Vishuddha – The Sacred Sounds

Introduction – The Mātṛkās of Vishuddha

In authentic Agama, Tantra, and Kundalini texts, the Vishuddha Chakra is represented as a 16-petaled lotus, with a white crescent moon within a down-turned triangle inside the throat centre.

The 16 vowels on Vishuddha’s petals are not vrittis, (mental modifications or emotional tendencies) that need to be overcome or purified. They are fundamental sound vibrations that enable all forms of verbal and creative expression called Mātṛkās. In the lower Chakras (Muladhara to Anahata) the petals govern psychological vrittis—fluctuations of the mind and ego that obscure pure awareness and need to be refined or purified.

Once energy reaches Vishuddha Chakra, the mind rises above individual emotional conditioning into the realm of pure space . Here, the 16 vowels are Mātṛkās (“Little Mothers”) or Akṣaras (imperishable divine syllables).

They represent:  

• Fundamental Vibrations: The primal sound vibrations from which all articulated speech and cosmic manifestation arise. They are the raw phonetic potential of the throat centre, embodying the purity and foundational nature of sound.  

• Cosmic Sounds: The subtle sonic energies that resonate within the Ether/Space element of Vishuddha. Meditating on these syllables is believed to activate the chakra and purify one’s voice and expression.  

• Components of Speech: As the fundamental building blocks of the Sanskrit language (the language of mantras), their presence on the petals signifies Vishuddha’s role as the center for clear, pure, and effective communication and self-expression.  

The 16 sounds inscribed upon the petals of Vishuddha are the 16 Sanskrit vowels and are primarily understood as divine syllables. They represent the elements of pure sound itself, residing in the chakra of purity and communication.

Known collectively as the primary Divine Mother sounds, they embody the subtle element of Space/Ether and form the acoustic foundation for all speech and manifestation. The 16 seed letters are inscribed on the petals in brilliant gold or white

The bija mantra or seed sound at the centre of Vishuddha is हं (HAṂ), which governs the element of Space.

The 16 Sounds (Mātṛkās) of Vishuddha

In traditional Agamic practice, these letters are recited in a clockwise sequence across the 16 petals, combined with the nasal sound ṃ representing Bindu / consciousness.

Human vocal expression at Vishuddha Chakra encompasses both artistic and sacred sound: the 7 musical notes are the melodic, artistic, and emotional vocal sounds: Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni — which originated from the melodic chanting of the Sama Veda; combined with the 9 sacred mantras that represent transformative, ritualistic, and spiritual intention, they make up the complete power of the human throat and vocal expression of the throat centre’s 16 petals.