Svadhishthana

Svadhishthana (Sanskrit: स्वाधिष्ठान: Svādhiṣṭhāna, English: "the abode of the self", "one's own base"), or commonly called the sacral chakra, is the second primary chakra according to Hindu Tantrism.
Svadhisthana is situated in the genital region, it has six lotus petals. Svadhishthana is located above the Muladhara (Sanskrit: मूलाधार Mūlādhāra, English: "root support") or root chakra which is located in the coccyx (tailbone), two finger-widths above the Muladhara chakra. Its corresponding point in the front of the body (its kshetram) is barely below the belly button.
It is connected with the sense of taste, (the tongue) and with reproduction (the genitals).
It is often associated with the testes and ovaries. They produce the hormones testosterone or estrogen, which influence sexual behaviors. They are stored in areas where genetic information lies dormant, in the same way that samskaras lie dormant within Svadhishthana.

The petals are often illustrated as a white lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) which is smoked, eaten and used in rituals to connect with this chakra. The petals are inscribed with syllables: बं ban, भं bhaṃ, मं maṃ, यं yaṃ, रं raṃ and लं laṃ. Inside this lotus is a white crescent moon which represents the water region presided over by the deity Varuna. The moon-shaped crescent is the yantra of this chakra. The chakra governs the principle of taste, Its element is water. The vital relationship between water and the moon is shown by the crescent yantra within the circle of the water chakra. first communion dresses
The seed mantra is वं Vam (Vang).

The seed mantra, located in the innermost circle, is a moon-white वं vaṃ (Vang). Above the mantra that is within the bindi, or dot, is the deity Vishnu. He is dark blue and wears a yellow dhoti. He holds a conch, a mace, a wheel and a lotus. He wears the shriwatsa mark, and the koustabha gem. He is seated either on a pink lotus, or on the divine eagle Garuda.
His strength is the goddess Rakini (or Chakini). She is black, dressed in red or white and seated on a red lotus. She is commonly depicted with one face and two arms, holding a sword and a shield, or two faced and four armed, and holds a trident, lotus, drum and vajra, or an arrow, skull, drum and axe.

The six petals represent the following modes of consciousness, also known as vrittis: affection, pitilessness, feeling of all-destructiveness, delusion, disdain and suspicion.
Svadhishthana is associated with the unconscious and with emotion. It is closely related to the Muladhara in that Muladhara is where the different samskaras (potential Karmas) lie dormant, and Svadhisthana is where these Samskaras find expression. It is associated with the element of water, the sense of taste and the act of procreation.

Svadhishthana contains unconscious desires, especially sexual desire. It is said that to raise the kundalini shakti (coiling energy of consciousness) above Svadhishthana is difficult. Practices in kundalini yoga to control and balance the energy in Svadhisthana chakra include vajroli mudra (contraction of the genitals), ashvini mudra (contraction of the anus), and various asanas and pranayamas. Many saints have had to face sexual temptations associated with this chakra.

One who meditates on Svadhishthana is believed to obtain the following siddhis or occult powers: freedom from enemies, the status of a lord among yogis, eloquence and clarity ("words flowing like nectar in well-reasoned discourse"), loss of fear of water, awareness of astral entities and the ability to taste anything desired for oneself or others.

The mudra for this charka is the Dhyana Mudra: Rest hands on your lap, palms facing upwards, on top of one another. Keep the right hand underneath the left hand; gently touch the tip of the thumbs. This simple calming position is also called the "Meditation Mudra."

Left nostril breathing called Ida Nadi breathing will help to open up the second chakra as it brings forth lunar energy. Simply close your right nostril with the first two fingers of your right hand and inhale and exhale through the left nostril, only for 8 to 10 breaths.

Meditation with focus on the second chakra brings about personal magnetism, refinement in behavior, freedom from diseases, and longevity.

Asanas, Sounds, Colors, and Gems
Other ways to open a blocked chakra include using yoga, mantras, colors, and gems.

Yoga asanas that help to open and align Svadhisthana are:

Seated pelvic circles: Sitting in a cross-legged or half-lotus pose with your hands on your knees, make circles with your torso. Go around in one direction 5 or 6 times and then switch directions.
Baddha konasana (butterfly pose) with forward fold: In a seated position, bring the bottoms of your feet together. Let your knees drop to the sides and bring your heels in close to your pelvis. Lengthen the torso and fold forward.

Bhujangasana (cobra pose): Lie on your stomach with your feet flat on the floor. Place your hands under your shoulders and slowly lift your head, chest, and abdomen while keeping your naval on the floor. Be sure to press down through the pubic bone toward the mat.
The mantra sound that corresponds to the sacral chakra is the sound वं Vam (Vang). By chanting वं Vam (Vang), the vibrations will open and align this chakra. The color for the second chakra is orange. Some gemstones for this chakra are moonstone, amber, orange calcite, carnelian, smoky-citrine quartz, golden topaz and hematite.

The equivalent chakra in the Vajrayana tantra systems of Tibet is called the "Secret Place" four fingers below the navel. It is red in colour, with 32 downward pointing spokes. Meditation on this point produces great bliss.
According to certain interpretations of Sufism, the spiritual body of a man is defined as an interconnected system (Lataif-e-sitta), in which there is an energy center called the nafs. According to Lataif-e-sitta, the nafs is just below the navel. The nafs incorporates all the elements of man's 'lower self,' which is tamed in order to attain closeness to Allah.
Western occultists make the kabbalistic association of Svadhishthana with the Sephirah Yesod. Yesod is also associated with the sexual organs. Its function in the tree of life is to gather the different energies that have been created in the descent of the tree downwards and distribute them to Malkuth, the material world, where the energy can find physical expression.

Other traditional names of this chakra:
Tantra: Adhishthana, Bhima, Shatpatra, Skaddala Padma,
Wari Chakra
Vedas (late Upanishads): Medhra
Sacral chakra