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Sunil / Star International Journal, Volume 6, Issue 3(1), March (2018) ISSN: 2321-676X
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DETAILING ASANAS IN HATHAYOGA PRADIPIKA AND GHERANDA SAMHITA-
A COMPARITIVE STUDY
SUNIL ALPHONSE
Assistant Professor of Physical Education, Government College of Engineering, Kannur, Kerala, India.
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to compare Asanas or postures in two famous authentic traditional yoga texts
Hathayoga pradipika and Gheranda samhitha. Asana has been derived from the root ‘as’ which means to sit. Generally the
word ‘asana’ using in two contest, the body position which we adopt to sit and the object used for sitting. Most of the
Traditional Yogic texts agree regarding the number of important asanas and given 84 asanas. In both Hathayoga pradipika
and Gheranda samhitha asanas have been described in detail. For this the researcher studied thoroughly the available
commentaries of both texts given by different commentators. There are similarities in most of the Asanas given in both these
texts. In Hathayoga Pradipika 15 Asanas has been described in detail whereas in Gheranda samhitha 32 Asanas has been
described. Regarding the most important asanas both texts have given the same names. The order in which asanas are
arranged is also different in these traditional texts. Regarding the benefits of doing asanas, there are clear aphorisms
which describes the benefits in detail. In this modern world there are hundred styles and schools of yoga which have
emerged after nineteenth century due to its relevance and high demand by the people towords yoga.The researcher
suggests that, It is better to stick to the traditional asanas which have been described in authentic traditional texts like
Hathayoga pradipika and Gheranda samhitha instead of running behind so called brand new yoga.
Keywords: Hathayoga pradipika, Gherenda samhitha, Asana.
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
In 2007, public awareness of increasing
attempts to patent traditional asanas in mant foreign
countries like for example the attempt made by Kolkata
born, US based Yoga teacher Bikram Choudhury, and
others, amounting to 130 yoga-related patents in the US
documented that year, prompted the government of India
to seek clarification on the guidelines for patenting
asanas from the US Patent Office. In 2008, to clearly
show that all asanas are public knowledge and therefore
not patentable. Previous studies shows many
investigation has been done to collect the original
manuscript of traditional yogic tests and collect asanas
given in those texts without diluting. In 1959 Swami
Vishnu Devananda elaborated 66 Basic asanas and 136
variations. Sri Dharma Mitra given 908 postures and
1300 variations. In this era thousands of yoga schools
has been established all over the world due to the high
recognition yoga receives and the commercial market
involves in it. People are confused which one to choose.
Present study is trying to compare the Asanas described
in two classic Hatha yogic texts Hathayoga pradipika and
Gherenda samhitha. texts so that people can include
original authentic traditional asanas in their practice to
get maximum benefit out of it.
INTRODUCTION
Yoga is one of the six orthodox philosophies of
India and originated 4000 years back. Pathanjali
maharshi has defined yoga as „chittavrittiniradha’ means
„cessation of mental activity‟ in yoga suthras. Asana
which is physical postures are one limb of yoga. Asana
has been derived from the root „as‟ which means to sit.
Generally the word „asana‟ using in two contest, the
body position which we adopt to sit and the object used
for sitting. Most of the Traditional Yogic texts agree
regarding the number of important asanas and given 84
asanasAsanas are also performed as physical
exercise where they are sometimes referred to as "yoga
postures" or "yoga positions" Some asanas are arguably
performed by many practitioners just for health purposes.
Asanas do promote good health, although in different
ways compared to physical exercises, "placing the
physical body in positions that cultivate also awareness,
relaxation and concentration"
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to investigate and
compare different kind Asanas described in two classic
Hatha yogic texts Hatha yoga pradipika and Gherenda
samhitha.
METHODS
Various Research papers have been reviewed
from pumped, official cites of different schools of yoga
Original Article
STAR
Research Journal
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YOGA
UGC Journal No: 63023
Sunil / Star International Journal, Volume 6, Issue 3(1), March (2018) ISSN: 2321-676X
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have been reviewed and selected six types of yoga which
have improves physical abilities more.
RESULTS
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika is a classic manual
on Hatha Yoga, written by Yogi Svatmarama (15th
century CE), a sadhu belonging to Gorakh panth. Said to
be the oldest surviving text on the Hatha Yoga, it is one
of the three classic texts of Hatha Yoga, the other two
being the Gheranda Samhita and the Shiva Samhita. The
Pradipika is divided into four parts. The first explains
yamas, niyamas, asanas and food. The second describes
pranayama (control or restraint of energy), and the
shatkarmas. The third deals with mudras (seals), bandhas
(locks), the nadis (channels of energy through which
prana flows) and the kundalini power. The fourth
expounds pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana
(concentration), dhyana (meditation), and
samadhi(absorption). In all, the text contains 390 verses
(floras). Out of these, about forty deal with asanas,
approximately one hundred and ten with pranayama, one
hundred and fifty with mudras, bandhas and Shatkarmas
and the rest with pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and
samadhi.
The text begins with asanas as the first step in
hatha yoga. For this reason it has been referred to as six-
limbed yoga (sadanga yoga) as opposed to the eight-
limbed patanjala yoga (astanga yoga) which includes, as
its foundation, the first two limbs, yama and niyama.
However, hatha yoga does not overlook the yamas and
niyamas. Possibly, in Svatmarama's time, the ethical
disciplines were taken for granted, so he does not explain
them at length.
It is said that there areas many asanas as there
are living species: 840,000. That means the muscles and
joints can flex, extead-and rotate in several thousand
ways. The Pradipika, however, describes only fifteen
asanas. Similarly, Vyasa names only eleven asanas in his
Yoga Sutras', and there are thirty-two in the Gheranda
Samhita. It is possible that yogasana practices were such
a regular daily routine that it was necessary only to touch
on the subject without going into depth. In view of these
figures, to claim that hatha yoga is merely physical yoga
is simply ridiculous. Being the first accessory of Haṭha
Yoga, âsana is described first. It should be practised for
gaining steady posture, health and lightness of body. In
Hatha yoga pradipika Asana has been described as
follows
atha āsanam
haṭhasya prathamāngghatvādāsanaṃ pūrvamuchyate |
kuryāttadāsanaṃ sthairyamāroghyaṃ chānggha-
lāghavam
1.Swasthika asana 2.Gomuka asana
3.Vira asana 4.Kurma asama
5.Kukkuta asana 6.Utttana Kurma asana
7.Dhanura asana 8.Matsya asana
9.Paschima Tana 10.Mayura asana
11.Sava asana 12.Siddha asana
13.Padma asana 14.Simha asana
15.Bhadra asana
Gheranda Samhita (late 17th century CE)
meaning “Gheranda's collection” is one of the three
classic texts of hatha yoga (the other two being
the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the Shiva Samhita). It is a
late 17th-century text and is considered to be the most
encyclopedic of the three classic texts on hatha
yoga.Gheranda Samhita is a manual of yoga taught by
Gheranda to Chanda Kapali. Unlike other hatha yoga
texts, the Gheranda Samhita speaks of a seven fold yoga:
1. Shatkarma for purification
2. Asana for strengthening
3. Mudra for steadying
4. Pratyahara for calming
5. Pranayama for lightness
6. Dhyana for perception
7. Samādhi for isolation
The text itself follows this division in seven
chapters, and has a focus upon
the ṣaṭkarmas (shatkarma), thus this text is sometimes
said to describe ghatastha yoga. For instance, the Yoga
Sūtras of Patañjali describes an eightfold path
(yama and niyama instead of shatkarma and mudra, and
addition of dharana). The closing stanzas on samadhi
teach different methods than those described by
Patanjali. The Gheranda Samhita asserts that Shiva
taught 8,400,000 asanas, out of which 84 are preeminent,
and "32 are useful in the world of mortals. These 32 are:
1.siddhasana 2.padmasana
3.Bhadrasana, 4.muktasana
5.vajrasana 6.svastikasana,
7.simhasana 8.gomukhasana
9.virasana, 10.dhanurasana
11.mritasana 12. guptasana
13.matsyasana 14matsyendrasana
15gorakshana 16.paschimottanasana
17.utkatasana 18sankatasana
19.mayurasana 20.kukkutasana
21. kurmasana 22.uttanakurmakasana
23.Uttanamandukasan 24.vrikshasana
25.mandukasana 26.garudasana
27.vrishasana 28.shalabhasana
29.makarasana 30.ushtrasana
31.bhujangasana 32. Yogasana.
CONCLUSION
1. HYP given 15 asanas whereas Gherenda
samhitha given names of 32 asanas
2. Acording to HYP most important asanas are
Siddasana, Padmasana, Simhasana and
Bhadrasana.
3. Savasana which is explained as 10th in HYP is
not described in Gherenda samhitha
4. Instead of Paschima Tana in HYP Gherenda
samhitha given Paschimothanasana
Sunil / Star International Journal, Volume 6, Issue 3(1), March (2018) ISSN: 2321-676X
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5. In HYP Siddasana is named as most important
asana and given Vajrasana, Mukthasana and
Gupthasana as synonyms, but in these four
asanas named as different asanas.
REFERENCE
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asana
2. www.bultlean.com
3. www.http//bksiyengar.com
4. www.bikramyoya.com
5. http://www.pranapoweryoga.com/faq/
6. www.http/pubmed.com
7. http://www.yinyoga.com/
8. www.shodganga.com