vrittis

Vrittis, or vṛttis, in classical yoga philosophy, are the fluctuations or modifications of the mind-stuff (citta) that color perception and awareness. The most famous sutra states that yoga is the cessation of these fluctuations (yogas chitta vritti nirodha), through which the true self can be perceived without distortion. In Patanjali’s framework, the five main vrittis are pramana (correct knowledge), viparyaya (false knowledge), vikalpa (imagination or false-cognition), nidra (deep sleep), and smriti (memory). These processes can veil the purusha, leading to ignorance rather than direct experience.

Practices in yoga aim to observe and restrain vrittis through abhyasa (practice) and vairagya (detachment). Over time, sustained discipline quiets the fluctuations, revealing a more stable awareness or purusha. The concept has influenced various schools of Indian philosophy and is used to analyze how perception is conditioned by prior cognition, language, memory, and states of consciousness.

In modern yoga discourse, vrittis are sometimes described more generally as mental activities that shape experience, with meditation and mindful attention employed to reduce their disruptive influence. The term remains a foundational concept for understanding how yogic methods address the flow of thoughts and the pursuit of steady awareness.