Svastikasana

Svastikasana is the first of 84 asanas described and illustrated in an 1830 manuscript of the Jogapradipika. The yogin is meditating on a tiger skin to attain liberation.

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Svastikasana (Sanskrit: स्वस्तिकासन, IAST svastikāsana) is an ancient meditation asana in hatha yoga, sitting cross-legged.

In Sanskrit svastika means auspicious; it is also the name of an ancient Hindu symbol of good fortune.

Etymology and origins[]

The name comes from the Sanskrit words svastika (स्वस्तिक) meaning "auspicious" and āsana (आसन) meaning "posture" or "seat". The posture is described in the eighth century Pātañjalayogaśāstravivaraṇa and in the tenth century Vimānārcanākalpa, where it is a meditation seat.^[1]

Description[]

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, place the left toe in the right knee fold. Put your right foot in the left knee fold. This asana is the same for men and women, unlike those that have polarity such as Padmasana and Siddhasana.

Svastikasana is calm sitting with upright (upper) body. Stretch the legs forward. Bend the left leg in the way that you place the foot near the right thigh muscle. Bend the right leg and press the foot into the space between the left thigh and calf muscles, as if you were trying to hide the foot from view. So you will now find the two feet placed between thighs and calves of the legs.^[2]

Usage[]

Swastikasana, Sukhasana, Siddhasana and Padmasana are the asanas traditionally used for dhyana (meditation) and pranayama (breath) exercises.^[3]

See also[]

• Padmasana
• Sukhasana
• List of asanas

References[]

Further reading[]

• Iyengar, B. K. S. (1 October 2005). Illustrated Light On Yoga. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-81-7223-606-9.
• Saraswati, Swami Janakananda (1 February 1992). Yoga, Tantra and Meditation in Daily Life. Weiser Books. ISBN 978-0-87728-768-1.
• Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (1 August 2003). Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha. Nesma Books India. ISBN 978-81-86336-14-4.
• Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (January 2004). A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya. Nesma Books India. ISBN 978-81-85787-08-4.