Balancing Ajna chakra

 Balancing the Ajna Chakra :

Why balancing the Ajna Chakra is necessary? 

 It is important to balance Ajna chakra to lead healthy wholesome  life. Mind is the element of Ajna chakra. The imbalance of Ajna chakra results in dysregulation of the stress response and may lead to mental disorders such as anxiety or depression as well as chronic inflammatory diseases. Anxiety and depression affects more than 30% of population and allmost everyone is susceptible at some point in their life. Depression is the major cause of suicide. Conventional drug treatment for stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression can lead to a number of undesirable side effects. Both chronic stress and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drug treatment for depression and anxiety are associated with side effects like the development of obesity and metabolic disorders. 

Autoimmune disorders in which the body's immune system attacks it's own healthy cells, cannot be cured, but can be controlled by drugs. The long time treatment includes corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation and pain are known to have severe side effects. Hence balancing the Ajna chakra helps  in diseases affecting mind like anxiety depression, psycho somatic illnesses, auto immune diseases where mind plays an important role.

How to balance Ajna chakra?

1. *Yoga and Meditation* 

Ajna chakra is particularly important in Kundalini yoga, Rajyoga and Shivayoga Ling-anga yoga. These yogas aim to nourish the Ajna’s energies and cultivate one's intuition and insight. Before we open the third eye, it is important to build the energetic foundation of the first five chakras, starting at the root chakra.

 Practicing yoga and meditation can help balance the Ajna chakra. Yoga or meditation if practiced regularly show better regulation of stress response and improvement in mood disorders and general well-being. 

2.*Trataka yoga, Rajyoga*

Trataka yoga a tantric method of meditation that involves staring at a single point such as a small object, black dot or a candle flame. It is said to bring energy to the "third eye" and promote various psychic abilities. 

Trataka yoga is practiced in Rajyoga and Ling-anga yoga.

Brahmakumaris also use trataka yoga and call it Rajayoga and they use a  light source to gaze.

3.*Shivayoga, Ling-anga yoga" 

Shivayoga combines all the yogas preached by Shiva to Saptarshis. They are  Jnanayoga, Karmayoga, Bhaktiyoga, Kriyayoga, Hathayoga, Mantrayoga and Kundalini yoga. 

Ling-anga yoga.

12th century Sharanas under the leadership of Guru Basavanna and guidance of Allam Prabhu found out a shorter version of Shivayoga using trataka yoga and Ishtalinga. They called it Ling-anga yoga. 

Sharanas preached and practiced this where sadhaka go to Ajñā chakra directly. Hence it is known as Rajayoga as the path is shorter and easier. In olden days it is prohibited for a seeker to share and reveal his experiences. But Shivsharanas have shared their experiences through the Vachanas. It is also known as Ishtalinga Shivayoga. It redefines Quantum mechanics and considered to be easiest way to activate 7 Chakras. 

Ishtalinga  made up of 

total 14-16 components.

It is said that when Ishtalinga is kept on plam due to body temperature electrons in the carbon of Istalinga are said to be activated resulting in chain of reactions which  activate pineal gland and secretion of melotonin. Scientific study is needed to substaniate this.

As the result of steadfast gaze on the Ista-Linga, transmuted energies rise up the spinal nerve channel, into the Medulla oblongata  through the Pons and Mid brain, then pass down into the Pituitary gland  which is at the same plane and posterior to the eyes. The increasing Pituitary radiations finally pass through the Third Ventricle  until they awaken the dormant Pineal gland and the  "Third Eye" lights up between them

4. Meditation: 

Meditation with  Visualization of the third eye chakra as a radiant ball of indigo light swirling at the brow point spinning in a counter clockwise direction to cleanse and in a clockwise direction to balance the chakra.

In addition to Yoga and 

meditation other strategies that can help unblock the Ajna chakra are Pranayama, Stargazing, Crystal gazing, Hakini mudra, Shambhavi mudra, Asanas, Aroma therapy, certain stones and listening to the classical music.

5. Pranayama -

Breathing techniques  improve stress regulation, sympathovagal balance, and workload tolerance.

Pranayama with abdominal bandh ( Uddiyana bandha) increase thoracic volume, which produces inhibitory signals that may induce changes in the autonomic nervous system to increase parasympathetic dominance leading to relaxation and relief of stress. This bi-directional signaling between the viscera and the brain is via the vagus nerve. 

Nadi Shodhana Pranayama : like Anuloma Viloma, which is also known as alternate nostril breathing.

There was a a significant reduction in anxiety and depression, reduced perception of stress and pain.

 Alternative fast medium and slow breathing in a sequence:

 Alternative fast medium and slow breathing in a sequence in Pranayama along with mantra chanting improved cognitive function in the domains of attention, visuomotor speed, and memory retention capacity. Therefore, while yogic breathing techniques promote beneficial effects, specific types and sequences of pranayama appear to produce more distinct and faster effects. 

6. Mudra:

 Hākinī mudra -

Bring the hands together with the fingertips and thumb tips of both hands touching each other.

 Have the thumbs pointing towards the body, arms relaxed and elbows pointed out the the sides. Continue the meditation.

Shambhavi Mudra:

 Shambhu means benovalent manifesting love altruistic, good, fair, kind and is the name of Shiva. Shambhavi is Shambhu's Beloved" symbolizing Shakti, the divine energy and existence. Kundalini in muladhara becomes Shambhavi the benovalent at Ajna chakra. Shakti meditated in this mudra to reach Shiva hence the name. Her manifestation is best realized through this mudra, which rests on the praxis of identity between the macrocosm and microcosm. 

This mudra governs the four karanendriya — Manas (thought), Buddhi (intellect), Chitta (consciousness) and Ego.

Gazing  at the space between the two eye-brows is known as Shambhavi mudra. Shambhavi Mudra is also called as 'the eyebrow center gazing gesture'. In this mudra energy flows to the front portion of the brain or Frontal lobe.  Frontal Lobe is  responsible for cognition and is associated with reasoning, motor skills, higher level cognition. This is the chakra of manifestation and sadhaka acquires all the 8 major and 32 minor Siddhis.  It is very powerful gesture used in meditation. It is used to bring the mind into a state of balance and experience higher states of consciousness. 

Method: 1.Sit in any of the meditative pose.(Sukhasana, Siddasana, Vajrasana) 

Straighten your head and hands in Gyan mudra ( connecting the index finger and thumb to form a circle). 

2.Close your eyes and relax your body including eyes, face muscles, forehead, and even behind the eyes.

3.Open your eyes gradually and try to fix them at a point between the two eye-brows, keeping body and head, face relaxed. Without moving the head, try to look inward and upward at the eyebrow center.

If you are performing this step correctly, your eyebrows curve will form a V shape with an apex at your eyebrow center. If a V-shape curve is not formed, your gaze is not pointed inwards and upwards correctly. Do not blink while gazing. 4.Once your eyes get tired or water starts to come out of them, close your eyes to rest them.

When your eyes are closed, do not think about anything. Focus on the darkness that is inside your eyes and mind. If you are unable to do it, you can gradually chant OM .

5.Coordinate your breath with Shambhavi mudra.

When you gaze at your eyebrows center, slowly inhale. Try to direct your awareness towards the Ajna chakra.

When you gazing upward, hold your breath.

Exhale when you lower down your gaze.

6.Repeat the mudra after a short  rest to the eyes.

Effects -

Substantial increase in delta and theta brain waves and markedly reduced beta and alpha brain waves were noticed in EEG after Shambhavi mudra practice. Increase in delta and theta waves are associated with deep relaxation and higher levels of mental focus.

Shambhavi Mahamudra - 

 Shambhavi Mahamudra is essentially composed of a Shambhivi mudra and simple 21-minute protocol of breath regulation technique. Shambhavi Mahamudra incorporates both fast- and slow-pranayama methods in a sequence.

The EEG study on Shambhavi Mahamudra also showed higher levels of coherence between the right and left sides of the brain. whole brain synchronization which  leads to greatly enhanced mental capabilities like better learning ability, increased creativity, heightened mental clarity, and sharper intellect. 

By doing Shambhavi Mahamudra it was  found that in three months neuronal regeneration in the brain became 241% higher than normal.   The sequence breathing practices restore balance to autonomic nervous system by stimulating the vagus nerve (mediator of the stress response), increase parasympathetic dominance and vagal tone in the slow phase of breathing. Therefore, while yogic breathing techniques promote beneficial effects, specific types and sequence pranayama appear to produce more distinct effects. 

Asanas -

 Balasana or child’s pose  with your forehead pressing into the floor.This asana or pose has been created by observing young children who naturally use this to relax. Balasana is one of the easiest relaxation poses and can be done by all practitioners. It relieves stress and  gives emotional and mental relaxation.

Aroma therapy - smelling patchouli, myrrh and frank incense essential oils,  lavender, sandalwood and pine can gently stimulate the pineal gland. Use essential oils in the bath or in a diffuser. Adding bergamot, vetiver, and patchouli helps in  third eye-opening.

Stones - Carrying or wearing anything in the purple realm, such as  amethyst, tanzanite, lapis lazuli,  purple sapphire, purple violet tourmaline, or rhodonite will awaken and activate your third eye.”

Sound healing -

Listening to the classical music, Om chanting.

-✍️ Dr Prema Pangi