Chakra 3 of 7 · Solar Plexus Chakra
Manipura — मणिपूर
maṇi (“jewel”) + pūra (“city, abundance of”) — the “city of jewels.”
Location: At the navel, or just above it.
Element: Agni (Fire)
Sense: Sight
Bija mantra: रं (raṃ)
The yantra at its centre
A fiery red, upward-pointing triangle representing Agni, marked on each side with a small swastika (an ancient auspicious mark, unrelated to and long predating its 20th-century political misappropriation).
Deity and Shakti
Every chakra below Sahasrara is traditionally described with a presiding deity and a goddess (Shakti) specific to that centre.
Presiding deity
Agni (Vahni), the fire deity, presides here; Rudra is also described as present nearby in some accounts.
Shakti — Lakini
Described as red-complexioned, seated within the fire triangle, associated with courage and transformation.
Vahana (vehicle)
A ram — associated with Agni's heat, drive and momentum.
Worth knowing
This is the centre classical texts most consistently associate with personal will, digestion, and inner transformation — the point where raw intention turns into directed action.
How this fits the wider system
Manipura is the third of the seven chakras in the system popularised by the 16th-century Shatchakra Nirupana. See the full seven-chakra overview for how all seven relate to each other, including which parts of the popular modern chakra system (like the rainbow colour scheme) are much later additions rather than classical tradition.
Frequently asked questions
What does Manipura mean in Sanskrit?
maṇi (“jewel”) + pūra (“city, abundance of”) — the “city of jewels.”
Where is Manipura traditionally located?
At the navel, or just above it.
Is Manipura a scientifically recognised body part?
No — like the other chakras, Manipura is a concept from traditional Tantric and Yogic literature, not an anatomical structure recognised in modern medicine.