Which place of "Dhyan" is in "Astang Yoga"?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (3):
Dhyana, which translates to meditation, holds the **seventh** position in Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga, the revered eight-limbed path to self-realization. It is categorized as one of the three internal limbs, or *Antaranga Yoga*, which follow the initial five external practices. Dhyana is defined as a state of 'steady and continuous flow of attention' where the concentration established in the preceding limb, Dharana, becomes unbroken and effortless. The practitioner moves from simply focusing the mind on an object to being fully and completely absorbed in it, a crucial precursor to achieving the final state of Samadhi.

The incorrect option is (1):
The fifth limb of Ashtanga Yoga is **Pratyahara**, which means the withdrawal of the senses. Pratyahara is the practice of turning the attention inward, detaching the mind from external objects and disturbances. It serves as the bridge between the external limbs (Yamas, Niyamas, Asana, Pranayama) and the internal limbs of concentration and meditation. This mastery over the senses is a necessary step that must be accomplished before the mind can sustain the deep concentration required for Dhyana. Therefore, Dhyana is not the fifth, but rather the two stages beyond it.

The incorrect option is (2):
The **eighth** and final limb of Ashtanga Yoga is **Samadhi**, which is the state of bliss, absorption, or enlightenment. Samadhi is considered the culmination of the entire practice, achieved after the successful mastery of Dhyana. In Samadhi, the yogi experiences a profound state of union where the sense of the self, the process of meditation, and the object of meditation merge into a singular, non-dual consciousness. Since Dhyana is the practice that directly leads into Samadhi, it is the one-before-last stage, not the final eighth stage.

The incorrect option is (4):
The **fourth** limb in the sequence of Ashtanga Yoga is **Pranayama**, which relates to the control of the breath or life force (*prana*). Pranayama encompasses various breathing techniques used to regulate the flow of energy in the body and calm the nervous system. While Pranayama is a critical practice for preparing the body and mind for the higher limbs, it is classified much earlier in the eight-limbed path. It precedes the fifth limb (Pratyahara), the sixth limb (Dharana), and the seventh limb, which is Dhyana itself.