7. सहस्रार चक्र
Sahasrara, which means 1000 petalled lotus, is generally considered to be the chakra of pure consciousness, within which there is neither object nor subject. When the female kundalini Shakti energy rises to this point, it unites with the male Shiva energy, and a state of liberating samadhi is attained. Symbolized by a lotus with one thousand multi-coloured petals, it is located either at the crown of the head, or above the crown of the head. Sahasrara is represented by the colour white and it involves such issues as inner wisdom and the death of the body. Its role may be envisioned somewhat similarly to that of the pituitary gland, which secretes hormones to communicate to the rest of the endocrine system and also connects to the central nervous system via the hypothalamus. According to author Gary Osborn, the thalamus is thought to have a key role in the physical basis of consciousness and is the 'Bridal Chamber' mentioned in the Gnostic scriptures. Sahasrara's inner aspect deals with the release of karma, physical action with meditation, mental action with universal consciousness and unity, and emotional action with "beingness." In Tibetan buddhism, the point at the crown of the head is represented by a white circle, with 32 downward pointing petals. It is of primary importance in the performance of phowa, or consciousness projection after death, in order to obtain rebirth in a Pure Land. Within this chakra is contained the White drop, or Bodhicitta, which is the essence of masculine energy.
Location:
Sahasrara is either located at the top of the head in that one area, or a little way above it.
Appearance:
Sahasrara is described with 1,000 multi-coloured petals which are arranged in 20 layers each of them with 50 petals. The pericarp is golden, and inside of it is a circular moon region, inside of which is a downward pointing triangle.
Function:
Sahasrara chakra symbolizes detachment from illusion; an essential element in obtaining supramental higher consciousness of the truth that one is all and all is one. Often referred as 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 his or her kundalini, energy of consciousness, up to this point, the state of Samādhi is experienced. Meditating on this point is said to bring about the siddhis, or occult powers, of transforming into the divine, and being able to do whatever one wishes. In some schemes of chakras, there are actually several chakras that are all closely related at the top of the head. Rising from Ajna, we have the Manas chakra on the forehead, 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, Guru, and then Sahasrara proper, located above the crown.
Bindu Visarga:
Bindu Visarga is located at the back of the head, in a place where many Brahmins keep a tuft of hair. It is symbolised 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, and it is the source of the divine nectar or amrit which falls down to vishuddhi for distribution throughout the entire bodily system. This white drop is considered the essence of sperm, while the red bindu is considered the essence of the 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 is '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 colour and possesses 100 white petals. It marks the end of the sushumna central channel. It is responsible for different levels of concentration, dharana, dhyana and savikalpa samadhi.
Guru:
The guru chakra is located above the head, just below Sahasrara proper. It is white, with 12 white petals, upon which is written the guru mantra, Ha Sa Kha Freng Ha Sa Ksha Ma La Wa Ra Yung. It contains a circular moon region, within which is a downward pointing triangle containing a jewelled altar with the crescent moon below and circular bindu above. Inside the bindu is the seat, upon which are the gurus footstools, upon which are the Gurus feet. This position is considered very important in Tibetan Tantric practices of deity yoga, where the guru or deity is often visualised above the crown, and then bestowing blessings below (for example in the Vajrasattva purification meditation).
Higher levels:
Within Sahasrara, there are yet more levels of subtlety. Within the triangle begin a series of ever higher levels of consciousness; ama-kala, the first ring of visarga, nirvana-kala, 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 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.
Ama-kala:
Ama-kala is the experience of samprajnata samadhi.
Visarga:
This is symbolised by two dots, 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:
Here kundalini passes into the supreme void, which is the experience of asamprajnata or nirvikalpa samadhi, and becomes shankhini. Kundalini then wraps around and absorbs the supreme bindu, which is the void, the supreme nada, and shakti, and then unites with and absorbs shiva, before finally being absorbed into paramashiva, which is the final stage of nirvikalpa samadhi.
Association with the body:
Sahasrara is related to the crown of the head. It is sometimes related to the pineal gland and sometimes to the pituitary gland.
Location:
Sahasrara is either located at the top of the head in that one area, or a little way above it.
Appearance:
Sahasrara is described with 1,000 multi-coloured petals which are arranged in 20 layers each of them with 50 petals. The pericarp is golden, and inside of it is a circular moon region, inside of which is a downward pointing triangle.
Function:
Sahasrara chakra symbolizes detachment from illusion; an essential element in obtaining supramental higher consciousness of the truth that one is all and all is one. Often referred as 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 his or her kundalini, energy of consciousness, up to this point, the state of Samādhi is experienced. Meditating on this point is said to bring about the siddhis, or occult powers, of transforming into the divine, and being able to do whatever one wishes. In some schemes of chakras, there are actually several chakras that are all closely related at the top of the head. Rising from Ajna, we have the Manas chakra on the forehead, 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, Guru, and then Sahasrara proper, located above the crown.
Bindu Visarga:
Bindu Visarga is located at the back of the head, in a place where many Brahmins keep a tuft of hair. It is symbolised 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, and it is the source of the divine nectar or amrit which falls down to vishuddhi for distribution throughout the entire bodily system. This white drop is considered the essence of sperm, while the red bindu is considered the essence of the 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 is '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 colour and possesses 100 white petals. It marks the end of the sushumna central channel. It is responsible for different levels of concentration, dharana, dhyana and savikalpa samadhi.
Guru:
The guru chakra is located above the head, just below Sahasrara proper. It is white, with 12 white petals, upon which is written the guru mantra, Ha Sa Kha Freng Ha Sa Ksha Ma La Wa Ra Yung. It contains a circular moon region, within which is a downward pointing triangle containing a jewelled altar with the crescent moon below and circular bindu above. Inside the bindu is the seat, upon which are the gurus footstools, upon which are the Gurus feet. This position is considered very important in Tibetan Tantric practices of deity yoga, where the guru or deity is often visualised above the crown, and then bestowing blessings below (for example in the Vajrasattva purification meditation).
Higher levels:
Within Sahasrara, there are yet more levels of subtlety. Within the triangle begin a series of ever higher levels of consciousness; ama-kala, the first ring of visarga, nirvana-kala, 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 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.
Ama-kala:
Ama-kala is the experience of samprajnata samadhi.
Visarga:
This is symbolised by two dots, 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:
Here kundalini passes into the supreme void, which is the experience of asamprajnata or nirvikalpa samadhi, and becomes shankhini. Kundalini then wraps around and absorbs the supreme bindu, which is the void, the supreme nada, and shakti, and then unites with and absorbs shiva, before finally being absorbed into paramashiva, which is the final stage of nirvikalpa samadhi.
Association with the body:
Sahasrara is related to the crown of the head. It is sometimes related to the pineal gland and sometimes to the pituitary gland.