7 Facts About Chakra Meditation You Never Knew

One of the most popular meditation techniques in the world is Chakra Dhyana. Millions of people practice opening their chakras because of the holistic wellness benefits that it is said to bring. But there are many surprising facts about chakras that most people don’t know, some of which will truly shock you.

In this article, I’m going to share 7 facts about chakras that you never knew.

1) How Many Chakras Are There

Everyone seems to have come to the belief that there are seven chakras in the human body. Now, first of all there is no proof that chakras exist at all. But I don’t think that’s the end of the story because there are many aspects of spirituality that are beyond the realm of science. What does matter, however, is the fact that there might not be seven chakras, specifically.

If you look at classical spiritual texts you’ll find that there are in fact many different theories on the number of chakras. Buddhist Tantra uses a five chakra system. Esoteric texts include systems of 8, 9, 11, and other numbers of chakras. The seven chakra system we now take as gospel comes from the Shat Chakra Nirupana (written around the 16th century) and the Pudaka-Pancaka. It was popularised in the 20th Century by New Age writers like C.W. Leadbeater and later Anodea Judith, who wrote two of the bestselling chakra books.

2) Chakra Colours Didn’t Exist Until The 1970’s

Everyone who practices chakra meditation visualizes the colours of the chakras, such as the root chakra being red or the Third Eye chakra being indigo. But in fact the chakras didn’t have colors at all until the last century. If you look at the Shat Chakra Nirupana and Goraksha Shataka you will not find any mention of colours.

So where do the chakra colours come from? They’re a modern addition to the system made by numerous authors such as Christopher Hills around the 1970s. These authors gave chakras colours to bring them more inline with Western ideas like Colour Therapy and Aura Therapy.

That said, I do think that there is value in giving the chakras colours. We subconsciously associate colours with different emotions or states of mind, such as indigo (the colour of the Third Eye) being associated with spirituality, and yellow (solar plexus chakra) being associated with self esteem and willpower.

3) They Never Were Discs

Chakras were not originally seen as spinning discs as they are today. In traditional Tantric texts and Buddhist meditation, chakras are visualized as lotus flowers, each with a set number of petals, colors, and sacred syllables. These lotuses are symbolic mandalas, not physical or energetic wheels. For example, the heart chakra (Anahata) is depicted as a green lotus with 12 petals, containing a hexagram formed by two interlaced triangles, representing balance between male and female energies.

The idea of chakras as spinning colored discs emerged in the 20th century, particularly through Western esoteric teachers like Christopher Hills, who linked chakras to rainbow colors and emotional states. This change was designed to make the chakra system more visual, accessible, and therapeutic in modern spirituality and psychology.

The transformation reflects a shift from liberation-based Tantric practice to a self-help and wellness framework, adapting ancient symbols for modern needs.

4) Chakras Weren’t Meant for Healing

Today, chakra meditation is often practiced as a form of energy healing. People believe that opening, aligning, or balancing chakras can lead to physical and emotional health. But this idea is actually very modern.

Traditionally, chakras weren’t used for healing at all. In Tantric texts like the Kubjikamata Tantra, chakras were part of a spiritual map to liberation and enlightenment. The purpose of working with chakras was to raise kundalini energy through the central channel (sushumna) to achieve moksha, or spiritual liberation—not to heal your back pain or anxiety. Healing only entered the picture once chakras were adapted for the Western wellness market.

5) The Locations Aren’t Anatomical

Most people today think of chakras as being physically located in the body, like “the heart chakra is in the chest” or “the third eye is between the eyebrows.” But traditionally, chakras were subtle energy centers, not physical spots. They were visualized in subtle body maps used for inner yogic practice—not dissected on a biological chart. Chakras exist in the sukshma sharira, the subtle or energetic body described in Indian philosophy, which overlaps the physical body but isn’t confined by it. Their “locations” are symbolic points of awareness, not anatomical facts.

6) Chakras Weren’t Universal in Indian Tradition

Although chakras are widely associated with “Indian spirituality,” they were never a central part of all Indian traditions and are not a core part of yogic meditation.

For example, early Vedic texts don’t mention chakras at all—they only speak of prana and nadis, the energetic roots from which later chakra theory would emerge. Even the word “yoga” first appears centuries later, in the Upanishads, and referred to meditative stillness rather than energy centers.

The chakra system itself was developed much later, within Tantric traditions—particularly those tied to Hatha Yoga and Kundalini Yoga. So when people say “chakras are part of yoga,” it’s only true for some branches, that’s not wholly accurate.

7) They were originally part of a dangerous practice

Working with chakras wasn’t always seen as gentle or healing—it could be dangerous. In traditional Kundalini practices, awakening energy through the chakras was a powerful and disruptive force, often requiring strict initiation and years of preparatory discipline. Without proper guidance, premature Kundalini awakening could lead to emotional turmoil, mental disturbance, or energetic imbalance. Today’s casual approach to chakra work glosses over this risk and sanitizes the practice into something much safer—but also less spiritually rigorous.

Final Thoughts

Chakras have come a long way—from ancient lotus symbols to rainbow-coloured discs floating on Instagram. A lot has changed, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Systems evolve because people change. What matters is that your practice feels meaningful, grounded, and true to you.

Whether you follow the classic texts or vibe with the modern rainbow version, chakra meditation is still a powerful tool for self-exploration. Just remember: you don’t need to believe everything you’re told—especially when it comes to something as personal as energy.

If you enjoyed learning the surprising truths behind chakra meditation, subscribe and come back for more. I’ve got plenty more spiritual myths to bust—and a few sacred truths to honour too.