5th, Throat Chakra

New Age Concepts

• Symbol: A lotus with 16 petals
• Element: Space
• Sense: Hearing
• Location: The throat
• physical glands: Thyroid and Parathyroid
• Colour: light blue
• Bija Mantra: Ham, pronounced Hum from the back of the throat
• Musical note: G
• Healing frequency: 741 Hz

• Vishuddha holds trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven.
• It is all about sound – the sense of hearing, communication, speech, truth and it is associated with creativity and self-expression.
• The sense organs are the ear and the mouth
• This Chakra is about speaking your truth. It is not about whom you are; it is about how you communicate who you are to others.
• It is also about how you speak to yourself, positive self talk rather than negative will increase your confidence and help lift depression
• Another important aspect of Vishuddha is learning how to be a good listener.
• Speak truth not lies
• Learn to say no when you need to.
• The fifth chakra is associated with the exalted white elephant. In Hindu tradition, the white elephant, Airavata, carries Indra, the god of thunder and rain. The white elephant is symbolic of strength, prosperity and luck
• Also in the throat are the Thyroid and Parathyroid and salivary glands so they are governed by Vishuddha chakra. These glands secrete hormones those are essential for every organ, tissue, and cell in the body. Thyroid hormones regulate the body’s metabolism and organ function, affecting heart rate, cholesterol level, body weight, energy level, muscle strength, skin condition, menstrual regularity, memory, and many more.
• Plexus: Cervical

A blocked throat chakra
Fear, self judgement, shame, and shyness all serve to decrease the flow of energy in this energy center. Experiencing a creative block, harsh communication, verbal abuse, dishonesty, and manipulative tactics are all indicators of blocked energy or an imbalance in this chakra. Difficulty listening can be a further sign of imbalance.

Physical symptoms of a blocked throat chakra may be thyroid imbalances, hearing problems, tonsillitis, mouth ulcers, tinnitus, bronchitis, asthma and ear infections.

Open and flowing Throat chakra
When the fifth chakra is healthy and balanced, we can express ourselves with honesty and integrity guided by the wisdom of love from the heart below and intuitive knowing from the third eye above.

As the center for the energetic flow of our creative abilities the throat chakra is the gateway for singing, making music, writing, dancing, and all forms of creative expression. When it is open, all areas of creative expression are more fluid, easy, and harmonious. It gives us a greater sense of confidence in our ability to express how we feel.

Asana

• Neck exercises
• Upavistha marjaryasana – bitilasana (Seated cat cow with hands behind the head to stretch the neck) forward and back while rounding the spine
• Simha Pranayama (Lion’s breath)
• Uttana Shishosana (Puppy pose, chin on the floor)
• Down face warrior
• Camatkarasana (Wild Thing) 
• Purvottanasana (Reverse plank)
• Ustrasana (Camel pose)
• Balasana (Child pose)
• Back bends, particularly belly back bends, can activate udana vayu
•  Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose)
•  Matsyasana (Fish Pose)
•  Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand)
•  Halasana (Plow Pose)
•  Sirsasana (Headstand)

The throat chakra records everything that happens, thoughts and images. Concepts are held here as part of their journey from the level we know as the body; solid, the earthly reality to the higher realms of spirit.

This is a different version of the vrittis on the petals of Vishuddha that includes the 7 musical tones and various mantras. The Vrittis on this chakra govern speech and expression. The first nine Vrittis are the mantras: Pranava (mantra om), udgitha (the Sama-mantras), and mantras hung, phat, vashat, svadha, svaha, namah, and the nectar of immortality (amrita). The remaining vrittis are seven musical notes: nishada, rishabha, gandhara, shadja, madhyama, dhaivata and panchama.

This is not the tradional version, so I will include it here, in the New age version. I could add the corresponding western musical scale note, the frequency and anything else I can find out about the symbol, because this is the new age version where you can add any layers of meaning that you can find. The original meaning within vishuddha is the vowel sounds which are vital for us to form sounds that became language so that we can speak and understand each other. Also to make other languages that people in other countries can’t understand because they make the phonic and vowel sounds differently and form different words. But this profound meaning has been covered over and hidden by mistakes or misleading or misunderstood interpretations of the classical texts.

These are the layers of misconception that our true self is covered by. It is Maya. But this is not a bad thing, the musical notes give us endless hours of joy with the music they create. Our true nature is obscured to give us the opportunity to create.

• am – Compassion
• aam – Forgiveness
• im – Poison
• eem – Straightforwardness
• um – Self-control
• oom – Dynastical pride
• rim – Sacrifice
• reem – Pride
• Irim – Nectar
• Ireem – Calmness
• em – Happiness
• aim – Vociferation
• om – Vanity
• aum – Noble nature
• aam – Truthfulness
• ahm – Knowledge

The sounds of singing is the refined form of the sound of the vowels and tones we can make with our throat.

• Sa (सा) – shadaja (षडज) आ aam,
• 1st Acoustic root.
• It is believed to be the source from which all other notes originate and to which they ultimately return, symbolizing the principle of all things. The acoustic root of creation.
• In Western music notation, it corresponds with middle C.
• The sound of a peacock, the national bird of India. It is said that peacocks can swallow poison and that the feathers are a symbol of good luck and prosperity.

• रे (Re) – Rishabha (ऋषभ)
• 2nd acoustic root. The Second note in the Indian classical music system. ​
• The sound of a Bull symbolizing strength, leadership, and excellence. It can also mean or Excellent, the best or foremost.

• Ga (ग) – Gandharva (गांधार)
• 3rd Acoustic root; the third note in the Indian classical music scale.
• The sound of the goat. The pleading quality of the goat’s bleating, may symbolize devotion or feelings of longing for the divine.

• Ma (म) – Madhyama (मध्यम)
  4th Acoustic root: the fourth note in the Indian classical music scale.
• The sound of a deer, often described as gentle, soft, and somewhat melancholic or yearning, is traditionally associated with the Madhyama note.
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• Pa (प) – Panchama (पंचम)
• 5th Acoustic root; the fifth note in the Indian classical music scale.
• Sound of the cuckoo. The cuckoo’s call is renowned for its pure, sweet, and melodious quality, symbolizing renewal, joy, and beauty. It evokes pleasant and positive emotions, a beautiful metaphor for the harmonious perfection of the Panchama note as a perfect 5th above Sa (सा) in the Indian musical system.

• Dha (ध) – Dhaivata (धैवत)
  6th ​Acoustic root; the sixth note in the Indian classical music scale.
• Sound of the donkey. The symbolism of the donkey’s sound might relate to a sustained or drawn-out and forceful quality in certain melodic contexts, or its role in specific emotional expressions.

• Ni (नि) – Nishada (निषाद)
  ​7th Acoustic root; ​the seventh and final note in the Indian classical music scale.
• Sound of the elephant, (specifically the elephant’s call when it’s agitated or joyful). This symbolizes a strong, powerful, and sometimes majestic quality that the Nishada note can bring. Nishada often creates a sense of anticipation and resolution.
• ॠ reem, rr: Aum, Om ​ Acoustic root of creation; preservation and dissolution. Complete surrender to god​​. ​It rules the desire both in the cosmic mind and human mind to create, preserve, and dissolve something no longer useful.
• ​ऌ lrim, Ir: ​Hummm Kundalini wake-up sound​. ​The acoustic root of struggle; sometimes this sound is released during meditation.
• ॡ lreem, Irr: Phat Putting a theory into practice. ​Acoustic root of the removal of lethargy, like the sprouting of a seed, a sudden awakening from sleep.
• ए em, e: Vashat The thought and materialization of welfare in the subtler spheres. The acoustic root of the guru. Vausat signifies welfare and happiness in the psychic realm. This vritti encourages freedom from dogma and promotes the growth, education, and well-being of all. It embodies a desire for mental expansion and universal welfare.

• ऐ aim, ae: ​Vasat ​Expression of worldly knowledge. The emerging of worldly knowledge and worldly welfare.
• This vritti relates to performing noble actions in the physical world. It represents the expression of mundane knowledge used for the betterment of all. The desire for selfless service and the motivation to live for the welfare of others. It emphasizes the ideal that everyone should be happy.

• स्वाहा Swaha:
• Swaha reflects the notion of sacrifice for the universal welfare of both humans and animals. In spiritual practice, it is symbolized by offerings made during rituals, with the chant “Swaha” signifying a willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. It highlights the spiritual drive to choose what is right over what is easy or pleasant

• ओ om, o: Svadha
• ​Performing noble actions, good deeds.
• Moral resolve and psychic desire for universal welfare.

• अः aam, am: Visa
• ​​Expression of disgust
• Whenever you speak to someone, say a poem, sing a song, you should understand the underlying meaning of what you are expressing. Only then will you be able to touch the listeners heart and influence them.​​

• ​अं ahm, ah: Amrita
• ​Expression of sweetness
• When speaking, singing, reciting a poem or acting in a play, you should have full control over one’s expression, either pleasant or unpleasant.