The Vrittis of Manipura

Vritti means Whirlpool. Chakras are wheels, the petals are constantly spinning around the centre, like a vortex. When the vrittis become still, the chakras become still, and our minds become still. All the thoughts and emotions stop whirling around. This action of Nirodha leads to clear perception or bliss, known as Samadhi.

The Manipura Chakra is the Agni, Fire centre. While the lower two chakras deal with survival and messy emotions, Manipura is about willpower and individuality.

The Bija Mantra: The central seed sound is RAM.

Each of these symbols corresponds to what could be called a vice, although it might more accurately be called a distraction or stumbling block.

1. ḍaṁ (डं), Lajja: Shame, shyness. Shame is an uncomfortable feeling that you have when you know that you have done something wrong or embarrassing, or when someone close to you has.

2. ḍhaṁ (ढं), Pishunata: Backbiting, slandering, treachery. Gossiping about someone who is not present.

3. ṇaṁ (णं), Irsha: Envy, jealousy. Feeling or showing an envious resentment of someone or their achievements, possessions, or perceived advantages.

4. taṁ (तं), Sushupti: Sleepiness, lethargy, laziness, dullness. In Manipura, sleepiness is spiritual stupor. It is the tendency to choose the easy path of least resistance instead of the fiery path of transformation.

5. thaṁ (थं), Visada: Sadness, melancholia, despair, mental pain. The wise student looks at the three kinds of pain – mental, physical, and environmental – and uses that awareness to detach from worldly distractions, eventually finding peace and liberation.

6. daṁ (दं), Kashaya: Passion. Passion is the cause of karmic bondage. It is ‘the ash that covers the fire’. By reacting without passion and staying tranquil, one can break the cycle of karma. The four Kashayas are anger (Krodha), greed (Lobha), ego (Mana) and deceit (Maya)

7. dhaṁ (धं), Trsna: Thirst, craving or desire. The craving to hold on to pleasurable experiences. This type of desire is contrasted to wholesome types of desire such as the desire to benefit others.

8. naṁ (नं), Moha: Attachment to objects, ignorance, delusion. Attachment gives rise to deceit and greed. If we try to get or eat more than we need, we feel Moha (attachment/greed).

9. paṁ (पं), Ghrna: Aversion, hatred, revulsion, disgust. The desire to be separated from painful or unpleasant experiences. The Manipura is where we “digest” life; if we can’t digest an experience, we feel Ghrna.

10. phaṁ (फं), Bhaya: Fear. Fear is often the most paralysing vritti in the Manipura system, it can freeze our inner fire entirely. It can manifest as fear of failure, fear of being judged or ridiculed, or the fear of losing security. When it manifests as a “comfort zone” we feel safe but we are in a cage that stops us from stepping out to fulfil our life’s purpose. Stepping out requires us to trust our inner sun and fiery resolve. True courage isn’t the absence of fear; it is the fiery resolve to move forward even when the breath is tight and the mind is uncertain. The sound Phum (like a forceful “puff” of air) represents the power to blow away the fog of fear.

The Bija Raṁ

Transform the vrittis of anger, greed and hatred into constructive, courageous and brave actions.

In Vedic tradition, Repha (the letter R) is the seed sound of fire itself. The “R” sound in Sanskrit requires the tongue to vibrate against the roof of the mouth. This vibration acts like a striking a match to ignite the digestive fire (Agni) of the solar plexus.

The 10 sounds represent the “scattering” of our vital energy into various emotional states, while Raṁ represents the “collection” and transformation of that energy into pure willpower. Think of the 10 petals as different aspects of fire. Some are smoky and dim (Lethargy), others are flickering and unstable (Fear), and some are sharp and scorching (Envy). When you chant Raṁ, you are performing an internal alchemy.

As you sound the “R” of Raṁ, you are symbolically gathering all those outward-facing emotions—the shame, the thirst, the delusion and absorbing them into the center. The 10 sounds are the fluctuations of the power, Raṁ is the source of the power.

The Bindu: The “ṁ” (the dot above the letter) represents the nasalized ‘m’ where the 10 divided sounds resolve into a single, pointed vibration that rises upward toward the heart.

When you chant the central bīja, you aren’t just making a sound; you are “cooking” the 10 emotions. You are taking the “Hard” biting emotions and the “Soft” internal states and burning away the impurities until only the golden light of self-assuredness remains.

Visualizations

The Heat Treatment: Since Manipura is Fire, when you feel Bhaya (fear) or Lajja (shame), visualize the fire in your navel becoming brighter. Imagine the “ash” (the negative emotion) being burned away, leaving only pure, glowing heat.

The “Sun” Visualization: for Manipura, imagine a Golden Sun at your navel. If you feel Visada (sadness), imagine that sun burning off the “fog” of despair. Use the golden sun for healing pain in your body. Imagine its warming rays reaching to where you need it your body, healing your cells.

To see how these mental whirlpools compare to the petals of the lower chakras, visit the Vrittis in the Chakras Summary page.

Pronunciation

In Sanskrit, the difference between a “D” sound and a “Dh” sound is huge. The Manipura covers three specific groups of letters.

A Sound Mediation – Mantra