Dharana in the darkness of night

In this series from Dharana to Dhyana, I will be sharing with you techniques of Dharana (techniques of concentration, contemplation):

Dharana in the Darkness of Night

एवमेव दुर्निशायां कृष्णपक्षागमे चिरम् । तैमिरं भावयन् रूपं भैरवं रूपमेष्यति ।।

Translation: In this way, one should always contemplate the deep darkness of night during the dark fortnight of the moon, if one wishes to attain the form of Bhairava.

Explanation:

This Dharana refers to the lunar cycles, which are highly significant throughout all of Sadhana. The lunar cycles consist of fourteen days each, during which the moon waxes or wanes. The waxing of the moon is known as Shuklapaksha, the bright fortnight, and the waning of the moon is known as Krishnapaksha, the dark fortnight. These two cycles of the bright and dark fortnights affect the rhythms of the body, mind, and consciousness in a very significant and distinct way.

It is therefore natural that the effects of a Sadhana performed will vary depending on the day and the fortnight in which the Sadhana is practiced. For example, Poornima — the day of the full moon — and Amavasya — the day of the new moon — are considered very special days, and any Sadhana performed on these days takes on a more significant meaning. There are certain practices that can be performed only on Amavasya or on Poornima, in order to obtain the desired effects of the sadhana.

These lunar cycles also dramatically affect swara (the science of prana energy) — that is, the flow of the nadis in relation to the breath. As explained earlier, throughout life two main swaras flow in the body. These swaras are ida, or chandra swara, which flows through the left nostril, and pingala, or surya swara, which flows through the right nostril. They also govern the nervous system and the left and right hemispheres of the brain. These two swaras flow alternately, each for about an hour and twenty minutes, throughout day and night. At the moment the swara shifts from ida to pingala, or vice versa, there is a brief pause during which both swaras flow together in equal balance. This awakens the third important nadi, known as sushumna, which flows through the center of the spine and is the channel through which kundalini energy rises.

In yoga and tantra, methods are recommended for extending the duration of the flow in ida or pingala, or for making them flow together in perfect rhythm and balance. This Dharana should be practiced during the dark fortnight, that is, Krishnapaksha, between Ekadashi (the eleventh day) and Amavasya (the fourteenth day), preferably at midnight. This is a Dharana for lovers of nature, since it is best practiced in open space — in the mountains, in forests, or near the sea, anywhere nature feels immense, magnificent, and boundless. Of course, if you have a very vivid imagination, you can even practice it in your room in the middle of the bustle of city life, but being outdoors in a natural setting stimulates and helps consciousness sink deeply into this contemplation.

This Dharana states that if you can face the intensity of contemplating the terrible darkness of night, your consciousness will take on the form of Bhairava.

Explanation from the Sri Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, drawn from the teachings of Swami Satyasangananda Saraswati

Piyush Mittal, Nirmala Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda