Mooladhara Chakra, the first chakra begins at the base of the spine. This is the foundation of the entire system. It can be said that this is the building block on which all the other chakras must rest. So this chakra is of crucial importance. It relates to the element earth, and all solid, earthly things, such as the bodies, the health, the survival, the material and monetary existence, and also the ability to focus and manifest the needs. It is the manifestation of consciousness in its final form i.e. solid and tangible.

Element of Mooladhara Chakra
In this system, earth represents form and solidity, the most condensed state of matter and the `lowest` end of our chakra spectrum. It is visualized as a deep, vibrant red, the color of beginning, and the color with the longest wavelength and slowest vibration in the visible spectrum as well. The sciatic nerve, traveling from the sacral plexus down through the legs, is the largest peripheral nerve in the body and functions much like a root for the nervous system. The feet and legs, which provide locomotion, enable us to perform tasks necessary to obtain life sustenance from the earth and its environment. The legs touch the ground below us and connect our nervous system with the earth, which is the first chakra element. This stem keeps us connected to our planet, rooted in material existence.

Petals of Mooladhara Chakra
This center is depicted, as a lotus of four petals within which is a square. This can be seen as representing the four directions and the firm foundation of the material world, which in many systems has come to be symbolized by a square. As the first chakra relates to Malkuth, the base sphere is in the Kabbalistic tree of Life. These four petals also reflect the four elements of the material kingdom.

Seat of Mooladhara Chakra
Within this square there is a small triangle pointing downward from a column of energy representing the Sushumna. This represents the earth-oriented downward force of the chakra. Within the triangle there is the Kundalini serpent wrapped around the Shiva lingam, which points upward. This chakra is the home and resting place of Kundalini. Below the triangle there is a seven-trunked elephant, named Airavata, representing the heavy, matter-like quality of this chakra and the seven pathways out of it. These correspond to the seven chakras as well. The elephant-headed God, Ganesha can be associated with Lord of Obstacles, with this center, as he is grounded, full-bellied, and happy with his physicality. Other deities depicted in the square are the five-faced Child Brahma, dispelling fears, and the female Dakini, the manifestation of Shakti at this level. She is carrying spear, sword, cup, and skull. In the center of the square there is the symbol for the seed sound, believed to contain the essence of the chakra, which is lam. These images and sounds are all symbols that can be used in meditation on this chakra.

Location of Mooladhara Chakra
In the body, the first chakra is located at the base of the spine, or more accurately, the perineum, midway between the anus and the genitals. It corresponds to the section of the spine called the coccyx, as well as the coccygeal spinal ganglion and the lower lumbar vertebrae. From the point this ganglion sprouts. In keeping with the correlation to solid matter, this chakra relates to the solid part of the body, especially the bones, the large intestine, and the fleshy body as a whole. There are minor chakras in the knees and feet that transmit sensations from the ground below to our spinal column for information concerning motor activity. These are sub-chakras to the first and second chakras, grounding outlets for the body as a whole.

The chakras have been described as vortices of energy. At the level of the first chakra, our vortex is the densest of any chakra level. It is tamas at its essence and that is at rest, inert.