www.fgks.org   »   [go: up one dir, main page]
Jump to content

Makarasana: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
small reorg for Origins
No edit summary
 
(31 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Reclining posture in hatha yoga}}
[[File:Makarasana Asana (Crocodile Posture).jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Makarāsana, Crocodile Posture, used for relaxation]]
[[File:Makarasana Asana (Crocodile Posture).jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|''Makarāsana'', Crocodile posture, used for relaxation]]
'''Makarāsana''' ({{lang-sa|मकरासन}}) or '''Crocodile Pose''' is an [[asana]].<ref> {{cite web | url=http://www.yogapoint.com/info/makarasana.htm | title=Makarasana | publisher=Yoga Point | accessdate=2011-04-09}}</ref>
'''Makarasana''' ({{lang-sa|मकरासन}}) or '''Crocodile pose''' is a reclining ''[[asana]]'' in ''[[hatha yoga]]'' and modern [[yoga as exercise]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.yogapoint.com/info/makarasana.htm | title=Makarasana | publisher=Yoga Point | access-date=2011-04-09}}</ref>


== Etymology and origins ==
== Etymology and origins ==
⚫
[[File:Ganga Kalighat 1875.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Makara (Hindu mythology)|Makara]] as the [[Vahana]] (vehicle) of the river-goddess [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganga]]]]
{{IndicText}}


The name comes from the Sanskrit मकर ''makara'' meaning "crocodile"<ref name="Venkatkrishnan2008">{{cite book |last=Venkatkrishnan |first=Sri |title=Yoga For Stress Management |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TvwgBbVZtfAC&pg=PA99 |date=1 January 2008 |publisher=Peacock Books |isbn=978-81-248-0183-3 |pages=99–}}</ref> and आसन ''āsana'' meaning "posture" or "seat".<ref name="Sinha1996">{{cite book |last=Sinha |first=S. C. |title=Dictionary of Philosophy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-zzRvh1fRzEC&pg=PA18 |date=1996 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-7041-293-9 |page=18}}</ref>
The name comes from the Sanskrit मकर ''makara'' meaning "crocodile" or "monster",<ref name="Venkatkrishnan2008">{{cite book |last=Venkatkrishnan |first=Sri |title=Yoga For Stress Management |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TvwgBbVZtfAC&pg=PA99 |date=1 January 2008 |publisher=Peacock Books |isbn=978-81-248-0183-3 |pages=99–}}</ref> and आसन ''āsana'' meaning "posture" or "seat".<ref name="Sinha1996">{{cite book |last=Sinha |first=S. C. |title=Dictionary of Philosophy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-zzRvh1fRzEC&pg=PA18 |date=1996 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-7041-293-9 |page=18}}</ref>


Makarasana is described in the 17th-century ''[[Gheranda Samhita|Gheraṇḍa Saṁhitā]]'' (Chapter 2, Verse 40). It is described and illustrated in [[halftone]] in the 1905 ''[[Yogasopana Purvacatuska]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ghamande |first=Narayana |author-link=Yogasopana Purvacatuska |title=Yogasopana Purvacatuska |year=1905 |publisher=Janardan Mahadev Gurjar, Niranayasagar Press |location=Bombay |edition=1st |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.365613/page/n75/mode/2up |page=75<!--Hindi page 49 ४९-->}}</ref>
Makarāsana is described in the 17th-century ''[[Gheranda Samhita|Gheraṇḍa Saṁhitā]]'' (Chapter 2, Verse 40).


⚫
[[Makara (Hindu mythology)|Makara]] is commonly translated as [[crocodile]], but has also been assumed to be a sea-creature like a [[shark]] or [[dolphin]], and may have been a wholly [[mythical beast]]. In [[Hindu mythology]], it was the [[Vahana|animal vehicle]] of the sea-god [[Varuna]],<ref name="Anderson">{{cite web |last=Anderson |first=Sandra |title=Makarasana: The Crocodile Pose |url=https://yogainternational.com/article/view/makarasana-the-crocodile-pose |publisher=Yoga International |access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref> and of the river-goddess [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganga]].<ref name=Newell>{{cite web |last=Newell |first=Zo |title=The Mythology Behind Makarasana (Crocodile Pose) |url=https://yogainternational.com/article/view/the-mythology-behind-makarasana-crocodile-pose |publisher=Yoga International |access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref> A different myth in the ''[[Ramayana]]'' tells how [[Hanuman]], seeking to drink from a lake, is seized, pulled under, and swallowed by a crocodile. Hanuman changes shape to become so large that the crocodile bursts, leaving a beautiful [[apsara]] nymph named Dhyanamalini who reveals that she had been cursed to become the monster.<ref name=Newell/>
===Myth===


<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
⚫
[[Makara (Hindu mythology)|Makara]] is commonly translated [[crocodile]], but has also been assumed to be a sea-creature like a [[shark]] or [[dolphin]], and may have been a wholly [[mythical beast]]. In [[Hindu mythology]], it was the [[Vahana|animal vehicle]] of the sea-god [[Varuna]], <ref name="Anderson">{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Sandra |title=Makarasana: The Crocodile Pose |url=https://yogainternational.com/article/view/makarasana-the-crocodile-pose |publisher=Yoga International |accessdate=18 December 2018}}</ref> and of the river-goddess [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganga]].<ref name=Newell>{{cite web |last1=Newell |first1=Zo |title=The Mythology Behind Makarasana (Crocodile Pose) |url=https://yogainternational.com/article/view/the-mythology-behind-makarasana-crocodile-pose |publisher=Yoga International |accessdate=18 December 2018}}</ref>
⚫
File:Ganga Kalighat 1875.jpg|[[Makara (Hindu mythology)|Makara]] as the [[Vahana]] (vehicle) of the river-goddess [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganga]]

Makarasana in Yogasopana.jpg|Makarasana in ''[[Yogasopana Purvacatuska|Yogasopana]]'', 1905
A different myth in the ''[[Ramayana]]'' tells how [[Hanuman]], seeking to drink from a lake, is seized, pulled under, and swallowed by a crocodile. Hanuman changes shape to become so large that the crocodile bursts, leaving a beautiful [[apsara]] nymph named Dhyanamalini who reveals that she had been cursed to become the monster.<ref name=Newell/>
</gallery>


== Description ==
== Description ==


In ''[[Light on Yoga]]'', [[B. K. S. Iyengar]] notes that the ''Gheranda Samhita'' describes the pose as lying prone with both legs "stretched out"; the head is caught in the arms, and the pose is said to "increase bodily heat". Iyengar describes it as a variation of [[Salabhāsana]], locust pose and illustrates it as such, with the head and legs raised energetically, the fingers interlocked clasping the back of the head, and the elbows high off the ground.{{sfn|Iyengar|1979|pp=100-101}}
In ''[[Light on Yoga]]'', [[B. K. S. Iyengar]] notes that the ''Gheranda Samhita'' describes the pose as lying prone with both legs "stretched out"; the head is caught in the arms, and the pose is said to "increase bodily heat". Iyengar describes it as a variation of [[Salabhasana]], locust pose and illustrates it as such, with the head and legs raised energetically, the fingers interlocked clasping the back of the head, and the elbows high off the ground.{{sfn|Iyengar|1979|pp=100-101}}


Makarāsana is however often used as a relaxation asana, an alternative to the supine [[Savāsana]], and both head and legs are rested on the floor. Yoga International describes it as having the chest "slightly raised", and as "one of the best postures for working with diaphragmatic breathing".<ref name="Anderson"/>
Makarasana is however often used as a relaxation asana, an alternative to the supine [[Shavasana]], and both head and legs are rested on the floor. Yoga International describes it as having the chest "slightly raised", and as "one of the best postures for working with [[diaphragmatic breathing]]".<ref name="Anderson"/>


== See also ==
== See also ==


* [[Bhujangasana]], Cobra pose
* [[List of asanas]]


== References ==
== References ==
Line 31: Line 31:
== Sources ==
== Sources ==


* {{cite book | last=Iyengar | first=B. K. S. |authorlink=B. K. S. Iyengar | year=1979 | origyear=1966 | title=[[Light on Yoga|Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika]] | publisher=Unwin Paperbacks |ref=harv}}
* {{cite book |last=Iyengar |first=B. K. S. |author-link=B. K. S. Iyengar |year=1979 |orig-year=1966 |title=[[Light on Yoga|Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika]] |publisher=Unwin Paperbacks }}


{{Asana}}
{{Asana}}
{{Yoga as exercise}}
{{Hatha yoga}}


[[Category:Buddhist meditation]]
[[Category:Reclining asanas]]
[[Category:Asanas]]
[[Category:Medieval Hatha Yoga asanas]]

Latest revision as of 10:02, 11 April 2023

Makarāsana, Crocodile posture, used for relaxation

Makarasana (Sanskrit: मकरासन) or Crocodile pose is a reclining asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise.[1]

Etymology and origins[edit]

The name comes from the Sanskrit मकर makara meaning "crocodile" or "monster",[2] and आसन āsana meaning "posture" or "seat".[3]

Makarasana is described in the 17th-century Gheraṇḍa Saṁhitā (Chapter 2, Verse 40). It is described and illustrated in halftone in the 1905 Yogasopana Purvacatuska.[4]

Makara is commonly translated as crocodile, but has also been assumed to be a sea-creature like a shark or dolphin, and may have been a wholly mythical beast. In Hindu mythology, it was the animal vehicle of the sea-god Varuna,[5] and of the river-goddess Ganga.[6] A different myth in the Ramayana tells how Hanuman, seeking to drink from a lake, is seized, pulled under, and swallowed by a crocodile. Hanuman changes shape to become so large that the crocodile bursts, leaving a beautiful apsara nymph named Dhyanamalini who reveals that she had been cursed to become the monster.[6]

Description[edit]

In Light on Yoga, B. K. S. Iyengar notes that the Gheranda Samhita describes the pose as lying prone with both legs "stretched out"; the head is caught in the arms, and the pose is said to "increase bodily heat". Iyengar describes it as a variation of Salabhasana, locust pose and illustrates it as such, with the head and legs raised energetically, the fingers interlocked clasping the back of the head, and the elbows high off the ground.[7]

Makarasana is however often used as a relaxation asana, an alternative to the supine Shavasana, and both head and legs are rested on the floor. Yoga International describes it as having the chest "slightly raised", and as "one of the best postures for working with diaphragmatic breathing".[5]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Makarasana". Yoga Point. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
  2. ^ Venkatkrishnan, Sri (1 January 2008). Yoga For Stress Management. Peacock Books. pp. 99–. ISBN 978-81-248-0183-3.
  3. ^ Sinha, S. C. (1996). Dictionary of Philosophy. Anmol Publications. p. 18. ISBN 978-81-7041-293-9.
  4. ^ Ghamande, Narayana (1905). Yogasopana Purvacatuska (1st ed.). Bombay: Janardan Mahadev Gurjar, Niranayasagar Press. p. 75.
  5. ^ a b Anderson, Sandra. "Makarasana: The Crocodile Pose". Yoga International. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  6. ^ a b Newell, Zo. "The Mythology Behind Makarasana (Crocodile Pose)". Yoga International. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  7. ^ Iyengar 1979, pp. 100–101.

Sources[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Makarasana&oldid=1149294472"