By  Shri Vishwajeet Singh  

 Trataka is defined as focusing the eyes or "gazing" at an object for a prolonged period without alternating the position and blinking. This will be cause of tears and to flow in many people, but this is not harm full, it is like washing and decontamination the eyes from the inside out, without the need for eyecups or eye washes. At first you will feel like blinking, but you will soon get used to it after some practice.
The usual and sufficient procedure is to stare at a candle or a very little light point in a completely dark room. Though it is advised for three to five minutes without blinking this is mentioned at many locations, but it can be injurious therefore in start look at the flame or a lightening point up to fifteen second only in beginning. This is work on the Agya chakra or third eye. The Agya chakra locates between the eyebrows and almost one to two inches higher then nasal-frontal joint, this is the place where Hindus put a dot on their fore head.

Technique –
Trataka is most often preformed on a flame like of a candle or a small source of light (though some more methods are there in books but this technique is easier to put into practice.) and place that according to your eyesight or placed that about three to five feet and adjust the flame height, up to your eye label in front.
Before gazing at the object this is very much advisable to do the palming. Just make two shallow cups of your palms and press the surrounding bone around the eyes for few second, this method called as palming.
Starting tips—
1. Move your eyes anticlockwise for ten times and now do the palming.
2. Move your eyes clockwise for same duration and do the palming.
3. Move the eyes in longitudinal direction for ten times and do the palming.
4. Move the eyes in horizontal for the same duration and do the palming.
5. Do the Anulom- Vilom Pranayama for twenty-seven times or according to your stamina and try to bring your concentration on your Agya Chakra.

Now start to gaze steadily without blinking at the candle-flame or at the source of light, without blinking or moving eyes for ten seconds in beginning and increase the duration ten second each second day other wise to look at the flame of candle or lamp continuously can be a harmful experience.
This technique enhances your control over the senses and increases your awareness and control of your external environment. Open your eyes and look at an object that evokes in you a pleasant reaction and hold it in your vision excluding all else. Do not let your eyes or your mind or your other senses wander. Release your eyes before they get tired or dry out and then splash cold water on your eyes to relieve fatigue. With practice you may experience the sense of separation between you and the object you observe melt away and allow yourself to become one with the object of your concentration.

Benefit of Trataka—
1. The Trataka enhance your vision capacity.
2. This procedure provides the needed stimulus for meditation and Dharana step (Seventh step) of eight-folds yoga.
3. Regular, proper and continuous practice of Trataka can gift your to mesmerize other people.
4. The Trataka can provide you the healing power in your hand or eyes.
This should be practiced in Dark room, no other source of light must be there, and your room must soundless or calm as well as in pleasant condition.
Many super natural powers can be awarded by regular yoga practice. Some unbelievable experiences have been come to believe on the basis of Para psychological, spiritual or indefinite grounds. Some of the regular practitioners of Trataka and yoga claim that they congregated some gods or heavenly body.
This may be possible or not though we do not allege but we will say moderately, that this is the era of science, so carry out this under an experienced yoga guru and experience your self.

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Mr. Vishwajeet has the postgraduate or Master Degree in Yoga Science and invented the yoga technique to enhance the IQ in children with the help of yogic exercises. He is practicing yoga from a decade regularly. To contact him you can call him at his mobile (91-9414075496) Editor
J.A.Y (journal of Ayurveda and Yoga)