[Mehrbod]

Amesha Spentas & Chakras - Part 1
by: Shahriar Shahriari

► Chakras

Chakras, otherwise knows as the energy centers of the human body, have the function of grounding spiritual energies into the physical plane. There are seven chakras altogether, and these are:
1. The Root Chakra –is our connection to the earth and the physical plane and a symbol of our basic survival needs (location: base of the spine)
2. The Second Chakra –is representative of our creative and procreative urges and drives, including sexuality (location: the genitals)
3. The Third Chakra –is the energy center for power and manifestation (location: solar plexus)
4. The Fourth Chakra – is the energy center for love, both human and divine (location: heart)
5. The Fifth Chakra – is the center for expression and communication (location: throat)
6. The Sixth Chakra – is the center for our psychic powers (location: third eye just above and between the eyebrows)
7. The Crown Chakra – otherwise known as he 1,000 petaled lotus flower is our connection with the Cosmic or the divine (location: top of the head)

To summarize, we can say these chakras represent our basic physical and spiritual needs, which are:
1. Survival & operation
2.Creativity and procreation
3. Manifestation of desires
4. Love
5. Communication and expression
6. Psychic connections and powers
7. Divine connection

Furthermore, it is understood that all these energy centers are connected with each other through a channel that runs from the Crown Chakra to the Root Chakra. The purpose of this system is to create a mechanism that on an energetic level can manifest the divine into the physical plane.

There are similarities between this system which is mainly based on Hindu spirituality and Christian spirituality in the form of the Seven Sacraments and Jewish spirituality in the form of the Tree of Life as described in the Cabala. The question addressed here is since the Chakra system seems to be one representation of a universal system, then is there any equivalence or similarity between this system and Zoroastrian spirituality?

And the answer is yes. The Zoroastrian representation is found in the Amesha Spentas.


► Amesha Spentas (the holy immortals)

Although in post-Zarathushtra Zoroastrianism the Amesha Spentas were mythologized to attain angelic status, in the Gathas, Zarathushtra simply refers to them as aspects of the divine or divine emanations. Perhaps if the divine can be represented as a cube, then each of the Amesha Spentas can be thought of as one face of the cube.

For Zarathushtra, the Amesha Spentas were a part and aspect of an elaborate interconnected and interrelated universal system, through which that system was created and based on which that system operates.

According to Zarathushtra, there are six Amesha Spentas, and these are:
1. Asha – The spirit of Truth and Right
2. Vohu Mano – The spirit of the Good Mind
3. Khshatra – The spirit of Holy sovereignty
4.Spenta Armaiti – The spirit of Benevolent Devotion and Love
5. Haurvatat – The spirit of Perfection and Well-Being
6. Ameratat – The spirit of Immortality.

Adhering to these six spirits are necessary if we are to fulfil our role and purpose in this physical world, which according to Zarathushtra is the renovation of the world. Furthermore, any digression from these spirits will be wasteful, and as a result will cause evil to a lesser or greater degree.

These six emanations permeate the operation of the universe both at macrocosmic and microcosmic level. In other words, not only Ahura Mazda created the world based on these six divine emanations, but also we human beings can find these spirits in our selves as part of our essence. What’s more, we can see their operation at the level of every action or project that we undertake.

In simpler terms, the Amesha Spentas can be described as:
1. The Law
2. The Plan or Blueprint
3. Action & Dominion
4. Love and Faith
5. Perfection
6. Immortality and timelessness



Source:
Amesha Spentas & Chakras