Why third eye is vertically placed?

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Why third eye is vertically placed? Symbols associated with individual deities

2 points | Post submitted by jay 1057 days ago | 2 comments | viewed 2120 times

I am bit curious to understand why is the third eye in Shiva/Shakti depicted vertically not horizontally like the other two eyes, is there any specific reason/logic behind that or is it just accidental, somebody did it and everyone is merely following the norm?

Do we have any explanations for this in any of our scriptures?

jay1057 days ago | +1 points

Based on Inputs by Twitter user : Savitri Mumukshu
When Parvati playfully closed Shivji’s eyes from behind him, the whole world became dark, so a huge flame jumped out from his forehead to light up the world. It represents the flame of highest perception & vertical ascent of Kundalini to the Ajna Chakra.
Reference :
https://www.mahabharataonline.com/translation/mahabharata_13b105.php

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ichat1054 days ago | +0 points

There are enough graphics available across many books of tantra and kundalini yoga that show the 3rd eye as a horizontal eye. There is no specific reason why the 3rd eye must be understood as a vertical aperture. There is a notion saying that it represents a flame. Still the flame is emanating from the 3rd eye - the eye should not be itself considered as an allegory for "a flame of a candle". This flame is pure tapas. It's primordial radiation (of which the remnant that we see today across the free space within the universe, is called the cosmic microwave background radiation).
The 3rd eye is also considered as a representation of the pineal gland - the endocrine gland that is supposed to be fully active when the Ajna chakra - also called the 3rd eye chakra - is "open" for a yogi. Cross-check with the design of the Ajna chakra in common texts - you will observe that it is more akin to a horizontal eye, and not vertical.
So, basically, calendar art is calendar art - looks good - but may not have anything under the surface.

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