Drishti (Sanskrit: दृष्टि, romanized: dṛṣṭi; pronounced[d̪r̩ʂʈɪ]), or focused gaze, is a means for developing concentrated intention. It relates to the fifth limb of yoga, pratyahara, concerning sense withdrawal,[1] as well as the sixth limb, dharana, relating to concentration.[2]
In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, each asana is associated with one of the 8 focused gazes, namely Angusthamadhye (thumb), Bhrumadhye (eyebrow), Nasagre (tip of nose), Hastagrahe (tips of hands), Parshva (side), Urdhva (up), Nabhicakre (navel), and Padayoragre (tips of feet) Drishtis. In some other styles such as Sivananda Yoga, less use is made of the gaze, and fewer types are employed.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali define eight limbs of yoga but do not mention the gaze. The sixth limb, dharana (concentration), however requires holding one's mind onto an inner state, subject or topic.[3] The mind can for example be fixed on a mantra, one's breath, or a part of the body such as the navel or the tip of the tongue. This is an internal concentration of attention, not a gaze.[4][5]
In the Bhagavad Gita VI.13, Krishna instructs the hero Arjuna to "hold one's body and head erect in a straight line and stare steadily at the tip of the nose".[6]
The 1737 Joga Pradīpikā uses the same two Drishtis, Nasagre and Bhrumadhye, requiring their use with each of the 84 asanas described in the text.[7]
Modernedit
Styles of modern yoga as exercise such as Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Iyengar Yoga and Sivananda Yoga make differing uses of Drishtis.[8][9][10]
In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yogaedit
Each asana is associated in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with a particular Drishti.[8] There are eight Drishtis (counting the paired Parshva Drishtis on the left and right sides as one).[11][12]
Iyengar Yoga rarely speaks of Drishtis, but in its instructions for some asanas it tells the practitioner to look in a certain direction, for example upwards in Trikonasana and forwards in Virabhadrasana II.[9]
In Sivananda Yogaedit
Sivananda Yoga makes use of two Drishtis, namely Nāsāgre and Bhrūmadhye, for tratak exercise (a purification) rather than in asana practice.[10]Vishnudevananda cautions that prolonged or incorrect practice may cause problems for the eye muscles or nervous system. Initial practice is often done for only minutes at a time, but is gradually increased to up to ten minute intervals.[40]
Bell, Charlotte (2007). Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life: A Guide for Everyday Practice. Rodmell Press. ISBN978-1930485204.
Bouanchaud, Bernard (1997). The Essence of Yoga: Reflections on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. Rudra Press. ISBN978-0915801695.
Jha, Ganganatha (trans.) (1907). The Yoga-darsana: The sutras of Patanjali with the Bhasya of Vyasa - Book 3 (Translator). Rajaram Tukaram Tatya, for the Bombay Theosophical Publication Fund.
Jois, K. Pattabhi (2010). Yoga Mala: The Seminal Treatise and Guide from the Living Master of Ashtanga Yoga (Kindle ed.). Macmillan. ISBN978-0-86547-751-3.
Life, David (6 April 2017) [28 August 2007]. "See More Clearly By Practicing Drishti". Yoga Journal.
Maehle, Gregor (2011). Ashtanga Yoga Practice and Philosophy (Kindle ed.). New World Library. ISBN978-1-57731-606-0.
Monier-Williams, Monier (1964). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with special reference to cognate Indo-European languages. Digitized and Searchable. Oxford University Press (Print) and University of Cologne (Digitized). ISBN978-8-12150-200-9.
Steiner, Ronald P. (2012). "AshtangaYoga.info". Retrieved 2012-05-12.
drishti, yoga, drishti, sanskrit, romanized, dṛṣṭi, pronounced, ʂʈɪ, focused, gaze, means, developing, concentrated, intention, relates, fifth, limb, yoga, pratyahara, concerning, sense, withdrawal, well, sixth, limb, dharana, relating, concentration, ashtanga. Drishti Sanskrit द ष ट romanized dṛṣṭi pronounced d r ʂʈɪ or focused gaze is a means for developing concentrated intention It relates to the fifth limb of yoga pratyahara concerning sense withdrawal 1 as well as the sixth limb dharana relating to concentration 2 In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga each asana is associated with one of the 8 focused gazes namely Angusthamadhye thumb Bhrumadhye eyebrow Nasagre tip of nose Hastagrahe tips of hands Parshva side Urdhva up Nabhicakre navel and Padayoragre tips of feet Drishtis In some other styles such as Sivananda Yoga less use is made of the gaze and fewer types are employed Contents 1 History 2 Modern 2 1 In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga 2 2 In Iyengar Yoga 2 3 In Sivananda Yoga 3 References 4 SourcesHistory editThe Yoga Sutras of Patanjali define eight limbs of yoga but do not mention the gaze The sixth limb dharana concentration however requires holding one s mind onto an inner state subject or topic 3 The mind can for example be fixed on a mantra one s breath or a part of the body such as the navel or the tip of the tongue This is an internal concentration of attention not a gaze 4 5 In the Bhagavad Gita VI 13 Krishna instructs the hero Arjuna to hold one s body and head erect in a straight line and stare steadily at the tip of the nose 6 The 1737 Joga Pradipika uses the same two Drishtis Nasagre and Bhrumadhye requiring their use with each of the 84 asanas described in the text 7 Modern editStyles of modern yoga as exercise such as Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Iyengar Yoga and Sivananda Yoga make differing uses of Drishtis 8 9 10 In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga edit nbsp In Parivritta Trikonasana the gaze is directed to the tips of the fingers Hastagrahe Drishti Each asana is associated in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with a particular Drishti 8 There are eight Drishtis counting the paired Parshva Drishtis on the left and right sides as one 11 12 Drishti Sanskrit Gaze at Used in Angushthamadhye अङ ग ष ठमध य 13 14 Thumb Surya Namaskar vinyasas Urdhva Vrikshasana Utkatasana Virabhadrasana A 15 Bhrumadhye भ र मध य 16 14 Third eye between eyebrows Surya Namaskar uses it on the inhale following Uttanasana during Urdhva Mukha Svanasana and again on the inhale after Adho Mukha Svanasana 15 17 18 Nasagre न स ग र 19 Tip of nose Many asanas e g Surya Namaskara Samasthitiḥ 20 Uttanasana and Chaturanga Dandasana transition from Virabhadrasana A to Urdhva Mukha Svanasana 15 18 21 Hastagrahe हसतग रह 22 Tips of fingers or palm of hand 23 Utthita Trikonasana Parivritta Trikonasana 24 Parshva प र श व 25 Side left or right Utthita Parshvasahita 26 Marichyasana C 27 and Marichyasana D 28 Urdhva ऊर घ व 29 Upwards Upavishta Konasana B 30 31 and Ubhaya Padangushtasana 32 33 Nabhicakre न भ चक र 34 Navel Adho Mukha Shvanasana 35 Padayoragre प डय रग र Toes Pascimottanasana 36 37 sequence and Janu Sirsasana 38 39 In Iyengar Yoga edit Iyengar Yoga rarely speaks of Drishtis but in its instructions for some asanas it tells the practitioner to look in a certain direction for example upwards in Trikonasana and forwards in Virabhadrasana II 9 In Sivananda Yoga edit Sivananda Yoga makes use of two Drishtis namely Nasagre and Bhrumadhye for tratak exercise a purification rather than in asana practice 10 Vishnudevananda cautions that prolonged or incorrect practice may cause problems for the eye muscles or nervous system Initial practice is often done for only minutes at a time but is gradually increased to up to ten minute intervals 40 References edit Maehle 2011 p 250 Maehle 2011 p 559 Bouanchaud 1997 p 149 Bell 2007 pp 145 151 Jha 1907 pp 94 95 Life 2017 Mallinson amp Singleton 2017 pp 89 92 a b Maehle 2011 pp 250 552 a b Mehta 1990 pp 22 28 a b Vishnudevananda 2011 pp 29 31 plates 5 and 6 Steiner 2012 p Legend for the Vinyasa table bottom Maehle 2011 p 552 Monier Williams 1964 p 8 a b Monier Williams 1964 p 782 a b c Steiner 2012 p Surya Namaskara B Monier Williams 1964 p 770 Maehle 2011 pp 878 1224 a b Jois 2010 pp 1471 1472 Monier Williams 1964 p 538 Maehle 2011 p 785 Maehle 2011 pp 785 1224 Monier Williams 1964 p 1294 Maehle 2011 p 1474 Maehle 2011 pp 1283 1368 Monier Williams 1964 p 622 Steiner 2012 p Utthita Parshvasahita Maehle 2011 p 2661 Maehle 2011 p 2633 Monier Williams 1964 p 222 Steiner 2012 p Upavishta Konasana B Maehle 2011 p 3074 Steiner 2012 p Ubhaya Padangustasana Maehle 2011 p 3232 Monier Williams 1964 p 535 Steiner 2012 p Adho Mukha Shvasana Maehle 2011 p 1984 Steiner 2012 p Paschimottanasana A Maehle 2011 p 2412 Steiner 2012 p Janu Shirshanasa A Vishnudevananda 2011 p 31 Sources editBell Charlotte 2007 Mindful Yoga Mindful Life A Guide for Everyday Practice Rodmell Press ISBN 978 1930485204 Bouanchaud Bernard 1997 The Essence of Yoga Reflections on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Rudra Press ISBN 978 0915801695 Jha Ganganatha trans 1907 The Yoga darsana The sutras of Patanjali with the Bhasya of Vyasa Book 3 Translator Rajaram Tukaram Tatya for the Bombay Theosophical Publication Fund Jois K Pattabhi 2010 Yoga Mala The Seminal Treatise and Guide from the Living Master of Ashtanga Yoga Kindle ed Macmillan ISBN 978 0 86547 751 3 Life David 6 April 2017 28 August 2007 See More Clearly By Practicing Drishti Yoga Journal Maehle Gregor 2011 Ashtanga Yoga Practice and Philosophy Kindle ed New World Library ISBN 978 1 57731 606 0 Mallinson James Singleton Mark 2017 Roots of Yoga Penguin Books ISBN 978 0 241 25304 5 OCLC 928480104 Mehta Silva Mehta Mira Mehta Shyam 1990 Yoga The Iyengar Way Dorling Kindersley ISBN 978 0863184208 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Monier Williams Monier 1964 A Sanskrit English Dictionary Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with special reference to cognate Indo European languages Digitized and Searchable Oxford University Press Print and University of Cologne Digitized ISBN 978 8 12150 200 9 Steiner Ronald P 2012 AshtangaYoga info Retrieved 2012 05 12 Vishnudevananda Swami 2011 The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga Kindle ed Random House ISBN 978 0 51788 431 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Drishti yoga amp oldid 1053736817, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,