Ardha Candrāsana
Ardha Candrāsana (Sanskrit: अर्धचन्द्रासन) or Half Moon Pose[1] is an asana.[2]
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[edit] Etymology
The name comes from the Sanskrit words Ardha meaning "half", Candra or Chandra (चन्द्र) meaning "moon" or "luminous, as in the light from the moon", and Asana (आसन, Āsana) meaning "posture" or "seat".[3]
[edit] Benefits
The moon is symbolic in yoga mythology. Hatha, as in hatha yoga, is sometimes taken to mean sun and moon from the syllables "ha" and "tha" representing solar and lunar energies. Yoga means "yoke", so hatha yoga is a binding or yoking together of solar and lunar energies. Chandra is also the golden moon god known as Soma. Soma is the elixir of immortality drunk by the gods. So in doing the posture Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose), one tunes into the unconscious energy of the moon which changes by waxing and waning.
[edit] Variations
Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana (Revolved Half Moon Pose),[4] parivrtta (परिवृत्त) meaning "revolved" or "twisted".
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Ardha Chandrasana". http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/Standing%20Poses/archand/archand.html. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
- ^ McGilvery, Carole; Mehta, Mira (2002). The encyclopedia of aromatherapy, massage and yoga. Hermes House. p. 247. ISBN 9781843091295. http://books.google.com/books?id=30L5rd7eprUC. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- ^ Sinha, S.C. (1 June 1996). Dictionary of Philosophy. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD.. p. 18. ISBN 9788170412939. http://books.google.com/books?id=-zzRvh1fRzEC&pg=PA18. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- ^ "Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana (Revolved Half Moon Pose)". http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/Standing%20Poses/parchand/parchand.html. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
[edit] Further reading
- Iyengar, B. K. S. (1 October 2005). Illustrated Light On Yoga. HarperCollins. ISBN 9788172236069. http://books.google.com/books?id=pbx5AAAACAAJ. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (1 August 2003). Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha. Nesma Books India. ISBN 9788186336144. http://books.google.com/books?id=YpR1QgAACAAJ. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (January 2004). A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya. Nesma Books India. ISBN 9788185787084. http://books.google.com/books?id=eWOrAAAACAAJ. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
[edit] External links
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