Third Eye

 

The concept of third eye is the extra sensory perception that a Yogi or Rishi or Spiritual seeker develops which will help the him to flow the divine mind on earth. Everyone one of us has this, at times it works the best, many times we were not able to develop and use it. Acquiring this is not easy, it takes highly spiritual state and blessings from Gods. We have all the necessary capabilities to develop the Third Imaginary Eye meaning we can perceive what lies beyond sense, what other humans cant perceive.

In Hinduism, the third eye refers to the Ajna, or Brow, chakra. It is symbol of Enlightenment. The third eye refers to the gate that leads to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness.

The pineal gland is a pea-sized gland shaped like a pine cone, located in the vertebrate brain near the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Also known as the third eye.

The pineal gland represents the third eye in biology, which produces melatonin. Melatonin controls circadian rhythms and reproductive hormones. This makes the pineal a master regulator of time, affecting not only our sleep patterns but also our sexual maturation. Melatonin also affects our stress and ability to adapt to a changing world. This third eye activates when exposed to light, and has a number of biological functions in controlling the biorhythms of the body. It works in harmony with the hypothalamus gland which directs the body’s thirst, hunger, sexual desire and the biological clock that determines our aging process.

Developing the third eye is the doorway to all things psychic—telepathy, clairvoyance, lucid dreaming and astral projection. The illusion of separation between self and spirit dissolves when the third eye connection is cultivated. Metaphysical ways of being are connected to the third eye, such as how to be awake within the dream, to walk between realities and surpass the limitations of humanity.

A blocked third eye or ajna chakra is said to lead to confusion, uncertainty, cynicism, jealousy and pessimism. Through an open and vibrant third eye, the highest source of ethereal energy may enter. While the physical eyes perceive the physical world, the third eye sees the true world — a unified whole with an unyielding connection to spirit. A list of the benefits and abilities the third eye brings include clarity, concentration, perspicuity, bliss, intuition, decisiveness and insight. The third eye has been linked to lucid dreaming, astral projection, quality of sleep, enhanced imagination and aura viewing.

Meditation activates the pineal gland through intention: consider visualizing the decalcification of the pineal gland, as its sacred nature is illuminated and directly connected to source. Chanting causes the tetrahedron bone in the nose to resonate, which causes stimulation of the pineal gland. Considering chanting “Om,” also known as the sound of the universe, 108 times each day.

Once you begin working with your third eye, you will begin to receive guidance messages and visions. Strive to have the courage to follow through on what your intuition offers and your third eye strength will grow.

We have many stories of Shiva, asserting this truth.

Sati(Shiva’s wife) and the Burning of Kamadeva 

Daksha Prajapati, Lord Brahma’s wish-born son, was entrusted with the duty to populate the Universe. He with his wife, Prastuti, had many daughters who were married off to gods and sages. Sati, his youngest daughter, was his favourite. Sati was the reincarnation of Ardhashakti, or the better half of Lord Shiva which he had sacrificed to maintain the balance in the Universe and was thus, destined to marry Lord Shiva. Sati Appeases and marries him against the wishes of her father, Daksha. He then organizes a yagna (fire-sacrifice) and invites all his sons-in-law except Shiva, to participate in the ritual. Angry at the exclusion of her husband, Sati rushes into the sacrificial precinct and confronts her father, who mocks Shiva’s ascetic ways in front of all the assembled guests. Unable to bear this humiliation in front of the other Devas, Sati kills herself by jumping into the sacrificial fire thereby causing the Yagna to stop.

Lord Shiva was furious after learning about Sati’s death at the Yagna. Unable to control his anger, he brought forth superior beings Virabhadra (a fierce warrior) and Bhadrakali (the female fierce warrior) to behead Daksha. Although many gods tried to defend Daksha, Virabhadra and Bhadrakali destroyed his army and beheaded him.

Lord Brahma pleaded to Lord Shiva for his son’s life and asked for forgiveness for his behaviour. Lord Shiva calmed down, and revived Daksha by replacing his head with a goat’s head. He placed Goddess Sati’s body on his shoulder and started walking through the Universe, neglecting his duties. Lord Vishnu attempted to pacify Shiva, who was left in deep grief upon seeing the half-burned corpse of his beloved wife, Sati. To bring Lord Shiva out of his grief, Lord Vishnu uses his sudarshan chakra (a celestial weapon) to cut Sati’s body to pieces, which fell on earth. Sati’s body was cut into a total of 52 pieces that fell on different places on the earth, each of which have evolved into Shakti Pithas (Shakti Temples). There is a Kali or Shakti temple in each of these 52 places.

Lord Shiva then returned to Mount Kailash to meditate and mourn his wife’s death, cleansing himself of all anger and pain rejecting all worldly things. Much later, Sati is reborn as the daughter of Himavath (the king of mountains). The couple name her Parvati and showed immense devotion towards Lord Shiva. She tries her best to please him to marry her. Although Lord Shiva remains impassive, disappointing both her and the Devas who are eager to get Lord Shiva married. The Devas were informed that the demon, Taraka, who got them in trouble was destined to be killed by Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s son. So, they decide to help Parvati please Lord Shiva by sending Lord Kama (the god of love & lust) to Mount Kailash. While Lord Shiva is seen meditating, Kamadeva raises his sugarcane bow, pulls his bowstring buzzing with bees and shoots flowery darts of kama (desire) into Shiva’s heart.

The result was not something the Devas expected it would be. Instead of opening his eyes and expressing his desire for Parvati, Lord Shiva opens a third eye. It is in the centre of the forehead and blows out a missile of fire that sets Kamadeva aflame. Right in front of Parvati, Kamadeva reduces to pile of ash. It is then that Shiva gets the name destroyer. Such is the power of third eye of Lord Shiva. Through this incident, the third eye has been accompanied by emotions of rage and anger.

The birth of Andhaka

As the Shiv Purana narrates, once playfully Parvati closes the eyes of Lord Shiva with her hands from behind. As soon as Mahadeva’s eyes were thus covered, all the regions became dark and life seemed to be extinct everywhere in the universe. All living creatures became cheerless and filled with fear. Birds froze in the air mid-flight. Cows became living statues while grazing in lush green fields. The tiger about to pounce on her prey was rooted to her hiding spot while the deer was fastened to his feeding ground. All life became still and quiet. When the eyes of the lord of all life forms were closed, the universe seemed to become sunless. Soon, overspreading darkness disappeared. A mighty and powerful flame of fire started to radiate from Mahadeva’s forehead. A third eye, resembling another sun, appeared on his forehead. This eye provided light to the world when his other two eyes were closed.

While covering Lord Shiva’s eyes, Goddess Parvati’s hands started perspiring. The sweat filled with the power of Shiva (heat) and Shakti (water) transformed into a child – a blind child. It sang, cried, laughed, danced, put out its tongue like a serpent and thundered fiercely. The couple named this child – Andhaka. At this time, there was an asura (demon) named Hiranyaksha who had no sons. He then prayed to Lord Shiva and pleased by his devotion, the couple decided to offer him with Andhaka, to raise him as his son.

Andhaka went on to become the king of Hiranyaksha’s kingdom. Later, Andhaka gets blessed with a boon from Lord Brahma. Andhakasura asked him for victories throughout his life and immortality. Lord Brahma granted him the first boon but asked him how he wanted die, as death was inevitable. To this, Andhakasura replies that he would be killed by his own father if he ever decides to marry a woman who was like a mother to him. Empowered by this boon, he went on to conquer all the three worlds. During his invasion, he meets Parvati and gets aroused by her beauty. He then decided to make her his queen. As he chased her, Lord Shiva who came to Parvati’s rescue and struck Andhaka by his trident. After being suspended on Lord Shiva’s trident for over thousand years, Andhakasura realized his mistake and sought forgiveness form Lord Shiva.

This story narrates the dark side of the third eye. When desire is destroyed, then all divisions fall apart – there is no right side or left side, nothing good or nothing bad. It metaphorically illustrates that the physical world, blinds one to worldly realities. Andhaka means the `blind one’, so blind that he does not even distinguish between mother and wife.

The birth of Jalandhar

Once Lord Indra (king of Heaven) and Brihaspati (Sage) went to Kailash to meet Lord Shiva. To test their devotion, Lord Shiva meets them in disguise and starts to question them. Upon meeting a strange hermit, Lord Indra starts asking who he was and where does he live. To this, Lord Shiva in disguise remains silent and does not answer to any of Indra’s questions. Despite repeatedly asking him about his whereabouts, Lord Shiva’s silence angered Lord Indra. He failed to recognize that it was Lord Shiva himself testing them. So, he pulls out his weapon – Vajra (sword) and attacks Lord Shiva.

In his defense, furious Shiva paralyzed Lord Indra using his third eye. On witnessing this fight between the hermit and Lord Indra, Brihaspati realizes that it was Lord Shiva himself and tries to cool him down. He pleads to forgive Lord Indra and his request pleases Lord Shiva. He then diverts the enormous radiation from his third eye to the sea. God Indra was saved only by the intervention of Guru Brihaspati’s special prayer to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva went back to Kailash Mountain. Lord Indra and sage Brihaspati returned to their own places.

That diversion of power to the sea, gives birth to a child name Jalandhar. This child was crying so loudly that fear was created everywhere. Brahma then told him that the boy will one day become the emperor of Asuras, he could only be killed by Shiva and after his death he would return to third eye. This child eventually grew up to become the king of the demons.

Here the third eye is used as an epitome of destructive anger, resulting from one’s impulsive nature and lack of patience.

The third eye of the lord has always embarked a sense of rage and fierceness, destroying everything that came in its vision. Third eye of Lord Shiva represents the anger and symbol of righteousness too. It indicates the results of overwhelming emotions and vengeance. By opening up the third eye, Lord Shiva perceived a dimension within himself which is beyond the physical, and all the compulsions of the physical dropped away. Lord Shiva having three eyes means he is holding spirit, energy & matter within himself. Thus, three eyes represent Lord Shiva as the ultimate reality.

In conclusion, when we refer to the “third eye”, we are symbolically talking about seeing something that the two sensory eyes cannot see. It is to see something that is within your interior self. The two eyes that humans possess are controlled by senses which are not reliable. The third eye represents all pervading – Gyaana (knowledge) and Dhyaana ( Consciousness or Concentration) that one aspires to achieve.