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Human plane
(jana-loka)
Jana-loka is the fifth plane, the abode of siddhas (evolved beings who have powers by which they can do at will deeds that look like miracles to people who are on the lower planes) and saints, who are ever absorbed in contemplation on Hari (1). Jana-loka is also the region where inhabitants of swarga-loka and maha-loka seek refuge at the time of Great Dissolution of all existing phenomena, after which the universe is created anew. The element that predominates in this loka is air, and the bodies of the dwellers in jana-loka are composed of pure wisdom untouched by desire. This is the loka of divine wisdom, and those who dwell here are beings of divine wisdom.
The player who lands in the fifth chakra, the human plane, devotes his life to synchronizing with divine laws to sustain the upward flow of energy within himself. To stabilize himself in his experience he feels the need to communicate it to others. Thus the fifth chakra is the source of all great teachings. Its location in the throat near the voice box underscores the importance of communication to the player who vibrates here.
The player establishes himself here by a right understanding of the vital airs and by his passages through purgatory, clarity of consciousness, and gyana. His wisdom demands synchronization with planetary laws, and his understanding of the vital airs gives them the utmost significance. Imbalances in the airs are reflections of disharmony with planetary laws. Without the cooperation of these airs, synchronization is impossible.
His understanding of the divine presence within all existence, gained in his passage through the fourth chakra, demands he seek the Divinity within himself. Thus his attention turns to sounds, which take on a new significance for him. He is now able to hear sounds within himself that were inaudible before, because his attention had been aimed at the phenomenal world. Turning inward with his senses, he hears the sounds of his heart and the blood coursing through his system. These sounds open his nerves, and he becomes able to apprehend more.
While it has been said that all knowledge exists within, this becomes a reality only in the fifth chakra. The opening of the nerves produces sounds. These sounds in turn affect the psychic energy and result in changes in body chemistry. This produces a psychic state in which the player is opened to new dimensions of experience. The resultant understanding is known as knowledge.
In the fourth chakra the player has experience without understanding. The increase in energy caused by the elevation from the fourth chakra to the fifth elevates consciousness, and new perspectives come into view.
In the first chakra there are only four dimensions, called petals. In the second there are six. The transition from the second to the third chakra opens four new dimensions, and two more are added in the transition from the third to the fourth—a total of twelve. In the fifth chakra sixteen dimensions are functioning, giving a radically new perspective on the nature ot the game. From this perspective all great religious teachings flow.
If the player who reaches the fifth chakra is part of a tradition, he becomes a new link in its development. Or he may leave and become an independent thinker, a seer, a prophet, or a saint.
This is the plane on which he gains a true perspective on the nature of humanity, and it is often gained directly from the third chakra by the arrow of selfless service.
The artwork captures the essence of Jana-loka, the fifth plane. It features evolved beings in a realm that blends natural and futuristic elements, symbolizing a higher state of spiritual consciousness and divine wisdom.
Notes
(1) Hari is a name of the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, who is also known as Narayana and Madhava. Hari means 'the one who takes away' (sins) and 'the one who removes darkness and illusion'. Hari is also the name of a fused deity form of both Vishnu and Shiva, called Harihara.
Harihara: The Deity Form of Both Vishnu and Shiva
Hinduism is a diverse and pluralistic religion that encompasses many traditions, sects, and schools of thought. Among them, two of the most prominent and influential are those associated with Vishnu and Shiva, the two major gods of the Hindu pantheon. Vishnu is the preserver and protector of the universe, who incarnates in various forms (avatars) to uphold dharma (cosmic order) and restore balance. Shiva is the destroyer and transformer of the universe, who represents the power of change, dissolution, and liberation. Both Vishnu and Shiva are revered and worshipped by millions of Hindus across the world, who regard them as supreme manifestations of the one Brahman (the ultimate reality).
But what if there was a deity that combined both Vishnu and Shiva in one form? What if there was a way to harmonize the seemingly opposite attributes of preservation and destruction, stability and dynamism, compassion and austerity? Well, such a deity does exist in Hinduism, and it is called Harihara.
Harihara (Sanskrit: हरिहर) is the fused sattvika characterisation of Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara) from Hindu theology. Hari is the form of Vishnu, and Hara is the form of Shiva. Harihara is also known as Shankaranarayana ("Shankara" is Shiva, and "Narayana" is Vishnu). Harihara is sometimes used as a philosophical term to denote the unity of Vishnu and Shiva as different aspects of the same Ultimate Reality called Brahman. This concept of equivalence of various gods as one principle and "oneness of all existence" is discussed as Harihara in the texts of Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy. [1]
The earliest mention of Harihara is likely to be observed in the Harivamsha, where Markandeya discusses the being. [2] According to one legend, when Vishnu appeared as the enchantress Mohini in front of Shiva, the latter grew besotted with her and attempted to embrace her. At this moment, Mohini reverted to the true form of Vishnu, at which point the two deities fused as one being, Harihara. [3]
Harihara is depicted in art and sculpture as a composite figure with one half representing Vishnu and the other half representing Shiva. The left half (Vishnu) is usually shown wearing a yellow or blue garment, holding a conch, a discus, a mace, or a lotus, and wearing a crown or a tilaka (a mark on the forehead). The right half (Shiva) is usually shown wearing a white or tiger skin garment, holding a trident, a drum, a rosary, or a snake, and wearing a crescent moon or a third eye on the forehead. Some of the earliest sculptures of Harihara are found in the surviving cave temples of India, such as in the cave 1 and cave 3 of the 6th-century Badami cave temples. [4] [5]
Harihara is worshipped by both Vaishnavites (followers of Vishnu) and Shaivites (followers of Shiva) as a symbol of harmony, synthesis, and reconciliation between the two major traditions of Hinduism. Harihara represents the idea that all gods are ultimately one and that all paths lead to the same goal. Harihara also signifies the balance between the active and passive forces of nature, the masculine and feminine principles of creation, and the complementary roles of preservation and destruction in the cosmic cycle.
Harihara is not only a fascinating concept but also a powerful icon that reflects the richness and diversity of Hinduism. By venerating both Vishnu and Shiva in one form, Harihara teaches us to respect different perspectives and approaches to spirituality, while also reminding us of our common origin and destiny.
Here's the enhanced artwork of Harihara, now with added emphasis on the power symbols of both Vishnu and Shiva. This representation highlights the unique attributes and roles of each deity, further symbolizing their unity and the profound balance they bring to the cosmic cycle. Enjoy this depiction that merges spiritual depth with symbolic richness.
