Chakras
From Avatar Wiki, the Avatar: The Last Airbender database
Chakras are nexuses of metaphysical or biophysical energy within the body. There are seven chakras, each situated at a different location in the body (although the chakras all lie on a central vertical axis). Each chakra has a purpose and deals with a different emotion, and each chakra can be open and closed depending on the individual's state of mind. When a chakra is open, energy is free to flow about the body, but when a chakra is closed the energy can no longer flow.
The chakras were first introduced by Guru Pathik in "The Guru", when Aang visited him at the Eastern Air Temple. Guru Pathik used a series of ponds as a visual analogy: the ponds (representing the chakras) are connected by waterfalls and channels, and are initially clogged up with algae so that the water stagnates and can no longer pass through the channels. When the clogs of algae are removed (i.e. opening the chakras) then water begins to flow through the channels again, and can pass between the various ponds.
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[edit] Chakras
| Chakra | What Happens | Circulates Through... | Blocked By... | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earth Chakra "sanskrit translation- Muladhara" | Aang goes into meditation, and sees: the Blue Spirit charging at Aang with his swords to cut his shackles, the Blue Spirit threatening Zhao to kill Aang, Katara being dragged underground by General Fong, Sozin's Comet, Aang in the Avatar State destroying his surroundings, and finally, Aang is surrounded by fire, sitting before a man who appears to be Fire Lord Ozai. After clearing his thoughts, the images disappear, and Aang gives a sigh of relief as he comes out of meditation. Guru Pathik congratulates Aang, and tells him the first chakra has been opened.
| Survival | Fear | Base of the Spine |
| Water Chakra "Sanskrit Translation- Swadhisthana" | When asked what he blames himself for, Aang remembers how he ran away from home upon finding out he was the Avatar, and that he hurt the Earth Kingdom soldiers at General Fong’s base while in the Avatar State. Pathik tells Aang to accept that these things have happened, and not let them cloud his judgment and his energy- he must forgive himself.
| Pleasure | Guilt | Sacrum |
| Fire Chakra "Sanskrit Translation-Manipura" | Aang has a vision of when he first attempted Firebending, and severely burned Katara’s hands. He tells Pathik that he will never Firebend again. Pathik responds that in order to obtain Balance, he must accept all the aspects of his life: Aang is the Avatar, and therefore he is a Firebender.
| Willpower | Shame | Stomach |
| Air Chakra "Sanskrit Translation- Anahata | Laying his grief before him, Aang sees all of the Air Nomads who were killed by the Fire Nation, with Gyatso first among them. They fade away, and become smoke. Love, according to Pathik, is a form of energy that flows around us, and that the Air Nomads' Love for Aang still exists and forms itself inside of new love; the love Aang has for Katara. Aang, wiping away his tears and with a weakened sweet voice, asks politely if he can have some more onion banana juice.
| Love | Grief | Heart |
| Sound Chakra "Sanskrit Translation-Vishuddah" | When Pathik explains that this chakra is blocked by "the lies we tell ourselves", Aang remembers when he told Sokka and Katara that he didn't tell him he was the Avatar because he never wanted to be. Pathik says that he cannot lie about his own nature, and that Aang must accept he is the Avatar. With a sigh and a vision, Aang accepts he is the Avatar, and he opens the Sound Chakra.
| Truth | Lies | Throat |
| Light Chakra "Sanskrit Translation-Ajna" | Guru Pathik begins by explaining that the greatest illusion is that of separation, and that things we think of as separate and different are in fact one and the same. Aang mentions the Four Nations, and Pathik tells him that everyone is part of "One People, yet we live as if divided." Aang realizes that Pathik is saying that everyone on earth is profoundly connected, making divisions meaningless. The Guru goes on to explain that even the separation of the Four Elements is an illusion, "Four Parts of the same Whole", and that even Metal is simply an aspect of Earth that is refined and purified.
| Insight | Illusion | Forehead |
| Thought Chakra "Sanskrit Translation-Sahasara" | Aang is asked to meditate on what he is attached to, and when only images of Katara flood his mind, Pathik asks for Aang to let go of his attachments. Aang suddenly becomes angry, asking how he can let go of Katara when he loves her. He questions why he would choose Cosmic Energy over Katara, and how attachment can be bad when it was good "three Chakras ago". Aang, with subtle determination, offers to try to let go of Katara and his earthly attachments. However, as Aang is meditating, and about to clear the final Chakra, he has a disturbing vision of Katara being held captive. Aang immediately ceases his meditation and is thus disengaged from his potential entrance to the Avatar state. As Aang leaps into action in order to head in the presumed direction to rescue Katara, Pathik warns Aang that if he quits his training before unlocking this chakra, then all of the other chakras will become locked and he won't be able to enter the Avatar State at all.
| Pure Cosmic energy | Earthly attachments | Crown of the Head |
[edit] History
Aang attempted, with Guru Pathik's help, to open his chakras so that he could enter and control the Avatar State at will. Pathik warned Aang that the process of opening the chakras cannot be halted once it has begun - it had to be completed or Aang would not be able to enter the Avatar state at all.
Aang successfully opened the first six chakras, but when Pathik told Aang that opening the seventh would mean that he had to forget his love for Katara, he refused to do so. In a conversation with Iroh in "The Crossroads of Destiny", Iroh commended Aang for his choice, saying that it was not worth sacrificing love for the sake of power.
Nevertheless, when Aang and Katara were attacked by Azula, Zuko and the Dai Li, Aang desperately attempted opening the seventh chakra. He was able to enter the Avatar State briefly, but was knocked out of and fatally wounded when Azula shot him in the back with lightning. However while he was able to access the state for that brief moment his romantic feelings for Katara remained intact, thus making in unclear if he was able to unlock the chakra. Following this, Aang believes his seventh chakra was locked, and he was unable to enter the Avatar State at all. This may have stemmed from some partial memory of Avatar Yangchen informing him that his ability to enter the state had been disrupted in "Escape from the Spirit World".
Although Aang has supposedly freed himself of fear, guilt, shame, and similar emotions, he continues to display them during Book 3 (notably in "The Awakening" and "Nightmares and Daydreams"). This may suggest that some of his chakras have become blocked again. This may explain why Aang is still able to pursue his romantic feelings for Katara, however, it may still be possible to love someone without locking the seventh chakra. Both Avatar Kuruk and Avatar Roku have demonstrated that it is possible to love even while having mastered the Avatar State as Kuruk loved Ummi and Roku loved Ta Min. It is entirely possible, however, that they never opened their chakras at all, as Avatar Yangchen clearly stated that detaching one's soul from the world, which was the main objective of opening the chakras in the first place, was something the Avatar could never do. If this is the case it is unclear how they gained mastery of the State, though it is possible the process works differently for an Avatar given their duty to the world.
Aang remains unable to use the Avatar State throughout Book 3, although he regains it during his battle with Ozai. Even after unlocking his seventh chakra, his relationship with Katara remains strong. This might be because opening the seventh chakra involved Aang specifically sacrificing his earthly attachments, which would not necessarily mean giving up love. If this was indeed the case, opening his seventh chakra allowed Aang to continue on to a successful relationship, as he had shed the attachments that could have caused major problems in said relationship. However it is also possible that, given the chakra releases "cosmic energy", the block may have been caused by his own inability to see past his love for her to his greater duty to the world, which he willingly accepts in the finale thus removing the block.
It is unclear if Aang unlocked the final chakra prior to being struck by Azula's lightning, it seems likely as in "the Awakening" during a healing session Katara feels a great deal of locked up energy around Aang's wound, and when the scar impacted a rock in his battle with Ozai the State instantly re-activated. Although it is also possible Aang did not properly clear it, as throughout the fight his eyes and tattoos were glowing as they would when the State is used reflexively, and gained power over the State by sheer force of will when he stopped himself from killing Ozai. For when he uses the State to put out the fires started by Ozai the glow is only momentary not constant.
[edit] Connections
- In real life, the concept of chakras originated in ancient India, and forms the basis of many philosophical, spiritual, religious, and other systems.
- The chakra points, where they are located, what they refer to and what they are blocked by are somewhat the same according to chakra charts, this is likely where the Avatar creators received inspiration for the chakras.
[edit] Trivia
- In Hinduism, the second chakra is located in or near the sexual / reproductive organs, as it is related to pleasure. Due to this fact, it is the one chakra whose location is not stated in the show's dialogue.
