Kundalini Yoga Glossary
Vishuddha
The fifth chakra, located at the throat, governing truth, communication and creative expression.
Meaning
What Vishuddha Means
Vishuddha, or vishuddhi, is the Sanskrit name for the chakra located in the throat area, close to the cervical spine. The name comes from the Sanskrit shuddhi, meaning pure, and the prefix vi, which intensifies the word. Together, vishuddhi means especially pure.
Its themes are truth and communication, vibration, and creation. One of its central concepts is truth: not truth in the abstract, but our own truth, acting and speaking honestly with ourselves and others so that our words and their consequences stay pure.
Vishuddha is associated with the throat, the place from which the voice emanates. The voice is a form of vibration, and in the manual's framing, we are co-authors of the vibration we live in: what we say carries both energy and message.
In Practice
How It’s Used
Vishuddha corresponds to the throat, trachea and neck vertebrae, and to the thyroid gland. Its bij mantra is Ham.
Exercises used to work this chakra include singing mantras, Shoulder Stand, Plow Pose, Camel Pose, Jalandhara Bandha and Half Bridge Pose.
When Vishuddha is balanced, communication is clear, listening is good, and a person is attuned to their surroundings. When it is excessive, a person may talk too much or become loud and scattered. When it is deficient, a person may be shy or find it hard to speak.
