View source for Ajna

{{Short description|Third eye chakra}}
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  {{incomplete citations|date=December 2022}}
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[[File:Chakra6.svg|thumb|Traditional Hindu diagram of third eye chakra]]
{{Tantric chakras}} 

'''Ajna''' ({{langx|sa|आज्ञा}}, [[IAST]]: {{IAST|Ājñā}} , {{IPA|sa|ˈaːd͡ʑɲaː|IPA}}), '''brow'''<ref name="Navratri days related to Chakras">{{cite web|author=Ritu Shukla|date=April 8, 2019|title=Chaitra Navratri 2019: The do's and don'ts|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/religion/rituals-puja/navratri-9-days-of-rejuvenation/articleshow/68207001.cms|access-date=2020-07-31|work=Times of India}}</ref> or '''third eye chakra''', is the sixth primary [[chakra]] in the body according to [[Hindu]] tradition and signifies the [[unconscious mind]], the direct link to [[Brahman]] (ultimate reality).<ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-05-05|title=The Ancient Powerful Practices of Hindu Meditation|language=en-US|work=The Way of Meditation|url=http://www.thewayofmeditation.com.au/blog/hindu-meditation/|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922115305/https://www.thewayofmeditation.com.au/blog/hindu-meditation/|archive-date=2018-09-22}}</ref> The third eye is said to connect people to their [[intuition]], give them the ability to [[communicate]] with the world, or help them receive messages from the past and the future.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/%C4%81j%C3%B1%C4%81|title=Ājñā, Ajna, Āgyā: 3 definitions|last=www.wisdomlib.org|date=2014-02-27|work=Wisdom Library|access-date=2017-03-31|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://sadhguru.org/atoz/c/seven-chakras-significance/|title=The Seven Chakras and Their Significance|date=2013-01-21|work=The Isha Blog|access-date=2017-03-31|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526054507/http://sadhguru.org/atoz/c/seven-chakras-significance/|archive-date=2015-05-26|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sivasakti.com/yoga/chakras/seven-gates-towards-the-universe-sixth-gate-ajna-chakra/|title=Ajna Chakra – SivaSakti|website=sivasakti.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-03-31}}</ref>

==Location==
The Ajna chakra is located in the center of the forehead between the eyebrows.{{sfnp|Vishnudevananda|1988|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=FlWbB_muwtUC&pg=PA298 298]}} It is not a part of the physical body but considered to be part of the [[Prana|pranic]] system. The location makes it a sacred spot where Hindus apply a [[Tilaka|tilak]] [[bindi (decoration)|bindi]] to show reverence for it.{{Cn|date=July 2021}}

== Appearance ==
The Ajna chakra is described as "a diamond-like lotus of two petals, presided by [[Soham (Sanskrit)#Hamsa|Hamsa]] Devata, and [[Central channel|Susumna]] [[Shakti|Sakti]]. It corresponds to the [[Vijñāna|Vijnana]] state and [[Vāc|Anupama Vak]], and to the half [[Matra (music)|matra]] of the [[Pranava]]."{{sfnp|Kaviraj|1923}}

It is said to represent the [[Nadi (yoga)|nadis]] (psychic channels) Ida and Pingala, which meet the central Sushumna nadi before rising to the crown chakra, [[Sahasrara]]. The letter "ham" (हं) is written in white on the left petal and represents [[Shiva]], while the letter "ksham" (क्षं) is written in white on the right petal and represents [[Shakti]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mychakras.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/sixth-chakra-third-eye-chakra-ajna-chakra/|title=Sixth Chakra Third Eye Chakra Ajna Chakra|date=2008-05-27|website=My Chakras|access-date=2016-05-04}}</ref>{{better source|date=July 2020}}

Inside the [[pericarp]] of the flower is the Hakini shakti. It is depicted with a white moon, six faces, and six arms holding a book, a skull, a drum, and a [[rosary]], while making the gestures associated with granting boons and dispelling fears. The downward-pointing triangle above her contains a white [[lingam]]. This triangle, along with the lotus flower, can represent wisdom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chakras.info/third-eye-chakra/|title=The Third Eye Chakra|website=www.chakras.info|access-date=2016-04-29}}</ref>{{better source|date=December 2022}}

== Seed syllable ==
The seed syllables of Ajna are ''ksham''{{cn|date=December 2022}} and the more well-known ''[[Om]]'' or ''Aum'',{{sfnp|D'Angelo|2012|loc=ch. 9}} which is believed to be the basic sound of the world and contains all other sounds. It is considered the supreme sound of the universe.{{cn|date=December 2022}} The mantras are monosyllabic seed sounds (''bija'') which, when spoken aloud, activate the energy of the respective chakras in order to purify and balance the mind and body. The energy resonates in the chakra associated with the mantra.{{sfnp|Vishnudevananda|1988|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=FlWbB_muwtUC&pg=PA292 292-99]}}

== Function ==
Ajna translates as "authority" or "command" (or "perceive").{{cn|date=December 2022}} It is considered the eye of intuition and intellect. Its associated sense organ is the mind.{{sfnp|Vishnudevananda|1988|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=FlWbB_muwtUC&pg=PA298 298]}}

==See also==
*[[Body of light]]
*[[Chidakasha]]
*[[Kundalini]] 
*[[Pineal gland]]
*[[Parietal eye]]
*[[Third eye]]
*[[Urna]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Works cited===
* {{cite book |last=D'Angelo |first=James|year=2012 |title=Seed Sounds for Tuning the Chakras: Vowels, Consonants, and Syllables for Spiritual Transformation |publisher=Inner Traditions/Bear |isbn=978-1594774607}}
* {{cite book |title=System of Chakras according to Gorakshanatha |first=Gopinath |last=Kaviraj |series=Princess of Wales Sarasvati Bhavan Series |volume=II |year=1923 |via=Shivashakti.com |url=https://shivashakti.com/gorchak |access-date=2022-12-14}}
* {{cite book |first=Swami |last=Vishnudevananda|year=1988 |title=The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga. |publisher=Harmony/Rodale |isbn=978-0517884317}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Goswami |first=Shyam Sundar|year=1999 |title=Layayoga: The Definitive Guide to the Chakras and Kundalini |publisher=Inner Traditions/Bear |isbn=978-0892817665}}
* {{cite book |last=Maheśvarānanda |first=Swami|year=2004 |title=The Hidden Powers in Humans: Chakras and Kundalinī |place=Austria |publisher=Ibera-Verlag - Europ. University Press |isbn=978-3850521970 |url=https://www.chakras.net/ |access-date=2022-12-14 |via=Chakras.net}}
* {{cite book |last=Varenne |first=Jean |title=Yoga and the Hindu Tradition |year=1989 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |location=Delhi, India |isbn=8120805437 |edition=1st Indian}}


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[[Category:Chakras]]
[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]