The Spiritual Body & The Third Eye or “Ajna” Chakra

Just as there exists the physiology of the human body, as understood by modern science, there also exists a complete and complex energy system of the human body, which is understood in great depth by yogic physiology. 

An important contribution to this experience is the awakening of the seven “chakras” or the energy centers in the human body.  These chakras are manifestations of specific convergences of the “nadis” or energy pathways of the body, each chakra creating a completely different dimension of experience and possibilities.

The Seven Chakras:

Muladhara chakra, located at the base of the spine, represents the manifestation of the individual consciousness into human form, that is physical birth. This chakra encompasses the planes of genesis, illusion, anger, greed, and sensuality.  The desire for more experience and information act as a dominating force, a basic impetus for individual development. This foundation chakra is the root of all growth and awareness of the divinity of man.  It in its yantra form represents the earth itself.

Swadhisthana chakra is located a little above the genitals.  It is dominated by the element of water, the very essence of life. This chakra is the centre of procreation, which is directly related with the moon.  Centering on this chakra enables the mind to reflect the world as the moon reflects the sun.  One acquires the ability to use creative and sustaining energy to elevate oneself to refined arts and pure relationships with others, having become free of lust, anger, greed and unsettledness.  This chakra can be termed as the dwelling place of the self or the abode.  Elevation from the first to the second chakra brings a lunar awareness, reflecting the divine grace of creation and preservation.

Manipuraka chakra is located a little below the navel, the seat of fire within the body.  It aids in digestion and absorption of food and thus provides the whole body with the vital energy needed for survival.  The motivational energy of this chakra impels the person to develop his ego, his identity in the world.  The plane of this chakra encompasses karma, good company, bad company, selfless service, sorrow, the plane of dharma and the celestial plane.  Since the nature of fire is to move upward, when properly tuned it leads the sadhaka in the right direction towards liberation.

Anahata Chakra is the heart chakra,, the seat of balance within the body.  This chakra expands in all dimensions and directions as a six-pointed star, air being its tathwa, the vital life breath.  Once centered in the fourth chakra, one evolves beyond circumstantial and environmental limitation to become independent and self- emanating.  Divine vision evolves with pure sounds in this chakra, bringing a balance of action and joy.  This chakra encompasses ‘sudharma’, good tendency and the planes of sanctity, balance and fragrance.

Vishuddhi chakra is the seat of sound in the body, located in the throat.  One who enters this chakra becomes master of his entire self.  Here all elements or tathwas dissolve into pure and self luminous akasha.  Akasha embodies the essence of all five elements; it is without color, smell, taste, touch or form- free of all gross elements.  Only tanmatras remain, the subtle frequencies of those elements.  Supreme reasoning overcomes the elements and the emotions of the heart for the person centered in this chakra.  Purification is the vital aspect of this chakra, leading one on the path of divinity.

Ajna chakra termed as the third eye is situated between the eyebrows.  The person evolved through Ajna chakra reveals the divine within and reflects divinity within others.  The third eye is the consciousness revealing the insight of the future.  Negative and positive, the components of duality merge, leaving a state of pure grace and neutrality.  This brings a sense of oneness and unity with the cosmic laws that appear in the plane of austerity.  The mind reaches a state of undifferentiated cosmic awareness.  All duality ceases.

Sahasrar, the thousand petalled lotus, also called as Shoonya (empty or void) is located at the top of the head.  In this chakra, the prana moves upward and reaches the highest point leading one to liberation.  The yogi here is sat-chit-ananda, truth-being-bliss.  The union is achieved.  He becomes a siddha but has transcended the desire to manifest those wishes.

Sadhguru Explains:  “What do these seven dimensions represent?  If your energy is dominant in the Muladhara, then food and sleep will be the most dominant factors in your life.  If the dominant is the Swadhistana, pleasure will be the most dominant in your life.  You will seek pleasure and enjoy the physical reality.  If your energy is dominant in Manipuraka, you are a doer- you will do many things in the world.  If it is dominant in Anahata, you are a very creative person.  If your energy is dominant in Vishuddhi, you become a very powerful person. 

If your energy is dominant in Ajna, you become peaceful.  If you attain to Ajna, then you’re realized (enlightened) intellectually.  You’re not realized experientially, but a certain peace and stability arises within you irrespective of what is happening outside of you. If your energy moves into Sahasrar you will explode into unexplained ecstasy. 

Whatever experiences happen within you, it’s just a certain expression of your life energies.  Anger, misery, peace, joy, ecstasy….are all different levels of expression for the same energy.  These are the seven dimensions through which one can find expression.”

Cosmic Energy and Life Energy

Vast reserves of unmanifest energies exist in latent form not only in every human being but also in every atom of the universe.  This energy is referred to as Kundalini, symbolized as a coiled serpent lying at the base of the spine.  Often, an individual’s Kundalini energy lies dormant throughout a lifetime and the person is unaware of its existence.  The object of yoga is to awaken this cosmic energy.

This latent cosmic energy, which lies at the base of the spinal column, can be aroused and made to reach higher energy centres only when the nadis or the subtle channels of the body are clear.  There are 72,000 nadis in the human system.  Though attempts have been made to identify these energy pathways within the anatomy of the physical body, they are unfathomable to direct empirical observation.  If the nadis could be revealed to the eye, the body would appear as a highly complex network of energy. 

The most important of the nadis is the central channel, Sushmna, and its two flanking channels, the Ida on the left, and the Pingala, on the right.  The Sushmna runs from just below Muladhara, the base chakra, and extends to the forehead through the spinal column.  The Sushmna nadi remains closed at its lower end as long as the Kundalini is not awakened.

When kindled, the Kundalini moves through successive chakras or psychic centres until it reaches the highest, the seventh chakra or the Sahasrar.  The process of yoga results in the peaking of each chakra, leading to an experience of a dimension beyond the five senses.  To awaken the chakras to a higher level of intensity requires tremendous energies, awareness and skill.

Through the nadis of the Ida and Pingala, through the seven chakras and the wide range of manifestation and experience life has happened.  The many forms of life, the many levels of life, the many ways of experiencing life are there in the world only because of this duality and the seven chakras or the seven dimensions of life.