While the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali make no direct reference to the chakra system or the so-called "Third Eye," these elements feature prominently in later tantric and Hatha yogic texts, such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Shiva Samhita. The Ajna Chakra, positioned symbolically between the eyebrows, is described as a center of intuitive insight and higher perception—qualities closely aligned with the effects of Dhyana, as defined by Patanjali in 3.2: “pratyaya ekatanata dhyanam”—a continuous flow of cognition toward a single object.
Though not part of the original metaphysical structure of Sankhya-Yoga, the Third Eye metaphor has become an evocative expression of the inward-turning, clarity-producing effects of meditation. In many schools of practice, it represents the space where attention is naturally drawn during sustained meditative absorption. As such, it offers a bridge between the classical yogic aim of nirodha—the stilling of the mind—and the experiential language of awakening used in broader Indian spiritual traditions.
