Wednesday 13 July 2011

Ajna - Third Eye Chakra

Ajna Chakra, The Sixth Chakra

Of the seven kundalini chakras the Ajna Chakra is the sixth chakra. Ajna means command. This particular chakra is also known as the third eye and its activation enhances a power of intuitive knowledge. The third eye reveals insight in to the future whereas the physical eyes can only see the past and the present. The ajna chakra is found between the eyebrows in the center of the forehead while being located in the mid-brain on top of the spinal cord. A center with two petals represents the ajna chakra. This center is known as the agnya is located where the two optic nerves intersect in the brain. This center accommodates the pineal and pituitary glands. This manifests itself as the ego and superego within each of us. An assortment of duality is represented by these two petals, masculine and feminine, the ego and the spirit, the reasoning and the intuitive minds, the ida and the pingala and the pineal and pituitary. It is at this point that all dualities unite. The yoni and female energy as well at the linga and male energy is found in the triangle of this chakra. The linga of the first chakra is black and this one is white. The ‘bhrumadhya’ is the trigger point of the ajna and is positioned at the centre of the eyebrow. This is an essential point for practicing concentration, meditation and visualization. Many modern Indian women actually practice ajna chakra meditation without realizing it. This results from wearing a colorful decorative dot in the middle of the forehead and is called a bindi. Originally it provided continual stimulation of the ajna chakra as a physical trigger point. The color of this chakra is indigo and the beej mantra associated with it is the primordial sound of OM.

The Ajna Chakra and Our Awakened Consciousness

The ajna chakra relates to our awareness and is the chakra that inspires the awakening of consciousness. It is also known as the command or guru chakra. The reason for this is that when you receive spiritual initiation it is through the ajna chakra that contact is made. Psychologists consider that the colossal capacities of the brain lie dormant, however when you are awakening it is the energy of the guru that enables you to slowly process the various areas of power. When your ajna chakra is awakened you may find that you develop various practices or experience such powers as telepathy, which is being researched now. This chakra point controls various reflex centers and other vital bodily processes such as your heartbeat and blood pressure as well as your breathing. This centre regulates our eyesight and excessive visual activities such as television, reading, using computers or going to theaters will weaken this area. Likewise, taking on excessive intellectual calisthenics and feta will lead to blockages of this centre and then develops into an excess of ego.

 Third eye Chakra (Ajna Chakra) Explaination

 The benefits of an open ajna chakra include:
  • Freedom of ego
  • Empowered vision
  • Enhanced intuition
  • Guidance and inspiration
  • Enhancement of awareness
  • Strengthening of psychic powers
  • Improvement of health and well being
  • Increased focus and sharpness of mind
  • Capabilities of communicating non verbally
  • Clarity of insight, thoughtfulness and wisdom
  • Promotion of the capacity of lucid dreaming
  • Opening of connections to the higher or guru self
  • Increased empathic powers, the ability to pick up on both the understated and obvious energy fields of others
This level of openness allows one to be aware of the perceptions granted and the ability to usefully interpret them. When this chakra is closed, the experiences resulting can include:
  • Problems of the eye
  • Poor eyesight
  • Headaches
  • Blindness
  • Deafness
  • Strokes
  • Seizures
  • Panic
  • Anxiety
  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Fear of truth
  • Brain tumors
  • Troubled dreams
  • Spinal dysfunctions
  • Learning disabilities
When this chakra is too open with no solid grounds of back up the accompanying experiences may include:
  • Hallucination
  • Confusion from excessive input
  • Over compensating of interpretation of normal daily occurrences
 The Ajna Chakra Meditation Technique

Find a comfortable place to sit in the cross legged position. Set an alarm for 20 minutes. Stretch your spine upwards. Lengthen you neck and slowly bring your chin back and in, similar to a soldier at attention. Breathing through your now you will take 5 deep breaths. This sends oxygen into your bloodstream and relaxes you. Keep your head straight while looking upwards at the third eye area, in the middle of your forehead and just above your eyebrows. This eye position is shambhavi yoga mudra.  You will hold this mudra while closing your eyes. You will rest your hands in a comfortable position such as upon your knees. Remain as still as you possibly can. Inhale deeply while beginning to chant in a steady, slow soft voice the OM manta, pronounced AUM. For an entire exhalation the one single chant of OM (AUM) is sounded. After expelling all your air, inhale again fully and start the OM manta chant again. Now visualize the sound of OM coming from your third eye and radiating throughout your body. After completing this meditation you can comfort and relax the muscles of your eyes by rubbing the palms of your hands together to make them warm and then place them over your eyes.

 Matsyasana (fish pose)

Sarvangasana

To Aid In Opening This Chakra

There are various yoga postures that are helpful, these include:
- Matsyaasana
On the floor you will lie on your back with bent knees and feet to the floor. Inhale and then lift your pelvis up off the floor just enough to slide your hands, palm down under you buttocks. You will rest you buttocks on the backs of your hands while performing this exercise. Do not lift them for this particular pose. Straighten your legs while holding them together. Press your shoulder blades into your back and while inhaling, lift your upper torso and head up off of the floor. Arch your back and let your head backwards towards the floor. Hold your abdominal muscles in place. You can keep your knees bent or you can straighten them. However, upon straightening your legs you will want keep your thighs active while pressing out with your heels.
- Sarvangasana
With your feet stretched out and together you will lie on your back. Stretch your arms backwards. Make sure you are not straining your face and breathe normally. During a partial inhalation you will slowly pull your legs up to a 45 degree angle of the floor. While inhaling fully your will pull your legs in a united 90 degree angle of the floor as you are doing this you will also bring your arms to the side of your body. Slowly move your legs backwards, they will be parallel to the floor but in the opposite direction of your upper body. Exhale. While inhaling you will push your hips upwards, you will then straighten your legs in order to see the tips of your toes. With the shoulders down the entire body is at a 90 degree angle from the floor. Locking the chin against the chest prevents a sudden rush of blood to the brain.

No comments:

Post a Comment