Ajna Chakra, Command Center, 6th Chakra Brow Chakra, or Third Eye Center

Location - Center of the forehead, between the eyebrows, cognition
Color - Indigo (dark blue)
Element - Light, electrical or telepathic energy
Symbol - Six pointed star
Energy - Synthesizing
Frequency - 440 cps
Note - High A*
Sense - Thought
Statement - "I want to see clearly"
Astrological Sign - Aquarius
Spinal Contact - 1st Cervical Vertebra
Interrelating Organ - Pituitary
Functions - Vitalizes the lower brain (cerebellum) and central nervous system, vision
Glands/Organs - Pituitary gland (some sources say pineal gland, left eye, nose, ears
Gems/Minerals - Lapis lazuli, azurite, sodalite, quartz crystal, sapphire, indicolite tourmaline
Foods - Blue/purple fruits and vegetables
Qualities/Lessons - Soul realization, intuition, insight, imagination, clairvoyance, concentration, peace of mind, wisdom, devotion, perception beyond duality
Negative Qualities - Lack of concentration, fear, cynicism, tension, headaches, eye problems, bad dreams, overly detached from the world

Suddenly the multiplicity of petals falls away, and you are left with two huge petals. Through letting go of your attachment to the multiple distractions of the world, you enter into a Divine relationship with Spirit. This is the center of I, and Thou. The two petals represent the various forms of duality: the ego self, and the spirit self, the reasoning and the intuitive minds, the pineal, and the pituitary, the ida, and the pingala, the masculine, and the feminine.

All dualities converge at this point. The triangle is the yoni, or female energy, and within it is the linga, or male energy. The linga of the first chakra was black, whereas this linga is white. The linga of the first chakra was surrounded by a snake, coiled three-and-a-half times around it, symbolizing the sleeping kundalini energy at the base of the spine.

Ajna literally means 'command' or 'monitoring center'. It is also known as the guru chakra. It is the point of confluence where the three main nadis or forces, ida, pingala, and sushumna, merge into one stream of consciousness, and flow up to sahasrara. During deep meditation, when all the senses have been withdrawn, and one enters into the state of shoonya, the void, the guni then guides the aspirant from ajna to sahasrara by issuing commands through this center.

*mm or OM (as in home)...The sound "o" represents the sun or third eye, and "m" represents the moon or medulla. OM unifies both sides. It also combines the "o" of the second chakra with the "m" of the sixth chakra. This tone dissolves dualities and creates unity, bringing the ego self into union with the Spirit Self.

Ajna is also known as the third eye, the eye of Shiva or the eye of intuition, which gazes inward rather than outward. It is often called divya chakshu, the divine eye, or jnana chakshu, the eye of wisdom, because it is through this center that the spiritual aspirant receives revelation, and insight into the underlying nature of existence. It is the level at which direct mind-to-mind communication takes place, and the doorway through which one enters the psychic, or astral dimension.

It is the source of ecstasy, extrasensory perception, clairvoyance, clairaudience, heightened intuition, and the paranormal powers. Through the power of the sixth chakra, you can receive guidance, channel, and tune into your higher Self. This is the center that enables you to experience telepathy, astral travel, and past lives. The energies of the third eye are accessible to all people regardless of their moral, and ethical values. The third eye is the Christ consciousness center.

Being the center of the mind, ajna chakra represents a higher level of awareness. When ajna is developed we begin to acquire psychic powers. Therefore, it is said to resemble a knot which is called Rudra granthi, the knot of Shiva. This knot is symbolic of the attachment to one's psychic personality and to the siddhi's which accompany the awakening of ajna chakra. It effectively blocks our spiritual evolution until attachment to psychic phenomena is overcome, and the knot is freed.

In ancient Egyptian paintings, and statutes, one sometimes sees a pharoah, or initiate with a snake figure coming out at this point in the forehead. This is symbolic of that person having raised the latent serpent energy to this level which is known as CHRIST Consciousness.

Ajna is located at the top of the spinal cord in the mid- brain. Although it has no physiological existence, classically it is said to influence the pineal gland, which is active in young children, but which begins to decay at the time of puberty. In our system it relates to the pituitary gland, and is the master control center of the mind/body, affecting to some degree, all of the other endocrines. The trigger point for ajna, located at the eyebrow centre, is known as bhrumadhya. This is an important focal point for the practices of meditation, concentration, and visualization.

For success in prana vidya, the development of ajna chakra is very important. Unless it is developed to some extent, prana can never be experienced in the form of light. The vision of light is usually first seen at ajna, or bhrunladhya, or in chidakasha, the space of consciousness which is directly associated with ajna.

In the practice of prana vidya, ajna acts as the control center for the distribution of prana. If the vision of light at ajna is well developed, we will have no difficulty in visualizing the raising of prana and its movement throughout the body. Otherwise we have to use our imagination and thinking until we can develop the actual experience.

The prana associated with ajna is vyana vayu, the all pervasive force. The tattwa or element is manas, the mind. This is the point where the mind changes from 'gross to subtle'. From outward to inward. Ajna is associated with vijnanamaya kosha and its beeja' mantra is Om.

Yoga, and tantra employ techniques by which we are able to reverse this process so that the amrit does not fall down to manipura. Rather, we either hold it at vishuddhi, or send it back up from manipura to vishuddhi, and then to hindu. In this way it may be possible to experience ourselves as immortal. There have been yogis who have managed to perfect this state.

From the point of view of evolution, it should be understood that within cosmic prana lies hiranyagarbha, the womb of creation, and the first manifestation of creation was nada or sound. Therefore, hindu is also the point where the internal, or psychic sounds can be heard.

Beyond the senses and the five elements, the sixth center is influenced by the sun, and the moon. Its metals are gold, and silver. When the energy returns back up through the chakras after it has been distributed to, and utilized by the various organs, and systems of the body, the brow, or pituitary chakra integrates the component into white light.

We hope you have found, or are considering bringing Hatha Yoga into your life. We look forward to seeing you at one of our yoga classes, or workshops, held regularly when we are home in Largo, Florida from November-May. Or, on our next Yoga Bound Travel Adventure with special Yoga in Bali Retreats and Yoga in Thailand Retreats.