In the previous edition, we dealt with various aspects of Visuddhi Chakra. Now we may pass on to the next Chakra placed just below Visuddhi Chakra, viz. Anaahatha Chakra.

Let us see what YOGINI NYASA has to say about this Chakra.

The placement of Anaahatha Chakra or Cardiac Plexus is in the Heart. Its yogini is called Rakini. She is of browning hue, three eyed and carries in her four shoulders, Akshamala (beads containing letters from a to ksha), Shooola, Kapala and Damaru. She has shining teeth. She is the presiding deity of Blood. She has two faces. She is fond of oil rich food. She is worshipped by the best among Sri Vidyopasakas. She bestows on them all the desired fruits. This cardiac plexus has 12 petals, which are occupied by deities from Kalarathri onwards. Let us contemplate on this Rakini.

Notes: The two faces of this deity are Shabdha and Sparsha, which are the gunaas of Vayu, the element connected with the heart.

According to Amrutha bindu Maithrayaneeya Upanishad, the control of Prana and Manas and their submersion takes place in this plexus. The contemplation on this chakdra leaad to extra sensory powers to the ears i.e. hearing of sounds which are not ordinarily audible to others.

Now the 12 sub-deities of Rakini correspond to 12 letters KA to TTA. Let us where they are placed.

and auricle

letters	subyogini	shakthi	anandha	placement
ka m	kalarathri	padmini	trilokya	right deep caridac plexus nerves go to right auricle
kham	khanditha	shakthi	sadharbha vithkara	left deep caridac plexus nerves go to left auricle
gam	gayathree	rathipriya	prana	anterior pulmonary plexus nerves go to pleura
gham	ghanthakarshini	vaijayanthee	swapadha	posterior pulmonary plexus nerves go to pleura
gnam	gnarnaa	saubhadhra	amsaprakasa	superficial cardiac plexus nerves go to pericardium
cham	chandika	athrimaya	anuthpa	cardiac ganglian of wrisberg
chham	chhathrika	kuhavasini	kapadha	control of right coronary arteries
jam	jaya	dhokinee	chitrasammatha	ventricular plexus control on ventricles
jham	jhankarinee	rekha	vikalpa	control on left coronary arteries
jnam	jnanaswaroopini	sreeya	mahadha	endocardial plexus nerves go to endocardium
ta	tankahastha	tharangini	viveka	remak plexus
tta	ttankarinee	thara	ahamkrutha	bidders ganglia nerves go to vegus

Pathanjala Yoga Suthra says that control of Anaahatha Chakra gives oratory, poetic ability, all siddhis including parakaya pravesha (entering some body elses body) and composure of mind.

Let us see what Saundaryalahari has to say about this Chakra.

I worship in thy Anaahatha Chakra, that unique pair of swans who are HUM and SAH swimming in the minds of the Great. The pair subsists entirely on the blooming lotus in the form of knowledge. The Sadhaka through meditation, thereon acquires knowledge of the 18 sciences and extracts the good from the bad (just as the swan sips the milk alone from the water which dilutes).

Notes: This sloka is a beautiful example of allegory. The mind of the great is compared to the Manasa sarovar lake. The two swans swimming in the lake are the Male Shiva denoted by HUM and the female Shakthi is denoted by SAH. Just as the swans separate milk from water, the wise discriminate good from bad, right from wrong and the permanent from the non-permanent. Lotus of knowledge is spiritual consciousness. The 18 vidhyas are: 1) Siksha 2) Kalpa 3) Vyakarana 4) Niruktha (etymology) 5) Jyotisha 6)Chhandas 7) Rig veda, 8) Yajur Veda 9) Sama Veda 10) Atharv Veda 11) Poorva and Uttara Meemamsa 12) Nyaya 13) Dharma Sasthra 14)Purana 15) Ayurvda 16) Gandharva veda 17)Dhanurveda and 18)Neeti Sasthra.

Now let us turn to Lalitha Sahasranamam:-

485th	Anaahathabja Nilaya	I salute the Devi who is residing in the Lotus of Anaahatha.
486th	Syamabha	Who is of brownish hue.
487	Vadanadwaya	Who is two faced.
488	Dhamshtrojwala	Who is possessing shining teeth.
489	Akshamaladhidhara	Wearing Akshamala etc.
490	Rudhirasamsthitha	Who resides in the blood
491	Kalarathryadhi Shakthyoghavrutha	Who is surrounded by Sub- deities starting from Kalarathri
492	Snighdhoudhanapriya	Who is fond of oily foods.
493	Mahaveerendravaradha	Who gives boons to the foremost Upasakas of Devi.
494	Rakinyambaswaroopini	Who is in the form of Goddess Rakini.

Let us contemplate Devi Lalitha in our Anaahatha Chakra in the form of Rakini Devi and get her blessings.