Sahasrara Chakra

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Sahasrra ChakraSahasrra = thousand, infinite

The Sahasrra Chakra is located on the crown of the head beneath the Fontanelle, which is easilyvisible in a new-born child. It is also known as the Thousand-petalled Lotus, Brahmrandhra(door to Brahma) and Source of Light (because a supernatural light as bright as the sun radiatesfrom it).

No other light approaches the brilliance of the sun. In the same way the radiance of all otherChakras fades before the incomparable radiance of the Sahasrra Chakra. The Sahasrrapossesses no special colour or quality. Its light contains all colour vibrations united in theincomparable brilliance of pure light. The energy of all Nds flows together here, just as thewater of a thousand rivers comes together in the sea.

The element of the Sahasrra Chakra is DI TATTVA or SHVARA TATTVA . It is the source ofcreation, the pure light and one reality God. This Tattva is di Andi. di means withoutbeginning, Andi means without end therefore infinite. As soon as this Tattva unites with aquality (Guna) it is bound and therefore limited just as pure water has no taste of its own, but ismodified by and takes on the taste of whatever is added to it. In the Cosmos there are diversemanifestations of this one Tattva with various qualities and functions such as fire, water, airand earth but the basis is always the same, the pure essence.

The awakening of the Sahasrra Chakra means revelation of the Divine Splendour andattainment of Supreme Consciousness. It is the seat of Lord Shiva, whom we have met in threeforms in the Chakras:

Sahasrara Chakra

The Qualities and Symbols ofthe Sahasrara Chakra

Exercises for the SahasraraChakra

Meditation Practice on theSahasrara Chakra

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Sahasrara Chakra Bindu Chakra Agya Chakra Vishuddhi Chakra



1. In the Mldhra Chakra as Pashupati, Lord of the Animals.2. In the Mldhra and gy Chakras in the symbol of the Shiva Lingam.3. In the Sahasrra Chakra as di Andi, Supreme Divine Consciousness and original

foundation of the Universe.

di Shiva is the uncreated creator of the Cosmos (Svayambhu). He represents nanda (bliss),Purusha (pure consciousness) and Moksha (liberation). He is perfect, eternal and divine, andradiant like a million suns. No Karmas can touch Him, all impurities melt and burn in hisproximity. Only purity, clarity, light, love and truth emanate from Him.

In each individual (Jvtm), the Self (tm) resides with the Supreme Self (Paramtm),appearing in the form of di Shiva in the Sahasrra Chakra. In essence tm and Paramtm arethe same. The tm also possesses divine consciousness, but until it has attained liberation(Moksha) it is closely linked to the personal I and the Koshas , and through this is qualified andlimited. But Paramtm is unlimited and therefore impersonal it is the Universal, SupremeSelf, the Light of Life. When the consciousness of the Jvtm reaches di Shiva in theSahasrra Chakra and merges with it, it is illuminated and freed from any shackles andlimitations. Just as night gives way to sunrise, the darkness of ignorance fades with the openingof the Sahasrra Chakra. We can attain this through Kriy Yoga meditation and Guru Krip .

The Jvtm strives lifelong for reunion with its source, the Supreme Self, either consciously orunconsciously. Or, expressed another way, our lifelong striving for happiness and fulfilment is, atits deepest level, the union of Jvtm and Paramtm, which, translated in the symbolism of theChakras, is the union of Shiva and Shakti.

Shakti is located in the Mldhra Chakra and Shiva in the Sahasrra Chakra. Between the twoexists an irresistible attraction, and we experience the distance between them as a dark zone ofunclarity and ignorance. The trench that separates Shiva and Shakti (otherwise known asPurusha and Prakriti consciousness and nature) is not-knowing, and the consequence ofnot-knowing are emotions full of suffering, such as loneliness, sadness, bitterness, fear, doubt,etc., that accompany us through life. The bridge across this gap of ignorance is blocked bybarriers and the rocks of numerous Karmas and restrictive qualities.

Icch Shakti (willpower) is the force that finally provides the impulse for the removal of the rocksof Karmas and cumbersome qualities once and for all. Once this Sacred Will arises within theJvtm, it leads inexorably to union with the Divine Self. In line with the Karma and personalitystructure of the aspirant, this process can either continue in tumultuous and intense circles orunfold gradually and calmly.

The union of Shiva and Shakti occurs when the stream of energy in the two main Nds, Id andPingal , unite and rise through the Sushumn Nd. There is, however, one important condition.As written in the chapter on the Anhata Chakra, the seat of the tm is in the heart, andrealisation of the tm takes place only when a simultaneous awakening of the Anhata Chakraand the Sahasrra Chakra occurs. With this a direct connection from the Sahasrra Chakra to theAnhata Chakra through the Brahm Nd (also known as Gyna Nd) is established. If theAnhata Chakra is blocked and the flow of Bhakti, love and devotion, has also dried up theSahasrra Chakra does not open.

Only with the complete awakening of the Anhata Chakra does the flame of light, which is thetm, rise from the heart and reach the level of Divine Consciousness through the Door ofBrahman. Then, in the ocean of Brahma Gyna the thousand-petalled Lotus unfolds, and in itscentre the pearl of Paramshakti shines. Like a swan the Jvtm dives into the splendour ofeternal, Divine existence. When it unites with the Supreme Self its existence dissolves just as ariver loses its name when it flows into the ocean. Now it is in the sphere of pure consciousness.



Its form is perfect divine consciousness and eternal, divine bliss SAT CHIT NANDASVARPA TM. The Realised Ones and Saints of all ages have reached this level ofconsciousness, which cannot be described with words.

When we are unable to see or experience anything in meditation, it is because our vision isobstructed by the barrier of the limited I. Though our tm is directly connected to God, and is,in fact, God, we are not yet conscious of this.

We will again return to the image of the Lotus. The root of the Lotus represents di Shakti, theoriginal, divine power, which is located in the Mldhra Chakra. The Blossom in the SahasrraChakra is di Shiva, the Divine Consciousness and Supreme Self. In Rja Yoga these two primalprinciples are known as Jvtm and Paramtm. When they become one it is said that we areone with our Self, whereas in reality there is no difference between them. The division is onlyapparent, because we are not conscious of the real unity. And yet the Jvtm must wander alonga lengthy and often very difficult path until it again discovers this oneness within theconsciousness.

The development of the consciousness progresses step-by-step; just like the seed of a Lotus whendropped into the soil first produces a delicate bud, then continues to grow upwards towards thelight. The journey leads from the root of the Lotus (Mla Prakriti) through the water (the World,which is My), upwards along the stem of the Lotus (the different Chakras and levels ofconsciousness) until it finally reaches the blossom, the Sahasrra Chakra.

All individuals travel along their own pathway, have their own history and their own experiences but at the end all inevitably reach the same goal, the same truth and the same reality. However,until then it is a long journey. Only those who purposefully follow the spiritual path throughouttheir life with consistency and discipline, come through. Those who pursue happiness in theexternal world, lose their way. Eternal, true happiness is found within us and not outside. Just asa stag runs after the scent of musk not realising it is he himself who is producing it, we seekfulfilment of our wishes in the external world and are not aware that everything we are missingand seeking is carried within us.

As Saint Francis of Assissi so concisely expressed it:

That for which they seek is that which searches.

Only when we turn towards the inner Self do we find fulfilment and peace.

Seek only God; do not look for spiritual sensations, or Siddhis , or extraterrestrial adventures.Hand your life over to God and pray in this way: Oh Lord, may Your will be done. May mydestiny be fulfilled.

The greatest happiness that can be bestowed upon us, due to good actions in earlier lives, is ameeting with a spiritual Master. The Masters assist us through techniques with which we are ableto purify our inner field and open our consciousness to the Divine Light. They accompany us onall levels through our development, wherever our destiny takes us. Under their protection oursoul cannot be harmed, no matter what happens.

The greatest misfortune is to die without attaining God-Realisation. Painfully, the Jvtm comesto the realisation that it has missed the opportunity of human life and must re-enter the cycle ofdeath and rebirth.

After death we move unavoidably into the astral level appropriate to our Karma. In the astralworld we are fully aware of all events but are incapable of taking any action. We see our liferunning past us like a film. We recognise the mistakes of our earthly life, and also joyfullyexperience the bliss of divine light and divine love resulting from our spiritual progress and good



actions. But there is no possibility whatsoever of any further resolution or intervention. Thedirection and goal of our journey is determined solely by the trend of our Karmas.

Here the Jvtm follows one of three possible threads of destiny: Two lead to a new birth in theworld of My, and the third to Realisation and union with the Supreme Self.

In the Bhagavad Gita (8/24-25) Lord Krishna explains the circumstances by which the soulcomes to one of these paths.

Anyone who still has some Karma adhering good or bad will take on a mortal body again.Those who in their earthly life load themselves largely with bad deeds, were unkind and lackedcompassion for others will be born into an animal level of consciousness. With completejustification this can be described as hell. In an animal life form the ability of expression anddevelopment of the soul is greatly limited. It does not possess free will, intellect, speech or thecapacity to reason. In this existence there is only a very small and slow development ofconsciousness; all karmas must be lived through over the pre-determined period, and be clearedaway. But those whose good karmas predominated have the opportunity to aspire to human birthand liberation. In line with the ratio of good and bad karmas their existence is either happy or fullof sorrow. The most beautiful fruit from existences which were full of good and noble actions, is ahappy life enriched with numerous opportunities for development in a spiritual and peacefulenvironment.

Those who finally attain liberation through knowledge and selfless deeds (Nishkma Karma), andwith the help of the Master and Gods grace are not born again unless they voluntarily decide toreturn to the earth as a helper or a teacher.

These are the paths the soul takes after earthly death. Normally the soul (together with the astraland causal bodies ) leaves the physical body through one of the nine doors the mouth, eyes,ears, nostrils, excretory organs or genitals. Occasionally it can be clearly seen through which doorthe soul departs. If a dying person eliminates excrement or urine it is an indication that the soulis wandering in a lower level of consciousness. These souls, particularly, need our prayers so theycan find their way to a higher consciousness when they again finally obtain a human birth after along waiting period. Many dying people open their mouths or eyes; with others a drop of bloodcomes from their nose or ears. These souls wander in the astral level appropriate to their Karma.

But the tm of liberated Yogis and Masters departs through the tenth door the SahasrraChakra. (This is occasionally visible through a drop of blood or ray of light appearing at thecrown of the head). Realised souls go to the highest level of the Cosmos where they arehonourably welcomed as triumphant heroes.

The path of development through the Chakras, the process of change in the consciousness andthe investigation of our own thoughts and feelings, is no easy undertaking. Many old habits mustbe given up, and much must be overcome. Unfortunately we continue to perform ill-consideredactions, speech and thoughts. But for all the errors that we committed in ignorance we can askfor forgiveness and pray:

Oh Lord, lead us from ignorance to wisdom, from darkness to the light of knowledge. MayYour Divine Light always enlighten my heart and my consciousness.

Though the way may still be onerous and thorny, when we reach the goal we forget immediatelyall pain, and the effort expended appears to vanish when compared to the bliss we nowexperience. Therefore we should stay strong and under no circumstances give up our goal.

The most important thing in life is that our spiritual practices are always performed with Bhakti love and devotion. Through Bhakti, tma Chintana (constantly thinking about the tm),Mantra and meditation the Chakras are awakened. Sttvika Bhakti is a safe and certain pathway



to God, because while the flame of pure love and devotion burns within us no shadow ordestructive forces can approach us.

Allow the river of love to flow within, and hold the candle of wisdom firmly in your hand. Be alight to anyone you meet and help them on their path. In this way you will continue to progressand develop further on your spiritual path.

Medh ShaktiAn inexhaustible stream of energy radiates from the Sahasrra Chakra MEDH SHAKTI. It isone of the most influential and important forces in the body; mental power, intelligence andmemory depend upon it. Medh Shakti is food for the memory and all other functions of thebrain. It is of great importance to preserve and strengthen the Medh Shakti.

Medh Shakti is quickly used up by excitement, stress, hustle and bustle, sexual intercourse,strong emotions, empty chatter, crying, shouting, brooding and worrying. Anger, hate, jealousy,unresolved conflict, feelings of revenge and resentment that we carry with us from the pastweaken and destroy it.

We strengthen our Medh Shakti through relaxation of body and mind, quietening our thoughts,trusting in God, inner peace, joy and contentment. Therefore, all Yoga exercises exert a positiveinfluence on this Shakti, which has an overall balancing and calming effect on body and mind. Allinverted postures such as Shirshsana (headstand), Sarvngsana (shoulderstand) VipartkaranMudr (Energy Regeneration Pose), Yoga Mudr (Forward Bend sitting on heels) andShashanksana (Hare) are particularly beneficial. Agnisra Kriy , Prnyma, concentration andmeditation practices also strengthen Medh Shakti. This mental and spiritual power is alsosupported through prayer, recitation of Mantra, reading of holy scriptures, singing Bhajans,Satsang, Pj and Sev - putting it briefly, through positive thoughts, speech and actions.

A very valuable technique to quieten thoughts and strengthen the Medh Shakti is MAUNA(silence). Mauna leads to perfect inner peace and helps us reach deep meditation.

A food recommended to strengthen the Medh Shkti is Almond milk. It is also beneficial forheadache and tiredness, and is an excellent drink for promoting concentration and memoryperformance.

Take 10-15 unpeeled almonds and soak them overnight in a water-filled pottery bowl that hasnot been glazed or fired too strongly (the water should be able to soak into the pottery - the clayshould still be able to breathe). Next morning peel the almonds and grind them to a fine paste.Warm a glass of milk, add a teaspoon of honey (or as desired) and stir in the ground almonds.Sip the almond milk slowly about half an hour before breakfast.

Some people are unable to drink milk. In this case one can also crush fresh peppermint leaves ina mortar, or chop in a processor. Place the minced leaves in a glass of hot water and mix wellby covering the glass and shaking strongly. You can then strain the liquid but this is notabsolutely necessary. Add a spoonful of honey and sip the drink slowly. As well as this, chew thealmonds, which have been peeled and soaked overnight in water, slowly and thoroughly. Afterjust 10 days you will become aware of how good this drink is for your body and mind.

Medh Shakti can also become too active and produce inner restlessness and excitement. It is astrong power, like fire. Once it becomes active its movement cannot so easily be stopped.Therefore, occasionally the Medh Shakti must be cooled off and quietened. And this is thereason that during a Pj the Shiva Lingam, which is also a symbol for power and activity, issymbolically sprinkled with water to cool it down.



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Sahasrara

Bindu

Agya

Vishuddhi

Anahata

Manipura

Svadhishthana

Muladhara

5.

VishuddhiChakra

6.

Agya Chakra

7.

Bindu Chakra

8.

SahasraraChakra

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SvadhisthanaChakra

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