Dhanurasana, Dhanus-asana, Dhanurāsana: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Dhanurasana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: YogaDhanurāsana (धनुरासन, “bow posture”) is a Sanskrit word referring to a type of posture (āsana) used in Yoga. It is composed of the words dhanus (bow) and āsana (posture)
Source: Google Books: The Hatha Yoga PradipikaDhanurāsana (धनुरासन) is the name of an āsana (posture), according to Haṭhayogapradīpikā I.27.—Accordingly, “Having caught the toes of the feet with both the hands and carried them to the ears by drawing the body like a bow, it becomes dhanurāsana”.
The 15th-century Haṭhayogapradīpikā by Svātmārāma is one of the oldest extant texts dealing with haṭhayoga: an ancient form of meditation founded by Matsyendranātha. The first chapter of this book describes various āsanas (e.g., dhanur-āsana).
Source: archive.org: Yoga Tradition of the Mysore PalaceDhanurāsana (धनुरासन) is a type of posture (āsana), according to verse 109 of the Śrītattvanidhi.—Accordingly, “Take the tips of the toes with the two hands and touch the ears with the toes. This is dhanurāsana, the bow”.
The 19th-century Śrītattvanidhi is a sanskrit treatise describing 80 primary āsanas, or ‘posture’ and several additional ones (e.g., dhanus-āsana).
The dhanurāsana in Iyengar is different from this. The closest one to this form is ākarṇadhanurāsana.
Source: archive.org: Gheranda SamhitaDhanurāsana (धनुरासन) is one of the thirty-two āsanas (postures) taught in the second chapter of the Gheraṇḍasaṃhitā: “Stretching the legs on the ground like a stick (lying prostrate) and catching hold of the toes with the hands and curving the body like a bow is called Dhanurāsana”.
Dhanurāsana is one of the selected 32 postures amongs 8,400,000 total mentioned by Śiva, according to Gheraṇḍasaṃhitā 2.1-2, “In all, there are as many Āsanas as species of animals. Eighty-four lacs of them are mentioned by Śiva. Out of them, 84 are regarded as important and among these 84, again 32 are good (enough) in this world of mortal beings”.
The 17th-century Gheraṇḍasaṃhitā (mentioning dhanus-āsana) is one of the three classic texts of Haṭha-yoga: a major branch of Yoga, sharing similarities with the Yoga system taught by Patañjali, though claiming its own mythical founder known as Matsyendranātha. This gheraṇḍa-saṃhitā is an encyclopedic Sanskrit treatise describing thirty two such āsanas.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryDhanurāsana (धनुरासन):—[=dhanur-āsana] [from dhanur > dhanu] n. a [particular] mode of sitting, [Catalogue(s)]
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusDhanurāsana (ಧನುರಾಸನ):—[noun] a bending of the body in the shape of a bow, as a yogic exercise.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Dhanus, Asana.
Ends with: Akarnadhanurasana, Ardhadhanurasana, Ekapadordhvadhanurasana, Padangushthadhanurasana, Parshvadhanurasana, Urdhvadhanurasana.
Full-text: Nyubjasana, Padahastasamyogasana, Paryankasana, Asana.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Dhanurasana, Dhanur-āsana, Dhanur-asana, Dhanurāsana, Dhanus-asana, Dhanus-āsana, Dhanusasana; (plurals include: Dhanurasanas, āsanas, asanas, Dhanurāsanas, Dhanusasanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Varahi Tantra (English Study) (by Roberta Pamio)
Chapter 26 - Haṭhayoga (according to the Haṭhayogapradīpikā) < [Summary of the Vārāhī Tantra]
Yoga-sutras (with Bhoja’s Rajamartanda) (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Sūtra 2.46 < [Second Chapter (Sadhana Pada)]
Reviews < [October - December 1977]