The seven lower chakras...

The seven lower chakras, from highest to lowest, are 1) atala (hips): fear and lust; 2) vitala (thighs): raging anger; 3) sutala (knees): retaliatory jealousy; 4) talatala (calves): prolonged mental confusion; 5) rasatala (ankles): selfishness; 6) mahatala (feet): absence of conscience; 7) patala (located in the soles of the feet): murder and malice. See: pradakshina, Naraka (also: individual chakra entries). Chalukya: (Sanskrit) Indian dynasty (450-1189) in the Punjab area.

Buddhism and Saivism were prominent. This dynasty completed the Buddhist Ajanta Cave frescoes and advanced the art of Hindu temple building. chandana: (Sanskrit) "Sandalwood paste." One of the sacred substances offered during puja and afterwards distributed to devotees as a sacrament (prasada). Chandas Vedanga: (Sanskrit) Auxiliary Vedic texts on the metrical rules of poetic writing. Chanda, meter, is among four linguistic skills taught for mastery of the Vedas and the rites of yajna.

Chandas means "desire; will; metrical science." The most important text on Chandas is the Chanda Shastra, ascribed to Pingala (ca 200 bce). See: Vedanga. Chandogya Upanishad: (Sanskrit) One of the major Upanishads, it consists of eight chapters of the Chandogya Brahmana of the Sama Veda. It teaches the origin and significance of Aum, the importance of the Sama Veda, the Self, meditation and life after death. See: Upanishad.

chandra: (Sanskrit) "The moon." Of central importance in Hindu astrology and in the calculation of the festival calendar. Considered the ruler of emotion. Charvaka: (Sanskrit) "Good or sweet voice or word." Indian philosopher (ca 600 bce) who fashioned the school of pure materialism bearing his name. One of the great skeptics of all time. See: nastika. charya pada: (Sanskrit) "Conduct stage." Stage of service and character building. See: pada, Saiva Siddhanta, Saivism.

chaturdharma: (Sanskrit) "Four dharmas:" rita, ashrama dharma, varna dharma and svadharma. See: dharma. chela: (Sanskrit) "Disciple." (Hindi.) A disciple of a guru; synonym for shishya. The feminine equivalent is chelina or cheli. Chellappaswami: (Tamil) "Wealthy father." Reclusive siddha and 160th satguru (1840-1915) of the Nandinatha Sampradaya's Kailasa Parampara, he lived on Sri Lanka's Jaffna peninsula near Nallur Kandaswami Temple in a small hut where today there is a small samadhi shrine.

Among his disciples was Sage Yogaswami, whom he trained intensely for five years and initiated as his successor.