Glossary · chakra
Manipura
Also written the solar plexus chakra
Manipura (‘city of jewels’) is the solar plexus chakra, at the navel and solar plexus. Its element is fire, it is drawn with ten petals, and its seed sound (bija) is RAM. It is the third of the seven chakras.
It is about will: the fire to decide, act and keep going, and the digestion of food and of experience alike.
In balance and out of balance. In balance, a person backs themselves: they decide, start, and finish, and their anger is clean and brief. Out of balance it shows as hesitancy and waiting for permission, or as the opposite, irritation, pushing and burning out.
Its planet is Mangal (Mars), the planet of drive, courage and heat. Mars changes sign about every six weeks and turns retrograde roughly every two years, when its energy turns back on unfinished fights. It is weakest (debilitated) in Cancer, where drive tends to come out sideways, and strongest in Capricorn. This pairing of planets and chakras is a modern bridge between yoga and Jyotish, not a rule from the classical texts, and the familiar rainbow colours are modern too.
A simple practice. Take three rounds of strong breath from the belly, then rest and sound RAM once.
Questions
Which planet rules the solar plexus chakra?
In the pairing used by withAshoka, Mars (Mangal) rules the solar plexus chakra, Manipura: the planet of fire and drive for the centre of fire and will. The pairing is a modern bridge, not a classical rule.
What is the seed mantra of the solar plexus chakra?
RAM, sounded firmly with attention at the navel.
How does Mars retrograde affect the solar plexus?
Read through the chakras, Mars retrograde often feels like drive turned inward: old frustrations resurfacing, plans that stall and need rethinking. It suits finishing over starting.
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