How Many Chakras Are There? The Complete 114 Chakra System Explained
Beyond the 7 main chakras, understand the full 114 chakra system and its structure
There are 114 chakras in the human body according to advanced yogic traditions. This includes 7 major chakras, 21 minor chakras, and 86 micro chakras forming a subtle energy system. The familiar seven are just the primary centres commonly taught.
Yogic traditions identify chakras as centres of subtle energy along the spine, each with particular qualities and associations. The common teaching highlights seven primary chakras, but classical texts describe many more. This wider system includes over one hundred chakras, which can confuse those expecting a fixed number.
Most popular sources focus only on the seven chakras, omitting the wider network described in classical and contemporary yogic teachings. Readers often find contradictory numbers or incomplete lists elsewhere.
This article clarifies the total number of chakras, explains their classification, and presents how the 114 chakra system fits into human subtle anatomy. It separates documented yogic tradition from modern popularisation.
How Many Chakras Are There? The Complete 114 Chakra System
There are 114 chakras in the human body according to advanced yogic traditions. This system includes the 7 major chakras, 21 minor chakras, and 86 micro chakras distributed throughout the subtle anatomy.
The 7 major chakras are the primary centres located along the spine, from the base to the crown of the head. These are the most widely known and commonly taught in yoga and meditation practices.
Beyond these, the 21 minor chakras are found in the hands, feet, knees, and other joints. They support the major chakras by regulating finer aspects of physical and subtle body functions.
Scattered across the body are 86 micro chakras, which are smaller energy centres that manage subtle processes and maintain the flow of prāṇa (life force) at a detailed level.
Outside the physical body, yogic texts also describe 6 external chakras positioned in the auric field. These are less commonly mentioned but play a role in connecting the individual to the external environment.
The familiar seven-chakra system is a simplified framework. It serves as the foundation for most meditation and healing practices, while the complete 114 chakra system presents a comprehensive map of the subtle body.
Chakra Numbers
The exact count and classification of chakras vary across texts, but the 114-chakra system is a recognised tradition in advanced yogic teachings.
The Seven Primary Chakras and Their Functions
The human body has seven main chakras located along the spine, each with a traditional Sanskrit name and associated colour. These chakras regulate key physical, emotional and spiritual functions.
The seven primary chakras aligned along the spine with their Sanskrit names
Starting at the base of the spine is the Muladhara (Root chakra), coloured red (#B5473A). It governs survival instincts, grounding, and physical stability.
Next is the Svadhisthana (Sacral chakra), orange (#D2762F), linked to creativity, sexuality, and emotional balance.
Above that is the Manipura (Solar Plexus chakra), yellow (#C9A227), responsible for personal power, confidence, and digestion.
The Anahata (Heart chakra), green (#4B8B5C), governs love, compassion, and respiratory function.
The Vishuddha (Throat chakra), blue (#3B7EA1), relates to communication and expression.
Higher on the forehead is the Ajna (Third Eye chakra), indigo (#43408A), associated with intuition and mental clarity.
At the crown of the head, the Sahasrara (Crown chakra), violet (#7A5AA6), connects to spirituality and consciousness.
Each chakra has a specific number of petals (lotus petals) often bearing Sanskrit letters. These petals symbolise the chakra’s qualities and sounds used in meditation.
The seven-chakra system and its rainbow colour coding are a modern popularisation, especially in Western practices. Traditional texts vary in colour assignments and the number of chakras described.
Chakra Petals
Petal counts vary; for example, the Root chakra has 4 petals, while the Crown chakra is represented with 1,000 petals in classical texts.
Minor and Micro Chakras in the 114 Chakra System
Beyond the seven main chakras, the 114 chakra system includes 21 minor chakras and 86 micro chakras. The minor chakras are located at key joints and organs such as the knees, wrists, liver and heart, acting as secondary energy centres.
Micro chakras are smaller centres scattered throughout the body, especially in connective tissues and the skin. They are not commonly named individually but form a network of subtle points influencing the overall energy balance.
While classical yogic texts focus primarily on the main chakras, tantric scriptures and many modern yogic teachings describe these additional centres. They are understood to support the main chakras by regulating finer aspects of prana distribution and subtle body functions.
The minor and micro chakras do not have standardised lists like the main seven, but the total count of 114 chakras includes these categories: 7 major, 21 minor, and 86 micro. This classification explains how the system accounts for so many centres beyond the well-known seven.
These additional chakras have practical relevance for advanced chakra work. Practitioners who develop sensitivity to subtle sensations often notice effects linked to minor chakras during joint movement or organ-focused meditation. Micro chakras are engaged in detailed energy healing and breathwork practices.
Common confusion
Minor and micro chakras are less described in ancient texts, so many Western sources omit them or treat them as symbolic. Their detailed roles come from tantric and contemporary yogic systems.
Understanding minor and micro chakras helps explain why some practitioners feel energy shifts beyond the main seven centres. It also clarifies the larger scale of the subtle body’s energy network.
For a thorough list of the 114 chakras and their locations, see How Many Chakras Are There? The Complete Energy Guide.
Nadis and the Subtle Energy Network
Nadis are subtle channels that carry prana, the life force, throughout the body. Yogic tradition counts about 72,000 nadis, split evenly with 36,000 on the left and 36,000 on the right side.
These channels intersect the chakras, which act as nodes regulating the flow of prana. The interaction between chakras and nadis forms the basis of subtle energy physiology in yoga.
The large number 72,000 comes from classical texts and represents the complexity of the subtle body rather than a literal anatomical count. It emphasises the vast, intricate network supporting physical and mental functions.
Blockages or imbalances in nadis can disrupt prana flow, which yogic theory associates with physical, emotional or spiritual difficulties. Clearing these channels through practices like pranayama and meditation is central to yoga.
Each chakra links to multiple nadis, creating pathways for prana to enter and exit the subtle energy centres. This connectivity explains how chakras influence the entire energetic system, not just isolated points.
Subtle anatomy fact
The 72,000 nadis include the three principal ones: Ida (left, lunar), Pingala (right, solar), and Sushumna (central). The chakras align along Sushumna in the spine.
This detailed nadi network complements the 114 chakra system, forming a complex map of the body’s subtle anatomy. It clarifies the total chakras in the human body are part of a wider energetic matrix essential to yogic practice.
For more on how the chakras and prana channels interrelate, see What Are Chakras? The Complete Guide to Energy Centers.
The Chakra Petals and Sanskrit Letters Explained
Each chakra features a specific number of petals or lobes, representing subtle energy channels or vibrations. The root chakra (Muladhara) has 4 petals, sacral (Svadhisthana) 6, solar plexus (Manipura) 10, heart (Anahata) 12, throat (Vishuddha) 16, third eye (Ajna) 2, and crown (Sahasrara) is unique with 1,000 petals.
These petals symbolise the movement and flow of prana within the chakra. They open and close depending on the chakra’s state of balance or blockage, reflecting energetic activity.
Each petal carries a Sanskrit letter, which corresponds to a subtle sound or bija mantra. These sounds are thought to be the vibrational essence of the chakra’s qualities. For instance, the sacral chakra’s six petals bear six specific Sanskrit syllables, each linked to an aspect of its energy.
This system of petals and letters originates in tantric and yogic texts where sound and form interplay in the subtle body. Meditating on these letters or chanting their sounds is a traditional way to stimulate and harmonise the chakras.
Activating and Working with the Full Chakra System
The best practice to clear the chakra system combines meditation, breathwork, sound, and movement to address all 114 chakras. Meditation focuses first on the seven major chakras, then gradually includes minor and micro chakras by visualising their locations and colours.
Pranayama, or controlled breathing, supports chakra clearing by moving prana through nadis and chakras. Techniques like Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) help balance the subtle channels and prepare the practitioner for deeper chakra work.
Sound healing uses mantras linked to the Sanskrit letters on chakra petals. Chanting bija mantras such as “Lam” for the root chakra or “Om” for the crown resonates with their vibrations, aiding in opening and balancing.
Yoga postures can target minor chakras by focusing on specific body areas. For example, hip-opening poses stimulate the sacral region, while throat-opening postures support Vishuddha. Engaging minor chakras in movement brings more subtle balance and awareness.
Balancing the full chakra system benefits physical, emotional, and mental well-being by promoting subtle harmony and clearing blockages. Practising regularly encourages a more stable and responsive subtle body, which complements health and mindfulness.
Common Chakra Number Myths vs Documented Facts
| Commonly claimed | Actually |
|---|---|
| There are only seven chakras in the human body. | Traditional texts describe different numbers; the popular seven come from modern Western adaptations and yogic summaries. |
| The 114 chakra system is mentioned in all classical yogic texts. | The 114 chakras appear in advanced tantric and yogic traditions, not all classical sources, which vary in chakra count. |
| Each chakra corresponds directly to a physical organ. | Chakras are subtle centres of consciousness or prana; physical organ links are symbolic and vary by interpretation. |
| Activating all 114 chakras is a simple meditation step. | Working with all 114 chakras requires complex practices involving breath, sound, and movement, not just meditation alone. |
| Nadis and chakras are the same system. | Nadis are channels or pathways, while chakras are energy centres; they interrelate but are distinct components. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Reading
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- Is Chakra Witchcraft? The Truth About Energy Systems — Clarifies misconceptions about chakras
- The meaning of black-grey in the chakra system — Discusses chakra colour variations
- How Many Minutes Should I Meditate My Root Chakra? — Guides on root chakra meditation duration
The article covers subtle chakra systems and does not address medical advice; consult professionals for health concerns.