THE BEST FROM OUR SCRIPTURES - 4

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Priya Bhagavat Banduvullara!

THE BEST FROM OUR SCRIPTURES – 4

PRATYAHARA (WITHDRAWAL)

 

The senses and the work organs should be withdrawn into the manas

(Sense-Mind) and the manas should be absorbed into the jnanathman

(consciousness)

(Kathopanishad 1.3.13)

The senses should be controlled by will inside the hrit (eight

petalled lotus inside the heart chakra, i.e., Ananda Kanda or

spiritual heart).

(Shvetashvataropanishad 2.8)

By the concentrated mind the senses should be controlled at their

root—in the charkas.

(Trishikhi Brahmanopanishad, mantra section 115)

The mind should be withdrawn by concentrating on the eighteen

adharas (vital points), one after another, in the following order,

while practicing kumbhaka (breath suspension):

1. Big toe, 2 ankle, 3. Calf, 4. Knee, 5 thigh, 6. Anus, 7.

Genitals, 8. Abdominal region, 9. Navel, 10. Heart, 11. Wrist, 12.

Elbow, 13. Neck, 14. Tip of the nose, 15. Eyes, 16. Root of the

palate, 17. Space between the eyebrows, and 18. Forehead. The

withdrawal of the senses (indriya aharona) from the object by

applying the power of control (will) is called pratyahara.

(Darshanopanishad (7.1-2)

Breath should be suspended with concentration applied to the

following points in succession. (1) Roots of the teeth, (2) neck,

(3) chest (4) navel, (5) base of spine, i.e., the region of

Kundalini, (6) Muladhara (coccygeal region) (7) hip, (8) thigh, (9)

knee, (10) leg, and (11) big toe. The ancient yogis call this

pratyahara.

(Darshanopanishad 7.5-9)

The control of mind in respect to sensory objects is pratyahara.

(Mandalabrahmanopanishad 1.7)

The withdrawal of the senses from their respective objects towards

which they are naturally attracted is called pratyahara

(Yogalattusopanishad 68.69)

Pratyahara is withdrawal of the senses from their objects, regarding

sensory images of God, abandoning the fruits of actions, turning

away from all objects, and holding attention is concentration on the

eighteen adharas in the following succession in ascending and

descending order: foot, big toe, ankle, leg, knee, thigh, anus,

genitals, navel, heart, neck, larynx, palate, nostrils, eyes, the

space between eyebrows, forehead and head. (Shandilyopanishad (8.

1. —2)

Fluctuations in mind are caused by desires, when desires are

controlled by pratyahara; the mind becomes still and concentrates on

God. (Rudrayamala Tantra Part 2, 24.137)

The mind connected with senses and their objects are irresistible,

firm, difficult to control, and unwilling to obey; the withdrawal of

it by the power of will is called pratyahara. By practice of

Pratyahara the Sadhaka becomes calm and is able to concentrate

deeply. This leads him to Yoga. (Rudrayamala Tantra part 2, 27,28—

30)

In kumbhaka (suspension of breath) the mind should be concentrated;

beginning from Muladhara to other chakras step by step—this is

called pratyahara (Tantra rajatantra 27,70)