Divya-drishti

Divya-drishti (Hindi: दिव्य दृष्टि) or the divine eye-sight, also known as Yoga-drishti, refers to 'divine perception' which is intuitive perception or cognition that carries with it an intrinsic certainty and conviction. It is a spiritual attainment which according to Patanjali enables the yogi to communicate with heavenly bodies.[1] This Divine vision is gained by the practice of neti that balances the flow of prana-shakti in ida, pingala and sushmana and uplifts the higher mental faculties which awaken the chakras and kundalini[2] and even enables the yogi to see into the past and future.[3] "Uttitha padma āsana" ('the raised Lotus posture') makes one develop divya-drishti, opens the heart center and cures respiratory disorders.[4]

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna:-

न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा |
दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् ||
" But surely you cannot see Me with these human eyes of yours; therefore; I vouchsafe to you the divine eye. With this you behold My divine power of Yoga. " - (Bhagavad Gita XI.8)

Krishna invited Arjuna to observe the Cosmic Body or Viraj) and behold as concentrated within that body (in the person of Krishna) the entire creation and all that is desired to be seen. When Arjuna failed to see that divine form, Krishna bestowed the gift of divine vision – दिव्यं चक्षुः. Thus endowed, Arjuna saw an undisguised reality he could otherwise not see, what he then saw was अद्भुतदर्शनम् (many a wonderful sight) divine in essence, transcendent and all-effulgent, the sight which has never been seen before. Arjuna saw the power of creating diversity in the universe.[5] A similar gift had been bestowed on Sanjaya by Sage Vyasa. [6]

The Vedic seers have spoken about the wondrous eyes of Lord Vishnu, the ever-open watchful divine eyes whose power of sight is not restricted by space and time. Rishi Medhātithih Kānvah states that:-

तद्विष्णोः परमं पदं सदा पश्यन्ति सूरयः |
दिवीव चक्षुराततम् || - (Rig Veda I.xxii.20)
" the learned practitioners of Dharma do, in the brightness of the (all-revealing) sun, (clearly) see the wide spread eyes of the Lord, the mighty all-surveying Sole Witness, and in the process with the aid of knowledge also see Him at all times ensconced as the atman. " [7]

References

  1. P. S. Shastri. Textbook of Scientific Hindu Astrology. Dr. S. P. Bhagat. p. 82.
  2. Good Book:Stakarma. Alokic Inc. p. 17.
  3. M. N. Roy. India’s Message. Ajanta Publications. p. 24.
  4. Alain Danielou. Yoga: Mastering the Secrets of Matter and the Universe. Inner Traditions. p. 162.
  5. GK Marballi. The Yoga of Devotion. Lulu. p. 139.
  6. Jayadayal Goyandka. Srimadbhagavadgita Tattvavivecani. Gita Press. pp. 488–490.
  7. Rig Veda with commentary of Dayananda Saraswati. Arya Samaj, Jamnagar.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, February 27, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.