212
Nalam (the narrow passage of Brahma), going northwards, and that it is at the end of Mani (Manikarnika means Pranavakarnika). It may be easily seen now how far this is a figurative representation of the Anahata chakra of the Yogis. This chakra is between the two Nadis. Idá and Pingalá in the human body, which are represented by the two small streams Asi and Varuna named in the foregoing description. The state of ecstacy is realized when consciousness is centred in the germ of pragna, which is placed in this chakra, and hence Benares is an Anandavan, which literally means a pleasure garden. When this centralization of consciousness in the germ of pragna is secured, the objective consciousness realized in the physical body and in the astral body entirely ceases; consequently before the spiritual consciousness of the regenerated spirit (the Christ after resurrection) is awakened, the condition realized may be compared to that of sound sleep or sushupti—the death of the incarnated Christ, the death of the individual man. This is the time of the great peace and calmness after the tempest. Hence Kaçi or Anahata chakra, wherein this condition is realized, is the great burial ground or burning ground, as every thing—the ego and the non-ego—seems to be dead and buried for the time being. Gouri is the Sophia of the gnostics and the Isis of the Egyptians. When this condition—that of pragna—is reached, the spirit is in front of the Divine light and wisdom, and ready to behold the mysterious Goddess without the veil as soon as its spiritual eyes are opened on the other side of the Cosmos.
Hence Benares is in Gourimukham. This condition again marks the termination of the three conditions of consciousness experienced by the incarnated spirit, viz., the ordinary, the clairvoyant and the Devachanic conditions. These three states of differentiated pragna are the three points of Siva's trident. Again Anahata chakra is in the Sushumna nadi—a mysterious and narrow passage running through the spinal cord to the crown of the head through which vital the electricity flows, and Benares is therefore said to be in Brahmanalam, which is another name for Sushumna nadi. Further, the
