धारणा
Dhāraṇā
DHAA-ra-naa (dh as in 'dharma', long first and last vowels)
Level 3Etymology
Root: From the root 'dhṛ' (धृ) meaning 'to hold, bear, support, maintain.' The suffix '-ana' forms the action noun, giving 'the act of holding or fixing.' Related to 'dharma' (that which upholds) and 'dhairya' (steadfastness).
Literal meaning: The act of holding steady; fixing or binding the mind to a single point or object.
Definition
Dharana is the practice of sustained, single-pointed concentration where the mind is deliberately fixed upon one object, thought, or location. It is the disciplined effort to prevent the mind from wandering and to return attention to the chosen focus whenever it drifts. In daily life, it manifests as the ability to give undivided attention to a task or subject.
Dharana is the sixth limb (aṅga) of Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga, serving as the gateway from the external practices (bahiraṅga) to the internal practices (antaraṅga). It is the binding of consciousness (citta) to a single spatial point (deśa), as defined in Yoga Sūtra 3.1: 'deśa-bandhaś cittasya dhāraṇā.' Through sustained dharana, the practitioner prepares the mind for the spontaneous flow of dhyana (meditation).
Dharana represents the initial movement of consciousness turning inward upon itself, away from the multiplicity of phenomenal experience toward the singular ground of awareness. It is the voluntary gathering of the scattered rays of the mind into a focused beam, foreshadowing the ultimate recognition that the observer, the act of observation, and the observed arise from one undivided reality (samāpatti).
Appears In
Common Misconception
Many people equate dharana with meditation (dhyana), but they are distinct stages. Dharana is the effortful, deliberate act of fixing the mind on a single point, and it involves repeated re-focusing when attention wanders. Dhyana, by contrast, is the unbroken, effortless flow of awareness toward the object that arises only after dharana is sustained. Dharana is the cause; dhyana is the resulting state.
Modern Application
Dharana is directly relevant to the modern challenge of fragmented attention. In an age of constant digital distraction, the practice of fixing the mind on a single point trains the cognitive muscle of sustained focus. Professionals use dharana-based techniques to enter deep work states, athletes apply it for peak performance under pressure, and therapists draw on it in mindfulness-based interventions for anxiety and ADHD. Even brief daily practice of dharana — focusing on the breath, a candle flame, or a mantra for a few minutes — strengthens the prefrontal cortex's ability to resist distraction, improving productivity, emotional regulation, and overall mental clarity.
Related Terms
Quick Quiz
In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, what does 'deśa-bandhaś cittasya dhāraṇā' define dharana as?