THE CHAKRAS

ROOT CHAKRA—MULADHARA

Root Chakra

The Root Chakra, Muladhara, located in the area of the perineum, is said to be connected to our most basic instincts – survival, security and vitality. With the commonly related element earth comes a strong sense of self-preservation, the wish for loyalty and stability, but also earthy characteristics like strength, physical endurance and patience as well as a certain rigidity, inertia, greediness and fear. Working with earth, getting into physical exercise or walking barefoot can support balancing these tendencies.

Location

Between genitals and anus – facing downward

Sanskrit

Muladhara मूलाधार

Elements

Gross element: Earth – solid state of matter Subtle element: Pritvi Tatva

Pronunciation

mU-lA-dhA-ra

Sense organs

Sense: smell Action organ: anus Perception organ: nose

Translations

Root (Mula) Foundation/Support (Adhara) Root Chakra

CHARACTERISTICS

Animal

Elephant

Polarity

Hunter & prey

Archetype

Cave man/woman, people from archaic cultures Mother earth, fertility goddess

Physical body

Everything solid – bones, teeth, nails, etc.

Etheric body

Apana Vayu – one of the seats of Kundalini

Causal body

Apana Vayu – one of the seats of Kundalini

EFFECTS

Emotions & mentality

– Like earth, slow to move
– Once moving, has great impact (earthquake)
– Sense of survival, security, self-preservation
– Perseverance, persistence, physical endurance
– Strength, vitality
– Hard working, even workaholic
– Works practically, gets hands dirty
– Sense for organization
– Creates something with longevity, procreation
– Loyalty, stability
– Stays away from conflicts
– Processes slowly, but has an elephant like memory
– Placid, patient, rather humble
– Sometimes lazy
– Love life: starting slow, but lasting

Imbalance / Shadow aspects

Imbalances on a certain level of consciousness appear due to an excess or a lack of energy on this level.

– Fear (fear of change, illness, lack and loss)
– General fear for the future
– Inertia, stubbornness
– Greediness for space and food
– Accumulating stuff, attachment
– Lack of vitality and strength
– Weakness, fatigue, weak immunity
– Lack of practical sense
– Unstable personality

Balance

Walk barefoot, work with earth, get some physical exercise.

Tradition

“Regular contemplation of this psychoenergetic center yields, among many other things, the paranormal ability to jump like a frog and, in advanced stages, to actually perform levitation.”
– Georg Feuerstein – Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga

© Akasha Yoga Academy- 2026 All rights reserved.