Siddhasana
Siddhasana (
Siddhasana is one of the oldest asanas. It is described as a
Etymology
The name comes from the Sanskrit words siddha (सिद्ध) meaning both "perfect" and "adept",[2] and asana (आसन) meaning "posture" or "seat".[3] The name Muktasana comes from मुक्त mukta meaning "liberation".[4][5] Ann Swanson writes that the pose is called accomplished as it was the goal of all other asanas to ready the body to sit in meditation in this way.[6]
The name Svastikasana is from the Sanskrit
History
Medieval
Siddhasana is one of the oldest asanas, being described as a
The 15th century Hatha Yoga Pradipika 1.37–45 praises the asana, implying it is the only one that practitioners would need, asking "When Siddhasana is mastered, of what use are the various other postures?"[8] It describes Siddhasana as "the opener of the door of salvation" and "the chief of all asanas", explaining that this is because the posture "cleanses the impurities of 72,000 nadis", channels of the subtle body.[9]
The 17th century Gheranda Samhita 2.7 states in terms similar to the earlier texts that "the practitioner who has subdued his passions, having placed one heel at the anal aperture should keep the other heel on the root of the generative organ; afterwards he should rest his chin upon the chest, and being quiet and straight, gaze at the spot between the two eyebrows. This is called the Siddhasana which leads to emancipation".[9]
Modern
Siddhasana is traditionally used for
In his 1966 book
Description
From a seated position, one heel is brought to press on the perineum with the sole of the foot flat against the inner thigh. The body sits on top of this heel. Adjustments are made until the body is comfortable and the pressure is firmly applied. Then the opposite ankle is placed over the first, so the ankle bones are touching and the heels are above one another with the top heel pressing the pubis directly above the genitals. The genitals will then lie in between the two heels. The toes and outer edge of the top foot are pushed down into the space between the calf and thigh muscles. The toes of the bottom foot are pulled up into the similar space on the opposite side. The spine is held erect. A small meditation cushion or zafu is sometimes used to help align the back vertically.[13] The same pose for women is sometimes called Siddha Yoni Asana.[14]
Variations
Muktasana, Liberation Pose, is either exactly the same as Siddhasana, as stated in the 15th century Hatha Yoga Pradipika, or a variant with the feet close in to the perineum but resting on the ground, that is, left foot touches the perineum, and the right foot is close to the left foot, but resting on the ground.[5] This variant is sometimes called Ardha Siddhasana (Sanskrit अर्ध ardha, half), and is found to be much easier for beginners.[15] Both variants are sometimes called Burmese position when used for meditation.[16][17]
Svastikasana has each foot tucked as snugly as possible into the fold of the opposite knee.[18]
See also
References
- ^ "Witold Fitz-Simon - Siddhasana (Accomplished Pose)". Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-470-50202-0.
- ISBN 978-81-7041-293-9.
- ^ "Pavana Muktasana". The Yoga Tutor. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Muktasana". Yogapedia. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ OCLC 1030608283.
- OCLC 928480104.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-59030-883-7.
- ^ OCLC 230987898.
- ^ a b Iyengar, B. K. S. (1979) [1966]. Light on Yoga. Thorsons. pp. 116–120.
- ISBN 978-81-8382-039-4.
- OCLC 243544645.
- ISBN 978-81-86336-14-4.
- ^ Swami Satyananda Saraswati (1996). Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha (PDF). Yoga Publications Trust. p. 102.
- ISBN 978-1-57731-986-3.
- ISBN 978-1623154981.
- ISBN 978-0834822429.
- Sivananda, Swami. Yoga Asanas. ASIN 8170520088.