Anahata (Sanskrit: अनाहत, Anāhata) is the fourth primary chakra

according to the Hindu Yogic, Shakta) and Buddhist Tantric traditions.

In Sanskrit the word anahata means unhurt, unstruck and unbeaten. Anahata Nad refers to the Vedic concept of unstruck sound, the sound of the celestial realm. Ananhata usually is associated with a calm serene sound void of violence.

 

Location: Anahata is said to be located near the region of the heart. Because of its association with touch, it is associated with the skin, and because of its association with actions of the hands, it is associated with the hands. In the endocrine system, Anahata is supposedly associated with the thymus gland, located in the chest

 

Appearance: Anahata is represented by a smoke-grey lotus flower, with 12 petals. Inside of it is a smoke-coloured region that is made from the intersection of 2 triangles, creating a shatkona. The shatkona is a symbol used in Hindu Yantra that represents the union of both the masculine and feminine form. More specifically it is supposed to represent Purusha (the supreme being), and Prakriti (mother nature, or causal matter). Often this is represented as Shiva - Shakti. The deity of this region is Vayu, who is smoke coloured, four-armed, holding a kusha and riding upon an antelope, the animal of this chakra.

 

Function: It is associated with the element of air, the sense of touch, and with actions of the hands.

Anahata is associated with the ability to make decisions outside of the realm of karma. In Manipura and below, man is bound by the laws of karma, and the fate he has in store for him. In Anahata, one is making decisions, 'following your heart', based upon one's higher self, and not from the unfulfilled emotions and desires of lower nature. As such, it is known as the heart chakra.

 

It is also associated with love and compassion, charity to others, and forms of psychic healing.

Meditation on this chakra is said to bring about the following siddhis, or occult powers; he becomes a lord of speech; he is dearer than the dearest to women; his senses are completely under control; and he can enter at will into another's body.