Thursday
April 11, 2019
Spring · 2 entries
The practice and philosophy of yoga has entered into fitness realms and mental health paradigms-- but truly, it is an ancient wisdom tradition for healing from the inside.
This posture is called Kasyapasana, so named for the sage Kashyapa.
One of the seven ancient rishi's from the Rig Veda (many of whom have postures named for them in third series), his name also means " turtle." He is sometimes said to be the son of Marichi. Kashmir, a region in India, may be a translation from Kashya's Lake.
Looking at yogas historical texts helps illuminate it's most potent purpose— something that transcends both the mental and the physical, bringing in the spirit. This selection from Atharvaveda, Book XIX, Hymns L51-53 could be useful before heading into a challenging yoga asana series:
Undisturbed am I, undisturbed is my soul,
undisturbed mine eye, undisturbed mine ear,
undisturbed is mine in-breathing, undisturbed mine out-breathing,
undisturbed my diffusive breath, undisturbed the whole of me.
Thereafter rose Desire in the beginning, Desire the primal seed and germ of Spirit,
O Kama dwelling with the lofty Kama, give growth of riches to the sacrificer, (...)
Prolific, thousand eyed, and undecaying, a horse with seven reins Time bears us onward,
Sages inspired with holy knowledge mount him, his chariot wheels are all the worlds of creatures.
Kala [Time] created yonder heaven, and Kala made these realms of earth,
By Kala, stirred to motion, both what is and what shall be, expand,
Kala created living things and first of all Prajapati,
From Kala self-made Kasyapa, from Kala Holy Fire was born
This posture is called Kasyapasana, so named for the sage Kashyapa.
One of the seven ancient rishi's from the Rig Veda (many of whom have postures named for them in third series), his name also means " turtle." He is sometimes said to be the son of Marichi. Kashmir, a region in India, may be a translation from Kashya's Lake.
Looking at yogas historical texts helps illuminate it's most potent purpose— something that transcends both the mental and the physical, bringing in the spirit. This selection from Atharvaveda, Book XIX, Hymns L51-53 could be useful before heading into a challenging yoga asana series:
Undisturbed am I, undisturbed is my soul,
undisturbed mine eye, undisturbed mine ear,
undisturbed is mine in-breathing, undisturbed mine out-breathing,
undisturbed my diffusive breath, undisturbed the whole of me.
Thereafter rose Desire in the beginning, Desire the primal seed and germ of Spirit,
O Kama dwelling with the lofty Kama, give growth of riches to the sacrificer, (...)
Prolific, thousand eyed, and undecaying, a horse with seven reins Time bears us onward,
Sages inspired with holy knowledge mount him, his chariot wheels are all the worlds of creatures.
Kala [Time] created yonder heaven, and Kala made these realms of earth,
By Kala, stirred to motion, both what is and what shall be, expand,
Kala created living things and first of all Prajapati,
From Kala self-made Kasyapa, from Kala Holy Fire was born
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