Dharana is the sixth limb of Ashtanga Yoga. In literal terms, the word "Dharana" means 'unbending concentration of mind'. The main idea underlying Dharana is the concentration or focus of attention in one direction or one object.
DHARANA
In the syllabus of Yoga Pravesh, one Upasana Program was included. It contained Japa (continuous recitation) of Om as the study of the Dhyana Process. If we study Ashtang Yoga, it is seen that Dhyana as a process comes later in the study.
Mooladhara: the sleeping serpent
In the male body, mooladhara is experienced as a point of awareness behind the scrotum and in front of the anus, in that area called the perineal floor.
THE YASODHARA YOGA TALKS
Given by Swami Venkatesananda in 1975
PART ONE:
TALK #1 WHERE DOES HATHA FIT ...
Dharana
from the word dhri meaning "to hold firm", practice of concentration, or one-pointedness, sixth of the eight fold path in ashtanga yoga, the sixth of the eight stages of classical Yoga.
Dharma ...
Jalandhara Bandha (Chin)
The Jalandhara Bandha or "chin lock" consists in pressing the chin close to the chest and dropping the head to help in maintaining immobility of muscle and air movements.
Jalandhara Bandha regulates the circulatory and respiratory systems, stimulates the thyroid to balance metabolism, and is said to cure all diseases of the throat. Jalandhara Bandha is contraindicated in high blood pressure and heart disease.
Dharana - capability to direct the mind
Dhyana - capability to interact with the object of our concentration
Samadhi - incorporation within the object of our concentration ...
Dharana (Concentration)
Fix the mind on some object either within the body or outside. Keep it there steady for some time. This is Dharana. You will have to practise this daily. Laya-Yoga has its basis on Dharana.
Dharana. From the word dhri meaning "to hold firm," this is concentration or holding the mind to one thought. See article on Patanjali's Eightfold Path.
Dharma. Self-discipline, the life of responsibility and right action.
Dharana
Concentration or complete attention. The sixth stage of Yoga mentioned by Patanjali.
Dhyana Meditation ...
Dharanasu cha yogyata manasah The mind becomes fit for concentration (Yoga Sutras, II-53). You will be able to concentrate the mind, nicely after this veil of the light has been removed.
Dharana
practice of concentration; sixth of the eight fold path in ashtanga yoga
Dharma ...
Dharana
from the root Dhar, which means to 'bind together', 'to make stable'; Lit. 'that which gives stability'; the wilful act of concentration of the mind; the sixth of Patanjali's 'eight limbs of yoga' (Ashtanga Yoga).
Dharma ...
Dharana ("holding"): concentration, a centering technique; a spiritual exercise that leads one to the experience of God within ; the sixth limb (anga) of Patanjali's eight-limbed yoga.
Dharana
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holding or binding of the mind to one point; concentration ...
Dharana: concentration of the citta upon a physical object, such as a flame of a lamp, the mid point of the eyebrows, or the image of a deity.
Dhyana: steadfast meditation.
Dharana
("holding") Concentration. The sixth limb of the Ashtanga or Raja Yoga system.
Dharma ...
Dharanasu = Intense concentration; Yogyata = capability; Manasah = of the mind; Ca = and.
Capability of intense concentration as well as the mind is achieved (by Pranayama). ...
6) DHARANA - concentration
7) DHYANA - meditation
8) SAMADHI - the highest state of consciousness, where knowledge, knower and the object of knowledge becomes one ...
Dharana
Concentration. One-pointedness. The meditator is fully focused on the object of concentration, his mind as still as the flame of a lamp in a windless room. When this state is maintained long enough, it will lead to dhyana.
7. Dhyana ...
Haladhara: name of B a l a r â m a, the Lord as the wielder of the plough, S a n k a r s h a n a.
muladhara chakra: lit. "wheel of the root support." This chakra is the first major energy center; located near the coccyx at the coccygeal plexus, it opens to the rear.
Muladhara
The root chakra at the base of the spine; the centre for the earth element; the centre that is the base of worship for the Kaula school of Tantra.
Nadi ...
Muladhara Chakra
Muladhara Chakra is located at the base of the spinal column. It lies between the origin of the reproductory organ and the anus. It is just below the Kanda and the junction where Ida, Pingala and Sushumna Nadis meet.
Jalandhara bandha - performed by dropping the chin to the chest while not hunching (Kyphosis) the upper back and shoulders forward. The neck muscles need to be flexible to perform this tilt.
Stops energy escaping upwards past the neck.
Jalandhara Bandha (Net-Bearer Bond)
Jalandhara Bandha is one of three important "bonds" for pranayama breath retention, the other two being Mula and Uddiyana.
Anjali Mudra (Salutation Seal) ...
Dharana - Concentration.
Dharma - Righteousness, duty; the inner constitution of a thing which governs its growth.
Dhauti - The exercise for cleaning the stomach.
Dharana
The practice of pratyahara creates the setting for dharana or concentration. Having relieved ourselves of outside distractions, we can now deal with the distractions of the mind itself.
Dharana Concentration
Dhauti One of the 6 purification practices
Dhyana Contemplation ...
Dharana begins after the body has been tempered through asanas, the mind is invigorated through pranayama, and the seductive powers of the senses are controlled through pratyahara.
Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi
Concentration, Meditation, Bliss Superconsciousness
YS III:1-11
“Quit obsessing about whatever is swirling around in your mind!” ...
dharanasakti faculty of holding.
dharanasamarthya holding and responsive power; the power of sustaining the full stream of force, of ananda, of widening knowledge and being which descends into the mind and prana and the vital and bodily functions.
Dharana - concentration or one-pointedness; the sixth of the eight stages of classical Yoga
Dharma - work, duty, or destiny
Dhyana - meditation or contemplation; the seventh of the eight stages of classical Yoga ...
DHARANA:
A centering technique; a spiritual exercise that leads one to the experience of God within.
Dharana
concentration; the focusing of mental energies; holding the state of creativity of the senses and the mind
Dharma ...
Jalandhara Bandha: Vishuddha Chakra (Rudra Loka)
Traya Bandha (maha bandha)
Utilizing the Three Basic Bandhas with the Breath, Pranayama and Advanced Mudra Practice ...
Jalandhara Bandha in this posture has beneficial effects on the blood pressure, and on the carotidien sinuses.
Resources ...
42. The Jalandhara Bandha: This should be practised at the end of Puraka (after inhalation). This is of the form of contraction of the neck and is an impediment to the passage of Vayu (upwards).
Press the muladhara (base of spine) chakra with your left heel. Then press the svadhisthana (pelvic plexus) chakra with your right heel. Keep the toes of the right foot in the bend of the left knee, exposing only your right big toe.
Dharana (concentration) : by the aid of mantras in Ashtanga Yoga, deep concentration on the six subtle centers of the chakras, starting from the first and gradually approaching the seventh.
Concentration or dharana
Meditation or dhyana and
Complete spiritual consciousness or samadhi.
photo courtesy yasodhara ashram
Mantra chanting is a way to transform powerful emotions into finer feelings to fill the heart. The vibration of sound fluctuates from the influence of the emotions.
NECK LOCK OR JALANDHARA BHANDA
The neck lock involves a very subtle movement. Move the chin down slightly and pull the head up. The chest will open up.
Tath Dvandwa Ana-abhi-Gatah ( Then freedom from the pairs of opposite) PATAJALI'S SUTRAS ABOUT ANTARANGA YOGA OR RAJA YOGA DHARANA ( INTENSE CONCENTRATION) DESHA BANDHA CHITTASYA DHARANA Holding the 'mind' at one point is Dharana DHYANA ( ...
It is necessary for one, before any attempt at Pratyahara, Dharana or Dhyana, to extricate oneself from these tormenting forces of the world.
Clearly illustrated in Patanjali's yoga sutras, which states in the eight limbs that before meditation can begin one must possess concentration (Dharana).
He first gained control over the gravitational force at the muladhara. Then he brought the sexual urge at the svadhishthana (the second chakra) under his control.
Dharana - concentration. The last 3 steps constitute the internal practice of Raja Yoga. When Dharana is achieved, it leads to the next step:
Dhyana - meditation is that state of pure thought and absorption in the object of meditation.
In addition, performance of Bhujangasana, Shalbhasana, Bhastrika Pranayama, Jalandhara bandha, Suryanamaskara, and Shavasana regularly, proper control of in-take of food, the control of the wandering tendency of mind, ...
Almost all poses with a Jalandhara Bandha-type chin lock (e.g. Sarvangasana, Halasana, Setu Bandha, and Viparita Karani) are cooling to the brain and body.
Take root firmly in your body, breath and mind, and reach Dharana. Hold to one spot. let your roots go deep. Bend not in the wind, nor before the rain. Grow straight and tall, true and sincere to your purpose, your spiritual goal.
Among Swami Ramdev's countless followers are Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia and former Sikkim chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari.
Dharana, or Concentration, learning to focus the find into one point
Dhyana, or Meditation, sustaining the mind on one-point ...
DEVAS: Celestial beings.
DHARANA: Concentration.
DHARMA: Righteous way of living as enjoined by the sacred scriptures, virtue.
DHYANA: Meditation.
DIVYA-DRISHTI: Divine perception.
DVESHA: Repulsion; hatred; dislike.
The spiritual aspect of the science of Yog which consists of Dhyan, Dharana and Samadhi.
Kuber
The God of all the wealth present on this earth.
However, defects in the internal cleansing practices - pratyahara, dharana, dhyana - are not correctable and can be dangerous to the mind unless the correct Ashtanga Yoga method is followed (Stern and Summerbell 35).
They are described by Patanjali as: Yama (abstinences), Niyama (observances), Asana (postures), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (sense withdrawal), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (contemplation).
(1) breath control (pranayama)
(2) sensory inhibition (pratyahara)
(3) meditation (dhyana)
(4) concentration (dharana)
(5) examination (tarka)
(6) ecstasy (samadhi) ...
Asanas- Physical postures or exercises
Pranayama- Control of vital energy (Breathing control)
Partyahara- Withdrawal of the senses
Dharana- Concentration of the mind (Contemplation)
Dhyana- Meditation ...
 See also: Yoga, Body, Mind, Spirit, Meditation
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