: Shiva. Shakti: Nirvanashakti. Color: gold. Petals: 1,008. Plexus: pituitary. Plane: Satyaloka.

6. Ajna Divine sight. Sensitives and clairvoyants reside in the pastel petals of this refined realm, with access to many levels of superconsciousness and inner worlds of light. Meaning: "command." Location: between the brows. Deity: Ardhanarishvara. Shakti: Hakini. Color: lavender. Vehicle: swan. Petals: two. Plexus: cavernous. Plane: Tapoloka.

5. Vishuddha Divine love. Here, limitless love wells up, a vision of all souls as brothers and sisters and all things as sacred. Selfless souls, exceptional artists and mystical poets reside here. Meaning: "purity." Location: throat. Deity: Sadashiva. Shakti: Shakini. Color: smokey purple-blue. Vehicle: peacock. Petals: sixteen. Plexus: pharyngeal. Element: ether. Plane: Janaloka.

4. Anahata Direct cognition. Those who reach this realm, with their delicate, penetrating insight into many fields of activity and knowing, are mankind's guides, counselors, mentors and problem solvers. Meaning: "unsullied." Location: heart. Deity: Ishvara. Shakti: Kakini. Color: smokey green. Vehicle: deer. Petals: twelve. Plexus: cardiac. Element: air. Plane: Maharloka.

3. Manipura Willpower. This is the hub of willpower. Accomplished men and women perform at high levels mentally and physically when living in this center of energy, discipline and endurance. Meaning: "Jewelled city." Location: solar plexus. Deity: Maharudra Shiva. Shakti: Lakini. Color: yellow-amber. Vehicle: ram. Petals: ten. Plexus: epigastric or solar. Element: fire. Plane: Maharloka-Svarloka.

2. Svadhishthana -- Reason. Home of intellect. Educated people work through this center of logic and analysis. Great minds have mastered it. It is the pandit's dwelling place and the pragmatist's refuge. Meaning: "one's own place." Location: lower abdomen. Deity: Vishnu. Shakti: Shakini. Color: reddish orange. Vehicle: crocodile. Petals: six. Plexus: prostatic. Element: Water. Plane: Bhuvarloka.

1. Muladhara Memory-time-space. The abode of memory, the foundation of all human knowledge, this center is also the seat of our basic instincts of survival, sexuality and others. Meaning: "foundation." Location: base of spine. Deity: Ganesha and Brahma. Shakti: Dakini. Color: red. Vehicle: elephant. Petals: four. Plexus: sacral or pelvic. Element: Earth. Plane: Bhuloka.

Seven Chakras Below the Muladhara

1. Atala Fear and lust. As awareness slips below the muladhara into fear, indecision stymies ambition and a licentious lifestyle dulls the pranic sheath. Meaning: "without bottom." Plane: Put.

2. Vitala Raging anger. Dark red-black streaks emblazen the aura when awareness enters this furnace of instinctive fire and then injures others. Meaning: "region of the lost." Plane: Avichi.

3. Sutala Retaliatory jealousy. Wanting what others have and preoccupation with what one is not gnaws at the mind, instilling ill-will. Meaning: "great lower region." Plane: Samhata.

4. Talatala Prolonged confusion. Perversions replace natural joys. Negative karmas compound and stiffen the flow of awareness. Reason warps. Meaning: "under the bottom level." Plane: Tamisra.

5. Rasatala Selfishness. An imprisoning veil of "me" and "mine" blinds the natural instinct to care for others. Every action is for personal gain. Meaning: "lower region of moisture." Plane: Rijisha.

6. Mahatala Consciencelessness. Blindness to higher impulses prevails. Guilt, compunction, even fear, are foreign. Criminality is life. Meaning: "greatest lower region." Plane: Kudmala.

7. Patala Malice and murder. A virtual hell of hate, hurting, killing for its own sake without remorse. Reason rarely reaches this region. Meaning: "lower region of wickedness." Plane: Kakola.

Ida, Pingala and Sushumna

Illustrated here are the three main nadis: ida, pingala and sushumna, psychic nerve currents through which prana flows from the central source, Shiva. Ida and pingala intertwine the spinal column (shown diverging far outside the sushumna for sake of illustration). They begin at the muladhara chakra, cross at the manipura and the vishuddha chakras and meet at the sahasrara. Ida nadi, pink in color and feminine in nature, is the channel of physical-emotional energy. It flows downward, ending on the left side of the body. Pingala nadi, blue in color and masculine in nature, is the channel of intellectual-mental energy. It flows upward, ending on the right side of the body. Sushumna, the major nerve current, pale yellow in color, passes through the spinal column from the muladhara chakra at the base to the sahasrara at the crown of the head. It is the channel of kundalini. Through yoga, the kundalini energy lying dormant in the muladhara is awakened and made to rise up this channel through each chakra to the sahasrara chakra.

The 36 Tattvas: Categories of Existence Chart
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