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Bhuvanajnanam knowledge of the worlds Surye on the sun Samyamat by constraint, by integration By sarhyama on the sun the yogi will have knowledge of the seven worlds, and of the seven cosmic centres in the body. As the sun illuminates the world with its rays, likewise, the light of the soul reaches the sahasrara, the thousand-petalled cakra, also known as brahmakapala. The yogi knows the functions of both the outer and the inner worlds. According to Indian philosophy, there are fourteen worlds or divisions of the universe - seven above and seven below. Those above are called the aerial region. They comprise the bhuloka, bhuvarloka, suvarloka, mahaloka, janoloka, tapoloka and satyaloka. Those below are the nether regions. They comprise the atala, vitala, sutala, rasatala, talatala, mahatala and patala. All these worlds are interdependent and interconnected. As the microcosm symbolises the macrocosm, man's body epitomises the entire structure of the great universe. The fourteen worlds are represented in the various regions of the body from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet. Considering the bottom portion of the torso as the central point, the aerial regions are situated above, and the nether regions below it. The several aerial regions correspond as follows - pelvic region to bhuloka, navel to bhuvarloka, diaphragmatic to suvarloka, heart to mahaloka, neck to janoloka, eyebrow centre to tapoloka and crown of the head to saty aloka. The seven nether worlds are delineated as follows - hips to atala, thighs to vitala, knees to sutala, calves to rasatala, ankles to talatala, metatarsals to mahatala and soles of the feet to patala. According to yogis, the seven major cakras are placed within the aerial regions. They are muladhara (seat of the anus), svadhistana (sacral area), manipuraka (navel), anahata (heart), visuddhi (throat), ajna (eyebrow centre) and sahasrara (crown of the head). There are other cakras, like surya (corresponding to the sympathetic nervous system), candra (parasympathetic nervous system) and manas (seat of the mind). All these are interlinked, like the solar system. The light that shines from the seat of the soul is the sun of life. It passes through surya nadi at the gates of surya cakra and lights the seven states of awareness in the yogi's consciousness (11.27). Patanjali speaks not only of external, but also about internal achievements. He instructs the aspirer to channelise his mind towards the inner body, to study and earn knowledge of the soul. |
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