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Drishti (yoga)

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Drishti (Sanskrit: दृष्टि, romanized: dṛṣṭi, pronounced [d̪r̩ʂʈɪ], "gazing intently"[1]) is the attachment of one's gaze to various focal points.[2] It relates to the fifth limb of yoga, pratyahara, concerning sense withdrawal,[3] as well as the sixth limb, dharana, relating to concentration.[4] Also, they can help in balancing poses, making it easier to maintain balance in mind and body.[5]

In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, each asana is associated with one of 8 drishtis. In some other styles, such as Iyengar Yoga and Sivananda Yoga, less use is made of drishtis, and fewer types are employed.

History

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The ancient manuscript Yoga Korunta was said to contain original teachings on drishti, amongst other yoga concepts.[6]

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".[5]

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali define eight limbs of yoga but do not mention the gaze. However, the fifth limb, pratyahara (sense withdrawal), requires withdrawing the senses, and the sixth limb, dharana (concentration), requires holding one's mind onto an inner state, subject or topic.[2] The mind can for example be fixed on one's breath,[7] a part of the body such as the navel or the tip of the nose or the tip of the tongue, external objects,[8] a mantra or a drone. This is an internal concentration of attention, not a gaze.[9]

The 1737 Joga Pradīpikā uses the same two drishtis, Nasagre (tip of nose) and Bhrumadhye (eyebrow), requiring their use with each of the 84 asanas described in the text.[10]

Modern

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Styles of modern yoga as exercise such as Ashtanga (vinyasa) yoga, Iyengar Yoga and Sivananda yoga make differing uses of drishtis.[11][12][13]

Ashtanga

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In Parivritta Trikonasana the gaze is directed to the tips of the fingers, Hastagrahe drishti.

Each asana is associated in Ashtanga yoga with a particular drishti.[11] There are eight drishtis (counting the paired Parshva drishtis on the left and right sides as one).[14]

DrishtiSanskritGaze atUsed in
Angushthamadhyeअङ्गूष्ठमध्ये[15][16]ThumbSurya Namaskara A Vinyasa One (Urdhva Vrikshasana)[17]
Bhrumadhyeभ्रूमध्ये[18][16]Center of the forehead (third eye)Surya Namaskar uses it on the inhale following Uttanasana, during Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, and again on the inhale after Adho Mukha Svanasana.[19][20]
Nasagreनासाग्रे[21]Tip of noseMany asanas, e.g. Surya Namaskara, Samasthitiḥ,[22] Uttanasana and Chaturanga Dandasana; transition from Virabhadrasana A to Urdhva Mukha Svanasana[20][23]
Hastagraheहसतग्रहे[24]Tips of fingers, or palm of hand[25]Utthita Trikonasana, Parivritta Trikonasana[26]
Parshvaपार्श्व[27]Side (left or right)Marichyasana C,[28] and Marichyasana D[29]
Urdhvaऊर्घ्व[30]UpwardSurya Namaskara B Vinyasas; Utkatasana,[31] Virabhadrasana A;[32] Upavishta Konasana B,[33] Ubhaya Padangushtasana[34] and Urdhva Mukha Pashimottanasana.[35]
Nabhicakreनाभिचक्रे[36]NavelAdho Mukha Shvanasana[6]
Pādayoragreपाडयोरग्रेToesUtthita Hasta Padangushtasana,[37] Paścimottānāsana[38] sequence, Janu Sirsasana[39] sequence, Marichyasana A,[40] Navasana[41] and Supta Padangushtasana.[42]

Iyengar

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Iyengar Yoga sometimes speaks of drishtis; in its instructions for some asanas it tells the practitioner to look in a certain direction, for example to gaze at the thumb for Trikonasana.[43]

Sivananda

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Sivananda Yoga makes use of two drishtis, namely Nāsāgre (tip of nose) and Bhrūmadhye (eyebrow), for tratak exercise (a purification),[13][44] and also says 'focus the gaze' in asana practice.[44] 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.[45]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Monier-Williams 1999.
  2. 1 2 Maehle 2011.
  3. ↑ Maehle 2011, p. 250.
  4. ↑ Maehle 2011, p. 559.
  5. 1 2 Life 2017.
  6. 1 2 Jois 2010.
  7. ↑ Maehle 2006, p. 235.
  8. ↑ Jha 1907, pp. 94–95.
  9. ↑ Bell 2007, pp. 145–151.
  10. ↑ Mallinson & Singleton 2017, pp. 89–92.
  11. 1 2 Maehle 2011, pp. 250, 552.
  12. ↑ Mehta 1990, pp. 22–28.
  13. 1 2 Vishnudevananda 2011, pp. 29–31, plates 5 and 6.
  14. ↑ Maehle 2011, p. 552.
  15. ↑ Monier-Williams 1999, p. 8.
  16. 1 2 Monier-Williams 1999, p. 782.
  17. ↑ Maehle 2006, p. 25.
  18. ↑ Monier-Williams 1999, p. 770.
  19. ↑ Maehle 2011, pp. 878–1224.
  20. 1 2 Jois 2010, pp. 1471–1472.
  21. ↑ Monier-Williams 1999, p. 538.
  22. ↑ Maehle 2011, p. 785.
  23. ↑ Maehle 2011, pp. 785–1224.
  24. ↑ Monier-Williams 1999, p. 1294.
  25. ↑ Maehle 2011, p. 1474.
  26. ↑ Maehle 2011, pp. 1283, 1368.
  27. ↑ Monier-Williams 1999, p. 622.
  28. ↑ Maehle 2011, p. 2661.
  29. ↑ Maehle 2011, p. 2633.
  30. ↑ Monier-Williams 1999, p. 222.
  31. ↑ Maehle 2006, p. 32.
  32. ↑ Maehle 2006, p. 35.
  33. ↑ Maehle 2011, p. 3074.
  34. ↑ Maehle 2011, p. 3232.
  35. ↑ Maehle 2006, p. 109.
  36. ↑ Monier-Williams 1999, p. 535.
  37. ↑ Maehle 2006, p. 53.
  38. ↑ Maehle 2011, p. 1984.
  39. ↑ Maehle 2011, p. 2412.
  40. ↑ Maehle 2006, p. 83.
  41. ↑ Maehle 2006, p. 88.
  42. ↑ Maehle 2006, p. 106.
  43. ↑ Light on Yoga. p. 65.
  44. 1 2 Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha.
  45. ↑ Vishnudevananda 2011, p. 31.

Sources

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Templates

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