The Muladhara Chakra Dhyana Mantra is a meditative invocation focused on the root chakra, the foundational energy center in the subtle body according to Tantric and Yogic traditions. The primary beej (seed) mantra associated with Muladhara is 'LAM' (लं), which represents the earth element (prithvi tattva) and is considered the sound vibration that stabilizes and grounds consciousness. This mantra is detailed in classical texts such as the 'Shat-Chakra-Nirupana' (a key chapter in the 'Tantra-Tattva' or 'Serpent Power' by Sir John Woodroffe, based on the 'Shiva Samhita' and 'Yoga Kundalini Upanishad') and the 'Mantra Mahodadhi' (a 19th-century compendium of mantras). According to the 'Shat-Chakra-Nirupana', the Muladhara chakra is depicted as a four-petaled lotus of crimson hue, with each petal bearing a Sanskrit letter (va, śa, ṣa, sa).
The deity presiding over this chakra is Brahma, and the Shakti is Dakini. In some traditions, Ganesha is also associated with Muladhara as the remover of obstacles to spiritual ascent. The beej mantra 'LAM' is chanted to awaken the dormant Kundalini energy coiled at the base of the spine, promoting feelings of security, stability, and survival instinct. The 'Yoga Kundalini Upanishad' (verse 1.1) describes the Muladhara as the support of all other chakras, and meditation on this center with the mantra 'LAM' is recommended for grounding and for overcoming fear and anxiety.
Traditional practice involves chanting 'LAM' or the full dhyana mantra (often a verse describing the chakra's form) 108 times daily, preferably at sunrise or during a calm meditative session, seated in a stable posture like Siddhasana. The practitioner visualizes a yellow square (the earth element) with a downward-pointing triangle, an elephant, and the four-petaled lotus. Cautions include avoiding overstimulation of this chakra without proper guidance, as it can lead to excessive attachment to material security. The mantra is best received through initiation from a qualified guru, as per the 'Mantra-Yoga-Samhita' which emphasizes the importance of guru-parampara for effective mantra siddhi.
Salutations to the root support, the Muladhara, with the seed syllable Lam.
The beej mantra 'Laṁ' (लं) is the seed-syllable for the earth element (pṛthvī tattva) and the Muladhara chakra. It consists of the consonant 'l' combined with the nasalized vowel 'aṃ', representing stability and grounding.