Svastikasana

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Svastikasana (Sanskrit: स्वस्तिकासन, IAST svastikāsana) is an ancient meditation asana in hatha yoga, sitting cross-legged.

In Sanskrit svastika means auspicious; it is also the name of an ancient Hindu symbol of good fortune.

Etymology and origins

The name comes from the Sanskrit words svastika (स्वस्तिक) meaning "auspicious" and āsana (आसन) meaning "posture" or "seat". The posture is described in the eighth century Pātañjalayogaśāstravivaraṇa and in the tenth century Vimānārcanākalpa, where it is a meditation seat.^[1]

Description

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, place the left toe on the right knee fold. Put your right foot on the left knee fold. This asana is always done in the same way for men and women, different from those that have polarity like Padmasana, Siddhasana and others.

Svastikasana is calm sitting with upright (upper) body. Stretch the legs forward. Bend the left leg in the way that you place the foot near the right thigh muscle. Bend, as it were, the right leg and "press" it into the space between the left thigh and calf muscles. So you will now find the two feet placed between thighs and calves of the legs.^[2]

Usage

Swastikasana, Sukhasana, Siddhasana and Padmasana are the asanas traditionally used for dhyana (meditation) and pranayama (breath) exercises.^[3]

References

^ Mallinson, James; Singleton, Mark (2017). Roots of Yoga. Penguin Books. pp. 97–98, 100–101. ISBN 978-0-241-25304-5. OCLC 928480104.
^ Sivananda, Swami. "Yoga Asanas".
^ Upadhyaya, Rajnikant; Sharma, Gopal (1 January 2006). Awake Kundalini. Lotus Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-81-8382-039-4.

Iyengar, B. K. S. (1 October 2005). Illustrated Light On Yoga. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-81-7223-606-9.
Saraswati, Swami Janakananda (1 February 1992). Yoga, Tantra and Meditation in Daily Life. Weiser Books. ISBN 978-0-87728-768-1.
Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (1 August 2003). Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha. Nesma Books India. ISBN 978-81-86336-14-4.
Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (January 2004). A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya. Nesma Books India. ISBN 978-81-85787-08-4.

[1] Mallinson, James; Singleton, Mark (2017). Roots of Yoga. Penguin Books. pp. 97–98, 100–101. ISBN 978-0-241-25304-5. OCLC 928480104.

[2] Sivananda, Swami. "Yoga Asanas".

[Sharma2006-3] Upadhyaya, Rajnikant; Sharma, Gopal (1 January 2006). Awake Kundalini. Lotus Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-81-8382-039-4.

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v t e Hatha yoga
Subtle body	Three bodies Five sheaths Chakra Nadi Sushumna Prana
Texts (Asanas)	Ancient meditation seats Darshana Upanishad, Pātañjalayogaśāstravivaraṇa, Goraksha Sataka Gomukhasana Muktasana Padmasana Siddhasana Simhasana Sopasrayasana Sukhasana Svastikasana Virasana Ancient non-meditation Ahirbudhnya Saṃhitā, Pātañjalayogaśāstravivaraṇa Dandasana Kurmasana c. 7th C. Ahirbudhnya Samhita Kukkutasana c. 10th C. Vimanarcanakalpa Mayurasana c. 11th C. Amritasiddhi, Hemachandra's Yogashastra Muktasana Shirshasana 12th C. Amaraugha 13th C. Dattatreya Yoga Shastra, Goraksha Shataka, Vasishtha Samhita, Vivekamārtaṇḍa Viparita Karani 14th C. Khecarīvidyā, Shiva Samhita, Sharngadhara-paddhati, Yogabīja, Yogatārāvalī Gorakshasana Paschimottanasana 15th C. Hatha Yoga Pradipika Baddha Konasana Dhanurasana Matsyendrasana Utkatasana 17th C. Gheranda Samhita, Hatha Ratnavali, Yogacintamani, Bahr al-Hayāt Bakasana Bhujangasana Kakasana Kraunchasana Makarasana Mandukasana Matsyasana Vajrasana Vrikshasana 18th C. Hathabhyasa-paddhati, Joga Pradipika Adho Mukha Vrikshasana 19th C. Sritattvanidhi Akarna Dhanurasana Bhairavasana Durvasasana Garudasana Halasana Navasana Pashasana Setu Bandha Sarvangasana Tittibhasana Urdhva Dhanurasana Late 1905 Yogasopana Purvacatuska 1943 Hatha Yoga: The Report of A Personal Experience
Mudras	Mahamudra Maha Bandha Jalandhara Bandha Mula Bandha Uddiyana Bandha Viparita Karani Khechari mudra Vajroli mudra
Shatkarmas	Dhauti Basti Kapalabhati Nauli Neti Trataka
Pranayama	Anuloma Bhastrika Bhramari Kumbhaka Ujjayi
Related	Modern yoga Nath Roots of Yoga Yoga Yoga as exercise Yoga using props Category:Medieval Hatha Yoga asanas

Svastikasana

Etymology and origins

Description

Usage

See also

References

Further reading