History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c94.242

v7.c94.242

Āsanas are of two kinds, one type being helpful for prāṇāyāma, meditation and concentration, such as Padma, Siddha and Svastika (figure 20 p. 59 in Śrī Kuvalayānanda's handbook on 'Āsaṇas'). The other kind of āsanas are helpful in eradicating diseases and for physical culture. But most of them require different physical movements and the final form assumed by these postures would make deep meditation difficult, if not impossible (vide Śīrṣāsana figures 24-27 between pp. 62-63 of Śrī Kuvalayānanda's 'handbook on Āsanas), Sarvāṅgāsana (figures 33-36) of the same work, Halāsana (fig. 42-47 of the same), Viparītakaraṇī (figures 77-78 pp. 121-123), Mayūrāsana (figure 72 p. 109). The Tejobindu Upaniṣad I 23 (Adyar ed)²³⁴⁹ holds 'that alone is (proper) āsana which makes continuous meditation on brahma possible; other postures only lead to discomfort' It should not be supposed that one who seeks higher yogic disciplines must devote some time to āsanas and then pass on to the next stage. The āsanas are primarily meant for physical culture and eradication of diseases. If the individual yogin possesses a tolerably sound body he may proceed with prāṇāyāma and other aṅgas. Besides the postures, the practitioner of Yoga is asked to gaze steadily at the tip of his nose (Gītā VI. 13).