Ajna Chakra or the third eye chakra is the 6th chakra which is located at the point between eyebrows. It is the center of higher intuition and perception. Ajna is associated with vision which is beyond what physical eyes can perceive. In a simpler sense, one can call it the center of the sixth sense.
Table of Contents
- Vrittis Or Wave Of Thoughts
- Vrittis – Para And Apara
- Everything Is One
- Ajna Chakra– The Root Of Knowledge
- Science Of Ajna Chakra
- How To Unblock The Ajna Chakra?
Vrittis Or Wave Of Thoughts
As you go from lower to higher chakras, your expressions become more complex. There are more Vrittis associated with higher chakras than lower chakras until Vishuddhi. But at Ajna chakra, it becomes simple again as there are only two Vrittis associated with it.
49 of overall 50 Vrittis move outward, from oneness to multitude, from source to phenomenal world. Only one Vritti moves inward from phenomenal cause to spirituality and existence.
Vrittis – Para And Apara
Ajna chakra controls two Vrittis- ‘Para’ and ‘Apara’ which represent spiritual and mundane knowledge. Mundane is the way we commonly acquire knowledge- by gathering information about something new, associating it with its function, and recollecting it.
For instance, learning about the cold substance called snow, and remembering it the next time you see it. In this process, there are always 3 things– the subject or ‘I’, the object or ‘snow’, and the process of knowledge through 5 sensory organs– seeing, touching, smelling, hearing, and tasting.
It is through logical inference that you gain this knowledge. Our civilization discovered many things in this mundane way but not everything can be realized through this.
Everything Is One
There is another kind of knowledge that does not depend on subject, object, or knowledge— where these three become one. Yoga has been discovered through the practical realization that on a spiritual level, everything becomes one. Even modern science has concluded that at some level, this is true.
At the sub-atomic level, all objects sharing similar properties are one. It is believed that the cosmic consciousness knows everything because this world is the creation of the macro-psychic connection. The world is believed to be the imagination of the cosmic entity and runs on natural laws.
For anything to happen, it must first be reflected in the macrocosmic consciousness. Your soul and consciousness are linked with the macrocosmic consciousness just like a drop in the ocean. This is the spiritual knowledge realized by saints and spiritual masters such as Krishna and Buddha. For instance, a realized master will know what the disciple is going through even if miles away– such humans are expressions of divinity.
Ajna Chakra– The Root Of Knowledge
Ajna Chakra is the root of two kinds of knowledge- one is about knowing the external object and the other is moving inwards towards knowing the subject. These are two opposite types of activity that require balance.
The human potential is fully expressed if their state is balanced– the perfection of ajna
chakra is the attainment of this state of balance.
Some may think that the ones who meditate become spaced out and impractical but on the contrary, when you sit for meditation, you often become rational and down-to-earth. The materialistic people also sense the attraction for spirituality. In some cases, the materialistic people exceed the idealistic when they finally enter meditation. When you meditate, Ajna chakra is activated which provides balance. When balance is attained, the mind and body will be at peace.
Science Of Ajna Chakra
On the physical level, Ajna chakra is represented by the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. This tiny ball of neural tissue controls so many vital functions of the body. It secretes important
hormones such as:
- Gonadotropin: Stimulate gonads, genital glands, and adrenal glands.
- Prolactin: Stimulates the secretion of milk in the mother.
- Oxytocin: Regulates the feeling of closeness between people and other thyroid-stimulating hormones.
How To Unblock The Ajna Chakra?
To develop Ajna chakra, asanas are very important. They help in balance and stimulate this
chakra. Some poses that help in activating this chakra are:
- Dandasana or stick posture: Staff Pose stretches the hamstrings, calves, and spine. It is good for improving overall awareness. This pose can help restore some flexibility and improve body posture.
- Garudasana or bird posture: Eagle Pose improves balance and focus. It stretches around your shoulders, upper back, and thighs, as it strengthens your core, thighs, legs, and ankles.
- Vrikshasana or tree posture: Helps in improving concentration. It stretches the legs, arms, and back.
- Gyanasana or posture of knowledge: If a person is very uninterested in studies, doing
Gyanasana will acquire the interest to study and the necessary focus.
- Shashankasana or rabbit posture: This asana increases the blood flow towards the brain. Concentrating, planning, inventing- all these processes invoke the brain and are therefore good for Ajna chakra.
- Meditation: This is the most important part of activating this chakra. Without meditation, one cannot hope to properly develop Ajna Chakra. Kirtan, bhajan, singing devotional songs, and chanting mantras are good for brain development.