The rooster and peacock poses are dedicated to Lord Karttikeya, who has the peacock as his vehicle and the rooster as an emblem on his flag.

Karttikeya was one of the two sons of Shiva and Parvati and the story of his birth has other asanas like Shanmukhi and Skandasana dedicated to the anecdote. More on that in a future article.

 Karttikeya was born to eliminate the Rakshasa brothers Surapadman, Simhamukha and Taraka who had defeated the devas and subjugated them with their atrocities. Surapadman had received a boon from Shiva that he would be undefeatable by any power or entity except one born from Shiva. Since Shiva was in a period of deep meditation and celibacy at the time of granting the boon, Surapadman considered himself invincible and launched attack after attack on the devas until he had conquered not just Devaloka but all three worlds.

The tormented devas beseeched Shiva for help. Shiva had married Parvati by this time and through his psychic powers he materialized Karttikeya. At the opportune time Shiva anointed Karttikeya as the commander- in-chief of the Deva’s army and instructed him to declare war on the three brothers and liberate the devas. His mother Parvati gifted him his powerful weapon – the Vel (spear) and he was accompanied in his mission by his nine ganas (lieutenants) led by Veerabahu.

The battle between the Rakshasa brothers and Karttikeya lasted for six days. The first formidable demon that Karttikeya and his army encountered was the massive Rakshasa Krauncha who blocked their way in the form of a large mountain. Karttikeya slayed him with one blow of his Vel and entered Mahendrapuri, Surapadman’s capital city. Refusing Karttikeya’s offer of peace, Surapadman sent his brother Taraka to battle with Karttikeya. Taraka used all his weapons against Karttikeya but he easily deflected them and vanquished Taraka with his spear. Next came Simhamukha; he used his magical powers to create a noose that bound Karttikeya’s entire army and flung it across the battlefield. Karttikeya used his celestial weapons to release his army and after a fierce battle defeated Simhamukha by using Indra’s Vajra against him. Simhamukha submitted to Karttikeya with the Mother Goddess’ name on his lips. Pleased Karttikeya blessed him to serve as Kali’s vahana.

Finally, Surapadman descended onto the battlefield – this was the fifth day of the war. Within a few hours Surapadman realized he was against a very formidable foe and his only chance of victory would be to use his sorcery skills. He materialized a fantastic flying chariot for himself and launched his attack from the sky. However Karttikeya felled him with his Vel and occupied the chariot himself. Next Surapadman took on the form of a large eagle. Karttikeya was about to slash him with his sword when Surapadman assumed the form of a large mango tree and hid himself in the ocean.

The tree’s size was immense and threatened to smother the world but Karttikeya split it into half with one blow from his Vel. Surapadman reappeared from the broken tree trunk and attacked Karttikeya. After a fierce battle Surapadman conceded defeat just as Karttikeya’s spear pierced him and sought forgiveness and refuge. In his compassion Karttikeya blessed the dying demon by giving him Viswaroopam Darshan (an all-encompassing cosmic view of the absolute Truth) and let his wounded body transform into two entities – a peacock (Mayur) and a rooster (Kukkuta). He took the peacock as his Vahana and the rooster as the emblem on his flag.

The peacock and the rooster are symbolic of the ego. The peacock represents the vanity side of the ego and the rooster the I-assertiveness aspect. The story is an allegory of how when the ego is conquered the true identity of the self and the almighty are revealed (Viswaroopam). Karttikeya or Murugan is known as the Lord of compassion and the ego is only sublimated through love, similar to how Surapadman was finally annihilated through grace.

On a physical level, just as a peacock is the enemy of snakes and kills them, Mayurasana destroys the toxins in the system and is especially beneficial for digestive tract ailments. Kukkutasana as well helps eliminate toxins by the compression it brings to the abdominal area. A rooster is normally associated with the rising sun and the rooster pose activates the adrenal gland, our very own storehouse of energy. Both poses also strengthen the wrists and shoulders.

Image Glossary :

1. Urdhva Kukkutasana

2. Padma Pinchamayurasana

3. Karttikeya painting by Raja Ravi Varma

4. Karttikeya with spear and rooster, coin of Yaudheyas, 200 BCE

5. Ancient Khymer Skanda statue

At the Centre of the earth,

there stands a great mountain,

Lord of Snows, majestic, rooted in the sea,

Its summit wreathed in clouds;

A measuring rod for all creation.

Poet Kalidasa, 4^th Century

Mount Meru is a mythical mountain that is purported to be the axis of the universe. It is considered to be the center of all the physical, metaphysical and spiritual universes. It is also the abode of Brahma or Buddha, depending on the tradition narrating the legend, at its highest point.

Mount Meru has 7 cosmic rings around it and thirty-one planes of existence, stacked in layers, and three realms, or dhatus. According to the ancient texts, the mountain is supposed to tower at a height of more than 1,000,000 km and is gold in colour.

The sun along with all its planets in the Solar System revolve around it as one unit. Surrounding this universe is a vast expanse of water, and surrounding the water is a vast expanse of wind. Our world is thought to be a wedge-shaped island continent in a vast sea south of Mount Meru, called Jambudvipa

Meru is not just a place ‘out there’ but ‘it is here’, i.e. within us. The human spine is considered to be the internal Meru on which the body’s physical structure as well as the metaphysical structure stands.

According to legend, Vayu (the wind God) and Mount Meru were good friends but a mischievous demi-God, Narada, instigated them to fight over who was more powerful. Vayu blew with all his strength at Meru but Garuda (a half-human half-eagle demi God) who was Meru’s friend came to his rescue.

Garuda was considered the most  powerful entity amongst all the Gods and Asuras and he spread his giant wings in front of Meru and protected him from Vayu’s force. Vayu blew at Meru for a whole year but with Garuda shielding him Meru remained safe.

Narada then asked Vayu to stop blowing for a while and he used this opportunity to convince Garuda that Vayu had given up. Just as Garuda let his guard down and dropped his wings Vayu blew again with full force and in the time it took Garuda to open his wings again Vayu managed to blow the top of Mount Meru off and this landed in the sea and formed the island of Sri Lanka.

The attached motif depicts the various legends associated with Garuda including protecting Mount Meru by spreading his wings. The image of Brahma or Buddha at the top denotes the peak of Mount Meru.

The Practice

1. Start in Badha Konasana with the soles of both feet touching each other

2. Sit erect with shoulders back and face relaxed

3. Wrap each big toe with the index finger, middle finger and thumb

4. Holding the toe and leaning slightly backward stretch first the right leg to the side keeping it about 12-18 inches off the floor. Inhale as you stretch

5. As you exhale bring the foot back in. Repeat on other side

6. Keeping your seat strong and stable then stretch both legs out to the side

7. Keep the knees straight, balance on your sitting bones and keep the chest stretched out front

Incoporating the Myth into the Practise

From a physical viewpoint, the practitioner should focus on first tilting his back and balancing on his sitting bones to mimic the angle of the central axis [23.4°].

The arms should then be spread wide like the enormous wings of Garuda and just as Garuda overcame the force of Vayu with sustained holding of his position for a year; the yogi has to overcome the resistance of the powerful hamstring muscles through persistent practice of the pose.

The chest needs to come out to show the strength of Garuda and finally the head needs to be tilted back a bit to imitate the blowing-off of Meru’s apex into the sea.

 From a metaphysical standpoint, the 7 cosmic rings of Meru are represented along our spine by the 7 main chakras (Energy Centers) and as the adept holds the asana he should focus on each chakra starting from the Muladhara and sequentially rising to the Sahasrara.

The thousand petalled Crown Chakra at the top of our spine and Brahma’s abode at the top of Meru both signify that through good deeds and spiritual practices it is possible to move upward along the axis toward the ultimate enlightenment.

Similarly the 3 realms of Meru represent the 3 gunas present within all of us, Tamasic, Rajasic and Sattvic. An adept’s aim should be to increase the sattvic activities and inculcate a sattvic nature; letting the light of his soul shine through.

Vrikshasana is commonly understood by most practitioners, in its literal Sanskrit to English translation, as tree pose and teachers will frequently ask students to rise tall like a growing tree or render other such symbolic guidelines associated with a tree when instructing a class.

However tree pose needs to be seen in light of its alternative but lesser known name – Manuasana; which offers a better understanding of its etymology and origin. The pose is dedicated to the first ‘human being’ and the reference to tree is more in terms of ‘Tree of life’.  According to Indian mythology Manu was the ‘first man’ and we are all descendants of the genealogy tree he spawned.

What also needs to be understood is that Manu is the title given to the first man of every ‘era’ or ‘age’ and is not an actual name. MANU is the root-word for both the Sanskrit 'Manushya' and the English ’Man’.

The Manu for this period is considered to be king Satyavrata, the son of Surya or Sun God.  According to the Puranas, Satyavrata (or Vaivasvata), is the seventh Manu.

As the story goes, Satyavrata was performing his morning prayers standing in a river and when he cupped his hands to collect water and offer it to the Sun he realised that he had collected a small fish which spoke to him and asked for protection. The fish was an avatar of Lord Vishnu and Satyavrata being kind hearted took it home and placed it in a pitcher. The fish outgrew the pitcher overnight and then began a succession of transfers as the fish kept outgrowing its ‘home’  –  to a larger container, a well, a small pond, river and finally the ocean.

Satyavrata realised he was in the presence of a divine being and offered obeisance. Lord Vishnu then forewarned him of the impending deluge and saved him and his accompanying companions and deposited his ship to safety on the top of the Himalayan mountains.  (Will cover the detailed story under fish pose).
 

Some historians believe the spot to be present day Manali in India. Manali comes from the composite word  – Manu-Alaya, meaning ‘adobe of Manu’. Manali is the only place in the world having a temple dedicated to Manu.

The genealogy of Vaivasvata, the 7th Manu, is as follows:
1. Brahma
2. Marichi, one of the 10 Prajapatis created by Brahma.
3. Kashyapa, son of Marichi and Kala. Kashyapa is regarded as the father of humanity.
4. Vivasvan or Surya, son of Kashyapa and Aditi.
5. Vaivasvata Manu, originally Satyavrata, son of Vivasvan (Surya) and Saṃjñā.
6. Ikshvaku, Nabhaga, Narishyanta, Karusha, Prishadhra, Dhrishta, Sharyati, Pramshu and Nabhanedishta were the nine sons and Ila was the only daughter of Vaivasvata Manu
 

Ikshvaku was the founder of the Suryavansh / Solar Dynasty of Kshatriyas in Vedic civilization in ancient India. Rama, the main protagonist of the epic Ramayana was a descendant in the linage of King Ikshvaku. The ‘solar meridien’ in the human body is called Pingala which means fire.
 

Through Ila, started the Chandravansh / Lunar Dynasty and Krishna, one of the central characters in the Mahabharata, traces his linage to the Lunar dynasty. Ila is referred to Ida in some texts and the ‘lunar meridien’ in the human body is also called Ida.
 

The Practice

1. Stand in Samasthiti with both feet planted firmly on the floor

2. Pick up the toes and separate them and slowly place them back establishing a strong padha-bandha [foot lock].

3. Keeping your gaze focused on a central point ahead of you or on the floor, slowly pick the right foot and place it on the left inner thigh with the toes pointing down

4. Lengthen the spine, relax the shoulders and bring your hands in prayer position (anjali mudra) in front of your chest

5. Hold for 3 breaths and then on an inhale slowly raise the hands above your head while keeping the arms close to the ears.
 

6. Stay for 3 to 5 breaths
 

7. To come out of the pose slowly release hands to your sides and then release the leg and place on the floor
 

Incorporating the story into the practice
 

As we raise one leg and place it on the other thigh, we need to consider how Satyavrata needed to keep his balance in the flowing waters of the river as he offered his prayers. The current did not affect him since he kept his focus on his ablutions. Similarly if we can remain focused on a central point in front of us the quivering in the leg will cease.
 

Raising your hands in prayer position reflect on how Manu’s compassion saved him from the deluge and became the starting point for a new ‘tree of life’. As your thumbs touch your heart in Anjali Mudra, bring your heart back in touch with its true nature of kindness and compassion and realize the interconnectedness of everything in the universe; a gigantic tree that spawns every creature and living entity.
 

And as you further raise your hands above your head and join them in symbolic reference to the peak that Manu landed on, be reassured that no matter how catastrophic the inevitable and constant changes in your life initially feel, you will rise above them safely through your faith and tenacity.
 

In India, sages often performance penance standing in Vrikshasana for prolonged periods and this is because of the belief that the pose helps channel attention back to the source of creation. As a last step, close your eyes [challenge your balance] and similarly meditate on the ‘tree of life’ and awaken to the realization you are but a microcosm of the cosmic macrocosm.
 

In the epic Ramayana, Hanuman is tasked with searching for Sita in Lanka. Hanumanasana symbolizes his giant leap from the southern shore of India to Lanka to achieve this goal.

In order to travel through the skies quickly, Hanuman who had the power to increase his size at will, assumed a body of immense proportions. So great was the momentum of his leap that he carried along with him trees in full blossom that got uprooted by the force. Covered with different blossoms, buds and sprouts Hanuman resembled a mountain himself. Soon the trees following Hanuman and the blossoms fell off into the sea making the ocean look even more beautiful.

Seeing Hanuman flying across the ocean, the King of the Ocean asked Mainaka the Mountain hidden under the seas to come up and provide relief to Hanuman by offering him a place to rest. But Hanuman had taken a vow not to rest until he reached Lanka and he politely declined Mainaka’s offer.

The devas [demi-Gods] were very impressed with Hanuman’s commitment but decided to test his determination for themselves. So they asked Surasa, the Mother of all Serpents to take a dreadful form of female Rakshasa and eat Hanuman up by obstructing his way.

Surasa tried to eat Hanuman by opening her mouth wide. But Hanuman immediately doubled his size. Surasa in turn increased her size matching his size and more. Then Hanuman in turn increased his size. Finally when Surasa increased her mouth size to accommodate a Hanuman of ninety yojanas, Hanuman swiftly shrunk himself to a size as small as a thumb and flew into her mouth and away. Surasa was very impressed with Hanuman’s intelligent handling of the situation and gave her blessings for his journey further.

As Hanuman continued he suddenly felt he was being dragged down. He was being attacked by the demon Simhika who had the power to hold one by his shadow. Hanuman first thought of trying to use his strength to fly away but soon realised that he would have to go back and reclaim his shadow. As he flew towards Simhika, she opened her mouth to grab him. Hanuman again reduced his size at the last minute and went inside Simhaka’s mouth and came back out by slashing her vital organs. He was then able to continue his journey without further incident and reach Lanka.

The Practise :

1.Start in Anjaneyasana with your right foot in front. Slowly straighten the right leg out in front of you.

2. Exhale and bending forward, press your fingertips to the floor.

3. Pick your left knee off the floor and take the left leg backwards. Just before you feel you have reached the limit of your stretch, stop straightening your left knee.

4. Inhale and breathe into the hamstrings in the right leg and soften the quadriceps in the left leg. Exhale and carefully drop the front of the left thigh, along with the back of the right thigh towards the ground. The centre of your right knee should point directly towards the ceiling.

5. Ensure that your back leg is extended straight out behind, from the hip, without being angled out to the side. The centre of that kneecap should press on to the floor.

6. Depending on your flexibility your thighs could now be in contact with the floor and you could either stretch your hands straight up (towards the ceiling) or bring them together in the Anjali Mudra (Salutation Seal)

7. Hold this pose for around a minute before releasing it. To do so, press your hands on to the floor and turn the front leg out slightly.

8. Repeat the pose on the other side

Incorporating the myth into the practise :

From Anjaneyasana as we straighten the leading leg and feel the first stretch to the hamstrings, it is tempting to just stay there and go no further since the rear leg is providing necessary stability and comfort – similar to how Hanuman’s journey was interrupted by Mainaka who offered him a place to rest and tempted him with fresh fruits and food. But just as Hanuman brushed away the offer and stayed on course the practitioner has to continue ahead despite the obvious discomfort.

As you lift the left knee of the floor you encounter your first ‘monster’….and you realise muscling your way through will only lead to injury. You need to start using your intuitive intelligence and like Hanuman shrunk himself you need to make micro-adjustments to go further and overcome this obstacle.

And finally to complete the journey, your thighs have to meet their shadows reflected below, just as Hanuman had to reclaim his shadow from Simhika. This last obstacle is the trickiest to overcome and requires patience and further micro-adjustments. Once the practitioner has mastered this last hurdle he/she can continue with relative ease and raise the hands off the floor to complete the ‘journey’.

A few words on humility or developing humbleness; the path to humility comes with a trap door – the moment you think you have it (humility) you have lost it! Because pride on achieving it has taken over!

Similarly many adepts on the spiritual path fall into the trap of spiritual ego – I am more humble than him! I make do with lesser than her! I can do a more advanced pose than him!

It’s interesting to note what Swami Vishnudevananda had to say about this topic –

I have given you all I have with all my heart and love. It is for you to give to others. Sometimes I may not know all the answers, and I know that I have a long way to go. If you didn't get anything, that's because of my lower emotional nature. If there was anything good you got, it came from my great Master Sivananda. I don't say that I'm an unemotional person. I scolded and talked endlessly. I acted like a dictator. If I were like my master, or like Jesus, I could wash the feet of my disciples. But for that one must be very high. It can only be done when the ego is gone. If I were to do it, it would be hypocrisy. I'm not that high. Once, some years ago, I prostrated myself before a man to whom I had been rude and impatient. As I was doing it, I was thinking "How humble I am." So don't look for an easy way to overcome your ego. For years I've tried. I watch myself as my ego manifests itself. I analyze. But it clings like a leech. When we can't control ourselves, we should offer it to the Lord: "Oh Lord, I offer it to Thee!" And now, if in any way I hurt your feelings, I ask you with all my heart to pardon me.

– Swami Vishnudevananda

Some of the yoga asanas like Shoulderstand and Plough help reduce the ego and in a previous class, I narrated the myth behind the plough pose and the ego dissolution story associated with it.

To hear more such stories and practise the poses with knowledge on their inner life keep attending regularly!

Om Shanti.

Mayank

For the last 6 weeks we have been raising monies for a colleague suffering from cancer. Nasim Noor Habib was an active staff with dnata cargo until she was diagnosed with stomach cancer. She is currently undergoing treatment at Al Tawam hospital in Al Ain.  She has exhausted her funds to support her treatment and is need of help. She is a young mother – her son just turned one and the situation is very unfortunate. Pls donate generously.

As a fitting tribute, the teacher in focus this week is Esther Meyer. Esther was one of the foremost teachers of the ‘Scaravelli yoga method’ and succumbed to cancer some years ago. More details on this remarkable teacher and her equally remarkable ‘guru’ -master teacher Vanda Scaravelli can be found on –

http://www.estheryoga.com/about/esther-myers/

http://www.estheryoga.com/about/vanda-scaravelli/

One of Vanda’s student  called her style “bringing into play the relationship between the earth and the body’s aliveness.”

Hope you have had a chance to feel the earth and the lightness of your being today.

Om shanti.

Mayank

In one of the recent classes we discussed the myth behind Vyaghrasana which is dedicated to sage Vyagrhapada. The story also explains how and why the Vinyasa progresses to Vyagrhapada-Natrajasana. Vyaghra means Tiger and Pada means foot; sage Vyagrhapada was a mystical figure who was claimed to possess the feet of a tiger. He was a contemporary of Sage Patanjali (the author of The Yoga Sutras).

Now you also know where the aphrodisiac medical drug with a similar name get’s its name from; the hope being that certain purported characteristics of the ferocious feline will be mimicked by the intaker!

Appended below is a very interesting quote from Master Teacher  TKV Desikachar :

“The target of Yoga is ‘svatantra’ 
which means to discover our own technique.
‘Sva’ means itself and ‘tantra’ means technique.
The techniques are in oneself and we must discover them;
if not we will depend on others. I am sick and I go to the doctor;
but finally I must become my own therapist.
This is ‘svatantra’.”
TKV Desikachar

Some of you who have healed yourself through Yoga will identify with the quote.

Also find attached a link to one of the leading exponents of Viniyoga and lifelong student of Desikachar, Paul Harvey :

http://www.yogastudies.org/

Hope you enjoy browsing it.

Om shanti.

Mayank

At the 2^nd year anniversary class we had 42  participants and it was nice to see the large turn out and some members  turned up after a gap so it was good to see them again.

We discussed the symbolism and story behind Savasana in that class. Traditional Yoga classes begin and end with Savasana [Corpse pose]- mimicking the life and birth cycle. This microcosm is also mirrored in the macrocosm where the universe expanded from a black hole and is destined to reduce again to point of nothingness somewhere in the far future. Physics and meta-physics again agreeing on an universal principle.

In the Lake of Death story in Mahabharata prince Yudhisthira was asked this now famous question –

Q: What is the most wonderful thing?

A: The most wonderful thing is that although everyday innumerable humans and their animals go to the abode of death, still a man thinks he is immortal.

He was asked 17 more questions by a celestial  being which were supposed to lead him to self-realisation and that is what true yoga-nidra in Savasana is supposed to do as well. It brings you to a realisation of your interconnectedness to the universe and takes you to a higher plane of peace and spiritual consciousness.

More of the story can be accessed on http://www.romapadaswami.com/node/2852. I was unable to find a link that contained all the questions but a bit of browsing will yield results if you are so inclined.

Savasana is an oft ignored pose but try and incorporate it regularly into your practise.

Om Shanti.

Mayank