CHAKRA DHARANA & DHYANA

IN THE GITANANDA YOGA TRADITION

Yogacharya Yogacharya Dr ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI

ChairmanChairmanInternational Centre For Yoga Education And Research International Centre For Yoga Education And Research

(ICYER), Ananda Ashram, South India.(ICYER), Ananda Ashram, South India.www.icyer.comwww.icyer.com

Fixing the mind on the Supreme with Fixing the mind on the Supreme with devotion and disciplinedevotion and discipline

Seventh step in Ashtanga Yoga of Seventh step in Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali Patanjali

Part of the Antaranga / inner steps of Part of the Antaranga / inner steps of Yoga. Yoga.

Dharana -one pointed concentration Dharana -one pointed concentration helps us to flow into meditation. helps us to flow into meditation.

DHYANA IS………..

Maharishi Patanjali says, Maharishi Patanjali says, ““desha bandhah chittasya dharana” ” - -

concentration is the process of binding the concentration is the process of binding the consciousness to a point, place, region or consciousness to a point, place, region or object. (a duality between SEER -SEEN).object. (a duality between SEER -SEEN).

“ “ tatra pratyaya ekatanata dhyanam” ” - - meditation is a STATE where there is a meditation is a STATE where there is a steady & continuous flow of attention and steady & continuous flow of attention and concentration on a point, place, region or concentration on a point, place, region or object. (cessation of duality between SEER object. (cessation of duality between SEER and the SEEN).and the SEEN).

The final step in the three, free flowing higher states of consciousness is

SAMADHI Union with the Divine Nature in the

ULTIMATE UNIVERSAL UNIFICATION

CHAKRA DHYANACHAKRA DHYANA

We have the gross, subtle and causal We have the gross, subtle and causal bodiesbodies

Our subtle body has 12 major energy Our subtle body has 12 major energy vortices known as the Dwadasha vortices known as the Dwadasha Chakras. Chakras.

There are 6 higher Anda (universal) There are 6 higher Anda (universal) Chakras Chakras andand

6 lower Pinda (bodily) Chakras. 6 lower Pinda (bodily) Chakras.

7.Sahasrara

8.Narayanana

9.Bramhananda

10.Trikuthi

11.Swaminana

12.Muktana

They are: They are: MooladharaMooladharaSwadhishtanaSwadhishtanaManipuraManipuraAnahataAnahataVishuddha and Vishuddha and Ajna Ajna

THE PINDA CHAKRAS OFFER AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR

CONTEMPLATION AND MEDITATION

Mooladhara ChakraMooladhara Chakra

Swadishtana ChakraSwadishtana Chakra

Manipura ChakraManipura Chakra

Anahata ChakraAnahata Chakra

Vishuddha ChakraVishuddha Chakra

Ajna ChakraAjna Chakra

Sahasrara ChakraSahasrara Chakra

SHAT CHAKRA PRANAYAMASHAT CHAKRA PRANAYAMA Take up any meditative sitting posture Take up any meditative sitting posture While breathing in, visualize Pranic energy While breathing in, visualize Pranic energy

rising from the base of your spine up through rising from the base of your spine up through the six Chakras situated along the cerebro-the six Chakras situated along the cerebro-spinal axis. spinal axis.

While you breathe out visualize the Prana While you breathe out visualize the Prana coming down through the same six Chakras. coming down through the same six Chakras.

Imagine that your body is a six-storied building Imagine that your body is a six-storied building and the Prana is rising and descending on an and the Prana is rising and descending on an elevator. elevator.

A held-in and a held-out breath A held-in and a held-out breath can be added appropriately at the can be added appropriately at the “back of the brow” centre, the “back of the brow” centre, the Ajna Chakra and at the base of Ajna Chakra and at the base of the spine, the Mooladhara the spine, the Mooladhara Chakra.Chakra.

CHAKRA MEDITATIONCHAKRA MEDITATION This meditative sitting is best done facing This meditative sitting is best done facing

North or EastNorth or East A few rounds of deep and conscious A few rounds of deep and conscious

breathing in Shava Asana prior to this helps breathing in Shava Asana prior to this helps enhance its effect drastically.enhance its effect drastically.

Take up any sitting posture in which you Take up any sitting posture in which you are absolutely certain that the spine is are absolutely certain that the spine is yogically erect so that the energy can move yogically erect so that the energy can move upwards in an effortless and smooth upwards in an effortless and smooth manner. manner.

Do some deep Chakra Pranayama.Do some deep Chakra Pranayama.As you come up through the Chakras, As you come up through the Chakras,

starting from the base of the spine and starting from the base of the spine and through to beyond the top of the head, try through to beyond the top of the head, try to become aware of each of these centers.to become aware of each of these centers.

With practice and inner growth these With practice and inner growth these centres will start to become conscious centres will start to become conscious centres filling with light, sound and colour. centres filling with light, sound and colour.

When the breath is completely filled in and When the breath is completely filled in and you are in the Sahasrara Chakra beyond you are in the Sahasrara Chakra beyond the top of the head, hold your breath in a the top of the head, hold your breath in a Prana Kumbhaka, a held in breath, for a Prana Kumbhaka, a held in breath, for a lengthy period of time.lengthy period of time.

Slowly let the breath out and keep your Slowly let the breath out and keep your concentration in that Thousand Petalled concentration in that Thousand Petalled Lotus Chakra. Lotus Chakra.

Let the breath take on any form that it Let the breath take on any form that it wishes and simply, hold the idea that you wishes and simply, hold the idea that you are sitting in the midst of a beautiful are sitting in the midst of a beautiful Thousand-Petalled Pink Lotus. Thousand-Petalled Pink Lotus.

Hold that idea as long as you can, repeating Hold that idea as long as you can, repeating the visualization over and over until a the visualization over and over until a pleasing sensation of “being suspended” pleasing sensation of “being suspended” comes about.comes about.

MANDALA MANDALA DHARANADHARANA

MANDALA DHARANAMANDALA DHARANAConcentration on certain MandalasConcentration on certain MandalasMandalas - geometric Yantras /forms of Mandalas - geometric Yantras /forms of

Shakti embodied within the Chakras Shakti embodied within the Chakras Each Chakra has its own Mandala Each Chakra has its own Mandala Associated with specific element or Associated with specific element or

Mahabhuta Mahabhuta The Mandala or Yantra can be used as a The Mandala or Yantra can be used as a

form of Dharana or concentration alone form of Dharana or concentration alone without entering into the meditative aspect without entering into the meditative aspect as suggested in Laya and Yoga.as suggested in Laya and Yoga.

Mooladhara Chakra -Prithvi Mandala-Mooladhara Chakra -Prithvi Mandala-the Earth Symbol -a Yellow Squarethe Earth Symbol -a Yellow Square

Swadhisthana Chakra -Apas Mandala-Swadhisthana Chakra -Apas Mandala-the Water Symbol -a Silver Crescentthe Water Symbol -a Silver Crescent

Manipura Chakra -Tejas Mandala-the Manipura Chakra -Tejas Mandala-the Fire Symbol -an Inverted Red TriangleFire Symbol -an Inverted Red Triangle

Anahata Chakra -Vayu Mandala-the Air Anahata Chakra -Vayu Mandala-the Air Symbol -a blue hexagon made up of Symbol -a blue hexagon made up of

two Interlaced Trianglestwo Interlaced Triangles

Vishuddha Chakra -Akash Mandala-Vishuddha Chakra -Akash Mandala-the Ether Symbol -a Mauve Ovalthe Ether Symbol -a Mauve Oval

Ajna Chakra -Manas Mandala-the Ajna Chakra -Manas Mandala-the Mind Symbol -an Orange CircleMind Symbol -an Orange Circle

PROCEDURE FOR PROCEDURE FOR MANDALA DHARANAMANDALA DHARANA

Sit before an image of the Mandala made Sit before an image of the Mandala made on a chart.on a chart.

Keep the image at your eyes level and at a Keep the image at your eyes level and at a distance of six to eight feet in front of you.distance of six to eight feet in front of you.

Gaze at the bottom of the chart for a Gaze at the bottom of the chart for a minute. minute.

Let your mind focus with concentrated Let your mind focus with concentrated attention.attention.

Close your eyes and let the after image Close your eyes and let the after image develop within your mind’s eye.develop within your mind’s eye.

Open your eyes and gaze at the top of the chart Open your eyes and gaze at the top of the chart for a minute. for a minute.

Be attentive and focused.Be attentive and focused. Close your eyes and let the after image develop Close your eyes and let the after image develop

within.within. Open your eyes and gaze at the bottom of the Open your eyes and gaze at the bottom of the

image for a minute. image for a minute. Don’t let your concentration waverDon’t let your concentration waver Close your eyes and let the after image developClose your eyes and let the after image develop Open your eyes and gaze at the top of the Open your eyes and gaze at the top of the

Mandala for a minuteMandala for a minute

Close your eyes and let the after image developClose your eyes and let the after image develop Open your eyes and gaze at the centre of the Open your eyes and gaze at the centre of the

Mandala for a minuteMandala for a minute Close your eyes and let the after image develop Close your eyes and let the after image develop

withinwithin Don’t grasp at the image. Let it come on its Don’t grasp at the image. Let it come on its

own. Don’t rush or hurry with the practice as it own. Don’t rush or hurry with the practice as it should be comfortable and done in a relaxed should be comfortable and done in a relaxed manner.manner.

Enjoy the meditative state of mind that can be Enjoy the meditative state of mind that can be achieved by this practice that takes us into a achieved by this practice that takes us into a deep inner state.deep inner state.

MANTRALAYAMANTRALAYA

MANTRALAYAMANTRALAYA

Mantralaya is the Yogic / Tantric alphabetMantralaya is the Yogic / Tantric alphabetDhara Bijas -Bija mantras for the Dhara Bijas -Bija mantras for the

ChakrasChakrasDhala Bijas-Bija mantras for the petalsDhala Bijas-Bija mantras for the petalsStart slow and then make the sounds Start slow and then make the sounds

faster and faster until you are going as faster and faster until you are going as fast as possiblefast as possible

DHARA BIJA MANTRASDHARA BIJA MANTRAS

LANG (LANG (~lung)~lung)VANG (VANG (~vung)~vung)RANG (RANG (~rung)~rung)YANG (YANG (~young)~young)HANG (HANG (~hung)~hung)ANG (ANG (~ang)~ang)OMOM

MOOLADHARAMOOLADHARASWADISHTANASWADISHTANAMANIPURAMANIPURAANAHATAANAHATAVISHUDDAVISHUDDAAJNAAJNASAHASRARASAHASRARA

THANTHANK K

YOUYOU

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