The solar plexus chakra, or manipura in Sanskrit, is a subtle energy center located midway between the human navel and the base of the sternum. It is primarily known as the “power” chakra and is considered to be the third energy center in the Hindu chakra system, which has seven major energy centers total. It is represented by the color yellow, sometimes with hints of red and orange contained within its imagery. It is commonly depicted as a 10-petal lotus flower that corresponds with the 10 factors of spiritual ignorance, which include negative human traits like jealousy and shame. A balanced solar plexus chakra will help an individual to express his egoistic will through action without demanding other people’s subservience.
Like the other chakras within the system, the manipura is associated with parts of the human anatomy. It is most well-known for its association with the liver and pancreas, making it the chakra most commonly contemplated when diagnosing problems with digestion and food metabolism. Some debilitating conditions that may be due to solar plexus chakra imbalance are diabetes, ulcers, and acid reflux. It is also associated with the sense of sight; having a dysfunctional manipura can lead to vision problems.
Chi, or life force energy, works its way through the chakra system and is said to develop the intricacies of human personalities and auric fields. Energy starts as a neutral force in the base chakra and then moves up the energetic system, where it becomes a desire in the second chakra. As the energy moves through the third center, or solar plexus chakra, manifestations of our egoic tendencies come to the forefront. A person with an underdeveloped or dysfunctional manipura can be depressed or withdrawn and suffer from low self-esteem. If a person has an overactive or exaggerated manipura, he can have the tendency to bully others or suffer from delusional thinking.
The solar plexus chakra has other associations as well. It is thought to vibrate at the frequency of “E” on the musical scale. Many people who are working with the subtle energy of the chakra system will meditate with this vibration to encourage the solar plexus chakra to function properly. The manipura’s astrological signs are Scorpio and Aries, and its corresponding planets are Mars and the Sun. Meditators sometimes practice aromatherapy with the associated scents of rosemary and lavender and color therapy with amber, tiger’s eye, and citrine.