4 Most Important Hatha Yoga Asanas

There are 15 main Asanas covered in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.  I decided to give these a separate blog post because there is so much to cover.  There are more solkas/verses for each pose and the meaning is complex and deep.  I can only scratch the surface.

These 4 Poses are saved for the last in the list of the HYP and are considered the most important. "Siddhasana(Perfect/Adept's Pose), Padmasana (Lotus Pose), Simhasana (Lion's Pose) and Bhadrasana(Gracious Pose), these are the four main asanas." (HYP 1.34).  See previous post for the first 11.  Follow this for the 4 Main Asanas. (more to come..)

1.

Siddhasana/SiddhaYoniasana 

Intro

Siddhasana has a few Slokas dedicated to it in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (HYP).  It is introduced in a section of the Four Main Asanas

1.34 Siddhasana, padmasana, simhasana and bhadrasana, these are the four main asanas. Always sit comfortably in siddhasana because it is the best.

How to

Original version in Hatha Yoga Pradipika (HYP):

1.35 Press the perineum with the heel of one foot, place the other foot on top of the genitals. Having done this, rest the chin on to the chest. Remaining still and steady, with the senses controlled, gaze steadily into the eyebrow center; it breaks open the door to liberation. This is called Siddhasana.

1.36 According to others, placing the heel above the penis and the other (heel) on top of that is Siddhasana.

1.37 This is called Siddhasana, others know it, as Vajrasana, some call it Muktasana and lastly it is called Guptasana.

Swami Muktibodhananda clarifies that Siddhasana is practiced by men. Women do SiddhaYoniasana. Here "the lower heel is pressed into the opening of the vagina and the upper heel rests against the clitoris."

More Details

There are many verses about Siddhasana being the greatest Asana. 

1.38 Just as moderate diet is the most important of the Yamas, and nonviolence, of the Niyamas, so the Siddhas know that Siddhasana is the most important of the Asanas.

1.39 Of all the eighty four Asanas, Siddhasana should always be practiced. It purifies the 72,000 Nadis.

1.40 The Yogi who meditates on the self or Atma, takes moderate and pure food and practices Siddhasana for twelve years, attains perfection or Siddhi.

1.41 When perfection is attainable through Siddhasana, what is the use of practicing many other Asanas? When the flow of Prana (the Life Force) is stabilized, the breath stops spontaneously (Kevala Kumbhaka) and a mindless state (Unmani) arises by itself.

1.42 Thus, through securing Siddhasana, the three Bandhas occur by themselves.

1.43 There is no asana like Siddhasana, no Kumbhaka (Breath Retention) like Kevala, no Mudra (Seal) like Khechari and no Laya (dissolution of mind) like Nada (the inner sound.)

There is so much to unpack here.  I will do separate posts to go over concepts such as Nadis, Atma, Prana, Kumbhaka, Mudras.  (Subscribe for updates).   

These verses convey Siddhasana is just what it says it is, the Perfect Pose.  However, in order to attain this Perfection the pose is done for 12 years and it is done along with meditation on the self/soul/Atma along with moderation/balanced diet with pure food.

The Story

"Siddhi" means "Perfection" or "Accomplishment."  There are many stories and lists of powers attained by Siddhis. 

"It is said the eight major siddhis and thirty minor siddhis are acquired." (Muktibodhananda p275)

3.8 Adinath said they are the bestowers of the eight divine powers. They are held in high esteem by all the siddhas and are difficult for even the gods to attain.

Swami Muktibodhananda comments "Perfection of asana and pranayama results in ‘minor’ siddhis or perfections, i.e. vitality, good health, mental/emotional equilibrium, clairaudience, etc. However, perfection of mudras and bandhas results in attainment of ‘major’ siddhis such as anima, mahima, garima, prapti, prakamya, vasitva, ishatva, which are described in Chapter 1."

Minor Siddhis Muktibodhananda mentions 4 out of 30 here are:

1. vitality, 
2. good health, 
3. mental/emotional equilibrium, 
4. clairaudience (power to hear sounds)

The Siddhis of the Yoga Sutras are:

The Yoga Sutras give the following enumeration of the Siddhis:—

1. anima — ability to become infinitely small like an atom
2. mahima — ability to become huge
3. laghima — ability to become very light
4. garima — ability to become very heavy
5. prāpti — ability to obtain anything desired
6. prakāmya — ability to become irresistible
7. īśita — ability to rule over others
8. vaśita — ability to completely subjugate and control others 2

The 8 Siddhis in the Samkaya School of Philosophy are:

1. adhyayana (study),
2. śabda (oral instruction),
3. ūha (proper reasoning),
4. suhṛtprāpti (discussion with friend),
5. dānā (purity),
6. ādhyātmika-duḥkhabighāta (cessation of sorrow caused one's ownself),
7. ādhibhautika-duḥkhabighāta (cessation of sorrow caused by human and sub-human beings),
8. ādhidaivika-duḥkhabighāta (cessation of sorrow caused by super-human beings).2

There are both simple and supernatural Siddhis.  The simple would be amazing and take years of practice to perfect/attain.  We shouldn't let the supernatural list put us off of practicing to accomplish the "simple" Siddhis.  And as the HYP states, they are available to us all. We just have to practice. 

1.64 Anyone who actively practices yoga, ... young, old, or even very old, sickly or weak, can become a siddha.

1. 65 Anyone who practices can acquire siddhis, but [not by being] lazy. Yoga siddhil are not obtained by merely reading textbooks.

1.66  Nor are they reached by wearing yoga garments or by conversation about yoga, but only through tireless practice. This is the secret of success. There is no doubt about it.4

Benefits

Swami Muktibodhananda mentions many benefits:

• Siddhasana is very important for stimulating ajna chakra andcontrolling nervous and pranic impulses from mooladhara and swadhisthana chakras. When ajna is awakened, the realm of pure consciousness is experienced. 
• It is beyond the effects of prakriti or nature and is, therefore, the door to liberation.
• Siddhasana prevents nervous depression from occurring duringmeditation, as it stops the blood pressure from falling too low, regulates the production of the male hormone testosterone, and helps maintain the inner body temperature. 
• It stabilizes the two lower psychic centers – mooladhara chakra and swadhisthana chakra, redirecting prana upwards towards the higher centers. 
• balances the alternating flows of ida and pingala nadis, thus activating sushumna.
• Also, meridians in the feet are stimulated and they are connected with the visceral organs, e.g. the stomach, gallbladder, liver, spleen, kidneys, etc. and all these organs have important roles to play in purifying the blood.

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

2. https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/siddhi

3. Siddhis and Benefits Achieved by Practice of Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga Dr. Saroj Kumar Sahu

4.Hatha Yoga Pradipika Introduction by B K S Iyengar Commentary by Hans Ulrich Rieker Translated by Elsy Becherer This edition published by The Aquarian Press 1992 13579108642 English translation © Herder and Herder, Inc., an imprint of Crossroad/Continuum, Inc. Illustrations by Stephen Sturgess

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2.

Padmasana

How to

Original version in Hatha Yoga Pradipika (HYP):

1.44 Place the right foot on the left thigh and the left foot on the right thigh, cross the hands behind the back and firmly hold the toes. Press the chin against the chest and look at the tip of the nose. This is called padmasana, the destroyer of a yogi’s diseases (the word translated into diseases is "yaminam" -- Yami is the goddess sister of the god  Death which also binds humanity to karma. She is connected to the Moon, night and restraints. She is the daughter of the Sun/Surya  and one of the sacred Rivers covered in previous posts, Yumana is connected to the Pingala Nadi)

1.45 Place the feet on the thighs, soles upward, palms in the middle of the groin, facing upward. 

1.46 Gaze at the nose tip, keeping the tongue pressed against the root of the upper teeth and the chin against the chest,and slowly raise the Prana (Apana Vayu) upward.

1.47 This is called Padmasana, destroyer of all diseases. (original is Idam (This) Padmasanam (Lotus Pose) Prkatam/proktam (Spoken of) Sarva(All Prevading) Vyadhi (Ailment, she is one of the daughters of the god Death, can also mean mental distress, pain, vat/pitta/kapha attacks)  Vinashanam (remove/destroys)

Ordinary people cannot achieve this posture, only the few wise ones on this earth can.

1.48 (Sitting in padmasana) keeping the palms one above the other, chin on the chest and concentrate the mind (chitta) on ( Brahama/ the Self)*. Repeatedly draw the vital air up from the anal region and bring the inhaled prana downwards. (Thus joining the two) one gets the highest knowledge by awakening the Shakti. 1 and 2

* 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)

[«previous (B) next»] — Bhava in Vaishnavism glossary  Source: Pure Bhakti: Jaiva-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)

[«previous (B) next»] — Bhava in Hinduism glossary Source: WikiPedia: 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

2.Hatha Yoga Pradipika Introduction by B K S Iyengar Commentary by Hans Ulrich Rieker Translated by Elsy Becherer This edition published by The Aquarian Press 1992 13579108642 English translation © Herder and Herder, Inc., an imprint of Crossroad/Continuum, Inc. Illustrations by Stephen Sturgess

3 https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bhava

4. https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/maruta

5. https://glorioushinduism.com/2017/08/11/maruts/

6. https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc241757.html

7. http://kriyayogasadhana.blogspot.com/2016/09/49-maruts-mentioned-by-sri-sri-yogiraj.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Kumaras

http://www.allabouthinduism.info/2013/03/06/brahma-creates/

https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vyadhi

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