Sahasrara- Dasham Dwara (The Tenth Gate) Sahasrara means a thousand; it is called “Sahasrara dal kamal”, the Lotus of the thousand petals, situated above the six nerve centers at crown of the head. It is the center of psychic energy of human organism. All organs, rather every atom of the body derives strength from here. Its weakness hampers all processes of the body. The light and color of this center is beyond description indeed, the deity here is the Supreme Being (Parbraham) and Guru is enthroned here as the Supreme Being in physical form. It is called the tenth gate also, it remains closed always and never realized by common people, but it is unique and of utmost importance. Only the Yogis understand its importance and the methods to open it. When the practitioner concentrates mind in the muladhar chakra, he comes to know all about the earth as the earth element predominates here. Above it is the swadhishthan chakra having the water element, where the earth element dissolves, for the gross dissolves in the subtle. When the pranas rise up higher there is Manipur chakra with the fire element where the water too disappears, then comes Anahata chakra where the air element exists, the fire or radiance also sets in here. Yogis raise the pranas further up to Vishudha chakra where the sky element predominates; the air disappears in it and one realizes the soul here. One sees the ego, the seed or persistence of the being. Thus, union of the cosmic elements- soul and the sky in the Vishudh chakra provides yogi the knowledge of the entire creation made of the five elements (the earth, water, fire, air and the sky). Then, one reaches up to Ajna chakra which is the seat of God and one attains His shelter. Thus, union of the self with God or soul with the Supreme Soul takes place (one realizes God). But it is not the final destination of the person. The Guru takes his disciple further up, to Sahasrara called Uttrayana as well, the place of Brahm or Parabrahm, the Supreme Being. The practitioner attains moksha or libration after reaching and discharging pranas from here, thus frees from all attachments and afflictions of the world. When a Yogi awakens the Kundalini and raises the pranas up to Sahasrara, he reaches the final destination. At this stage, all feelings, emotions and desires etc that are the activities of mind, dissolve into their primary cause. The mind establishes itself in the purest and infinite light of the Supreme Being and Yoga or the union with the Absolute is attained. Thus, the yogi is sat-chit-ananda (truly-being-in supreme bliss). One identifies one’s real form (soul) and while living in the physical body, atttains purest consciousness, transcends the dualities or remains unruffled by pleasure and pain, success and failure, profit and loss, honor and ignominy etc. When one leaves the body by discharging pranas through this gate (uttrayana), one attains nirvana or moksha (the union soul with the Absolute), thus breaks free from the cycle of life and death and never returns to the world. Only the great Yogis depart through this gate and achieve the ultimate aim of life. All the rest give up life through lower openings called dakshinayana. The other nine openings are called navdwar. Navdwar: The soul dwells in this unique house of ten gateways (body). The other nine gates are often known to everyone. These openings or gateways perform different functions, help in obtaining knowledge and discharge wastes of the body as well. These nine gates are– two ears, two eyes, two nostrils, mouth, anus and genitals. If these remain clean, then the body remains free of diseases. Shat-karmas are the only means to keep whole of the body clean internally. It is important to understand that the upper openings have comparatively greater importance than the lower ones. The opening from where one leaves the life depends upon one’s thoughts, deeds, desires, emotions, sanskaras and practice of the Yogic means. Therefore, one must elevate oneself in this life to have higher state after this life by being extremely cautious about the thoughts, deeds and efforts etc. Now the question is whether prana- shakti is limited or varies and what are the ways to enhance it. Shri Yoga Mahadivya Ramayana (Shiksha Kand, Vol. VI Page 127) says, “Nothing is fixed in the world, everything keeps changing, so does the prana-shakti, it can be enhanced as well.” The only way to enhance the life-force (prana- shakti) of body is the Pranayama, Yoga alone imparts this vital education to all mankind.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Sep 2013 16:00:14 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015