Drishti (Sanskrit:दृष्टि,romanized: dṛṣṭi,pronounced[d̪r̩ʂʈɪ], "focused gaze") is a means for developing concentrated intention. It relates to the fifthlimb of yoga,pratyahara, concerning sense withdrawal,[1] as well as the sixth limb,dharana, relating to concentration.[2]
InAshtanga Vinyasa Yoga, eachasana is associated with one of the 8 focused gazes, namely Angusthamadhye (thumb), Bhrumadhye (eyebrow), Nasagre (tip of nose), Hastagrahe (tips of hands), Parshva (side), Urdhva (up), Nabhicakre (navel), and Padayoragre (tips of feet) Drishtis. In some other styles such asSivananda Yoga, less use is made of the gaze, and fewer types are employed.
TheYoga Sutras of Patanjali defineeight limbs of yoga but do not mention the gaze. The sixth limb, dharana (concentration), however requires holding one's mind onto an inner state, subject or topic.[3] The mind can for example be fixed on amantra, one's breath, or a part of the body such as the navel or the tip of the tongue. This is an internal concentration of attention, not a gaze.[4][5]
In theBhagavad Gita VI.13,Krishna instructs the heroArjuna to "hold one's body and head erect in a straight line and stare steadily at the tip of the nose".[6]
The 1737Joga Pradīpikā uses the same two Drishtis, Nasagre and Bhrumadhye, requiring their use with each of the 84 asanas described in the text.[7]
Styles of modernyoga as exercise such asAshtanga (vinyasa) yoga,Iyengar Yoga and Sivananda Yoga make differing uses of Drishtis.[8][9][10]
Eachasana is associated in Ashtanga yoga with a particular Drishti.[8] There are eight Drishtis (counting the paired Parshva Drishtis on the left and right sides as one).[11][12]
| Drishti | Sanskrit | Gaze at | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angushthamadhye | अङ्गूष्ठमध्ये[13][14] | Thumb | Surya Namaskarvinyasas;Urdhva Vrikshasana,Utkatasana,Virabhadrasana A[15] |
| Bhrumadhye | भ्रूमध्ये[16][14] | 'Third eye', between eyebrows | Surya Namaskar uses it on the inhale followingUttanasana, duringUrdhva Mukha Svanasana, and again on the inhale afterAdho Mukha Svanasana.[15][17][18] |
| Nasagre | नासाग्रे[19] | Tip of nose | Many asanas, e.g.Surya Namaskara,Samasthitiḥ,[20]Uttanasana andChaturanga Dandasana; transition fromVirabhadrasana A toUrdhva Mukha Svanasana[15][18][21] |
| Hastagrahe | हसतग्रहे[22] | Tips of fingers, or palm of hand[23] | Utthita Trikonasana,Parivritta Trikonasana[24] |
| Parshva | पार्श्व[25] | Side (left or right) | Utthita Parshvasahita,[26]Marichyasana C,[27] andMarichyasana D[28] |
| Urdhva | ऊर्घ्व[29] | Upwards | Upavishta Konasana B[30][31] andUbhaya Padangushtasana.[32][33] |
| Nabhicakre | नाभिचक्रे[34] | Navel | Adho Mukha Shvanasana[35] |
| Pādayoragre | पाडयोरग्रे | Toes | Paścimottānāsana[36][37] sequence andJanu Sirsasana[38][39] |
Iyengar Yoga rarely speaks of Drishtis, but in its instructions for some asanas it tells the practitioner to look in a certain direction, for example to gaze at the thumb[page 65, Light on Yoga] forTrikonasana
Sivananda Yoga makes use of two Drishtis, namely Nāsāgre and Bhrūmadhye, fortratak exercise (a purification) rather than in asana practice.[10]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.[40]
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