Visshuddhi

Fra Angelico
Angels Leading the Blessed into Heaven.

This image communicates a sense of the Visshuddhi Chakra quality of collectivity. The angel's wings are an extension of the Visshuddhi from the shoulders. The Visshuddhi governs the arms and hands - used for communication through gestures. Here they are shown joined together. The expensive blue colour used by medieval artists -made from ground semiprecious stone -was used to symbolise the heavens. The Visshuddhi is blue in colour.

Visshuddhi

The element for the Visshuddhi Chakra (Throat Centre) is ether/sky/sound. This painting of Lord Krishna, the ruler of the Visshuddhi Chakra, gives a strong sense of this element. Sri Krishna controls the reigns on the horses driving the chariot, which represents the restless mind. The Visshuddhi chakra controls the brain and the mind.

Visshuddhi Chakra

Temple hanging (Pichvai)
Shri Krishna entrancing the Gopis with the sound of His Flute.
National Gallery of Australia

Consciousness is associated in particular with the Visshuddhi Chakra (subtle centre located on the throat but which is also the origin of the brain). It is believed that play evolved in order to develop consciousness in living creatures. Intelligent creatures, such as dolphins and apes, tend to be playful. There are many stories about the playfulness of Shri Krishna, the aspect of the Divine who rules over the Visshuddhi Chakra, and whose life exemplified social being, the interplay of collectivity.