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{{Short description|Heart chakra}}
{{for|the album|Anahata (album)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
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{{More citations needed|article|date=October 2008}}
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[[File:Chakra4.svg|thumb|Anahata chakra with peaked circle around a six-pointed star]]
{{Tantric chakras}}
'''Anāhata'''<ref>'''Sir John Woodroffe (Arthur Avalon)''', ''The Serpent Power''</ref> (Sanskrit: अनाहत, IAST: ''Anāhata'', meaning “unstruck”<ref>'''Monier-Williams Sanskrit Dictionary''' — definition of ''anāhata''</ref>) is the fourth [[primary chakra]]<ref>'''Georg Feuerstein''', ''The Yoga Tradition'' — history and classification of chakras</ref> described in Hindu<ref>Flood, Gavin. <nowiki>''An Introduction to Hinduism''</nowiki>. Cambridge University Press, 1996.</ref> yogic<ref>Feuerstein, Georg. <nowiki>''</nowiki>The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice<nowiki>''</nowiki>. Hohm Press, 2001.</ref>, Shakta, and Buddhist tantric<ref>White, David Gordon. <nowiki>''</nowiki>The Alchemical Body: Siddha Traditions in Medieval India<nowiki>''</nowiki>. University of Chicago Press, 1996.</ref> traditions<ref>'''Encyclopaedia Britannica''', entries on ''chakra'' and ''tantra''</ref>. It is traditionally associated with the [[heart]]<ref>Judith, Anodea. <nowiki>''</nowiki>Wheels of Life: A User’s Guide to the Chakra System<nowiki>''</nowiki>. Llewellyn Publications, 1987.</ref> region and is linked to concepts of balance, emotional regulation<ref>'''Harish Johari''', ''Chakras: Energy Centers of Transformation'' — heart chakra attributes</ref>, compassion, and relational awareness in classical yoga and tantra literature.

== Etymology ==
In Sanskrit, ''Anāhata'' means "sound produced without touching two parts" and at the same time it means "pure" or "clean, stainless". The name of this chakra signifies the state of freshness that appears when we are able to become detached and to look at the different and apparently contradictory experiences of life with a state of openness (expansion). Normally, we are not used to the effect produced by the confrontation of the two opposite forces<ref>'''Georg Feuerstein''', ''Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy''</ref>. At the level of the Anahata chakra appears the possibility to integrate the two opposite forces and obtain the effect (sound, in this case), without the two forces being confronted (without touching the two parts). This energy is specific to cooperation and integration, which brings peace and a new perspective in a world which, up to this level (considering only the energies specific to the first three centres of force: Muladhara, Swadhisthana and Manipura) was made only of a more or less conscious confrontation between opposite forces. The name Anahata suggests, in fact, the synergetic effect of the interaction of energies at this level.

== Role of Love ==
In yogic traditions, the Anāhata, or heart chakra, is associated with compassion<ref>'''Anodea Judith''', ''Wheels of Life''</ref>, emotional openness<ref>'''Anodea Judith''', ''Eastern Body, Western Mind''</ref>, and the capacity for unconditional love.<ref>Judith, Anodea. Wheels of Life: A User’s Guide to the Chakra System. Llewellyn Publications, 1987.</ref> This chakra is described as the energetic center that integrates emotional experience and relational connection. Writers such as [[Anodea Judith]] note that practices cultivating empathy, forgiveness, and loving awareness are believed to help regulate or balance this chakra.<ref>Judith, Anodea. Eastern Body, Western Mind. Celestial Arts, 1996.</ref>

== Description ==
=== Location ===
The heart chakra is located in the central channel of the spine near the [[heart]].<ref>Swami Satyananda Saraswati. ''Kundalini Tantra''</ref>

=== Appearance ===
Anāhata is represented by a lotus flower with twelve petals. Inside there is a smoky region at the intersection of two triangles, creating a [[shatkona]]. The shatkona is a symbol used in Hindu [[Yantra]], representing the union of male and female. Specifically, it is meant to represent [[Purusha]] (the Supreme Being) and [[Prakriti]] (Nature). The deity of this area is [[Vayu|Vāyu]], who is smoke-like and four-armed, holding a kusha and riding an antelope (this chakra's animal). A "fourth chakra person" has innocent eyes, like those of a deer. The [[Todi (raga)|Todi raga]] was used by traditional hunters to trap a deer who would "die for pure sound."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Johari |first=Harish |title=Chakras Energy Centers of Transformation |publisher=Destiny Books |date=1 September 2000 |isbn=978-1-59477-909-1 |edition=Revised and Expanded Edition of the Bestselling Classic |location=Rochester, Vt. |publication-date=1 September 2000 |pages=116 |language=En |trans-title=language}}</ref> The hexagram, associated with this chakra, represents the air, which moves upwards, downwards, and in all four directions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Johari |first=Harish |title=Chakras Energy Centers of Transformation. |publisher=Destiny Books. |date=1 September 2000 |isbn=978-1-59477-909-1 |edition=Revised and Expanded Edition of the Bestselling Classic |location=Rochester, Vt. |pages=113 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Seed mantra ===
The [[Bīja|seed syllable]] is the dark-grey [[mantra]] "yam". In the [[Anusvara|bindu]] (or dot) above the syllable is the deity [[Ishvara|Isha]]. Isha is bright white or blue in color. He has either one or five faces, with three eyes on each face. He may have two, four or ten arms. He is clad in a tiger skin, holds a [[trident]] and drum, grants blessings, and dispels fear. His [[shakti]] is [[Kakini]], who is shining yellow or rose-coloured. She has a number of variations: one, three or six faces; two or four arms; and holds a variety of implements (occasionally a sword, shield, skull or trident). She is seated on a red lotus.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Tantra-Kundalini.com - Anahata chakra|url = http://www.tantra-kundalini.com/anahata.htm|website = Tantra Kundalini|access-date = 14 November 2015}}</ref> Another deity ascribed to the seed syllable “yam” is [[Vayu]], the god of wind and prana. [[Bhuvaneshwari|Hrim]] is also another bija associated with the anahata center as it is the bija of the heart.<ref>{{Cite web|title = vedanet.com - Mantra Yoga and Shakti Bija Mantras |url = https://www.vedanet.com/mantra-yoga-primal-sound|website = American Institute of Vedic Studies| date=11 April 2022 |access-date = 27 March 2024}}</ref>

=== Petals ===
The twelve petals are inscribed with the following Sanskrit syllables. (Note: In some representations the syllables or else the petals themselves are colored vermillion.<ref>{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=r_o5CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT35|page = 35|title = Pranayam, Kundalini and Hatha Yoga|author = Acharya Bhagwan Dev|publisher = Diamond Pocket Books|isbn = 9789350830673|year = 2004}}</ref>)
# ''kam''
# ''kham''
# ''gam''
# ''gham''
# ''ngam''
# ''cham''
# ''chham''
# ''jam''
# ''jham''
# ''nyam''
# ''tam''
#''tham''

The syllables may be thought as matching twelve [[vritti]]s or divine qualities of the heart as follows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yogaindailylife.org/system/en/chakras/anahata-chakra|title = Anahata Chakra}}</ref>
# bliss
# peace
# harmony
# love
# understanding
# empathy
# clarity
# purity
# unity
# compassion
# kindness
# forgiveness

Even more commonly, systems of understanding identify these vrittis as corresponding with various reflexive modifications away from the indifferentiated divine mind, each one considered as arising from spiritual ignorance, as below.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://openanahata.com/en/2018/01/13/the-twelve-petals-of-the-anahata-lotus-flower/ |title=The twelve petals of the Anahata lotus flower – Anahata Yoga |website=openanahata.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711005909/http://openanahata.com/en/2018/01/13/the-twelve-petals-of-the-anahata-lotus-flower/ |archive-date=11 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=s6lLDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT21|title = The 7 Chakras Balancing, Colors and Meaning|author = M.A. Hill|year = 2014|isbn = 9781500887919|page = 21| publisher=M.A. Hill }}</ref>
# ''asha'': wish, desire, hope
# ''cinta'': thoughtfulness, anxiety
# ''cesta'': effort
# ''mamta'': possessiveness, fondness
# ''dhamba'': arrogance, vanity
# ''viveka'': discrimination
# ''vikalata'': languor
# ''ahamkara'': conceit, egoism, pride
# ''lolata'': covetousness, avarice
# ''kapatata'': duplicity, hypocrisy
# ''vitarka'': indecision, argumentativeness
# ''anutapa'': regret, burning misery

William Enckhausen defines half of these vrittis as spiritual ignorances and half spiritual developments. "Half the 12 vrttis of the Anāhata are 'positive', growth promoting vrttis and the other half are 'negative' or at most neutral, self-justifying defense tendencies that perpetuate the ego's limited boundaries instead of expanding and refining them. There is still a limited and bounded sense of self, but with the potential to discriminate between vice and virtue. There is also still the boundary of self and not self to be overcome, although not as marked as in the ''[[Manipura|Maṇipūra]]'' and [[Svadhistana|''Svādhiṣṭhāna'']]. Harmony, balance, and proportion are key elements in this fulcrum that is the Anāhata to help determine what is growth-promoting and virtuous (self, or good for the self) and what is vice, or inappropriate for spiritual self-growth (not self)."<ref>{{cite book|author = William Enckhausen|chapter = Anahata|title = A Name To The Nameless: A Tantric Journey Through The 50 Mental Vortexes|year = 2014|chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=0HshBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA62}}</ref> Enckhausen's translations follow.
# hope
# worry
# endeavor
# affection
# vanity
# discernment
# depression
# self-identity
# selfishness
# duplicity
# contention
# compunction

== Function ==
Anahata is considered to be the seat of the [[Jivatman]] and [[Parashakti]]. In the [[Upanishads]], this is described as a tiny flame inside the heart. Anahata is named as such because sages were believed to hear the sound (Anahata – comes without the striking of two objects together).<ref>Woodroffe, J. ''The Serpent Power'' – Dover Publications, New York, 1974 p. 120</ref> It is associated with air, touch and the actions of the hands.

Anahata is associated with the ability to make decisions outside the realm of karma. In [[Manipura]] and below, man is bound by the laws of karma and fate. In Anahata one makes decisions ("follows one's heart") based on one's higher self, not the unfulfilled emotions and desires of lower nature. As such, it is known as the heart chakra.<ref>{{cite web|title=Heart Chakra|url=http://asismassage.com/massage-education/heart-chakra/|publisher=ASIS Massage|access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref> It is also associated with love and compassion, charity to others and psychic healing. Meditation on this chakra is said to bring about the following [[siddhi]]s (abilities): they become a master of speech, they are dear to the gender they are attracted to, their presence controls the senses of others, and they can leave and enter the body at will.

== {{anchor|Hrit/Hridaya/Surya Chakra}}Hrit (Hridaya, Surya) chakra ==
[[File:hrit.jpg|thumb|alt=Tree inside two circles inside a lotus flower|The Hrit chakra (just below Anahata) is the seat of the wish-fulfilling tree.]]
Immediately below Anāhata (at the solar plexus or, sometimes, on the near left side of the body) is a minor chakra known as Hrit (or Hridaya, "heart"), with eight petals. It has three regions: a vermilion sun region, within which is a white moon region, within which is a deep-red fire region. Within this is the red wish-fulfilling tree, [[kalpavriksha]], which symbolises the ability to manifest what one wishes to happen in the world.

Hrit chakra is sometimes known as the Surya (sun) chakra,<ref>R. Venugopalam. ''The Hidden Mysteries of Kundalini''</ref> which is located slightly to the left below the heart. Its role is to absorb energy from the sun and provide heat to the body and the other chakras (to [[Manipura]] in particular, to which it provides ''[[Agni (Ayurveda)|Agni]]'' (fire).

== Practices ==
In Yogic practices, anahata is awakened and balanced by [[asana]]s, [[pranayama]]s and the practice of [[ajapa japa]] ([[japa]], without the mental effort normally needed to repeat the mantra) and purified by ''bhakti'' (devotion).

There are also concentration practices for awakening the Anāhata chakra.{{sfnp|Maheśvarānanda|2004|p={{page needed|date=December 2022}}}}

== Comparisons with other systems ==
{{original research|section|date=December 2022}}

=== Tibetan Buddhism ===
The heart wheel in [[Tibetan Buddhism]] is the location of the indestructible red-and-white drop. At death, the winds of the body dissolve and enter this drop, which then leads the body into [[Bardo]] (the intermediate stage) and rebirth. The heart wheel in this model is circular, white and has eight petals (or channels) reaching downwards. These channels divide into three wheels (mind, speech and body) and go to 24 places in the body. They again divide into three and then into 1,000, producing 72,000 channels (known as [[Nadi (yoga)|Nadi]]) throughout the body.<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url = http://www.shalagram.ru/knowledge/mysticcosmos/mystic_cosmos_appendix_i.htm#fig46|chapter = Figure 46. Channels going from the heart wheel (Tibetan tantra).|title = The Mystic Cosmos: Appendix I (The Nature and Features of Vital Energy, The Main Structures of Subtle Body|author = Evgueny Faydysh|year = 1999|publisher = International Noosphere Institute}}</ref>

The heart wheel is important in meditation; in the [[lower tantras]], the [[mantra]] is recited from the heart. It is recited verbally and then mentally; then, in the heart, a tiny moon disc and flame are imagined from which the mantra rings. In the higher tantras (the [[Anuttarayoga Tantra]] of the [[Sarma (Tibetan Buddhism)|Sarma]] schools) or the [[Inner Tantras]] of the [[Nyingma]] school, the practitioner attempts to dissolve the winds and drops into the central channel at the level of the heart to experience the [[Yoga of Clear Light]]; this is a practice of the [[Six Yogas of Naropa]]. In Tibetan Buddhism there is a chakra, the Fire Wheel, above the heart and below the throat.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

=== Sufism ===
Sufis have a system of [[Lataif-e-sitta]] at a number of points on the body; at the heart, there are three positioned horizontally. On the left side of the chest is the [[Qalb]] (the heart); the Ruḥ is on the right side of the chest, and the [[Lataif-e-sitta|Sirr]] ([[Secret (Sufism)|innermost heart]]) is between them.<ref>Abu Bakr Siraj ad Din Cook. ''The Subtle Centres of the Heart''</ref>

The Qalb is called the ''heart of the mystic''; it is caught between the downward pull of the lower [[nafs]], and the upward pull of the spirit of Allah and may be blackened by sin. It may be purified by reciting the names of God. The Ruḥ is the centre of the spirit, the breath of Allah; when awakened, it counteracts the negative pull of the nafs. The Sirr is the innermost heart, where Allah manifests his mystery to himself.<ref>{{Cite web|title = [4] Anahata Chakra|url = http://www.gemsofyogadubai.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=110&showall=1|website = www.gemsofyogadubai.com|access-date = 13 October 2015}}</ref>

== See also ==
* {{annotated link|Anahita}}
* {{annotated link|Ahamkara}}
* {{annotated link|Dhyana in Hinduism|''Dhyana'' in Hinduism}}
* [[Hexagram#Indian religions|Hexagram in Indian religions]] – Cosmological diagrams in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism
* {{annotated link|Maitrī}}
* {{annotated link|Samādhāna}}
* {{annotated link|Uparati}}
* [[Shatkona]] - Symbol used in Hindu Yantra

== References ==
{{reflist}}

===Works cited===
* {{cite book |last=Maheśvarānanda |first=Swami|year=2004 |title=The Hidden Powers in Humans: Chakras and Kundalinī |place=Austria |publisher=Ibera-Verlag - Europ. University Press |isbn=978-3850521970 |url=https://www.chakras.net/ |access-date=14 December 2022 |via=Chakras.net}}
* Johari, Harish (1 September 2000). Chakras Energy Centers of Transformation. [language] Revised and Expanded Edition of the Bestselling Classic ed. Rochester, Vt.: Destiny Books. p. 116. ISBN 978-1-59477-909-1.

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=D'Angelo |first=James|year=2012 |title=Seed Sounds for Tuning the Chakras: Vowels, Consonants, and Syllables for Spiritual Transformation |publisher=Inner Traditions/Bear |isbn=978-1594774607}}
* {{cite book |title=System of Chakras according to Gorakshanatha |first=Gopinath |last=Kaviraj |series=Princess of Wales Sarasvati Bhavan Series |volume=II |year=1923 |via=Shivashakti.com |url=https://shivashakti.com/gorchak |access-date=14 December 2022}}
* {{cite book |last=Goswami |first=Shyam Sundar|year=1999 |title=Layayoga: The Definitive Guide to the Chakras and Kundalini |publisher=Inner Traditions/Bear |isbn=978-0892817665}}
* {{cite web |first=Anodea |last=Judith |date=30 May 2002 |title=Anahata - The Heart Chakra |website=Llewellynencyclopedia.com |url=https://www.llewellyn.com/encyclopedia/article/255 |access-date=14 December 2022}}
* {{cite book |last=Varenne |first=Jean |title=Yoga and the Hindu Tradition |year=1989 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |location=Delhi, India |isbn=8120805437 |edition=1st Indian}}
* {{cite book |first=Swami |last=Vishnudevananda|year=1988 |title=The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga. |publisher=Harmony/Rodale |isbn=978-0517884317}}

== External links ==
* [http://malankazlev.com/kheper/topics/chakras/Anahata.htm Description of Anahata Chakra from Kheper.net]

{{Indian Philosophy}}

[[Category:Chakras]]
[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]

Anahata - Revision history

SimonK54990761 at 21:14, 6 March 2026