The Seven Sacred Indian Cities

Chennai

Kanchi corresponds to the swadhisthana chakra situated behind the genitals, as the presiding deity here is Kamakshi, the goddess of kama or desire. Ayodhya corresponds to the third chakra, the manipura, situated in the navel region, where joy, generosity, greed and jealousy manifest. Mathura is anahata, the heart chakra. The heart is associated with three emotions: Love, fear and hatred. Mathura symbolises the love and devotion of the gopis for Krishna, as well as of the fear and hatred of Kansa, all matters of the heart. Avantika, also called Ujjain, is related to the vishuddha or the throat chakra. Ujjain is the city of art and literature. We feel gratitude in the throat region - we get choked.

Kashi represents the ajna chakra situated between the eyebrows. Kashi has always been the seat of knowledge. That’s why the ajna chakra  is also called gyana chakshu, the third eye. Dwaraka represents the sahasrara, the crown chakra on top of the head. The soul is called Purusha. Pura means a town. Purusha means one who lives in the town. Planet earth, home to many organisms, is itself a large organism. It is not just a place for living beings; it is a living organism as a whole. Even cities have collective consciousness. A street where unethical people conduct their business is believed to emit heavy vibrations whereas an educational institution or a place of worship emits positive and light vibrations.

—  The writer is the founder of Art of  Living Foundation  and can be reached at  www.artofliving.org