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VIBHUTI PADA
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| Desh_Bandah Chittasya Dhărană |
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Concentration is confining attention of mind to one location
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Desha: Place Bandah:
fixing Chittasya:
of the mind Dhărană:
concentration
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| 3.01 Q: When is mind
said to be concentrated? |
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When the mind is able to focus attention on the object
of meditation permitting no distraction, it is said
to be concentrating. Mind is concentrated when its attention
does not get diverted to host of other objects that
are within its reach.
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When the Chitta, or mind-stuff,
is confined and limited to a certain place it is Dharana.
Engaging the mind in a chosen area is Dharana.
The mind will be free to roam about within the periphery of
this area, but it should not cross the boundary. Dharana
is the “maintaining of proper concentration”. “Proper
concentration” means keeping one’s senses withdrawn from outer
objects and focusing on any one object of concentration.
The word dharana
is derived from the root dha,
meaning " to hold, carry, support" . It refers to
the holding of an object in the mind. In dharana
the mind dwells only on the chosen object,
 Concentration
is the crucial first step to spiritual absorption. The confinement
of mind to a specific location like the navel region, the
lotus of the heart, the head, the tip of the nose, the centre
between eyebrows, a chosen image of a deity are some of the
external objects for confining attention on. Idol worship
fits in eminently as an object for concentration for the idol
also assists in
developing in oneself all the virtues that the devotee attributes
to the image in question.
Concentration on elements like earth, water, fire etc is
called Dharana on external elements.
While, concentration on a chosen object like the light in
a candle, a flower, figure of a Saint etc is referred to as
internal dharana
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 From
the unreal lead me to the Real From darkness lead me
to Light From death lead me to immortality.
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| Brahadaranyaka Upanishad |
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Internal Dharana develops
from the intense practice of External Dharana when
the external support of concentration can be dispensed
with in favour of concentration at the point where
the un-manifest becomes manifest.
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Prithviva Dharana or
Concentration on Earth Element
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Fix the mind on a flower,
a picture of saint, the statue of a deity.
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Jaliya Dharana or Concentration
on Water Element.
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gaze at the bank of
a river or lake, on a wave-less water while sitting
by the shore of an ocean.
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Agneya Dharana or Concentration
on Fire Elements.
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To fix the gaze on
the flame of a candle, bulb of soft light or fire
in the altar etc
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Vayaviya Dharana or
Concentration on Air Elements.
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Steadying the mind
by constant touch of air by contact with any object,
by the feel of heat or cold or pranayama
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Shabdika dharana or
Concentration of Sound Element.
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To fix the mind on
a loud or semi-verbal mantra
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