Alternative spellings of this word include Anandachakra.

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Ānandacakra (आनन्दचक्र) refers to the “cycle of bliss”, according to Tantric texts such as the Manthānabhairavatantra—a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—In his transcendent, solitary state, the bliss the god experiences does not satisfy him. He is not so completely absorbed in the joy of contemplation that there is no room left for reflection. His desire to know his own foundation is a product of his sense of incompleteness that leads to the externalization of his energy which, within him is bliss and outside becomes desire. This desire leads to the coupling of the two, namely, the god who desires and the goddess who is the embodiment of that desire. The coupling generates the cycle of bliss (ānandacakra) which both partners experience as the rite of adoration (pūjā) through which the world is created.

2) Ānandacakra (आनन्दचक्र) refers to the “wheel of bliss”, according to the Kularatnoddyota, one of the earliest Kubjikā Tantras.—Accordingly, “[...] The Lord of the gods, whose nature is beyond conception contemplated his own imperishable, and sacred nature, (the Self) of the venerable Wheel of Bliss (śrīmad-ānandacakra). [...]”.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: WikiPedia: Tibetan Buddhism

Ānandacakra (आनन्दचक्र) (“wheel of joy”) in Sanskrit refers to the Gankyil (དགའ་འཁྱིལ་) in Tibetan.—It is a symbol and ritual tool used in Tibetan and East Asian Buddhism. It is composed of three swirling and interconnected blades. The gankyil as inner wheel of the dharmachakra is depicted on the Flag of Sikkim, Joseon, and is also depicted on the Flag of Tibet.

Wallace (2001: p. 77) identifies the ānandacakra with the heart of the “cosmic body” of which Mount Meru is the epicentre:—“In the center of the summit of Mt Meru, there is the inner lotus (garbha-padma) of the Bhagavan Kalacakra, which has sixteen petals and constitutes the bliss-cakra (ānanda-cakra) of the cosmic body.”

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Cakra, Ananda.

Ends with: Shrimadanandacakra.

Full-text: Gankyil.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Anandacakra, Ānandacakra, Ananda-cakra, Ānanda-cakra; (plurals include: Anandacakras, Ānandacakras, cakras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)

Verse 66 [Mūrti, Prakāśa and Ānanda Cakras] < [Chapter 2 - Second Vimarśa]

Verse 67 [Bhogya-vigraha] < [Chapter 2 - Second Vimarśa]

Verse 110 [Bhūcarī governs Ānandacakra] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]

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