Revisiting the Yogic Concept of Dhāraṇā in Gītā Literature: A Textual and Analytical Inquiry

Abstract

Dhāraṇā, the sixth limb of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga, represents a pivotal stage in the progressive refinement of consciousness, bridging pratyāhāra (withdrawal of the senses) and dhyāna (meditation), and culminating in samādhi. Although Pātañjala Yoga provides the classical definition of dhāraṇā, its treatment in the wider corpus of Gītā literature preserved within the Purāṇas remains comparatively underexplored. This study undertakes a critical textual and analytical investigation of the concept of dhāraṇā in selected Gītās, including the Vyāsa Gītā, Agni Gītā, Yama Gītā, Kapila Gītā, Haṃsa Gītā, Śrī Datta Gītā, Śaṅkara Gītā, Sūta Gītā, and Īśvara Gītā, together with other related texts. Drawing upon primary Sanskrit sources, the study examines the definitions, objectives, methods, objects of concentration, and philosophical foundations of dhāraṇā across these works through a comparative analytical approach. The findings reveal a shared understanding of dhāraṇā as the stabilization of the mind, while simultaneously demonstrating significant variations in theological orientation, contemplative practice, and metaphysical interpretation. Vaiṣṇava Gītās predominantly advocate concentration on the personal form of the Supreme Being, whereas Śaiva texts emphasise internal yogic centres, elemental contemplations, and the realization of identity with Śiva. Several texts further integrate bhakti, jñāna, and yoga into a unified contemplative discipline. The study argues that the Purāṇic Gītā tradition substantially broadens the classical conception of dhāraṇā by incorporating devotional, cosmological, and metaphysical dimensions without compromising its essential role as the foundation of higher yogic realization. By highlighting these diverse yet complementary perspectives, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the evolution of contemplative practices in classical Yoga and enriches contemporary scholarship on Indian philosophical and yogic traditions.