Trāṭaka

Trāṭaka (Sanskrit: त्राटक "look, gaze") is a yogic purification (a shatkarma) and a tantric method of meditation that involves staring at a single point such as a small object, black dot or candle flame.

Description

The practitioner may fix attention on a symbol or yantra, such as the Om symbol, a black dot, the image of some deity or guru, a flame, a mirror or any point, and stare at it. A candle should be three to four feet (1 metre plus) away, the flame level with the eyes. The practitioner relaxes but keeps the spine erect and remains wakeful and vigilant.

References

Further reading

• The Bihar School of Yoga, in India has published several books on meditation that discuss trataka. Dharana Darshan by Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati has an entire chapter devoted to the practice.

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Hatha yoga

Subtle body

• Three bodies
• Five sheaths
• Chakra
• Nadi
  • Sushumna
• Prana

Texts
(Asanas)

• Ancient meditation seats Darshana Upanishad, Pātañjalayogaśāstravivaraṇa, Goraksha Sataka
  • Gomukhasana
  • Muktasana
  • Padmasana
  • Siddhasana
  • Simhasana
  • Sopasrayasana
  • Sukhasana
  • Svastikasana
  • Virasana

• Ancient non-meditation Ahirbudhnya Saṃhitā, Pātañjalayogaśāstravivaraṇa
  • Dandasana
  • Kurmasana

• c. 7th C. Ahirbudhnya Samhita
  • Kukkutasana

• c. 10th C. Vimanarcanakalpa
  • Mayurasana

• c. 11th C. Amritasiddhi, Hemachandra's Yogashastra
  • Muktasana
  • Shirshasana

• 12th C. Amaraugha Prabodha

• 13th C. Dattatreya Yoga Shastra, Goraksha Shataka, Vasishtha Samhita, Vivekamārtaṇḍa
  • Viparita Karani

• 14th C. Khecarīvidyā, Shiva Samhita, Sharngadhara-paddhati, Yogabīja, Yogatārāvalī
  • Gorakshasana
  • Paschimottanasana

• 15th C. Hatha Yoga Pradipika
  • Baddha Konasana
  • Dhanurasana
  • Matsyendrasana
  • Utkatasana

• 17th C. Gheranda Samhita, Hatha Ratnavali, Yogacintamani, Bahr al-Hayāt
  • Bakasana
  • Bhujangasana
  • Kakasana
  • Kraunchasana
  • Makarasana
  • Mandukasana
  • Matsyasana
  • Vajrasana
  • Vrikshasana

• 18th C. Hathabhyasa-paddhati, Joga Pradipika
  • Adho Mukha Vrikshasana

• 19th C. Sritattvanidhi
  • Akarna Dhanurasana
  • Bhairavasana
  • Durvasasana
  • Garudasana
  • Halasana
  • Navasana
  • Pashasana
  • Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
  • Tittibhasana
  • Urdhva Dhanurasana

• Late
  • 1905 Yogasopana Purvacatuska
  • 1943 Hatha Yoga: The Report of A Personal Experience

Mudras

• Mahamudra
• Maha Bandha
  • Jalandhara Bandha
  • Mula Bandha
  • Uddiyana Bandha
• Viparita Karani
• Khechari mudra
• Vajroli mudra

Shatkarmas

• Dhauti
• Basti
• Kapalabhati
• Nauli
• Neti
• Trataka

Pranayama

• Anuloma
• Bhastrika
• Bhramari
• Kumbhaka
• Ujjayi

Related

• Modern yoga
• Nath
• Roots of Yoga
• Yoga
• Yoga as exercise
• Category:Medieval Hatha Yoga asanas