The Seven Major Chakras

Chakras, as described above, are energy centers along the spine located at major branchings of the human nervous system, beginning at the base of the spinal column and moving upward to the top of the skull. Chakras are considered to be a point or nexus of biophysical energy or prana of the human body.

The following seven primary chakras are commonly described:
1.Muladhara Base or Root Chakra (last bone in spinal cord *coccyx*)
2.Swadhisthana Sacral Chakra (ovaries/prostate)
3.Manipura Solar Plexus Chakra (navel area)
4.Anahata Heart Chakra (heart area)
5.Vishuddha Throat Chakra (throat and neck area)
6.Ajna Brow or Third Eye Chakra (pineal gland or third eye)
7.Sahasrara Crown Chakra (Top of the head; 'Soft spot' of a newborn)

Chakra Video

Miracles of Guru Raghavendra

There are numerous of miralces done by Guru Raghavendra. For the sake of brevity. He restored the life of a young boy (the son of the village chieftain) who died after falling into a vessel in which PanchAmruta was stored.

By his grace Venkanna, a total illiterate, was able to read a message given to the Nawab of Adoni, eventually rise to the position of Diwan.

He threw the pearl necklace gifted by the king of Tanjore into the fire (for purification) and restored it back intact.

The Nawab of Adoni offered meat in a plate covered by a cloth, as Naivedya to the Lord. Raghavendra Swamy knew what was going on and quietly converted the meat into different types of fruits.

The Nawab was scared that his effrontery would be punished, so he begged the forgiveness of Swamy, which was readily accorded. In return, Swamy asked him to gift the village of Mantralaya.

On Shravana Bahula Bidige (the second day in the dark fortnight of the moon, in the month of Shravana) in 1671, he entered the Brindavana alive. Only one person had done it before - Sri Vadiraja tiirtha.

Appanacharya, his favorite disciple, lived in a village across the river, very close to Mantralaya. When Appanacharya heard the news that his guru was about to enter the brindavana, he immediately rushed towards Mantralaya. He was so overcome by devotion and sorrow that he did not notice that the river was in spate. His heart full of devotion for his beloved guru, he composed a stotra in his honor. This is the famous stotra which starts "Sri Poornabodha..". By guruji's grace he was able to walk across the river in full spate, but could not make it in time. Just as he entered the location, the final stone was lowered over the Brindavana. He was overcome with emotion and broke down, unable to complete the stotra. Then, from the Brindavana, Raghavendra Swamy uttered the words "Sakshi Haya stotraHi" and completed the stotra composed by Appancharya. This stotra is recited by devotees everyday. Its recitation brings about various beneficial effects.

Life history of Guru Raghavendra

There is nobody who would not have known about Guru Raghavendra. He is believed to be the reincarnation of Prahlada, Bahleeka and Vyasaraya. Venkanna (Later Raghavendra Swami) was born around 1595 at Bhuvanagiri, a small town near Kanchipuram in South India (now Tamil Nadu). His fore-fathers were all renowned musicians and he too became a good player of the veena.

He married a gentle, good-natured woman called Saraswathi and had a son called Lakshminarayan. He spent his life in utter and dire poverty, but kept his mind focused on the Lord. Later, circumstances forced him to seek refuge with Sri Sudheendra tiirtha, the pontiff of what was then called as the Vijayeendra muTa (now known as Raghavendra swamy muTa). When Sudheendra tiirtha wanted him to become the next pontiff he refused because his wife was young and his son's upanayana had not yet been performed. Later, when the goddess of learning appeared in a dream and urged him to take up the responsibility, he agreed. When his ascension to the pontificate was being celebrated his wife accidentally fell into a well and died, becoming a ghost. His first act after becoming the pontiff was to provide salvation to his wife.