* Since, there are different translation on what the object of concentration is. I looked up the original Sanskrit. It is Prabhavannarah- which means Source, Origin, Creator. Here again, we have Bhava. See post on Savasana which also has directions to meditate on Bhava as I researched and translated it I feel more directly than other translations I am finding.
We will explore three things here, Bhava, Maruta, and the story of Padma (the Lotus)
The Stories
I'll start with the name of the pose, Padma -- The Lotus Flower and then cover two other important concepts, Bhava and Maruta.
The Lotus
While Vishnu was dreaming of creation a Lotus Flower bloomed from his navel. Brahma was born from the lotus flower. Brahma then created the world seated on the Lotus Flower. He created 4 sons to help him but the didn't is the short story. The fifth which is significant here was Rudra(Crying). He was created from Brahmas brow when he was angry no one was helping him create the universe. He decided to put Rudra in all things, all the elements Hatha Yoga seeks to balance. Later, we find out this pose helps one inhale and retain (Maruta -No crying). He also created Saraswati.
Saraswati, who we saw connected to other poses in HYP, the river/Nadi goddess, is also depicted as seated on the flower of lotus. Other gods and goddesses are associated with the Lotus Flower.
I first learned about the symbolism on the Lotus studying Buddhism. The Lotus is a beautiful flower which emerges out of the mud and is not effected by the mud and muck. I leaned that the Lotus symbolizes this ability to rise above it all like the Lotus flower.
The chakras are depicted as Lotus flowers with symbolic numbers of petals.
The Crown chakra is the highest chakra and is a 1000 petal Lotus. 1000 symbolizes infinity and enlightenment.
Bhava -- Here are some notes from the Wisdom Library on Bhava.
"Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Bhāva (भाव) or Bhāvatattva is the preliminary condition which heralds the stage of perfection (siddha-avasthā). The characteristic feature of bhāva is that it is situated in unalloyed goodness (śuddha-sattva-viśeṣa-rūpa-tattva). It can be compared to a tiny ray of the prema sun. The constitutional characteristic (svarūpa-lakṣaṇa) of bhāva is that it is situated in unalloyed goodness (viśuddha-sattva).
Bhāva is also known by the name rati, and is sometimes called a sprout of Prema (premāṅkura). If prema is compared to the sun, bhāva can be compared to a ray (kiraṇa) of the sun. The constitutional nature (svarūpa) of bhāva is that it is a ray of the sun of prema, and its unique characteristic (viśeṣatā) is that it purifies the heart of the jīva and thus causes the heart to become softened or melted (masṛṇa).
There are eight sthāyībhāvas, thirty-three sañcārī-bhāvas, and eight sāttvika-bhāvas, making a total of forty-nine bhāvas. If these bhāvas are mundane (prākṛta), they are full of the happiness and distress that arises from the three material qualities; and if they are manifest in relation to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, they are transcendental (aprākṛta), and consist of full-blown ānanda, beyond the three material qualities. "
"General definition (in Hinduism)
The term "bhāva" ('status of being, a subjective becoming, states of mind', from भू bhū, 'to become') is often translated as 'feeling, emotion, mood, devotional state of mind'. In Buddhist thought, bhāva denotes the continuity of life and death, including reincarnation, and the maturation arising therefrom. In the bhakti traditions, bhāva denotes the mood of ecstasy, self-surrender, and channelling of emotional energies that is induced by the maturation of devotion to one's ishtadeva (object of devotion)."
1.49 The yogi who, seated in padmasana, inhales through the entrances of the nadis and fills them with maruta or vital air gains liberation; there is no doubt about it.
Maruta -- Here are some notes on Maruta
Swami Muktibodhananda says, "the maruta represent the forty nine essential faculties or powers of the mind"
Maruta is also considered one of the 49 vayus or winds or the Wind god. They are the 49 sons of the goddess Diti and the god Indra. "Mud Ra" means don't cry. Indra said this to the49 babies he had divided up from one baby in Diti's womb. 5 and 6
"The Marutas are really fierce and strong. They wear golden armor and are armed with golden weapons such as war-axes. They are capable of destroying mountains and forests. They have iron teeth and roar like lions. The Maruts ride in golden chariots drawn by huge horses."5
Maruta is an "agent of change, their power to transform is real, .. they shake off limits and vigorously tear down obstacles; ... they help instantly, ... they are protectors... they are purifying,...invigorating, strengthening, ... an all pervading life force,.. they also give extensive mental energy, ... [they make] the mind undisturbed by external or bodily stimuli,..."
You really have to read up on this yourself in On the Meaning of Hymns to Maruts in Rigveda
By Dmitri Semenov · 2020 (p13-25). The list is incredible and inspirational.
If sitting in Padmasana we fill our our Nadis/Energy Channels with Maruta that is so much vital air. The Maruta is closely connected to liberation as it is about transformation and a change agent. This is very deep. Remember the Brahma created from the Lotus creating Rudra/ Crying in all creation -- now, sitting in Lotus Pose there is the opportunity to inhale Ma-Ruda -- No Crying and transform.
The Benefits
Swami Muktibodhananda list several benefits which are worth reading yourself. Here is list of some but he goes into more detail :
- Padmasana specifically balances prana, and siddhasana maintains blood pressure and balances both the pranic and mental forces.
- Padmasana is the ‘destroyer of disease.’
- It brings about changes in the metabolic structure and brain patterns and this helps create balance in the whole system.
- Like siddhasana, it also presses and stimulates the acupuncture meridians of the stomach, gallbladder, spleen, kidneys and liver.
- Padmasana tones the sacral and coccygeal nerves by supplying them with an increased flow of blood.
- Blood flow to the legs is decreased and directed to the abdominal region. This is helpful for people with emotional and nervous disorders. However, people with sciatica or sacral infections should not do padmasana until the problem is alleviated.
- By practicing padmasana in the described manner and reversing the natural flow of prana and apana, the potential force in the pranic system and the higher faculties of the mind are awakened.
- When a practitioner establishes[one's]self in padmasana and reverses the pranic process, the consciousness is liberated from individual experience and existence.
- To absorb maruta is to withdraw the extroverted energy of the body and senses into the nadis.
It is interesting to note the in the next pose Lion's Pose Swami Muktibodhananda points out that it works on introverted energy.
1. Hatha Yoga Pradipika Light on Hatha Yoga Including the original Sanskrit text of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika with translation in English Commentary by Swami Muktibodhananda Under the Guidance of Swami Satyananda Saraswati Yoga Publications Trust, Munger, Bihar, India © Bihar School of Yoga 1985, 1993, 1998
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