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ORIGINAL DERIVATION
According to the Sanskrit derivation prati + ahara
makes pratyahara.
Prati means back and ahara means to take in.
Literally, it means to take back the mind (from its
objects).
Restraining the senses from performing their
functions is the first step towards this practice.
Though the music is going on, let not the ears hear
it, though the flower is before him, let the nose not
sense its perfume.
When he does not want to be disturbed let not the
external objects make any impression on his senses.
Shanmukhi Mudra
54.
mJeefJe<eeemebeeesies
efeememJeHeevegkee
j FJeseqveeCeeb
eleenej~
54. Sva-viaysamprayoge cittasyasvarpnukra ivendriym
pratyhra.
Prithvi (earth)
Jala (water)
Tejas (light)
Vayu (air)
Akasa (ether)
nose smell
tongue taste
eye
sight
skin touch
ear
hearing
MIND
Bhutas
(elements)
Atma
(spirit)
55.lele Hejcee
JeMeleseqveeCeeced ~
55. Tata param vayatendriym.
Then follows the greatest mastery over
the senses.
PRATYAHARA
Pratyahara is the fifth among the Eight steps of
Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga.
In it, the consciousness, or more specifically,
the neural currents, are internalized, so that
sensations from the Indriyas, or the five senses
of taste, touch, sight, hearing and smell don't
reach their respective centres in the brain, so
that the Saadhaka, or disciple, is free to
meditate without distractions.
PRACTICE OF PRATYAHARA
THROUGH SEVEN CAKRAS
AaharXyaninymE> keicCDaIykmR[a.
invayRNte=iola raega> bla bRla Aip.
sanbhysata kecit prymena
kecana | hradhynaniyamai
kecicchastryakarma ||
nivryante'khil rog prabal durbal
api ||
Some illnesses are avoided through asana
practice, some through pranayama, some through
diet restrictions and meditation and some by
striya karma (rituals). All illnesses, whether
zarIrVyaixhanay zrIrmupyaejyet!,
mtclhanay a[ayam> kIitRt>.
rravydhihnya
arramupayojayet |
matacacalahnya pryma
prakrtita ||
The illness of the body can be reduced by the
right use of the body itself, while agitation of the
mind can be reduced through pranayama.
(Kaldhyya, loka 31)