Pineal gland and Cerebrospinal fluid - gateway and key to cosmic intelligence, creativity and much more...

 

Have you watched the movie 'The Man who knew infinity' based on the life of great mathematician Ramanujan? How did he get his ideas from? (if not, check the trailer in the end.) How many of you have heard about 'Eureka' moment of Archimedes in context of buoyancy laws he gave? Or how was the ringed resonating structure of chemical benzene revealed to Kekule in his dreams? What is 369 frequency theory of Nikola Tesla, the great physicist of all times ? 

The stories of all these discoverers and great scientists have one thing in common, a supernatural or metaphysical element, something beyond the realm of empirical sciences as we commonly understand it. We have within ourselves abilities and processes that we are unaware of and thus we don't realize/ tap our potential fully.

Spiritually, we are believed to have a third eye and it is biologically associated to the pineal gland in the brain. Similarly, the 'ida', 'pingla' nadis ( energy channels ) with 'sushumna' in between are involved in chakras activation and kundalini awakening. These are supposed to be running through our spinal cord . Being a learner of biological sciences and a seeker of spirituality, attempting to integrate and understand the connection between these two fields through research articles and some documentaries has brought me to the following interesting ideas that appeal to logic and are in harmony with our scientific understanding as well.

Let us first understand about the control and command  system within our body - CNS.

Central Nervous System (CNS) comprises our Brain and spinal cord and is comparable to the processor of a computer. CNS, mainly brain, is the place of perception of all sensory information, its processing and  generation of instruction to produce a response. Sensory information is received from outside and within body using receptors. Different receptors are present in eyes (retina), ears, nose, tongue and skin to collect information from the outside environment and convey it to CNS as electric messages/signals  (nerve impulses) through cables (sensory nerves). The CNS then processes this information and communicates its command to the vital organs and glands of our body through cables- cranial nerves (12 pairs) and  spinal nerves (31 pairs) arising from brain and spinal cord respectively. These nerves constitute our  Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). Owing to the significance of the brain and the spinal cord as processor , these are provided with protective bony structures cranium (skull) and vertebral column respectively. Additionally, a fluid known as the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bathes these two and act as a protective shock absorber besides performing other significant functions. The cerebrospinal fluid not only bathes the surface of brain and spinal cord but also flushes through interior tissues of brain flowing through its empty spaces (ventricles) and channels into the hollow central canal of spinal cord. The CSF is produced from a region in brain i.e. choroid plexus three-four times in a day, 125 ml each time thus amounting to 450-600 ml /day. It carries nutrients/growth factors, hormones (melatonin) and drains wastes from the nervous tissue. This cerebrospinal fluid is very important for the development, nurture and sustenance of components of our nervous system.

Now , lets have a look at the physiology (functioning) of 'third eye' within our head i.e. Pineal gland. 

Pineal gland is a special gland located in almost the center of the brain and secretes a chemical hormone named melatonin and also a psychedelic chemical (DMT) Dimethyltryptamine. Melatonin is secreted continuously under dark conditions (night) to be intermittently stopped by exposure to light. This melatonin is associated with sleep wake cycle, biological clock/ circadian rhythm i.e. rhythmic changes in body parameters like temperature, blood pressure etc. throughout 24 hours of a day. This biological clock is tuned according to dark and light periods in a day at a specific geographical place. Any seasonal / diurnal changes in the dark and light duration results in corresponding adjustments in our biological clock and thereby in our body functioning. We automatically wake up at a specific time even if our alarm fails to ring on a day, or we feel hungry at the same time owing to the biological clock run by pineal gland located in our brain. The jet lags one experiences during flights across continents with different time zones is because of disturbed tuning of our biological clock with abruptly changed external day night hours.  You must have received advice not to use screened gadgets like mobiles during bed time hours. This is because of the negative effect that the exposure to light emitted from mobile/ laptop screens has on our sleep and our health, caused by disruption of melatonin secretion. 

(The neural pathway between the retina and the pineal gland by which light perceived by the eyes mediates changes in pineal melatonin production; visible electromagnetic wavelengths in the range of460–480 nm are most inhibitory to pineal melatonin production. LP, long photoperiod; PVN, paraventricular nucleus; SCN, suprachiasmatic nucleus; SP, short photoperiod) Source cited in references.

The secretion of melatonin increases during night/ sleep thereby increasing its concentration in blood as well as cerebrospinal fluid. The cerebrospinal fluid with melatonin moves down to the base of spinal cord through the central canal in it and then it ascends back upwards to reach brain. The flow of CSF is bidirectional in the central canal of spinal cord is confirmed in neurological research studies.

DMT is another psychedelic chemical released in CSF from pineal gland and is linked with activity of visual cortex of brain. It is found to be more active during cardiac arrest, near death experiences and linked to the imagery from lifelong experiences/events running before eyes at time of death. The alternative states of consciousness evoked through meditation, breathing exercises and other relaxing activities are also supposed to be linked to increased DMT secretion levels.

Now coming to the nadis and chakras: As mentioned earlier, the cranial and spinal nerves constituting Peripheral Nervous system (PNS) arise from brain and spinal cord (CNS)  at specific points as bundles. These nerves of PNS can further be classified into autonomic and somatic nervous system. Autonomic nervous system comprises parasympathetic (ida nadi) and sympathetic nerves (pingla nadi) while the central canal within the spinal cord with cerebrospinal fluid (sushumna nadi) lies in between. The parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves regulate the function of vital organs and glands in an involuntary and antagonistic manner. In simple words we don't control the organs by conscious thinking through these nerves. While sympathetic nervous system stimulates the 'Fight and  flight' response, parasympathetic nervous system has a calming and relaxing effect on the body.   These nerves that interact with vital organs / glands and regulate their functions seem to form bundles (plexus) at their origin point. These plexuses of nerves becomes a seat of energy centers that is chakras within the spinal cord and brain. The six major chakras are linked to specific body functioning through their associated glands.

Image Copyright: www.AnatomicalPrints.com

(Parasympathetic and Sympathetic responses)

These chakras when unblocked and activated lead to energy flow and ascension upwards to brain and its third eye center / pineal gland. The CSF becomes a medium of flow of energy in the sushumna naadi i.e. central canal of spinal cord for activation of chakras/plexuses and staying healthy. Many practices  that activate parasympathetic/ida naadi helps in better flow of CSF and its constituent molecules (melatonin and DMT) and flushing of wastes through brain tissues by opening channels within the brain.  Pineal gland is also considered as a cosmic WIFI which when connected to universal frequencies may help us download the cosmic information that is revealed to us as intuition/ creativity/ sixth sense. It is this spiritual awakening/ connection to cosmic frequencies and downloads which is evident in the commonalities of the eureka discoveries by some of the renowned scientists and artists. The creativity/ inspiration usually comes to their non thinking mind during dreams or as idea popping up in mind in totally unexpected ways. 

Some might reject it as pseudoscience but others might consider it as metaphysical reality. However one must accept that there are different ways to receive different types of knowledge and science's empirical way is only one of them. Mathematics is based on logical reasoning/ deductions. Knowledge by authority of books/ scriptures is yet another way of acquiring information (as in history). Intuition / revelation is an underrated way of accessing knowledge but that does not render it insignificant. One must also acknowledge here that at the core of many scientific discoveries (or even other master pieces in field of arts/ music), intuitive downloads by scientists/ individuals have played a significant role. Science first makes one indifferent/ sceptic towards spiritual/ metaphysical ideas but as one starts delving deep and integrating the knowledge across many realms, then science fortifies one's belief in spirituality. 

In the end, what we experience ourselves or what is experienced by some legendries should be acknowledged and benefitted from. And thus the understanding of Pineal gland and our CNS becomes all the more important in getting  access to the great ideas and opening ourselves up to an unexplored world. And thus we may at least try experimenting and experiencing for ourselves, if it is worth our consideration or not. And as Nikola Tesla suggested in his 369 theory and as per our Vedic/yogic sciences, we may try using some meditative practices, mantra recitation/sounds and even yogic exercises to help activate our chakras and work towards kundalini awakening.. 

(P.S. Through this write up, the writer only attempts to share the limited understandings attained so far.. and there might be flaws or missing links that might be learnt and corrected with time. So, all types of feedbacks and inputs  are invited.)

References for those interested:

1. Olivier Thouvenin Ludovic Keiser Yasmine Cantaut-Belarif Martin Carbo-Tano Frederik Verweij Nathalie Jurisch-Yaksi Pierre-Luc Bardet Guillaume van Niel Francois Gallaire Claire Wyart (2020) Origin and role of the cerebrospinal fluid bidirectional flow in the central canal eLife 9:e47699.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.47699

2.Dr. Gitika Arya Agrawal, Dr. Subhash Upadhyay and Dr. Sakshi; STUDY OF TRIVIDHA NADIS; IDA, PINGALA & SUSHUMNA NADI: A REVIEW ARTICLE; WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH, wjpmr, 2021, 7(2), 141-142,  https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/WBFQ5

3. Dr. Sunil Kumar Yadav, Dr. Anita, Exploration of NADI in Context of SHARIR, International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET) ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value:45.98; SJ Impact Factor:7.538 Volume10 Issue VII July 2022,  https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2022.46043

4. Shrestha, M. M. (2022). Human’s Plexus Systems and “Nikola Tesla’s 369 Theory” for Forming Universe and God. European Journal of Theology and Philosophy, 2(1), 18–28. https://doi.org/10.24018/theology.2022.2.1.60

5. Sachin G. Khedikar et al, Critical comparison of Yogic Nadi with Nervous System, Joinsysmed 2016, vol 4(2), pp 108-113,   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317664235_Critical_comparison_of_Yogic_Nadi_with_Nervous_System

6. a) The Cerebrospinal Fluid and the Appearance of “I Am”, Mauro Zappaterra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh_mvbAUuCw&t=275s

 b) Does Our Cerebrospinal Fluid Give Us Being? Mauro Zappaterra 

Science and Nonduality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jplHEHYHpfg&t=883s

7.The Man Who Knew Infinity Official Trailer #1 (2016) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXGm9Vlfx4w&t=52s

8. Images: 

Neural pathway between Pineal gland and retina source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51214531_Obesity_and_metabolic_syndrome_Association_with_chronodisruption_sleep_deprivation_and_melatonin_suppression

Autonomic Nervous System: https://clinicalcharts.com/products/autonomic-nervous-system-poster-ans-24-x-36.html#gallery.

The Seven chakras : http://www.handsonhealthsheffield.com/health/the-seven-chakras-for-beginners/

The chakras, glands/Plexus and functions: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/315885361335966336/