PRATYAHAR(withdrawing senses from their object)

This is the controlofthe senses (eyes,ears,nose,tounge and skin )by the mind,and diverting them inwards from their respective objects.-yogdarshan2/54

In essence pratyahar is a technique in which the mind withdraws into itself. The indriyas cease to function independently. It is similar to an inventer who is so engrossedin a problem that his mind is completely shutoff from the external world ,involuntarily .However in pratyahar , he mind remains within itself and the external world is shut out by sheer power,in Raj yog. In Bhakti Yog ,this occurs by th esupreme attractive power of an object of devotionallove within - paramatma.


The first five limb of the ashtang Yog is called Bahirang -external limbs of yog. The remainig three -Dharana,Dhyana and Samadhi are Antarang -internal.