Many Westerners who practice yoga today are unaware that the physical positions assumed in yoga symbolize a spiritual act: worshiping one of the many Hindu gods (aka demons). To a Hindu, yoga is the outward physical expression of a deep spiritual belief. You cannot separate one from the other. Yoga is Hindu prayer.
EXAMPLES:
Hanumanasana
Otherwise known as ‘the splits’; this is one posture that really does require dedication and the patience of a saint to master. The monkey god Hanuman represents devotion, selfless service, dedication, and power. The physical posture represents his ability to leap great distances, depicted in the battle between Rama and Ravana in the Ramayana when he leapt from India to Lanka in order to comfort Sita. Hanuman was so loyal towards Rama, that when offered a reward for his bravery and dedication to Rama and Sita, he asked only to be able to continue to serve them.
Natarajasana
The cosmic dancing form of Shiva is a representation of the deity in one of his most well-known forms. Nata means ‘dancer’, and Raja means ‘royal’ or ‘king’, so you’ll often hear this asana referred to as ‘king of the dancers’ too. Shiva is pictured in many forms, and this particular form represents the dance of the universe, the fluctuating, changing, ups and downs, and whirlings of life. One of the most widely used forms of expression and cultural celebration is dance, and with this cosmic dance, Shiva symbolises the dynamism of life, and the rhythm and cycles of nature. As in life, whilst the external posture may be full of movement and much wobbling when we practise, it requires a still, calm mind in order to stay balanced.
Virabhadrasana
The powerful warrior pose is indeed a representation of power and strength, however, this warrior is much more dedicated to peace than war. The word Vira is the Sanskrit word for ‘hero’, and bhadra means ‘friend’. In this sense, the warrior is all about protection and is someone to call upon in times of need.
There are many Yogic tales which include battles, and the story of the warrior is followed throughout the Bhagavad Gita. Virabhadra is said to have been created from a lock of Shiva’s hair that he tore out in grief when his wife Parvati died, and so he carries with him Shiva’s power – and quite possibly his fiery temper too!
Vasisthasana
A revered and influential sage in Hinduism, Vasistha is one of the seven great Rishis, and is known to have written part of the sacred text, the Rig Veda. Vasistha translates as ‘richest’, ‘most excellent’, ‘wealthy’, or ‘best’, and the posture (also known as ‘side-plank’ in English) certainly requires an excellent sense of strength and balance.
Matsyendrasana
The seated spinal twist – often referred to as ‘Ardha Matsyendrasana’, is a representation of Matsyendra, translated as ‘Lord of the Fish’. As opposed to many other saints and sages, this posture is named after a real man who was born around the 10th Century CE, who is revered by Buddhists in Nepal, who consider him to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the boddhisatva of compassion. As legend has it, Matsyenrdra was born under inauspicious circumstances and was therefore thrown into the ocean, unwanted. After being swallowed by a giant fish, the fish travelled down to the bottom of the ocean, where Shiva was busy revealing the mysteries of Yoga to his wife Parvati in their hideaway under the sea. After staying in the belly of the fish for 2 years, he emerged full of the wisdom he had heard Shiva expressing.
Astavakrasana
Another revered Vedic sage, Astavakra translates as ‘eight bends’, referring to the eight physical handicaps he was born with. His story begins in the womb, where he would hear his father reciting the Vedas, however his father would often make mistakes. One day, when Astavakra couldn’t bear to listen to his father embarrass himself by reciting the sacred texts incorrectly, he called out from the womb and corrected him.
Enraged (and probably a little embarrassed), Astavakra’s father cursed the child, so that he would be born with eight bends in his body. When born, Astavakrasana was incredibly crippled and pained, yet he was full of knowledge and wisdom, and took the long and difficult journey to King Janaka’s court to meet with other knowledgeable and important sages and seers.
When he finally arrived, all the sages and seers – looking upon the boy’s deformities – laughed at him and refused to give him respect. Astavakra explained to the king that he was disappointed with his reception, and expecting wise men, felt he was met with shoe-makers. The king was confused by his explanation, and so Astavakrasana told him;
“They see only skin. They do not see the atma, the soul. They have no realization of the soul and the Supreme Soul. They merely see the surface, and base their judgments solely on this. This is the occupation of a cobbler, who is always saying: ‘This skin is good; that skin is not good. This one is smooth; that one is rough.’ Coming here as been a waste of time.”
After hearing this, the King bowed to Astavakra, and vowed to be his student.”