Introduction

Sahasrara Chakra, also known as the "Crown Chakra" is situated at the top of the head and spins at tremendous speed. This Chakra is the 7th chakra of the Kundalini Chakras, which communicates the spiritual nature of human being with the vast universe. The Chakra is depicted as a lotus flower opening to allow spiritual awakening of an individual. It is through the Crown Chakra the life force is dispersed from the outer universe to the lower 6 Chakras.

Appearance of Sahasrara Chakra

In Tantra, the Sahasrara Chakra has thousand petals. The violet colour of Sahasrara Chakra refers to self-knowledge or spiritual awareness. The colour is associated with higher self, spirituality and higher consciousness.

Function of Sahasrara Chakra

The purpose of the Sahasrara Chakra is intuitive knowledge, relation to one"s spirituality and integration of the human being with the whole creation. The Crown Chakra arouses spirituality as well as develops the senses of living in present. The under activity of Sahasrara Chakra causes mystical depression, diseases of the muscular system, skeletal system and the skin, chronic exhaustion that is not associated with physical ailments and sensitivity to light, sound and environment.

Sahasrara Chakra stores information like duality, magnetism; common emotional feelings like joy, anger, fear and control the patterns of behaviour. The area of the body controlled by the Sahasrara Chakra is the top center of the head, midline above the ears. The gland associated with Crown Chakra is pineal.

Illuminating Sahasrara Chakra

Illuminating Sahasrara Chakra or the Crown Chakra is represented by the various forms of Lord Shiva, who is now brilliantly illuminated. In all his forms Lord Shiva poses to be more restrained and spiritual than his female counterparts.

Tantra identifies all power in the world to stem from life itself and the Keeper of Life is the female, not the male. Mother Nature is the primal moving force behind everything. Mother Nature was and is a dynamic, unimaginable force, the most powerful force in the universe. Only after she is satisfied can spirituality be approached. Even the Tantrists were dependent on Mother Nature to fulfill the sensual pleasure aspect of their control and belief system. Hence she is looked after and taken care of first. She must be looked after before illumination can occur. The signposts for illuminating the crown chakra are as follows:

Symbol: The symbol here is a beautiful crystal chalice which is beautifully illuminated.

Colour: The colour of the chakra is the color which generates a brilliant bluish white light in a crystal cup. It is the essence of light itself.

Emotion: Humility is the emotion of the chakra. One gets to come in association with something which is so much greater and powerful. This makes one more humble and grateful to the Singularity. Along with this emotion the sense of awe is also blended. This sense of awe is experienced by someone who has had an ultimate experience and can remember that he or she is part of the Eternal One.

Element: The element is the substance of spirit which gives one the strength and courage.

Sound: The sound of the chakra is that of the sacred OM mantra that is sounded without sound. That is, the mouth is opened, the tongue is moved, and the body vibrates on the silent M.

Animal: The animal in this chakra is the thousand-petaled lotus. The leaves of the flower contain all the colours and all shades. These leaves glow with their own inner illumination. The glow of the leaves is quite prominent. This fact allows one to know that he has already been through the light and that the lotus is full of the nectar of his knowledge.

Balancing of Sahasrara Chakra

Sahasrara Chakra in its balanced condition yields many good results which includes, a reverence for the all life, self-sacrificing in the service of others, idealism, an ability to find the appropriate route for the benefit of higher self. However when the Chakra is in imbalanced condition it causes negative effects like no feelings for others, superiority feelings and lack of contact with reality. The Gemstones like Amber, Diamond, Moldavite and flower essences like Lotus, Angelica, Star Tulip cleanse and purify Crown Chakra.

Exercises of Sahasrara Chakra

The Sahasrara Chakra or the Crown Chakra is situated at the top of the head and spins at tremendous speed. In Tantra, the Crown Chakra has thousand petals. Crown Chakra is the seventh chakra, which communicates the spiritual nature of human being with the vast universe. There are many exercises associated with this chakra.

Following Thoughts : To perform this exercise the practitioner needs to lie or sit in a comfortable meditation position. He must allow his mind to become relatively calm and quiet. Slowly he must allow his mind to pay attention to the thoughts that pass through his mind. He needs to pick any one thought and question himself about its origin and from where it preceded. He must follow to its origin of the thought. In the process he might discover that it happened years ago or something that is pressing on him now. He must again follow that thought to its source, and on to each thought`s origin. Eventually he will come to a kind of infinite source that has no objective origin.

One done with one thought the practitioner must return back and pick another thought that passes through. He needs to repeat the same sequence, going further and further back. At the end he needs to check how many of his thoughts emanate from a similar source.

After following a few thoughts to their origin, the practitioner must begin watching his thoughts go by without tracing them. He needs to allow them to simply pass, without denying them nor retaining them. He must let them return to their source until there are few or no thoughts passing through. He also will return to the source. The practitioner must remain there as long as possible and then return slowly to normal consciousness.

Journey to the Akashic Records : The practitioner here needs to lie comfortably on the floor with his face up, head and neck relaxed. He needs to slowly relax each part of his body. He must allow the floor beneath him give him support as he relaxes his legs, back, stomach, arms and shoulders. He should also allow his hands and each finger to relax. He needs to release his toes giving each foot a little wiggle. Now he must slowly focus on the rhythm of his breathing letting his tensions out.

As he lies effortlessly on the floor he should imagine his body getting lighter and gradually his body experiences a swirling feeling like rising into a mist. Eventually the mist begins to take more form and he perceives a spiral staircase leading upward. He then follows the staircase higher and higher as it becomes more solid. Each step gives the feeling of his destiny.