Sometimes I get very inspired from myths even though I easily forget the story..sigh :-/… the myths that unfold in Greek and Indian texts are intriguing and can stimulate a certain philosophical idea that gets stuck in the head. Let’s say..Amrita, the nectar, the fluid, the flow of immortality ~ Ambrosia, the nectar of gods…Both have a few similar connotations..
Apparently, to practice Khechari mudra is not an easy task..It is a cleansing technique that can change the structure of the tongue; the tongue becomes flexible and can be inserted into the upper epiglottis. This is when the nectar of immortality begins to flow! It flows from Bindu Visagra (see above) to Vishuddhi Cakra (throat) where it gets purified and processed for further use and distribution to the whole body. To gain immortality though one needs to perform techniques and practices so that the nectar is trapped and consumed within the human body. BUT!..also bare in mind…One of the alternative definitions of Jalandhara Bandha (throat lock – where ‘jal’ means ‘water’) is to hold the nectar in vishuddhi and prevent it from falling into the digestive fire. In this way, prana is conserved. This is another way of looking at it.
Concentration on this centre; we can visualise a large white drop of nectar. Try to experience icy cold drops of sweet nectar falling down to Vishuddhi from Bindu, giving a feeling of blissful intoxication. Love these symbolic metaphors that follow a myth, since myths are part of our culture and they have philosophical, psychological but also physiological connotations.
Here is the story and symbology of vishuddhi chakra and the nectar that is presented in HYP. ”When the devas (good supernatural deities) and asuras (the supenatural forces of chaos that are in constant battle with the devas) were churning the ocean they extracted fourteen elements, two of which were nectar and deadly poison. Neither of the two parties wanted the poison, but both wanted the nectar. When it came to the distribution of the nectar the devas and asuras sat in two lines. Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a beautiful young maiden and danced between the two lines, discreetly pouring the nectar only into the glasses of the devas. One asura sat in the deva’s line and also received the nectar. However,as he swallowed and it reached his throat, the sun and moon, who had been watching the whole situation, told Vishnu, who then destroyed the asura before the nectar had time to circulate through the body and endow him with immortality. Now when the poison was extracted everyone was afraid. Whoever drank the poison would be finished, and yet there was no safe place to discard it either. If it was thrown away the three worlds would be burnt. So they took the poison to Lord Shiva to ask for his help because he was the only one able to drink it without being destroyed. Shiva drank the poison and retained it in his throat. He managed to purify the poison and liberated the world from a deadly danger. Therefore, he is often depicted with a blue throat and called ‘Nilakanta’. This myth signifies the capacity of the yogi who has awakened Vishuddhi cakra to assimilate both positive and negative aspects of life; to retain balance, health and equanimity in the midst of the dualities of pain and pleasure, light and dark, life and death, body and mind etc. HYP p. 326
Thinking about the nadis (energy channels) and since Amrita has to do a lot with the energetic body, I found a very nice concept of the ‘conduit of immortality’ Amrita-nadi spoken of by Ramana Maharsi in South India. Amrita-nadi manifests upon full enlightment and it creates a link between the ascending sushumna-nadi and the centre of the heart. It can be used as a visualisation perfectly…It is as if a line of Light were plumbed between the deep centre of the upper coil (midbrain to crown) and the deep centre of the lower coil (below and behind the navel). The whole body becomes full of Light and Radiant Bliss. This entire fullness is the reflection of the Heart. All of it is Amrita-Nadi.
In Greek Mythology, Am
Goddess Athena in Homer’s poems drizzled ambrosia all over Penelope in her sleep, so that when she appeared before her suitors, the effects of her age on her skin were magically erased and they were inflamed with passion at the sight of her.
Ambrosia is often associated with a sweet, fermented, potent drink which nowdays scholars associate it with honey. This is how the Honey Bee, the provider of the nectar, is nature’s perfect symbol of balance, mystery and perseverance. Honey can have healing and cleansing properties and can also be used to make wine which is the modern fluid related to ambrosia or the ‘rosy-red nectar’… Nowdays, Ambrosia, the ‘delightful liquid’ can be a context in cookery, medicine, botany, enhancing mood, relationships, promoting ultimate health.. Use it! Whenever you feel that you need a bit of a spark! Whenever you feel that you need a sense of renewed energy, power or something to reveal the shining beautiful YOU!