Trāṭaka

{{Short description|Meditation method}} {{AI-generated|date=December 2025}} [[File:Tratak 20677.jpg|thumb|A woman practising ''trāṭaka'' with a candle flame]] '''Trāṭaka''' ([[Sanskrit]]: त्राटक "look, gaze") is a [[Yoga|yogic]] purification (a [[shatkarma]]) and a [[Tantra|tantric]] method of [[meditation]] that involves staring at a single point such as a small object, symbol or [[yantra]] such as the [[Om]] symbol, black dot or [[candle]] flame.<ref name="sivananda">{{cite book | last=SIVANANDA | first=SRI SWAMI | title=KUNDALINI YOGA By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA | publisher=A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION | date=1991 | isbn=978-81-7052-052-8 | page=41 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FHQLEAAAQBAJ&dq=trataka&pg=PA42}}</ref><ref name="acharya">{{cite book | last=Dev | first=Acharya Bhagwan | title=Meditation Yoga | publisher=Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. | date=2002-06-01 | isbn=978-81-7182-537-0 | page=54 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1dNdvXb7DpEC&dq=trataka&pg=PA54}}</ref><ref name="makarand">{{cite book | last=Gore | first=Dr. Makarand Madhukar | title=Anatomy and Physiology of Yogic Practices | publisher=Motilal Banarsidass | publication-place=New Delhi | date=2008-01-01 | isbn=978-81-7822-305-6 | page=160-162 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jUzsDwAAQBAJ&dq=trataka&pg=PA160}}</ref>

== Historical and Traditional Background == Trāṭaka is named among the six cleansing techniques ([[Shatkarma|ṣaṭkarma]]) in the classical yogic manual ''[[Hatha Yoga Pradipika|Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā]]'' — where it is defined as “gazing steadily at a small mark until tears flow,” and is said to eradicate eye diseases, fatigue, and sloth. <ref>Svātmārāma, ''Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā'', ch. 2, śloka 31–32; translation at sacred-texts.com</ref> It is likewise described in the classical treatise ''[[Gheranda Samhita|Gheranda Saṃhitā]]'', in which it is listed among the purification (ṣaṭkarma) practices and also recommended as a preparatory exercise for deeper meditation and concentration ([[dhāraṇā]]). <ref>Gheranda Saṃhitā, ch. 1; see discussion in modern overview of Trāṭaka kriya</ref> Across traditional Indian yoga lineages the technique has been used both as a śodhana (sensory/ocular purification) method and as a dhyāna-preparing concentrating practice. <ref>Review: “Tradition and science of Trataka kriya”, Yoga Mimamsa (2024)</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==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.

[[Category:Kriyas]] [[Category:Shatkarmas]]