Netron-mīlanam - Mystical Significance of the Substances Used

Honey and Ghee

Honey and Ghee are the two basic substances used for Eye-Opening ceremonies. Various Ayurvedic herbs used for the Ceremonies have been discussed already. Honey is heating and relates well to the Sun. Ghee is cooling and relates to the Moon. These two represent the balance of Shiva / Shakti or Purusha (being) / Prakriti (nature) in creation,  and the subtle channels pingala and ida in the body. The black anjanam prepared from ash, represents the fire and its transformative power. The metals gold, silver, and copper relate energetically to these three as well. Honey is used in Ayurveda to purify the body. It removes toxins from the system and also brings about strength and vigor (tejas). Applying honey to the right eye, stimulates the pingala nadi and helps to remove doubts and attachments obscuring spiritual vision. Ghee is extremely nourishing. It is used more than any other substance for mental illness. It brings about mental peace of mind and nourishes all the tissues of the body. Like the qualities of the Moon which relates to water and bestows healing potency to the herbs, ghee nourishes our spiritual sight. Ghee stimulates the ida nadi. Anjanam is a salve applied to the eyes to improve vision. It is used for eye problems of all types, but also affects the mind and nervous system. Having balanced the energies of the pingala and ida nadis with honey and ghee, anjanam brings consciousness to dwell in the sushumna, the channel of higher awareness / perception. It relates to fire (agni) and tejas in the body which brings about perception, sight, and understanding. It takes us beyond normal vision and grants transcendent vision. To transcend, we must first embrace our destiny. We must face and resolve our karmas and relationships in the world. The pingala nadi relates to the intellect. The ida relates to the emotions. Once we face both the thoughts in the mind and the feeling, then only is it possible to transcend and experience the superconscious, intuitive knowing which is called jnana in Sanskrit. It is wisdom arising from Truth, beyond the intellect and senses. Unlike knowledge arising from the five senses and mind, it cannot be refuted or doubted.    

​Gold

The minerals and gems used have special mystical significance. Gold has often been used to decorate Temples, with tiruvachis (arches) and kavachams (decorative metal armor placed over portions of the stone images) in the sanctum sanctorum being made from or gilt in gold. Temples towers (vimanams and gopurams) are often gilt in gold also. This is because large deposits of gold can be seen for miles by Devas in the astral realm, who are drawn to the site of the Temple to bless the devotees. Gold on Temple towers in particular helps to draw Devas to the Temple. Gold in the inner sanctums helps Devas to see and hear the priests, the devotees, the prayers, and the offerings. This helps empower their efforts to bless the people. For this reason Hindus who can afford tend to wear a small amount of gold at all times. Hindu priests can often be seen wearing copious amounts of gold. Worldly people have wondered if this is a sign of a greedy and degraded priesthood. Actually, there is great mystical significance to the wearing of gold. It helps the prayers of the priest be seen and heard. My guru felt strongly about the properties of gold and has had the gopuram of the temple he foundered gilt in gold. Additionally, he had his sannyasis (monks) wear golden hoop earrings (traditional for the Natha lineage) at all times along with rudraksha beads and vibhuti (holy ash). Christian theology has had similar mystical knowledge also. Byzantine churches in particular had their steeples often gilt in gold, and crosses and icons in the inner sanctums are often adorned with gold. The Christians recognized that gold created “a window for the Angels.” Gold has a calming effect on the mind and is used in Ayurveda for mental conditions of all sorts. It has an energy to empower other substances it is associated with. It is good for sight and clear perception. It calms the mind of someone who wears it which helps to induce meditative awareness and along with it spiritual sight. ​

​​Silver and Copper

Silver, to a much lesser extent, shares many of the properties of gold. It is more cooling than gold and is somewhat less effective to open channels between realms for sight. Gold is considered the best metal for use in worship. Silver is considered second best. Copper is often considered third best. Copper, unlike gold and silver does not have properties to bring about spiritual vision. As a metal it does hold spiritual energy very well, just as it hold heat for a long time. Copper has a purifying effect, which is why copper bracelets are often worn for conditions of accumulation like arthritis, blood pressure, and cholesterol. The purification / transformation which copper induces helps prepare a person for spiritual vision by getting rid of everything that obstructs the vision. These three metals also represent every sort of energy needed by the human body, because in Ayurveda gold is good to balance vata (wind), silver for pitta (fire), and copper for kapha (water).    ​

​Gems

Diamonds are very precious. They are considered the best mineral for use in eye opening rituals. In many cases, all the offerings are made with a gold rod with a diamond tip (or with a plain gold rod shaped like a pencil). Diamond calms the mind and increases perception. It has been used in various spiritual traditions for its spiritual power. It relates to Venus, Lord of the Asuras (demons), and gives us mastery over asuric forces within ourselves that prevent spiritual awareness. Yellow sapphire (pushparaga) is second best to diamond for these rituals. It relates to Jupiter who embodies spiritual wisdom. It brings about Jnana, which is true spiritual awarness beyond logical knowledge. Agate (called akik) in Sanskrit is often used in ayurveda for calming the mind and improving eyesight. It is useful for increasing spiritual perception. Its energy is somewhat like a synthesis of the energies of diamond and sapphire. For Temples that cannot afford any of these materials, sacred darbha grass can be used to replace precious metals and gemstones.