Survival, Ancestral Memory, and Physical Mastery
In Tantra Kundalini the ruling deities of Muladhara are, Indra, the king of the gods, Brahma, the lord of creation, and the female energy is Dakini.
Indra – The Presiding god
Indra is associated with strength and control over the physical realm, relating to the grounding nature of Muladhara. He is the colour of the golden glow of the earth’s core, to match the golden square that represents the Earth element. He has four-arms, carrying a Thunderbolt (Vajra), a divine bow (Vijaya), Spear & Hook and the Net of Illusions. He rides mounted on the white elephant Airawata. He is the Hindu god of lightning, thunder, rains and river flows, and king of the gods and heaven (similar to Zeus or Thor). Indra represents the aspect of our mind that indulges in the five senses and also obtains mastery over the five senses. He is at the root, the king of the physical experience.
Airavata – The Vehicle
Airavata is one of the most magnificent and symbolic figures in Eastern mythology. He is the king of all elephants and serves as the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Indra, the King of the Gods and the deity of rain and thunder.
When Airavata emerged from the Ocean of Milk, he was so magnificent that Indra immediately chose him as his mount The milk white elephant of the clouds has 7 trunks. He sucks up water and sprays it into the sky. Indra strikes the clouds with his thunderbolt, so it rains on Earth. He represents the immense, grounding strength of the Earth element and the weight of our ancestral memory.
Arawata’s seven trunks represent the seven fundamental tissues that build the physical body. Because the Muladhara is the “Root,” it is seen as the foundation for these layers of physical existence. In Ayurvedic and Tantric medicine, they represent the physical “solidity” of the Earth element within us. By meditating on Airavata, you are symbolically “strengthening the bones” and the entire physical structure of your being.
- Rasa (Plasma/Chyle): The fluid part of the blood and nutrients.
- Rakta (Blood): The vital force that circulates oxygen.
- Mamsa (Muscle): The flesh that provides strength and movement.
- Meda (Fat/Adipose): The insulation and lubrication of the body.
- Asthi (Bone): The hardest mineral layer; the literal “scaffolding” of the body.
- Majja (Marrow/Nerve): The filling of the bones and the nervous system.
- Shukra (Reproductive tissue): The essence of life and vitality.
The 7 Levels of the Physical World (Sapta Loka)
In a more cosmic sense, Airavata’s seven trunks represent the hierarchy of the universe, the ladders that lead from the ground up to the divine:
- Bhuh: The physical earth plane.
- Bhavah: The astral or atmospheric plane.
- Swah: The celestial plane (Indra’s heaven).
- Mahah: The plane of spiritual balance.
- Janah: The plane of creative generation.
- Tapah: The plane of austerity and deep meditation.
- Satyam: The plane of absolute Truth (Moksha).
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation. Brahma is young, deep red, with four-faces, three-eyes in each, and four-arms, holding a staff, a sacred water-pot, and a rosary of rudraksha (sacred seeds coming from the words Rudra and aksha [eyes]). The fourth hand makes the gesture of dispelling fear. He is seated on a swan. His four heads represent physical self, rational self, emotional self and intuitive self.
Dakini – Shakti
Dakini is the feminine principle or activating power and energy. The Dakini shines like a glowing red sun, with a beautiful face and three eyes, one eye is the eye of wisdom. Her four arms hold a trident, a skulled staff, a swan and a drinking vessel, and she is seated on a red lotus. Her drinking vessel contains nectar (Sura), representing the intoxication of being alive in a body.
Yama – The Guardian
Yama is the Deity of the underworld, and the judge of good and evil deeds. He carries the staff of punishment, a noose to capture souls. and a mace for the destruction of mental, physical, or spiritual obstacles grounding of vital energy back into the primordial earth element upon death. His function in Muladhara is guardian of the shushumna nadi. Practicing meditation on Yama allows one to overcome the fear of death and the Kundalini energy to rise upward. Yama is the guardian of the South; the exit point being Muladhara. Yama is the ultimate root that pulls the spirit back to the earth at the end of its time.
The Ashta-Dikpalas: Guardians of the Eight Directions
In traditional Vedic cosmology, the Muladhara is not just a point, but the center of your Spiritual Compass. The square inside the Muladhara symbol represents the Earth element, and its four corners and four sides are protected by the Ashta-Dikpalas—the Eight Guardians who rule the directions of space. These are the divine beings represented by the Eight Spears of Light we encountered on the previous page—the guardians who secure our spiritual foundation from every direction.
The Role of the Guardians
In the Muladhara, these deities provide a solid “square” foundation to stabilize our physical survival and earthly existence. They ensure that we are protected and grounded from every angle before our energy begins to ascend. They turn our root foundation into a sacred sanctuary, ensuring that we are protected and supported from every direction of the compass as we begin our ascent.
As you look at the table below, notice which ‘direction’ in your life feels the most stable, and which might need a little more protection or focus today.
| Direction | Guardian (Deity) | Symbolic Role | Meaning in Practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| East | Indra | King of Gods | Strength: Mastery over the senses and the power of the “Rising Sun” within. |
| Southeast | Agni | God of Fire | Transformation: Managing the digestive fire and internal heat for growth. |
| South | Yama | Lord of Dharma | Discipline: Upholding moral laws and the restraint required for a stable foundation. |
| Southwest | Nirriti | Guardian of Secrets | Release: Removing chaos and acknowledging the hidden parts of the psyche. |
| West | Varuna | Lord of Water | Flow: Emotional depth and the mastery of the vital fluids within the body. |
| Northwest | Vayu | God of Wind | Vitality: The movement of Prana and the breath that fuels life. |
| North | Kubera | Lord of Wealth | Security: The guardian of material abundance and physical prosperity. |
| Northeast | Ishana | Form of Shiva | Grace: Pure knowledge and spiritual enlightenment. |
The Spiritual Compass: From Grounding to Wisdom 🧭
The eight guardians (Ashta-Dikpalas) you see here are not just protectors of your physical survival; they also appear in the Hrit Chakra (the Secret Heart).
- In the Muladhara: These deities protect the Physical Square of your existence, mastering external instincts like fear and security.
- In the Hrit Chakra: These same deities guard the Spiritual Lotus, where they influence your internal moods, virtues, and your soul’s inclination toward the Divine.
Meditation: The Pillar of the Earth (Muladhara)
The Experience of the Root
Before moving forward, I invite you to pause. The teachings of the Muladhara are meant to be felt in the bones and the breath, not just understood by the mind.
Using the resonance of the LAM mantra and the grounding imagery of the earth element, this track is designed to help you anchor your awareness. Press play, settle your weight into the ground, and allow yourself to become as steady and immovable as the great white elephant, Airavata.
1. The Physical Foundation
Find a comfortable seat. If you are outdoors in nature, feel the connection of your body to the ground. Imagine your spine is like the Swayambhu Lingam—solid, timeless, and centered.
2. Anchoring with Airavata
Visualize the great white elephant, Airavata. Feel his immense weight and stability. As you breathe in, imagine you are drawing strength through his seven trunks, nourishing the seven minerals (dhatus) of your body.
- With every exhale, feel yourself becoming as immovable as a mountain.
3. The Golden Square & The Sound
In the space at the base of your spine, visualize a glowing Yellow Square. This is your territory; it is safe and fertile. In the center of this square, see the seed syllable LAM (लं).
- The Practice: Gently chant the sound LAM internally. Feel the vibration “thud” into the base of your seat, clearing away the “snake” of fear and replacing it with the “ladder” of security.
4. The Inverted Triangle & The Serpent
Now, visualize the Inverted Red Triangle. See it as a funnel, pulling cosmic energy down from the crown of your head, through the center of your body, and into the earth. Inside this triangle, notice the Serpent Kundalini coiled three and a half times around the Lingam. She is peaceful and radiant.
- Affirmation: “I am supported by the Earth. My roots are deep, and my spirit is ready to rise.”
5. Closing
Take a deep breath, feeling the “magnetic force” of the earth element holding you. When you are ready, gently open your eyes, carrying that sense of Indra’s mastery and Yama’s fearlessness into your day.