In Sanskrit, Anahat means Unstruck and
Chakra means a Wheel or Vortex or Energy.
Anahata chakra is the place from where the unstuck sound emanates known as Anahat Nad. Anahata Nad refers to the Vedic concept of unstruck sound (the sound of the celestial realm). It is the inner sounds that a yogi hears during the practice of Nada Yoga. These sounds are heard by themselves, without any other aid. So, it is called the unstruck sound. At the physical level, it can indicate the sound of a heartbeat which is constantly heard till death.
The heart center is also considered the seat of the soul or Jeev-Atma.
It has the power to fulfill desires and if the chakra is well balanced and pure the desires are fulfilled quickly. It is a bridge between earthly and spiritual aspirations
Anahata Chakra- The Heart Chakra Description
Anahata Chakra Location:
The heart (Anahata) Chakra is the fourth Chakra. It is located at the center of the chest or between the breasts.
The chakras are more connected to the pranic body. This chakra is not part of the physical body but is related to the respiratory and circulatory systems.
Color: Green (higher energy frequencies can turn to pink)
Symbol: Two intersecting triangles forming a 6-pointed star in a circle with 12 petals. The symbol for the heart chakra is traditionally composed of:
- A circle with twelve petals
- A downward-pointing triangle interlaced with an upward-pointing triangle, forming a six-pointed star or hexagram
Anahata is represented by a lotus flower with twelve petals. On the petals are found the Sanskrit letters – Kam, Kham, Gam, Gham, Ngam, Cham, Chham, Jam, Jham, Nyam, Tam, and Tham written in the color of vermilion.
Inside there is a smoky region at the intersection of two triangles, creating a shatkona. The shatkona, representing the union of male and female Purusha (the Supreme Being) and Prakriti (Nature). The deity of this area is Vayu, who is smoke-like and four-armed, holding a kusha and seated on a black antelope (this chakra’s animal).
The beej Mantra of The Anahata Chakra is Yam.
In the Bindu (or dot) above the beej Mantra is the deity, Shiva. He has either one or five faces with three eyes on each face. He is bright white like the Sun and displays the gesture of giving boons and dispelling fear.
His shakti is Kakini, sitting on a red lotus. Kakini is yellow in color and like a new lightening, three-eyed, auspicious, and benefactress of all. She wears all kinds of ornaments.
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). Her heart is softened with the drinking of nectar.
Sense Organ connected with Anahata Chakra
It is related to the skin and the sense of touch.
Element: Air
Heart Chakra Stones: Pink quartz, clear quartz, green calcite
Essential oils: Rose, geranium, neroli, jasmine, bergamot
Anahata Chakra- The Heart Chakra
| Location | In the Center of the Chest between the Breasts |
| Petals | 12 |
| Color | Green |
| Element | Air or Vayu Tattva |
| Sense | Sense of Touch |
| Beej Mantra | Yam |
| Chakradhishthatri Devi | Kakini |
| Animal associated | Antelope |
Anahata Chakra (Heart chakra) Properties
The Heart chakra is associated with the following psychological and behavioral characteristics:
- Experiencing deep and meaningful relationships
- Experience unconditional love and connection with all
- Experiencing deep and meaningful relationships
- Appreciation of beauty in all things
- The intensity to which you can care for another person
- Compassion, empathy
- Forgiveness, acceptance
- Transformation
- Self-knowledge
- Self-reflective capacities
- Ability to grieve and reach peace
- Center of awareness, integration of insights
So, when your heart chakra is properly aligned and fully open. You feel loving and calm and you know where to draw boundaries in your emotional life. This includes identifying and separating from toxic relationships. Openness in the heart chakra also allows you to make sense of your own feelings.
On the other hand, a blocked heart chakra can develop in response to anything in life that is emotionally hurtful, or that drains your emotional resources.
When there’s a blockage in the heart chakra, you may experience difficulties in your relating with others, such as excessive jealousy, co-dependency, being closed down, and withdrawal.
How to know blocked or imbalanced Anahata Chakra (Heart chakra)
Imbalanced or Blocked Anahata Chakra (Heart chakra) has the following characteristics:
- Jealousy; fear of intimacy
- Difficulty trusting others
- Impatience and irritability
- Lack of empathy
- Co-dependency, relying on other’s approval and attention, trying to please at all cost
- Excessive isolation, antisocial
- Being overly defensive
- Holding grudges, not being to forgive
- Restlessness and disgruntled
At the physical level, it can manifest as:
- Respiratory ailments, such as lung infection, bronchitis
- Circulatory and heart-related issues
- Insomnia
- Increase in blood pressure
- A decrease in immune system function
Overactive Anahata Chakra:
When this chakra is overactive an individual feels overwhelmed with uncontrollable emotions including anger, sadness, jealousy, happiness, etc. Love becomes conditional and leads to possessiveness. People are not able to see when a relationship has reached a dead end, or they continue to live in an abusive relationship. They lose their personal boundaries and start to make unhealthy choices, all in the name of love.
Symptoms include a fast heart rate, palpitations, heartburn, and interpersonal relationship issues.
Underactive Anahata Chakra:
When this chakra is underactive or inactive an individual does not let love within, leading to self-loathing and pity, and feelings of unworthiness. People tend to become judgmental and blame everyone else for failures.
They feel hard to get really close to anyone. It’s like building a wall around your heart and not letting anyone in.
Physically, they may feel out of touch with their body and suffer from circulation problems.
How to Activate Anahata Chakra (Heart chakra)
- The best way to activate a chakra is to develop sattva tattva in yourself by doing
MANANA – To think about, reflect
SANKALPA – To have the right intentions, to make positive resolutions
VIKALPA – To remove doubts and discard false ideas
ATMA CHINTANA – To be conscious of the Divine Self (Atma)at all times.
2. Regular chanting the Beeja Mantra of the chakra. The Beeja Mantra of The Anahata Chakra (Heart chakra)is Yam. Chanting this seed mantra activates The Anahata Chakra. By chanting YAM, the vibrations will open and align this chakra. To get a quick and more beneficial chant Beeja Mantra at a specific time for a specific duration regularly.
3. Regular Practice of Deep breathing exercises, Observing inhales and exhales, Anulom -Vilom, Pranayama especially Bhramari Pranayama, can also activate Anahata Chakra.
4. The practice of Ajapa-Japa or spontaneous effortless chanting of a mantra is also useful. Apart from this, concentration and meditation on the chakra location and other visualization techniques can also be used.
5. While meditating, visualize the color green near the heart region. Meditating can also be done by wearing green clothes or in a green-colored room. Another option is to meditate on the surrounding green plants and trees. Walking barefoot or lying on green grass is good for the fourth chakra.
6. Regular practice of specific Yogasana like ,Dhanurasana,Surya namaskar, Bhujangasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana Gomukhasana, Matsyasana helps to activate the Anahata Chakra ( Heart Chakra)
7. Use Heart Chakra Stones and Jewelry For Healing. Wearing heart Chakra gemstones or placing green colored crystals balances this Chakra. These include jade, peridot, emerald, green calcite, rose quartz, etc.
8. Aromatherapy includes applying essential oils (preferably while meditating) like eucalyptus, Cedarwood, patchouli, etc at specific places of the Heart Chakra helps to activate the chakra.
9. Making the home Vaastu perfect and following the science of directions while sleeping, studying, working, etc. recharges the chakras.
10. Food items for the heart chakra include green apples, green vegetables, limes, cucumber, etc. Balance the Heart Chakra.
11. Heart Chakra Affirmations to Use
Repeat positive affirmations about personal power. Affirmations are wonderful for getting rid of old, limiting beliefs and building confidence
By repeating affirmations, you can reverse negative thought patterns and replace them with constructive ones. Place your hand on the area of your Heart Chakra when you say your chakra-aligning affirmation. You can change, remove, and add words as you wish.
Set the intention by repeating affirmations like:
- Every day, I fulfill my heart’s desire.
- I forgive others, and I forgive myself.
- My heart chakra is open, and I am well.
- I choose joy, compassion, and love.
- I love myself unconditionally, and offer the same love to others.
- My heart is free from all the wounds of the past.
- I am open to love, and receive more of it every day.
- I give love freely, and it brings me joy.
- I create supportive, loving relationships that are good for me.
Each plexus is associated with a certain quality of the mind and the evolution of the person. Anahata is the fourth chakra in the evolution of man and deals with unconditional love, healing, and free will.
Anahata is also called the wish-fulfilling tree. At this stage, your thoughts begin to gain strength and can materialize your desires in the outside world.