The Ajna Cakra
Verse 32
Ājñanāmāmbujaṁ taddhimakarasadṛśam dhyānadhāmaprakāśaṁ
hakşābhyāṁ vai kalābhyāṁ parilasitavapurnetrapatraṁ suśubhraṁ
Tanmadhye hākinī sā śaśisamadhavalā vaktraşaṭkaṁ dadhānā
vidyāṁ mudrāṁ kapālaṁ ḍamarujapavaṭīṁ bibhrtī śuddhacittā
The Lotus named Ajna is like the Moon, (beautifully white). On its two petals are the letters Ha and Ksa, which are also white and enhance its beauty. It shines with the glory of Dhyana. Inside it is the Sakti Hakini, whose six faces are like so many moons. She has six arms, in one of which She holds a book; two others are lifted up in the gestures of dispelling fear and granting boons, and with the rest She holds a skull, a small drum, and a rosary. Her mind is pure (Suddha-Citta).
Ajna = lit., command
holds a book: the meaning is that she is making the mudra called vidya or pustaka, not that she is actually holding a book
Small drum = damaru
Verse 33
Etatpadmāntarāle nivasati ca manaḥ sūkşmarūpaṁ prasiddhaṁ
yonau tatkaraṇikāyāmitaśivapadaṁ liṅgacihṇaprakāśaṁ
Vidyunmālāvilāsaṁ paramakulapadaṁ brahmasūtraprabhodaṁ
vedānāmādibījaṁ sthiratarahṛdayaścintayettatkrameṇa
Within this Lotus dwells the subtle mind (Manas). It is well-known. Inside the Yoni in the pericarp is the Siva called Itara, in His phallic form. He here shines like a chain of lightning flashes. The first Bija of the Vedas, which is the abode of the most excellent Sakti and which by its lustre makes visible the Brahma-sutra, is also there. The Sadhaka with steady mind should meditate upon these according to the order (prescribed).
Itara = that which enables one to cross Lala.
First bija of the Vedas = Om.
Brahma-sutra = the nadi-citrini.
Verse 34
Dhyānātmā sādhakendro bhavati prapure śighragāmī munindraḥ
sarvajñah sarvadarśī sakalahitakarah sarvaśāstrarthavettā
Advaitācāravādī vilasati paramāpūrvasiddhipraśiddho
dīrghāyuḥ soऽpi kartā tribhuvanabhavane saṁhṛtau pālane ca
The excellent Sadhaka, whose Atma is nothing but a meditation on this Lotus, is able quickly to enter another’s body at will, and becomes the most excellent among Munis, and all-knowing and all-seeing. He becomes the benefactor of all, and versed in all the Sastras. He realizes his unity with the Brahman and acquires excellent and unknown powers. Full of fame and long-lived, he ever becomes the Creator, Destroyer, and Preserver, of the three worlds.
Another’s body = para-pura; may also mean “another’s house.”
Powers = siddhi.
Verse 35
Tadantaścakreऽsminnivasati satataṁ śuddhabuddhyantarātmā
Pradīpābhajyotiḥ praṇavaviracanārūpavarnaprākaśah
Tadūrdve candrārdhastadupari vilasadbindurūpī makāra
stadūrdhve nādoऽsau baladhavalasudhādhārasaṁtanahāsī
Within the triangle in this Cakra ever dwells the combination of letters which form the Pranava. It is the inner Atma as pure mind (Buddhi), and resembles a flame in its radiance. Above it is the half (crescent) moon, and above this, again, is Ma-kara, shining in its form of Bindu. Above this is Nada, whose whiteness equals that of Balarama and diffuses the rays of the Moon.
Pranava = the word “Om.”
Combination of letters = A and U, i.e., the vowels in the word “aum.”
Ma-kara = the letter M in its bindu form in candra-bindu.
Nada = the half-moon symbol.
Verse 36
Iha sthāne līne susukhasādhane cetasi puraṁ
nirālambām badhvā paramagurusevāsuviditāṁ
Tadabhyāsād yōgī pavanasuhṛdāṁ paśyati kaṇāṅ
tatastanmadhyāntaḥ pravilasítarūpānapi sadā
When the Yogi closes the house which hangs without support, the knowledge whereof he has gained by the service of Parama-guru, and when the Cetas by repeated practice becomes dissolved in this place which is the abode of uninterrupted bliss, he then sees within the middle of and in the space above (the triangle) sparks of fire distinctly shining.
Closes the house = make the yoni-mudra, which detaches the inner self (antah-pur) and mind (manas) from the empirical world.
Verse 37
JvaladdIpākāraṁ tadanu ca navīnārkabahulaprakāśaṁ
jyotirvā gaganadharaṇīmadhyamilitaṁ
Iha sthāne sākşad bhavati bhagavāṅ pūrṇavibhavosvyayaḥ
sākşi vaḥneḥ śaśimihirayormaṇdala iva
He then also sees the Light which is in the form of a flaming lamp. It is lustrous like the clearly shining morning sun, and glows between the Sky and the Earth. It is here that the Bhagavan manifests Himself in the fullness of His might. He knows no decay, and witnesseth all, and is here as He is in the region of Fire, Moon, and Sun.
Light = jyotih.
Sky = gagana = empty space above Sankhini-nadi.
Earth = dharani = dhara-mandala in the muladhara.
Region of Fire, Moon, and Sun = the triangle on Manipitha within the A-ka-tha triangle.
Verse 38
Iha sthāne vişṇoratulaparamāmodamadhure
samāropya prāṇaṁ pramuditamanāḥ prāṇanidhane
Paraṁ nityaṁ devaṁ puruşamajamādyaṁ trijagatāṁ
purāṇaṁ yogīndraḥ praviśati ca vedāntaviditaṁ
This is the incomparable and delightful abode of Visnu. The excellent Yogi at the time of death joyfully places his vital breath (Prana) here and enters (after death) that Supreme, Eternal, Birthless, Primeval Deva, the Purusa, who was before the three worlds, and who is known by the Vedanta.
