Cakras

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The energy centers in the body believed to influence physical, emotional, and spiritual health
2. These spinning wheels of energy represent various aspects of human experience and life force
3. Each of the main points correspond to different functions and energies, affecting overall well-being

Etymology: "Cakras" is the plural of "cakra", the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "disc", which in Hindu and yogic tradition came to name the energy centers along the spine. The noun carries the basic sense of a rotating wheel, and the chakra idea grew from that image of spinning force, with the plural form marking several such centers at once. The Sanskrit form is usually transliterated "cakra" in scholarly work, while English speakers more often write "chakra" with the "ch" spelling that reflects how the word is pronounced. Both spellings point to the same root, so the plural here simply reflects the traditional count of centers that practitioners describe in the body.

Synonyms: wheels, discs