Muladhara - grounding in the power of four
Photo by Simone Dalmeri on Unsplash
Muladhara, the Sanskrit name for the first of the pinda (spinal) chakras, is most commonly translated as the root chakra. This is the chakra of survival, strength, stability and of our connection to the earth. Mula in Sanskrit means root, origin or essence. Adhara means base or foundation. And so, the word muladhara encapsulates the idea of a strong foundation - the dridha bhumi of Patanjali.
We climb the ladder of the chakras, from muladhara towards sahasrara and enlightenment. In the same way that we would ensure a ladder is situated on level ground, in our life and in our practice we must ensure that our connection with the root chakra is stable, strong and fully anchored. How often do we see students and teachers striving to make advanced shapes before the basics have been mastered
This leads us to the first of our fours, which we can apply to stability in asana. Patanjali writes in the Yoga Sutras about the four prerequisites for groundedness in asana: sthira (steady); sukha (ease or comfort); prayatna shaithilya(letting go of effort); and ananta samapattibhyam (meditation on the infinite, i.e. the endless serpent Ananta).
In the Yoga Sutras 2:46 & 47 Patanjali writes:
sthirasukhamasanam
Steady and comfortable should be the posture
prayatna shaithilya ananta samapattibhyam
By loosening of effort and by meditation on the serpent ananta, asana is mastered
When Patanjali talks about asana, he is talking in terms of meditation poses, for example, sukhasana, vajrasana, siddhasana or padmasana, where we connect with the ground in a seated posture with the aim of rooting our practice in preparation for pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. However, in his commentary in Four Chapters on Freedom, Swami Satyananada Saraswati suggests that there is no bar to applying this four-part approach to any asana, indeed to life in general: when we have a steady base, success will follow. Applying this to an asana practice is a wonderful way to find a strong connection with a posture. In the asana, we are steady and comfortable; we let go of effort; and we allow our mind to rest in infinite stillness. Then, if we have fulfilled the four conditions laid out by Patanjali, it is possible to have a profound and beautiful experience and feel the expression of the asana in the depth of our being.
The mandala (sacred geometric shape) associated with muladhara is that of a yellow square. Yellow for the earth element and square as a foundation or base - adhara - and here is the second of our fours. The square, with its four sides, symbolises balance, stability and fixed boundaries. Setting clear boundaries is deeply tied to muladhara. In the Gitananda Yoga tradition, the practice of pritivi mandala pranayama connects us to the earth energy in muladhara. Using the sukha purvaka pranayama ratio of 4-4-4-4, we breathe in to a count of four from right hip to right shoulder, retain the breath for a count of four from right shoulder to left shoulder, breathe out from left shoulder to left hip to a count of four, and retain the out breath for a count of four from left hip to right hip. The combination of an even breathing ratio and the visualisation of the square creates a strong and stable connection to the energy of this mandala, with a resultant balance and grounding of both body and mind.
The symbol of muladhara is the four-petalled lotus - the third of our fours. Four petals on which stand the four feet of Lord Indra’s elephant. Four petals representing the four cardinal points of the compass. Four petals representing the four primal anaesthesias - hunger/thirst; fear; urge for mating/sex; and complacency/sleep/resistance to change. Four petals representing the four mental and psychological functions: manas, buddhi, citta, ahamkara. Four petals representing the four citta-prasadanam (yogic beatitudes or mental attitudes): maitri, karuna, mudhita, upeksha. Meditating on any one of these sets of four will bring stability and a strong connection to the energy of muladhara.
As the Yoga Fellowship stands at the threshold of its 50th anniversary, the opportunity arises to strengthen the roots from which our Sangha can continue to grow and flourish over the next 50 years. Our Fellowship is symbolised by a tree, encapsulated in these words by Yogacharya Michael McCann:
“Mother Yoga is a vast tree with many branches, so that all her children can find rest within her shade”
The strongest trees have the deepest roots. The incoming year will be one of root chakra work, focusing on consolidating our foundations; reconnecting to ethical practice based on the yamas and niyamas; promoting the highest standards in yogic teaching and learning; and deepening our commitment to the safest practices for the benefit of all.
The last of our fours is represented by the four pillars of our revised Code of Ethics. By defining and requiring high standards of professional and ethical conduct, the Fellowship seeks to promote confidence in and respect for teaching members throughout the yoga community in Northern Ireland and the public more broadly. This should assist:
raising awareness and deepening the public’s understanding of yoga and the role of the Fellowship in promoting yoga;
ensuring and upholding professional and ethical practice within the Fellowship community;
developing and encouraging high standards of professional teaching and learning; and
promoting and protecting the profession of ethical yoga teaching, valuing both Fellowship members and the public we serve.
It is hoped that these four pillars will re-establish a firm foundation for ethical Yoga practice (both in teaching and learning) in Northern Ireland. Our Fellowship tree has deep roots, and has grown from a seed planted 50 years ago during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It was nurtured by a community of visionary yogis. By reconnecting to the power of four in muladhara, we can continue to nourish and strengthen our personal and collective practice, ensuring depth and stability in the years to come.
OM Tat Sat
Suzanne
