Yoga to Relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Regulation of Manipura Chakra

What is Manipura Chakra?

The Sanskrit word Mani means “gem’ or ‘jewel’. the word Pura means city. Therefore, the word Manipura literally means the city of gems. It is so called because of the intensity of Pranic energy at this center. In the Gautamiya Tantra, it says, “The Manipura chakra is so called because it is lustrous like a sparkling jewel.” (ch. 34) It is often compared to the dazzling power of the sun, which continually radiates energy to the planets. Manipura Chakra is considered the seat of all fires: digestion, willpower, solar resonance, etc. Contains the power of creation and destruction. Shining, powerful, forceful. Mastery in controlling Manipura Chakra brings freedom from disease, alchemical ability, clairvoyance, and lasting happiness. It is related to Samana Vayu.

The chakras are Prana centers within the human framework. Chakra means wheels that are correlated with nerve plexuses with surrounding small plexuses. The Shad Chakra of the body controls the Mental as well as physical activity of different autonomic ganglia. In each person, there are myriad chakras. However, only a few main Chakras are utilized in yogic practice to get benefits. These few are the ones that span the full spectrum of man’s being from the gross to the subtle.

These main chakras are:

• Mooladhara
• Manipura
• Vishuddhi
• Swadhisthana
• Anahata
• Ajna
• Sahasrara

Description of Manipura Chakra

tantunà manivat proto yatra kandah susumnayà |

tan näbhi-mandalam cahram procyate manipuraham | 23|| (Goraksha Samhita)

The place where the “bulb” (Kanda) is strung on the Sushumna like a jewel on a thread is the chakra of the navel region called Manipuraka. The word tantu means a thread, like a sutra. That place where the Kanda is placed as if strung on the Sushumna is the navel region and is called the Manipura Chakra.

In the navel center is a blue lotus with ten petals lacing upwards named manipuraka. The petals are decorated with the letters from da to pha (da, dha, na, ta, tha, da, dha, na, pa, pha) which are blue-colored. In the center of the pericarp is a red circle of fire around which is the four-armed fire bija-mantra (ram) as bright as the sun, placed on a ram that has the shape of the swastika. Sitting on the lap of this seed syllable is the form of Maharudra, who is red and smeared with ashes. He is accompanied by his Energy named Lakini, who is blue.

• Location – Navel
• Color- Dark gray, red, blue (also gold)
• Spokes- 10
• Mantra- RAM
• Element- Tejas (Fire)
• Ruling Deities- Rudra, Lakini
• Activity- Vision, Walking

How to Regulate Manipura Chakra and How it helps in curing IBS?

Manipura Chakra is correlated with the coeliac plexus and small plexuses surrounding it.  Manipura Chakra lies in the vicinity of Nabhi (umbilicus). In the vicinity of Nabhi, the coeliac plexus is the largest major autonomic plexus that surrounds the coeliac artery and the root of the superior mesenteric artery. According to classical texts of Yoga and Ayurveda, Manipura Chakra is the Sthana (seat) of Samana Vayu which helps in regulating the proper distribution of food, drink, blood, and inhaled material in the body. By regulating Manipura Chakra motility of the Gastrointestinal tract is balanced by regularizing the contraction and relaxation of intestinal muscle fibers. From this, we can conclude regulation of Manipura Chakra affects the physiology and pathology like IBS of abdominal organs. Regulation of Manipura Chakra produces both physical and psychological effects.

Read:- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Symptoms, Causes, Diet, Yoga, Ayurvedic Treatment

How to Regulate Manipura Chakra through Yoga?

Manipura Chakra can be regulated by various Yoga procedures like Asana (posture), Pranayam (breathing technique), Bandha, etc. A few procedures that can be used to regulate Manipura Chakra are as follows:

• Bhastrika Pranayama
• Uddiyana Bandha
• Pavan Mukta Asana