Where Are the Chakras Located?

Key takeaways

  • Chakra means wheel.

  • Chakras are centers in the subtle body, not physical organs.

  • The seven-chakra model became popular in the early 20th century.

Where are the seven chakras?

  • 1. Root (Muladhara): base of the spine

  • 2. Sacral (Svadhisthana): lower abdomen, near the sacrum

  • 3. Solar plexus (Manipura): navel area

  • 4. Heart (Anahata): center of the chest

  • 5. Throat (Vishuddha): throat

  • 6. Third eye (Ajna): between the eyebrows

  • 7. Crown (Sahasrara): top of the head

How many chakras are there?

It varies by source. Early medieval texts mention four or five, and Hindu sources give various numbers. Currently, according to Human Design, we have now evolved into 9 centered beings.

Where did the seven-chakra model come from?

It became popular through John Woodroffe's 1919 book The Serpent Power, a translation of Purnananda's 1577 text, and Charles Leadbeater's 1927 book The Chakras, which introduced the rainbow colors.

Are chakras part of Patanjali's yoga?

No. The Yoga Sutras do not rely on chakras. They appear in tantric and hatha traditions in connection with kundalini.

Related: Hatha yoga texts | The eight limbs | Back to the history of yoga

Sources

James Mallinson and Mark Singleton, Roots of Yoga (2017). James Mallinson, The Shiva Samhita: A Critical Edition (2007). Mark Singleton, Yoga Body (2010). Wendy Doniger and Sudhir Kakar, Kamasutra. John Woodroffe, The Serpent Power (1919). T.K.V. Desikachar, The Heart of Yoga (1995).