“The Yoga Shastras describe the six energy centers (Chakras) located within our body. Regarding these, the Great Siddhars have proclaimed:
‘Push aside the six centers starting from the root (Mooladhara) and behold, behold the six higher spiritual realms that stand mature and supreme!’“
The realms of Gnana Experience (Spiritual Realization) are located solely within the head region of our body! Everything below the neck is the domain of the performer of Karma. Even the five senses located in the head region function as Karmendriyas (organs of action).
In the state of Tavam (deep penance), the Karmendriyas (organs of action)—the skin, mouth, eyes, nose, and ears—are transformed into Jnanendriyas (organs of wisdom)
The five senses naturally function in the external world. For a spiritual seeker (Gnana Saadhakan), the act of Tavam (penance) is to stop this outward wandering and turn the senses inward. All of this is under the control of the Mind.
If the mind is refined and made pure, there is no need to chant mantras with the mouth, no need to pull and regulate breath through the nose, and no need to listen to hymns with the ears. There is no need to perform Vasi Yoga (breath-control yoga) with closed eyes, nor is there a need to perform any physical labor. Any action performed externally with the five senses is not the state of Gnana (True Wisdom)!
It is enough to fix the mind—which usually dominates and manipulates the senses—at the exact point where the five senses and the five elements converge.
As the sacred Kural states: ‘Those who remain firm in the true path of discipline, having extinguished the desires of the five senses, shall live forever.’ One who burns away, or ‘extinguishes’ through spiritual heat, the influence of the five senses and the five elements at the ‘gate’ of the five organs—the Eye—will truly live forever. They shall not perish.
“As you increase and intensify the light within our eyes, that ascending radiance will gradually burn away all Malams (karma/maya/ego/impurities/attachments). As external actions cease, waves of light will surge inward, eventually reaching the Agni Kalai (the State of Inner Fire). This is the true achievement (Sadhana).
A Siddhar says: ‘The crematorium that burns is the Space itself.’ The crematorium where our Three Malams (karma/maya/ego – impurities of the soul) are burned to ashes is none other than our own Eyes.”
“That is exactly where the Fire resides! Once you pass through, you encounter the Great Void—the Vast Open Space (Vetta Veli). This is what another Siddhar referred to as the ‘Forest at the Tip of a Needle.’ If you enter through that needle-point, you find a vast forest. And within a forest, do you not find wild rivers, cobras, and wild elephants?
These are all spoken in riddles (metaphors). If you travel deep into the river, it is actually a River of Fire! Only the ignorant claim that the Mooladhara (the root source) is located at the bottom of the spine.”
Push aside the six foundational centers starting from the root (Mooladhara) and behold—behold the Superior Centers that stand matured and supreme! The two eyes represent the six centers and the six faces (Arumugam).
The Eye itself is the Source (Moolam) of all other energy centers. The Eye is the root of everything, and the light within the needle-point opening of the eye is our very Soul-Light (Jeeva Oli)!
“In the Vinayagar Agaval, Avvaiyar has beautifully sung: ‘Revealing the method to kindle the fire arising from the Mooladhara using the “Kaal” (Divine Foot-Thiruvadi).’
The Mooladhara (the Root Source) is the Eye. The fire that arises from performing penance (Tavam) upon the eye will ascend as the Great Effulgent Light (Arutperunjothi). Here, ‘Kaal’ refers to the Feet—the Divine Feet of the Lord. If you fix your focused intention (Karutthu) upon the Truth, which is the Eye, the Sacred Fire will be kindled.
See how beautifully this has been expressed! The Eye itself is the ‘Thiruvadi’—the Sacred Feet of God!“
The primary cause of our Karmas (actions and their consequences) is the act of seeing through the eyes! The very mechanism that attracts Karma resides within our eyes. What is it? It consists of the white layer(sclera) of the eye, the iris (black circle), and then the Pupil (Kanmani).
At the center of the pupil, there is a thin membrane (a subtle veil) that covers the needle-point opening. This membrane is the reason for everything we perceive externally. That is exactly where our past karmas (Prarabdha Karma) are stored. Our mind functions according to the impressions on this membrane, creating newer and newer karmas. If we continue in this manner, will there ever be an end to this cycle?”
The path of Gnana Sariyai (Wisdom-Discipline) proclaimed by the Great Saint Vallalar is what true Meditation consists of. As you constantly, intensely dwell upon the Pupil (Kanmani), your heart will melt, and your body will be drenched in tears; it is in this state that the Spiritual Fire (Kanal) arises.
Since the mind is fixed firmly there, external actions cease, and no new karmas are created. As the mind remains centered on the pupil, the fire grows and intensifies. When this Flame of Wisdom (Gnana Kanal) surges, the membrane covering the eye gradually melts and dissolves. The Sages declare that once the membrane blocking the ‘needle-point gateway’ is torn away, the True Eye shall open!
This is the ultimate achievement! This is the very penance (Tavam) that we must perform.”
-Gnana Sarguru SivaSelvaraj Ayya