Vishuddha

[citation needed] According to Hindu tradition, this chakra is described as having a "white color" with sixteen "purple" or "smoke-colored petals."

In the bindu, or point above the mantra, resides the deity Sadashiva, who has 5 faces, representing the spectrum of smell, taste, sight, touch, and sound and 10 arms.

He is holding a trident, chisel, sword, vajra, fire, a great snake, a bell, a goad, and a noose, and is making the gesture of dissipating fear.

His Shakti is Shakini, who is shining white, seated on a red lotus, and with five faces, three eyes each, and four-armed, with a bow and arrow, noose, and goad.

[citation needed] Meditation upon this chakra is said to bring about various siddhis or occult powers: vision of the three periods, past, present and future; freedom from disease and old age; destruction of dangers; and the ability to move the three worlds.

It is described as having 16 red or white petals that correspond to the virtues of respect, contentment, offense, self-control, pride, affection, sorrow, depression, purity, dissatisfaction, honor and anxiety.

When Vishuddha is inactive, this nectar is allowed to run downwards into Manipura and consumed, resulting in physical degeneration.

[3][better source needed] In kundalini yoga, vishuddha can be opened and balanced through practices including asanas (such as shoulder-stand), pranayama, jalandhara bandha (throat lock), and khecarī mudrā.