Hi there! 😊

Recall my earlier articles where we mixed philosophy with code, like this one on SwiftUI Philosophy and Big-O Notation? Well, here I am, once again, trying to stitch together the spiritual and digital worlds. This time, let’s dive into the mystical world of chakras, straight from the ancient Indian scriptures, and draw parallels with the logical world of data structures.

Understanding Chakras

Derived from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘wheel’ or ‘disk’, chakras are envisioned as spinning wheels or energy vortexes located along the spine, from the base up to the crown of the head. Central to various yogic, tantric, and meditation practices, chakras are thought to channel cosmic and spiritual energies.

Vedas & The Chakra’s Connection

The Vedas, Hinduism’s oldest religious texts, provide the foundation for the concept of chakras. Although primarily discussed in the Upanishads - which delve into Vedic teachings - chakras are elaborated profoundly in the Tantras. These texts cover rituals, temple constructions, and meditation, displaying the depth of chakra knowledge from thousands of years ago.

Analogizing Chakras with Data Structures

Just as chakras influence our holistic being, data structures underpin the organization and processing in software applications. Let’s embark on this journey, drawing analogies between chakras and Swift data structures.

1. Muladhara (Root Chakra)

Data Structure Analog: Array

Like the foundation provided by the Root Chakra, an array is a basic structure. It offers a collection of items stored at contiguous memory locations.

Swift Example:

var fruits: [String] = ["apple", "orange", "grape"]
print(fruits[0])  // Outputs: apple

2. Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra)

Data Structure Analog: Linked List

The sacral chakra deals with flow and flexibility. Similarly, a linked list consists of nodes where each node contains an item and a reference (or link) to the next node in the sequence.

Swift Example:

class Node {
    var value: Int
    var next: Node?
    
    init(value: Int) {
        self.value = value
    }
}

3. Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra)

Data Structure Analog: Stack

Representing personal power and the ability to channel, the Solar Plexus aligns with a Stack that follows the Last In First Out (LIFO) principle.

Swift Example:

struct Stack {
    private var items = [Int]()
    
    mutating func push(_ item: Int) {
        items.append(item)
    }
    
    mutating func pop() -> Int? {
        return items.popLast()
    }
}

4. Anahata (Heart Chakra)

Data Structure Analog: Queue

The Heart Chakra, associated with love and connection, is reminiscent of a Queue which operates on the First In First Out (FIFO) principle, representing the flow of love and compassion we give and receive.

Swift Example:

struct Queue {
    private var items = [String]()
    
    mutating func enqueue(_ item: String) {
        items.append(item)
    }
    
    mutating func dequeue() -> String? {
        if items.isEmpty {
            return nil
        } else {
            return items.removeFirst()
        }
    }
}

5. Vishuddha (Throat Chakra)

Data Structure Analog: Tree

The Throat Chakra is about expression and finding one’s unique voice. Similarly, a Tree, with its hierarchical structure, displays various paths of values, each branching out to express its distinct set of values.

Swift Example:

class TreeNode {
    var value: String
    var children: [TreeNode] = []
    
    init(value: String) {
        self.value = value
    }
    
    func addChild(_ node: TreeNode) {
        children.append(node)
    }
}

6. Ajna (Third Eye Chakra)

Data Structure Analog: Graph

Associated with intuition, insight, and interconnectedness, the Third Eye Chakra closely mirrors a Graph that represents interconnected elements without any strict hierarchy, symbolizing the vast web of insights and intuitions.

Swift Example:

class GraphNode {
    var value: String
    var neighbors: [GraphNode]
    
    init(value: String, neighbors: [GraphNode] = []) {
        self.value = value
        self.neighbors = neighbors
    }
}

7. Sahasrara (Crown Chakra)

Data Structure Analog: Hash Table

The Crown Chakra, embodying universal consciousness and infinite possibility, is analogous to a Hash Table. The hash table, with its key-value pairs, represents the idea of distinct individuals (keys) having their unique spiritual paths (values) within the vast cosmos.

Swift Example:

struct HashTable<Key: Hashable, Value> {
    private var storage: [Key: Value] = [:]
    
    mutating func insert(_ value: Value, for key: Key) {
        storage[key] = value
    }
    
    func value(for key: Key) -> Value? {
        return storage[key]
    }
}

Each chakra, with its unique characteristics, resonates with a distinct data structure in Swift. Making these connections bridges the ancient spiritual wisdom with the structured logic of modern programming, fostering a deeper appreciation for both domains.