Chakra 3 - Manipura
Manipura is the third chakra. The name comes from the Sanskrit words mani meaning gem or jewel, pura meaning dwelling place or city, and nabhi meaning navel.
It is our personal power center, located within the Sushuma Nadi, on the inner side of the spinal column, behind the navel. The color of this chakra is yellow. Yellow contains more light than any color in the visible spectrum. It is associated with the sun and the metal gold. It lifts the spirit and gives hope, as well as a sense of ease and lightness. Yellow is associated with the element of fire. We need this color to create a proper mental framework so that we can digest new ideas.
An image of the Manipura chakra is below. It is a yellow ten-petaled lotus. It is the color of thunder clouds, which can not signify being able to see clearly. The qualities associated with the ten petals are spiritual ignorance, treachery, jealousy, shame, aversion, delusion, thirst, inertia, sadness and fear.
image of Manipura chakra
On a practical level, the third chakra's basic concerns power, will, energy, confidence, self-worth, and self-esteem.
The destructive emotion associated with this chakra is shame.
When the manipura chakra is in balance, you would be confident, spontaneous, have a sense of humor, have appropriate willpower and self-discipline, have good self-esteem, be responsible/reliable, and able to meet the ups and downs in life.
If the energy in this chakra is deficient, you would be easily manipulated, have low self-esteem, poor digestion, poor follow-through, low energy, and cold emotionally and/or physically.
If the energy in this chakra is excessive, you would be overly aggressive, arrogant, hyperactive, stubborn, dominating, and controlling.
If this chakra is out of balance, physically you may have an eating or digestive disorder, diabetes, muscle spasms, chronic fatigue, hypertension, or problems with the stomach, pancreas, gall bladder, or liver.
Not sure if this chakra is out of balance? View our Chakra Assessment.