Sahasrara
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Tantric chakras |
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Sahasrara (
Hatha yoga
The Sahasrara is described in a few medieval hatha yoga texts including the Śivasaṃhitā and the Tirumantiram, but not within the Paścimāmnāya and Nath traditions; the Kubjikamatatantra describes only the six lower chakras. The scriptures vary in the position of the Sahasrara; the Siva Samhita states that it is beyond the body, whereas others place it at the fontanelle or brahmarandhra on the top of the head where the soul leaves the body at death.[2]
Description
The Sahasrara is described as a lotus flower with 1,000 petals of different colors. These are arranged in 20 layers, each with approximately 50 petals. The
Function
Often referred to as a thousand-petaled lotus, it is said to be the most subtle chakra in the system, relating to pure consciousness, and it is from this chakra that all the other chakras emanate. When a yogi is able to raise their
Practices
Exercises for the Sahasrāra Chakra are:[4]
- Shirshasana
- Vrikshasana
- Khatu Pranam
- Singing Om
- Kriya Yoga
There are also special Meditations on the Sahasrāra Chakra.[5]
Associated chakras
In some versions of the subtle body, there are actually several chakras, which are all closely related, at the top of the head. Rising from Ajna,[6] we have the Manas chakra on the forehead,[7] which is closely associated with Ajna. Above Manas there are Bindu Visarga at the back of the head; Mahanada; Nirvana, which is located on the crown;[8] Guru;[9] and the Sahasrara proper, located above the crown.[3]
Bindu Visarga
The Bindu Visarga is at the back of the head, at the point where many Brahmins keep a tuft of hair. It is symbolized by a crescent moon on a moonlit night, with a point or bindu above it. This is the white bindu, with which yogis try to unite the red bindu below. It is said to be the point through which the soul enters the body, creating the chakras as it descends and terminating in the coiled kundalini energy at the base of the spine. It is often described as the source of the divine nectar, or amrita, though this is sometimes said to come from either ajña chakra or lalita chakra. This nectar falls down into the digestive fire (samana) where it is burnt up. The preservation of this nectar is known as "urdhva retas" (literally: upward semen). The white drop is associated with the essence of semen, while the red bindu is associated with menstrual fluid.
This chakra is sometimes known as the Indu, Chandra, or Soma Chakra. In other descriptions, it is located on the forehead - white, with 16 petals - corresponding to the vrittis of mercy, gentleness, patience, non-attachment, control, excellent-qualities, joyous mood, deep spiritual love, humility, reflection, restfulness, seriousness, effort, controlled emotion, magnanimity and concentration.
Mahanada
The name of this chakra means "Great Sound", and it is in the shape of a plough. It represents the primal sound from which emanates all of creation.
Nirvana
This chakra is located on the crown of the head. It is white in color and possesses 100 white petals. It marks the end of the
Guru
The Guru Chakra is located above the head, just below Sahasrara proper. It is white, with 12 white petals, upon which is written guru. It contains a circular moon region, within which is a downward pointing triangle containing a jeweled altar, with the crescent moon below and circular bindu above. Inside the bindu is the seat, near which are the gurus footstools, upon which are the gurus feet.[9] This position is considered very important in
Higher levels
Within Sahasrara, there are yet more levels of organization.[10] Within the triangle begins a series of ever higher levels of consciousness: Ama-Kala, the First Ring of Visarga, Nirvana-Kala, and Nirvana Shakti, which contains the Second Ring of Visarga. From here, Kundalini becomes Shankhini, with 3-and-a-half coils. The First Coil of Shankhini wraps around the Supreme Bindu, the Second Coil of Shankhini wraps around the Supreme Nada, the Third Coil of Shankhini wraps around Shakti, and the Half-Coil of Shankhini enters into Sakala Shiva, beyond which is Parama Shiva.[3]
Ama-Kala
Ama-Kala is the experience of
Visarga
Visarga is symbolized by two small rings, one of which is inside Ama-Kala, and the other of which is below Supreme Bindu, which represents the transition from samprajnata samadhi to the oneness of asamprajnata samadhi.
Nirvana-Kala
Here Kundalini absorbs even the experience of samadhi, through the power of supreme control (Nirodhika-Fire).
Nirvana-Shakti to Parama Shiva
Here Kundalini passes into the supreme void, which is the experience of asamprajnata or
Association with the body
Sahasrara or Sahastrar is related to the crown of the head. It is typically associated with the fontanelle and the intersection of the coronal and sagittal sutures of the skull.
Comparisons with other systems
The crown wheel is important within the
In the West, it has been noted by many (such as Charles Ponce in his book Kabbalah.) that Sahasrara expresses a similar archetypal idea to that of
Within the Sufi system of
Alternative names
- In Tantra: Adhomukha Mahapadma, Amlana Padma, Dashashatadala Padma, Pankaja, Sahasrabja, Sahasrachchada Panikaja, Sahasradala, Sahasradala Adhomukha Padma, Sahasradala Padma, Sahasrapatra, Sahasrara, Sahasrara Ambuja, Sahasrara Mahapadma, Sahasrara Padma, Sahasrara Saroruha, Shiras Padma, Shuddha Padma, Wyoma, Wyomambhoja
- In the late Upanishads: AkashaChakra, Kapalasamputa, Sahasradala, Sahasrara, Sahasrara Kamala (Pankaja or Padma), Sthana, Wyoma, Wyomambuja
- In the Puranas: Parama, Sahasradala, Sahasraparna Padma, Sahasrapatra, Sahasrara, Sahasrara Kamala (Parikaja or Padma), Shantyatita, Shantyatita Pada
- In the Agni Yoga teaching, the Brahmarandhra is often referred to as "the bell" (Russian: колокол).[12]
See also
References
- ISBN 1-894663-49-7p. 24
- OCLC 928480104.
- ^ a b c "The Sahasrara Chakra". Kheper. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ISBN 3-85052-197-4.
- ISBN 3-85052-197-4.
- ^ "The Ajna Chakra". Kheper. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ "The Manas Chakra". Kheper. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "The Crown Centre". Kheper. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "Guru Chakra". Kheper. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ Susan Shumsky. Exploring Chakras:Awaken your untapped energy
- ^ Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Tantric Grounds and Paths
- ^ Leaves of Morya's Garden II (Illumination) 2.4.7 (134 in Russian text).