Third Eye Symbol Meaning: Ajna’s Two Petals and Their Interpretations
Someone looking up third eye symbol meaning may notice it can have many attributes: a two-petaled lotus, two Sanskrit letters, a circle, a triangle, or the letter Om. Not all of these originate from one picture. In a Sanskrit scripture, there is a mention of the Ajna lotus, which is white with two petals and has the letters Ha and Ksha on it. There are many images today that include more information or give meaning to each petal.
I will be using the description from this scripture and separating that from others that have been added today. The third eye is meant to be used as a representation of your spirit and not an actual body part or medical reference. For a broader introduction to the chakra, see our beginner’s guide to Ajna.
Personally, I find it helpful to approach each Ajna image with curiosity instead of assuming every detail has one fixed meaning. Asking where a design comes from can make its symbolism clearer and keep the interpretation respectful.
Third Eye Symbol Meaning – What does the third eye symbol represent?
There is no consensus on this. Many texts define it as the ability to perceive with your inner eye. This would include things like insight, intuition, and judgment. These are more symbolic meanings of these words, not actual body function meanings.
“Ajna” can be translated into many things. In the comments for the Shat-cakra-nirupana, it says that the name translates to “command” or “that of the Guru,” which aligns with the text of the Shat-cakra-nirupana. This text states that the lotus is located between the eyes, which is symbolic and not a known body function.
As stated before, there are many Hindus and Hindu-based religions, so one text does not speak for all. There are many texts and much information to be gathered when talking about Hinduism, Tantra, Yoga, etc. There are also many New Age websites and books that mix up different texts and schools of thought. It is always good to know what you are talking about when you describe something as the “third eye.”
So, there are two ways to describe the third eye: textually and currently. Textually, there are meanings behind the aspects of the third eye. Currently, if someone uses this image, they may think of the meaning of insight, judgment, etc. When teaching others, this can be helpful to describe, but make sure you are telling them it is a current meaning.
Meaning of Ajna’s Symbol Textually
The following information will be pulled from the Shat-cakra-nirupana. This is known as “The Description of the Six Centres” in English. Verse 32 of this text states that the Ajna lotus is white and resembles the moon. It is made up of two petals with the letters Ha and Kṣa on each. It also describes Hākinī as being in the center of the lotus.
This information comes from Arthur Avalon’s translation of the text in 1919. The Wellcome Collection has a copy of this text with more information on the commenters and English translation. It shows a 1941 printing of the book with the original Sanskrit and translations, which again leads us to believe this English translation is not original. However, we cannot say when the original was translated. On Wisdomlib, it says that it was translated around the 16th century by Pūrṇānanda of Bengal, but more research needs to be done.
When looking at translations of a text, you should know that you are reading an interpretation of that text. So there could be more meaning behind what you are reading than what was originally stated. The above information gives you some meaning to the Ajna symbol but does not show every picture you see today to be the original.
What do the two petals mean?
As we stated before, the Ajna lotus is composed of two petals. We know this from the text of the Shat-cakra-nirupana. It does not state why there are two petals or what they stand for. Some current teachings may describe the two petals as Ida and Pingala or two opposite thoughts (right/left brain). This is just one interpretation, and there could be many more.
Many will describe the two petals as meaning two thoughts or opposite thoughts, which is similar to the right/left brain explanation above. You can describe the two petals as you please, but make sure you are stating whose information you are pulling from.
There are many ways to describe why there are two petals to the Ajna symbol. If you decide to state that there are two petals to represent two thoughts or left/right brain, state that you are doing so and not stating facts from the Shat-cakra-nirupana.
What do the letters on the Ajna petals mean?
From our previous text, we know that the Ajna petals contain the letters Ha and Kṣa. They are described as white like the lotus. So we know that these two letters stand for something, but we don’t know what that may be.
You may notice different spellings of these letters in various books and images. Some will use accent marks, and others may just type it out. An example of this would be “ksha” versus “Kṣa.” Both are the same word, just different typing styles. So you should not jump to conclusions that there is meaning to the difference.
Also, if you are explaining the Ajna lotus to have “Om” in the middle, state that you are not explaining what is written in the Shat-cakra-nirupana, because we know from that text that the petals hold Ha and Kṣa. If you are stating that Om means something in the center of the Ajna lotus, make sure you are getting that information from a reliable source.
What do the rest of the shapes mean?
Not much detail is given in this verse. A white lotus resembling a moon is mentioned with two petals. Ha and Ksha and Hakini are in the middle of the lotus. It goes into more detail about Hakini having six faces and six arms. In the English, we learn what her hands may be holding or doing, so it’s best to read these descriptions in depth. You may not see Hakini in the middle if someone has re-created the image today.
We also see circles, triangles, and Oms in the middle of the Ajna, all of which have been used in modern-day pictures and teachings. They just are not mentioned in this verse. We can’t say what each shape means without knowing what source they are describing. Maybe a teacher will teach that the triangle is energy or consciousness, or maybe there is no triangle in their picture. It’s best to know what your source is.
Lotus flowers can be found in many religions, but that doesn’t mean they all hold the same meaning. We know that this picture represents the Ajna chakra because the verse says so. It tells us what color it is and how many petals. We don’t know what a lotus represents outside of this verse.
There are also different colors that represent the third eye. This verse explains that the Ajna chakra and its letters are white. Most pictures that we see today portray the third eye as indigo or purple. It’s safe to say that the pictures are different.
Why are there different pictures of the Ajna?
As stated above, there are many reasons. Maybe they are referencing a different source. Someone may have put together a picture that holds properties from different teachings, or it could just be that the artist wants it to look a certain way for their logo, tattoo, or presentation slide. You will notice that some pictures only show the two-petal lotus and leave out the letters and Hakini in the middle.
It’s best to know what your source is when trying to learn about these topics. Different pictures will show different colors and scripts as well. Some may show indigo because it’s the commonly used color on chakra charts today. Others will show the white lotus as it’s described in Sanskrit. It’s hard to tell if one is right or wrong just by looking at a picture.
You can always ask yourself these questions when learning about these symbols: What source are they describing? What is shown in the picture? Does it state if it’s using information from a text or adding to it? And lastly, does it describe where their colors/shapes are coming from? If you can’t answer those questions, then it’s best to assume that it’s just one representation of the Ajna.
There are also many things that can be referred to as the “third eye” symbol. It can be the eye on the forehead. It can be a picture of the chakra or a representation of what the lotus holds. There are many pictures that resemble each other when searching online. It’s best to know what you are referring to when talking about a symbol.
Are they the same thing?
No, the Ajna and Eye of Horus are not the same thing. They can both be compared to what we have learned about the third eye, but they aren’t from the same culture. The Eye of Horus is known to have protected people in Egypt, as explained on the Manchester Museum website.
They can both be related to what we know about the pineal gland and seeing, but we can’t assume that they are the same. Just because something resembles the pineal gland doesn’t mean that it’s depicting it. More information on the Eye of Horus and pineal gland can be found here.
When looking at symbols online, it’s best to know where your source is coming from. As you can see, both of these symbols can be found on many different websites. Just because they resemble each other doesn’t mean that they have anything to do with one another.
If you want to learn more about the pineal gland and third eye chakra check out our article.
Ajna symbol: visual parts and commonly discussed interpretations
| Visual part | What the cited verse says | Commonly discussed interpretation or variation |
|---|---|---|
| Lotus | White, moon-like Ajna lotus | Modern images may use indigo or violet |
| Two petals | Two petals are named | Some modern teachers connect them with duality or subtle channels; this is not stated in the verse |
| Petal letters | Ha and Kṣa appear on the petals | Roman spelling, diacritics, and script style vary |
| Center | Hākinī is described within the lotus | Some simplified diagrams leave the figure out |
| Added shapes | The verse cited here does not specify a triangle or central Om | Some contemporary charts add a circle, triangle, or Om; meanings depend on the source |
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Conclusion: What Does the Third Eye Symbol Mean?
There are many images on which to base the third eye symbol’s meaning. According to the verse in the Shat-cakra-nirupana, we can assume there is a white lotus resembling the moon, with two petals known as Ha and Kṣa, and Hākinī in the middle. This will not cover all aspects or give meaning to each shape on all current charts.
One could say the two petals represent dualism or invisible channels, using the color indigo and om. There are many ways to interpret the third eye symbol’s meaning. All of these could be correct but should be represented as such. There is also the Eye of Horus to keep in mind when talking about the Ajna chakra. Once we separate these symbols, we can begin to understand the meaning behind the third eye.
I feel that this symbol means many things to many people, which is something I enjoy about it. You can look at each symbol individually and gain knowledge about what it’s trying to convey.
FAQs
What does the third eye symbol mean?
The third eye symbol can refer to the Ajna chakra, as explained by certain Sanskrit texts. It can also mean many other things when used by modern-day authors, such as seeing things you can’t see. The meaning can vary and is purely based on spirituality.
What do the two petals represent?
In the verse mentioned above, we can assume there are two petals, and there are the letters Ha and Kṣa. We do not know if these represent Ida and Pingala or both sides of the mind. Many will tell you that they do, but it’s not a definite answer.
Is the third eye the Eye of Horus?
As we already stated, no, they are not the same. Although there can be similarities, we cannot conclude that they were once connected.
Why are there so many different representations of the Ajna chakra?
Many artists have taken inspiration from different areas, whether it’s color or how it’s portrayed. Some may have added extra detail to their symbol that was not mentioned in the verse. Be sure to know what you’re looking at and what the picture may be representing.
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