Nāsikāgrā Drṣṭi

Nāsikāgrā Drṣṭi (नासिकाग्र दृष्टि) is a gaze technique (drṣṭi) in which the eyes are focused on the tip of the nose. It is one of the classical drṣṭis used in prāṇāyāma, dhyāna, and various yogic practices to direct concentration and activate the ajna (third eye) center.

Overview

Nāsikāgrā Drṣṭi — gazing at the tip of the nose — is prescribed in the Bhagavad Gītā (6.13) and in later classical yoga texts as one of the essential gaze techniques for meditation and prāṇāyāma. The tip of the nose is considered a point of convergence for the nāḍīs, and gazing at it is believed to activate the ajna chakra and facilitate the rising of kuṇḍalinī. The practice is commonly combined with nāḍī śodhana and other prāṇāyāma techniques.

Method

The practitioner sits in a meditative posture and, during prāṇāyāma or meditation, directs the gaze downward to the tip of the nose. The eyes are kept half-closed, not strained, and the gaze is maintained without tension. In nāḍī śodhana prāṇāyāma, the drṣṭi is typically applied during retention (kumbhaka). The practitioner should be able to maintain the gaze without discomfort.

Benefits and Purpose

Traditional texts claim Nāsikāgrā Drṣṭi:

• Activates the ajna (third eye) chakra
• Enhances concentration and mental focus
• Facilitates prāṇic movement through the central channel (suṣumnā)
• Is essential for advanced prāṇāyāma practice
• Calms the mind and reduces distractions

Verification Notes

• Nose-tip gazing prescribed in the Bhagavad Gītā (6.13); treated in later haṭha and yoga manuals.
• The practice is standard in various yoga lineages.
• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).