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Cakra

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | Copyright

Cakra (Skt., ‘wheel’). A centre of psychic energy in the body conceived as a lotus, especially in Tantrism. Six main cakras connected by the suṣumnā nāḍī (in Buddhism called avadhūtī) came to be recognized in Hinduism, the mūlādhāra (‘root support’) at the base of the spine, the svādhiṣṭhāna (‘own place’) in the genital region, the maṇipūra (‘jewel city’) at the navel, the anāhata (‘unstruck’) at the heart, the viśuddha (‘pure’) at the throat, and the ājña (‘command’) between the eyebrows. Just above here are two minor cakras: the manas and soma. Above the top of the head is the thousand-petalled lotus (sahasrāra padma; or ūṣṇīṣa kamala for Buddhists), the abode of bliss which is not classified as an ordinary cakra. See also MAṆḌALA.

For its meaning in non-Tantric Buddhism, see DHAMMA-CAKRA
.

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JOHN BOWKER. "Cakra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Cakra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Cakra.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Cakra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Cakra.html

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cakra

A Dictionary of Buddhism | 2004 | | Copyright

cakra (Skt.; Pāli, cakka).
1. A wheel, often used symbolically in Buddhism to signify the various aspects of the Dharma. With eight spokes it connotes the Eightfold Path, and with twelve spokes the doctrine of Dependent Origination (pratītya-samutpāda) or three turnings of the wheel (three times the Four Noble Truths as mentioned in the first sermon).

2. In anuttara-yoga-tantric practice, the cakras are energy centres in the body, located along the subtle channels (nāḍī); different numbers of cakras are described according to the specific meditational systems, ranging from three to five or six. It should be noted that the names and descriptions of these energy centres do not correspond to those found in Hindu tantra, and there is no standard set of names and descriptions for the cakras in either Hinduism or Buddhism (standardized versions are all modern inventions).

3. A religious diagram, or maṇḍala.

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DAMIEN KEOWN. "cakra." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAMIEN KEOWN. "cakra." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-cakra.html

DAMIEN KEOWN. "cakra." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-cakra.html

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