SVASTIKASANA, SIDDHASANA, PADMASANA (MEDITATION)

 

                                        SVASTIKASANA

                                     (AUSPICIOUS POSE )

                      IN ANCIENT TIMES, THE SVASTIKA WAS A SYMBOL OF DIVINE BLESSINGS. IN THIS POSTURE, THE HEELS AND ANKLE  BONES ARE NOT ALIGNED. BEND  THE LEFT LEG AT THE KNEE AND PLACE THE SOLE OF TOP OF THE LEFT CALF, AND PUT THE OUTER EDGE OF THE FOOT AND THE TOES BETWEEN THE THIGH AND CALF MUSCLES. THE BIG TOE SHOULD BE VISIBLE. PULL THE TOES OF THE LEFT FOOT BETWEEN THE RIGHT THIGH AND CALF SO THAT THE BIG TOE IS VISIBLE. PLACE THE HANDS ON THE CORRESPONDING KNEES, JOINING THE FINGERS IN THE FINGER LOCK.

                                         SIDDHASANA

                              (ACCOMPLISHED POSE)

                  A FAVORITE OF YOGIS, SIDDHASANA IS CALLED THE ACCOMPLISHED POSTURE, OR THE POSTURE OF ADEPTS. IN IT ADVANCED YOGIS MEDITATE FOR HOURS AND HOURS AT A TIME OR PRACTICE ADVANCED PRANAYAMA TECHNIQUE. PLACE THE LEFT HEEL AT THE PERINEUM AND THE RIGHT HEEL AT THE PUBLIC BONE ABOVE THE ORGAN OF GENEARATION. ARRANGE THE FEET AND LEGS SO THAT THE ANKLES ARE IN ONE LINE OR TOUCH ONE ANOTHER. PLACE THE TOES OF THE RIGHT FOOT BETWEEN THE LEFT THIGH AND CALF SO THAT ONLY THE BIG TOE IS VISIBLE. PULL THE TOES OF THE LEFT FOOT UP BETWEEN THE RIGHT THIGH AND CALF SO THE BIG TOE IS VISIBLE. THIS IS THE FINEST OF ALL POSTURE, BUT IT COULD BE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ADVANCED.

                              PADMASANA (LOTUS POSE)

                   PADMA MEANS "LOTUS". IT IS A SYMBOL OF YOGA BECAUSE JUST AS THE LOTUS GROWS IN THE WATER BUT KEEPS ITS PETALS UNTOUCHED BY THE WATER, SO DOES THE YOGI LIVE IN THE WORLD AND YET REMAIN ABOVE. IMMENSE BENEFITS ARE DERIVED FROM THIS POSTURE. TO DO IT YOU SHOULD TAKE YOUR PLACE FIRMLY ON A CUSHION (OR A FOURFOLDED BLANKET OR A PILLOW) BEND THE LEFT LEG AT THE KNEE JOINT, TURN UP THE SOLE AND PLACE THE FOOT FIRMLY AT THE RIGHT GROIN. SIMILARLY, FOLD THE RIGHT LEG, TURNING UP THE SOLE AND PLACING IT FIRMLY AT THE LEFT GROIN. BOTH HEELS SHOULD PRESS FIRMLY AT THE LEFT GROIN. BOTH HEELS SHOULD PRESS FIRMLY AGAINST THE ABDOMINAL WALL. PLACE THE HANDS ON THE CORRESPONDING KNEES AND ASSUME JNANA MUDRA ( THE FINGER LOCK). APPLYING BANDHAS LOCKS IN THIS POSTURE IS COMPLICATED, AND WITHOUT EXPERT GUIDANCE THEY SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED. APPLYING BANDHAS IN PADMASANA FOR A LONG TIME DEFINITELY DISTURBS THE INTESTINAL MOVEMENT AND CREATES GASTRIC PROBLEMS. AS AN EXERCISE, HOWEVER, IT IS ONE OF THE FINEST FOR THE ABDOMINAL MUSCLES.

                       MAITRI ASANA (FRIENDSHIP POSE)

                   FOR A MODERN MAN IS IT SOMETIMES MORE CONVENIENT TO SIT ON A STRAIGHT-BACKED WOODEN CHAIR, KEEPING THE HEAD, NECK, AND TRUNK STRAIGHT AND PLACING THE HANDS ON THE KNEES. THE LEGS SHOULD NOT BE CROSSED BUT FIRMLY PLACED ON THE GROUND BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES DESCRIBE THIS POSTURE.