Prana / Bodydraftschool: yoga-tantra· Frawley — Astrology of the Seers

Root Center (Muladhara chakra)

मूलाधारmūlādhāra

also: root-chakra, base-chakra, root-center, 1st chakra

pra-muladhara

Definition

The first/lowest of the seven chakras of the subtle (astral) body, at the base of the spine — the foundation (mula + adhara, 'root-support') of the chakra system. In Frawley's yogic astrology it is the chakra ruled by Saturn and the start (Aquarius) of the rising lunar breath; Mars is exalted at this center (in Capricorn).
Traditional

Prāṇa relevance

⚑ Genuinely traceable here. The Muladhara is where the rising lunar breath BEGINS (Aquarius, book p.230) and where the falling solar breath ENDS (Capricorn) — Frawley puts the Prana cycle literally on the spine: "The energy (breath, Prana or Chi) moves up the spine ... from Aquarius to Cancer ... and down the spine ... from Leo to Capricorn" (book p.230). As Saturn's densest, contracting center it is the most material pole of the prana-body; Mars's exaltation here makes it the site where fire-energy is expressed at the outermost (gross) level. This is the project's body↔cosmos axis stated in subtle-body terms by Frawley himself [MODERN — Frawley].

Connections (8)

corresponds-to · 2
  • ↔Earth (Prithvi)Traditional
    The Muladhara (root center) corresponds to earth (prithvi) — the standard tantric mahabhuta of the lowest chakra. Frawley does NOT tabulate a chakra-by-chakra element scheme in this chapter and explicitly warns (book p.234) that his chakra correspondences 'differ slightly from the usual order, particularly in regard to rulership of the elements'; this edge therefore carries the STANDARD tantric series, not Frawley's chapter scheme.
  • ↔Mars (Mangala)Modern
    Mars is exalted in Capricorn — the sign of Saturn (solar half) and the root center. As the end of the solar half of the zodiacal cycle it is the point of maximum potential of expression of the fire energy: 'on the most outer level of our being, that we need energy to work and accomplish things'.
governs · 2
  • ←Saturn (Shani)Modern
    Saturn rules the Root (Muladhara) center — elimination and support, 'the coarsest of the planetary influences, our potential to contract'. Ruling sign-pair is Aquarius/Capricorn (Saturn's two signs).
  • ←Gaṇeśa (Gaṇa-Īśa, elephant-headed Remover of Obstacles)Traditional
    Svoboda: 'as lord of the Muladhara Cakra at the base of the human spine, Ganesha presides over Kundalini, the transformative energy that sleeps within us' (p.293). The deity presides over (governs, scope adhidevata) the root chakra and its dormant kundalini.
maps-to · 4
  • ↔Tenth House (House of Karma / Action)Modern
    The 10th house (like the 10th sign Capricorn) maps to the root center.
  • ↔Eleventh House (House of Gains)Modern
    The 11th house (like the 11th sign Aquarius) maps to the root center.
  • ↔Aquarius (Kumbha)Modern
    Aquarius is Saturn's lunar-side sign of the root pair (Aquarius/Capricorn) and the START of the lunar/rising breath (Aquarius→Cancer); Frawley notes Venus 'also functions well' here.
  • ↔Capricorn (Makara)Modern
    Capricorn is Saturn's solar-side sign of the root pair (Aquarius/Capricorn) and the END of the solar/falling breath (Leo→Capricorn); Mars exalts here.

Sources

  • txt-frawley-astrology-seersPlanets and the Chakras (book p.229)Modern✓ verifiedRoot center, the 1st chakra, ruled by Saturn (signs Aquarius/Capricorn); Saturn = elimination, support, contraction, coarsest influence
  • txt-frawley-astrology-seersChakras and Exaltation (book p.231)Modern✓ verifiedMars exalted in Capricorn at the root center — maximum expression of fire energy at the outermost level
  • txt-frawley-astrology-seersChakras and the Houses (book p.233)Modern✓ verifiedRoot center corresponds to the 10th and 11th houses

Other attributes

System Of Origin
yoga-tantra
Location In Body
base of the spine (perineum / root of the trunk) — the lowest of the six lower centers
Function
The foundation and support of the body and the subtle system; in Frawley's reading the seat of Saturn's principles of elimination, support and contraction — 'the coarsest of the planetary influences, our potential to contract' — and 'the most outer level of our being', where energy is needed to work and accomplish things (Mars exalted here).
Element Association
earth (prithvi) — the STANDARD tantric mahabhuta of the Muladhara [TRADITIONAL — claimed-classical: yoga-tantra; NOT laid out by Frawley in this chapter, which warns his element-rulership 'differs slightly from the usual order' (book p.234)]
Ruling Planet
Saturn [MODERN — Frawley, book p.229]
Ruling Signs
Aquarius and Capricorn (Saturn's two signs) [MODERN — Frawley, book p.229]
Exalted Planet
Mars, exalted in Capricorn (the solar-half root sign) [MODERN — Frawley, book p.231]; the table marks Mars (3) = Mars rules chakra 3 (navel)
Corresponding Houses
10th and 11th houses (like the 10th/11th signs Capricorn/Aquarius) [MODERN — Frawley, book p.233]
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