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Yoga: The Source of Chitta, Vridhi, and Nirodhaha

By Venkata Sundaragiri | Published on July 8, 2025

Yoga serves as the primal source of understanding the mind's fluctuations (chitta), its growth and expansion (vridhi), and its restraint and control (nirodhaha). Through disciplined practice, one cultivates focus, expands awareness, and learns to settle the restless movements of thought.

Understanding Chitta

In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, chitta represents the totality of the mind - encompassing consciousness, intellect, and ego. It is the field where all mental activities arise, fluctuate, and subside. Understanding chitta is fundamental to the practice of yoga.

The Nature of Vridhi (Growth)

Vridhi refers to the expansion and growth of consciousness through yogic practice. As we deepen our understanding and experience, our awareness naturally expands beyond the limitations of ordinary perception.

Achieving Nirodhaha (Restraint)

Nirodhaha is the restraint or cessation of mental fluctuations. This is not suppression, but rather a natural settling of the mind into its source - pure consciousness. Through consistent practice, the mind learns to rest in its own nature.

Practical Applications

These principles can be applied in daily life through:

  • Regular meditation practice
  • Mindful awareness throughout the day
  • Conscious breathing techniques
  • Study of yogic texts and principles

The journey of yoga is ultimately about returning to our essential nature - pure consciousness, unbounded and free from the limitations of conditioned thinking.