Shalabhasana, Shalabha-asana, Śalabhāsana: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Shalabhasana 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.

The Sanskrit term Śalabhāsana can be transliterated into English as Salabhasana or Shalabhasana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Yoga (school of philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Shalabhasana in Yoga glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Yoga

Śalabhāsana (शलभासन, “locust posture”) is a Sanskrit word referring to a type of posture (āsana) used in Yoga. It is composed of the words śalabha (locust, a grass-hopper) and āsana (posture)

Source: archive.org: Gheranda Samhita

Śalabhāsana (शलभासन) is one of the thirty-two āsanas (postures) taught in the second chapter of the Gheraṇḍasaṃhitā: “Lie prone pressing the ground with the palms placed on either side of the chest and raise legs together nine inches high in the air. This is called Śalabhāsana by eminent sages”.

Śalabhāsana 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 śalabha-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 book cover
context information

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).

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