Yogashikha Upanishad (critical study)

by Sujatarani Giri | 2015 | 72,044 words

This page relates ‘Asana (Posture)’ of the English study on the Yogashikha Upanishad—a key text from the Krishna Yajurveda, focusing on the pinnacle of Yogic meditation. This essay presents Yoga as a crucial component of ancient Indian philosophy and spirituality and underscores its historical roots in Vedic literature—particularly the Upanishads and Vedant. The chapters of this study are devoted to the faculties of the mind and internal body mechanisms such as Chakras as well as the awakening of Kundalini.

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Part 4.3 - Āsana (Posture)

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[Full title: Eight Steps of Yoga (3) Āsana or Posture]

The word āsana means something on which one sits i.e. seat on something made of cloth, grass, wool or animal (deer in particular) skin etc. it also means a particular posture or mode of body in which one is supposed to do Yoga practice.

Maharṣi Patañjali says–

A posture which is both steady and comfortable is āsana. It can also mean a posture which is comfortable continuously and not off and on.^[1]

The Tejovindu Upaniṣad also defines it in the latter sense. It says:

A posture in which one can contemplate on the Brahma without break and comfortably is āsana. Anything which destroys comfort is something else and not āsana.^[2]

The Triśikhi Brāhmaṇa Upaniṣad however, strikes an altogether different note, not when it says–

“An attitude of indifference in all things is the best āsana.”^[3]

What is the contribution of āsana in the Yoga effort? It should be obvious to anybody that in order to succeed, the primary thing one should ensure is a healthy body. Something applies to the yogīc effort also. It is therefore, only right that something which keeps the body healthy should be an integral part of the Yoga process.

And therefore, the Gorakṣa Paddhati says:

“Yoga destroys disease through āsana”.^[4]

The Yoga Cuḍāmaṇi Upaniṣad also says the same thing.^[5]

The Haṭhayoga Pradipikā says:–

“One should, therefore, perform āsana in order to achieve stability (firmness) sound health and lightness of limbs”.^[6]

Elsewhere the Haṭhayoga Pradipikā also observes that along with prāṇāyāma and mudrās, the āsana also helps in the flow of breath through the middle vein viz suṣumnā which lies in between the two other veins i.e. iḍā and piṅgalā.^[7]

The number of āsanas:

Theoretically the number of āsanas is countless. As the Gorakṣapaddhati says there are as many āsanas as there are creatures in the world. Only Maheśvara knows their differentiation in entirely. It is believed that there are eighty four lacs (ten lacs is equal to one million) species of living creatures and as such there should be as many āsanas.^[8]

The Dhyānavindu Upaniṣad also says the same thing.^[9] The Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā further says-out of the eightyfour lacs āsanas eighty-four āsanas are special, and even out of these eighty four thirty two have found to be particularly useful amongst the mortals.^[10] As to the number eighty four, Śiva Saṃhitā, Haṭhayoga-pradipikā also agree.^[11] Vyāsa has selected twelve postures, ten of which are sitting postures, one standing and one reclining posture.^[12]