Channels and Chakras

Channels

Nature
The three Channels (Nadi) are right, left and the central Channels.

Left Channel is masculine; it is called Lalana, IDA, (Tibetan: Kyangma), White and
is water element. Moon element controls it. Left Channel is also called Moon in
Guhyasamaja text.

The right channel is feminine and is called Rasana, (Tib: Rooma), Red and is linked
to fire. Sun element controls it. Right Channel is also called Sun in some text.

The Central channel ( ) is the main channel. It is filled with void and is
also called Ava-Dhuti, Sushumna, (Tib:Uma; meaning central) and is neutral. Upper
Central Channel, navel and up, is controlled by Rahu (An imaginary planet or solar
eclipse) element and lower Central Channel, navel and below, is controlled by
element Kalagni.

All three channels align with an imaginary line that passes behind the Xiphisternum
and very close to spinal column. All the three channels are very close to each other.
Location of all the Chakras, mentioned below, such as Heart, Navel, forehead etc.
are at level with these vital organs or energy spots but they are located on the
Central Channel. For instance Forehead Chakra is not located on the forehead,
instead it is on the central Channel which is behind the forehead.

Structure
All the three channels are visualized as drinking straw; hollow, straight, clear,
flexible and transparent. Central Channel is smaller in diameter than the two
channels on the sides. Size of the central Channel is half pea size or thickness of a
whip-cord and size of the two channels on the sides are same as an arrow shaft.

There are two different layouts found in the texts -Kalachakra, ChakraSamvara,
Guhyasamaja, Naropa. All the channels start and end at different physical locations.

Kalachakra layout: page 264 Kagyur, Derge Parma, Volume 102

All the three channels change their courses below the navel Chakra. Therefore, we
have six channels, direction wise, with six names and more.

( Three travers
are; moons path is called Ida; Suns path is called Pingala/red and yellow; Rahus
path is Sushumana); Kagyur Kalachakra, Derge Parma, Volume 102; page 266;line
6.

Central Channel: Ava- Dhuti: Rahu ()
Central Channel starts at the Crown (top of the head) and ends at the tip of the
Jewel. It is called Avadhuti. Outside color is blue but inside is reddish, like a flame
of a butter lamp. Central Channel that runs from the Crown to Navel Chakra is
controlled by Rahu {}, solar ellipse effect, energy. The Central channel
curves to the right below the Navel and ends at the tip of the Jewel. The length
below the navel Chakra is controlled by Planet Kalagni(); it is called by various
names such as Sankhini and Sankhapala ( ).

Left Channel: Lalana: Moon: Ida() : (tib:Kyangma)
The left channel, Lalana, starts at the left nostril. It is white or moon color. It coils
loosely around the central channel at all the Chakras or knots in clockwise
according to Kalachakra text. It changes over to the right, below the navel, and
ends in orifices of urination. It is now called Mesa ().

Right Channel: Rasana: Sun: (tib:Rooma)
The Right Channel, Rasana, also begins at the right nostril. It is Sun or red in color.
It coils the central channel counter clockwise at every Chakras or Knots and is bit
loose according to Kalachakra layout. It veers over to the left, below the navel, and
ends at the anus. It is now called Pingala().

Loop or Knot
Both right and left channels loops or coils around the central channel once at every
Chakra(also called knot in Tibetan). This is in agreement with both Kalachakra and
Guhyasamaja text. However at heart Chakra, according to Kalachakra text, there is
two loops and according to Guhyasamaja there are three loops. Therefore at each
Chakra there is two knots or loops and at heart six knots are formed if
Guhyasamaja is followed. H.H. the Dalai Lama also follows six knots layout at the
heart Chakra.

Loops or knots are tight, according to Kalachakra but bit loose in some other text at
all the Chakras. Central Channel is always blocked at ground level or before Yoga
begins. Purpose of Tumo or Vase Breathing Yoga is to open up Avadhuti .

Chakras
There are five major Chakras and three minors, according to Guhyasamaja. Five
major are at Crown, Throat, Heart, Navel and tip of the Jewel. Three minor are at
midpoint between the eyebrows (Forehead), solar plexus (karma: in Guhyasamaja
text, this Chakra is located midway between throat and heart. however, in other
books including Advice On Dying, by Dalai Lama, it is at solar plexus ) and at the
center of the Jewel(not tip!).

According to Kalachakra, Derge Parma, Vol 102, page 268, line 5, there are only 6
Chakras; they are, Crown, Forehead, throat, heart, Navel and the Jewel. I quote,
.

Tumo (Warmth Yoga)
For the purpose of Tumo Yoga, only four Major Chakras are visualized- Crown,
Throat, Heart and Navel.

Chakras location: ref: Kalachakra; Kagyur Derge Parma,page 268 or 139-advice on
Dying..by Dalai Lama

All the Chakras have Mantra Syllables which sits in the center of each Chakra. Each
syllable sits on a white moon disc or cushion. Size of the disc is half-cut small pea.
Each Syllable is a size of a mustard seed. All the Syllables are adorned with half-
moon, a drop (Bindu), and a Nada(Zigzag line) on their head in that order. All the
Chakras are on the Central Channel itself, not on the forehead or the heart and so
on.

First Chakra: Crown: 32/16 petals or branches
Crown Chakra is located just below the crown aperture or top of the head. It is also
called Chakra of Bliss. It is a father essence and (at time of death) a white-drop
emanates from it. It has 32 petals, multi-color and forms a triangular shape. A
white syllable HAM() sits inverted position on a white Moon disc adorned with a
Crescent, a Bindu and a Nada at the center of the Chakra itself.

Second Chakra: Forehead: 6 (Guhyasamaja)/16(some other text) petals
Second is the forehead Chakra which is just at the level of forehead within the
Central Channel. It has16 petals and is circular in shape. Note that forehead Chakra
is not on the forehead.

Third Chakra: Throat
Third is the throat Chakra which is, at level, behind the Adams Apple within the
Central Channel. It is also called Enjoyment Chakra. It has 16 red petals and forms
a circular shape. Red syllable OM( ) sits on a white Moon disc, upright position, with
Crescent, Bindu and Nada.

Fourth Chakra: Heart
Fourth is the heart Chakra which is at heart position (imaginary central line) on
central Channel. It is also called Chakra of Phenomena. It has 8 black petals and
forms a circular or bow shape. A white syllable HUM( ) sits on white moon disc in
an inverted position with a crescent, a Bindu and a Nada at the center of the
chakra; almost ready to melt- moist or ice.

Fifth Chakra: Navel
Fifth is the Navel Chakra which is, at level, behind the navel on the central Channel.
It is also called Chakra of sustain bliss. It has 64 petals, red color and Triangular in
shape. A red syllable AH (size of sesame seed) sits upright on a white moon / sun
disc adorned with a Crescent, a Bindu and a Nada.

Sixth Chakra
Sixth has two branches: Anus Chakra has 32 petals and Chakra at the center of
jewel / (tip of the sex organ) has 8 (Guhyasamaja)/16(some other text) petals.

Note: in GuhyaSamaJa and ChakraSamvara number of petals in the forehead and
throat Chakra are reversed ie Throat has 16 instead of 32 petals.

Naropa Channels
For the purpose of Tumo(heat, warmth) Yoga. Channels layout is different.
Tsongkhapa also mentions a slight different location for the Navel Chakra.

Ava-Dhuti, Central Channel, begins at the crown or top of the head (GuhyaSamaJa
Tantra) and ends at the Navel. Rosana(Red, Right) and Lalana(white, left) channels
begins at the nostril but they ends at the Navel level. Side two channels are two
fingers width longer than the central channel and they arch upward, inward and
their ends are plugged into the central channel at the Navel.

According to Lama TsongKhapa, above Navel Chakra is four-finger width below the
Navel level.

For the Tumo purpose, only 4 Chakras are vital; Crown, Throat, Heart and Navel.
Visualization of the Syllables are stressed very much by Lama TsongKhapa.
Determining the location of syllable AH below the Navel area is critical to draw
winds into the central channel.

Wind within Avadhuti: Enter, Abide and absorb(]
First part of Tumo Yoga is to bring the wind into the central channel, AvaDhuti.
Wind must, first, enter into the Avadhuti. Yoga called Vase breathing is practiced
for this purpose.

If winds flow successfully in Avadhuti, both the nostrils will have balanced flow of
air for a long time. When this happens, practice more as window of balanced flow
from both the nostril is limited! Goal is to make wind abide in Avadhuti for a long
time (108 counts: touch both knees and forehead with your fingers and count each
cycle as one) and finally wind should dissolve or absorbed into Avadhuti. This is not
for a faint heart! Wind can go haywire and make you sick too. A guide is essential.

Second part of the Tumo is to ignite the Tumo itself. Syllable AH, red in color, in the
shape of an inverted exclamation mark ! sits on a cushion of a white moon disc
that lay flat on a 64 petals is visualized at the Navel Chakra. Syllable AH is adorned
on its head with a crescent moon, a Bindu and a Nada in that order. Visualize that
when the wind moves upward inside the Avadhuti, syllable AH catches flame and it
elongates within the central channel and melts the inverted white HUM( ) at the
Heart Chakra and flame conflagrates. If successful, Tumo will generate enough
warmth or heat to dry up few cotton sheets in minus weather.