Lotus position
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Lotus position or Padmasana (Template:Langx)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> is a cross-legged sitting meditation pose from ancient India, in which each foot is placed on the opposite thigh. It is an ancient asana in yoga, predating hatha yoga, and is widely used for meditation in Hindu, Tantra, Jain, and Buddhist traditions.
Variations include easy pose (Sukhasana), half lotus, bound lotus, and psychic union pose. Advanced variations of several other asanas including yoga headstand have the legs in lotus or half lotus. The pose can be uncomfortable for people not used to sitting on the floor, and attempts to force the legs into position can injure the knees.<ref name="AcottCramer2013"/>
Shiva, the meditating ascetic God of Hinduism, Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, and the Tirthankaras in Jainism have been depicted in the lotus position, especially in statues. The pose is emblematic both of Buddhist meditation and of yoga, and as such has found a place in Western culture as a symbol of healthy living and well-being.
Etymology and historyEdit
The name Padmasana is from the Sanskrit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "lotus" and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, "posture" or "seat".Template:Sfn<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In Asian cultures,<ref name=DTD>Template:Cite journal</ref> the sacred lotus is used as a symbol of growth towards perfection and enlightenment as it is rooted in the mud at the bottom of the pond, but rises and blooms above the water.Template:Sfn In Chinese and Tibetan Buddhism, the pose is also called the "vajra position" (Skt. {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, Ch. {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The pose is ancient and is described, along with other asanas (sitting postures), in the 8th century book Patanjalayogashastravivarana.Template:Sfn A figure seated in lotus position on a lotus flower is shown on dinar coins of Chandragupta II, who reigned Template:Circa.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The first tantric text to discuss posture (asana), the 6th–10th century Nisvasattvasamhita Nayasutra (4.11-17, 4.104-106), directs the meditator and "user of mantras" to sit in lotus or a similar posture.Template:Sfn The 15th century Hatha Yoga Pradipika states that the pose destroys all diseases, and that a yogin in the pose who retains the air breathed in through the nadi channels attains liberation.Template:Sfn
Sukhasana is from Sanskrit {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, meaning "pleasure" or "ease".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The 19th century Sritattvanidhi describes and illustrates the pose.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The name, and the more general name Yogasana ("Yoga pose") which may denote a variety of sitting poses, is found in much older documents as a meditation seat, such as in the 4th century Darshana Upanishad.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
PositionEdit
From sitting cross-legged on the floor (Sukhasana), one foot is placed on top of the opposite thigh with its sole facing upward and heel close to the abdomen. The other foot is then placed on the opposite thigh as symmetrically as possible.Template:Sfn The pose requires "very open hips".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It can be modified using a support such as a cushion or blanket; by sitting on its forward edge, the pelvis is tilted forward.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
VariationsEdit
Sukhasana (Template:Langx), Easy Pose, has the legs simply crossed in front of the body.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In half lotus, अर्ध पद्मासन (Ardha Padmasana), one leg is bent and resting on the ground, the other leg is bent with the foot in lotus position. It is an easier meditation position than full lotus.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In bound lotus, बद्ध पद्मासन (Baddha Padmasana), the practitioner sits in full lotus, and each hand reaches around the back to grasp the opposite foot.<ref>Template:Cite bookTemplate:Dead link</ref>
For psychic union pose, योगमुद्रासन (Yogamudrasana), the practitioner bends forward in full lotus, bringing the forehead as close to the floor as possible.Template:Sfn The pose is both an asana and a mudra; easier variants begin from Ardha Padmasana.<ref name="Vishnudevananda 1988">Template:Cite book</ref>
Variations of several other asanas such as Sirsasana (yoga headstand), Sarvangasana (shoulderstand), Simhasana (lion pose), Matsyasana (fish pose), and Gorakshasana (cowherd pose) have the legs in lotus.Template:Sfn Asanas such as Vatayanasana (horse pose) and advanced forms of Ardha Matsyendrasana (half lord of the fishes pose) have one leg as in half lotus.Template:Sfn
- Sukhasana.jpg
Sukhasana, easy pose
- Bharadwaja (detail).jpg
The sage Bharadvaja meditating in half lotus. 19th century
- Flickr - Nicholas T - Taut.jpg
Baddha Padmasana
- A scene of Yoga mudra.JPG
Yogamudrasana
- Padma-shirshasana (cropped).jpg
Padma Sirsasana, lotus headstand
EffectsEdit
Lotus is one of the yoga poses that most commonly causes injury.<ref name="AcottCramer2013">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="PenmanStevens2012">Template:Cite journal</ref> Attempts to force the legs into lotus pose can injure the knees by squeezing and damaging the medial meniscus cartilage; this is painful and takes a long time to heal. The hip joints must rotate outwards approximately 115 degrees to permit full lotus. Students who cannot achieve this much hip rotation may try to compensate by bending the knee joint sideways, risking injury. Rather than bending the knee, the thighs can be encouraged to rotate outwards (using hand pressure or a strap).<ref name="Cole 2019">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The yoga guru B. K. S. Iyengar notes that people unused to sitting on the floor will initially feel "excruciating" pain in the knees, but that this subsides with practice, until the pose becomes relaxing, both restful and alert and hence ideal for pranayama.Template:Sfn
Twentieth century advocates of some schools of yoga, such as Iyengar, made claims for the effects of yoga on specific organs, without adducing any evidence.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Iyengar claimed that Padmasana encourages blood circulation in the abdomen and lumbar region, toning the spine and abdominal organs.Template:Sfn
In art and cultureEdit
Asian artEdit
In Buddhism, statues of the founder, Gautama Buddha, sometimes depict him seated in lotus position and enthroned on a lotus flower.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="MMA buddha">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="BM">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In Hinduism, statues often depict gods, especially Shiva, meditating in Padmasana.<ref name="MMA gods">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In Bali, a Padmasana is also a type of Hindu shrine, named for the posture.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In Jainism, seated Tirthankaras are represented in Lotus posture.<ref name="Wiley2004">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Patan Parshvanatha.jpg
A 10th century CE idol of Parshvanatha in Lotus position from Patan, Gujarat
- Monkey gives honey to Buddha Shakyamuni, India, Bihar, probably Kurkihar, Pala dynasty, c. 1000 AD, black stone - Östasiatiska museet, Stockholm - DSC09270.JPG
- Sivakempfort.jpg
- Mahavir.jpg
- Pura Jagatnatha in Bali; David Stanley; November 2011.jpg
A Padmasana shrine, here of Pura Jagatnatha in Denpasar, Bali
Western cultureEdit
The scholar of religion Thomas Tweed wrote in 2008 that "the prevailing image of Buddhist practice has been the solitary meditator, eyes half closed, sitting in the lotus position."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Ian Fleming's 1964 novel You Only Live Twice has the action hero James Bond visiting Japan, where he "assiduously practised sitting in the lotus position."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The critic Lisa M. Dresner notes that Bond is mirroring Fleming's own struggles with the pose.<ref name="Dresner2016">Template:Cite journal</ref> The BBC journalist Megan Lane commented in 2003 that since yoga as exercise had become mainstream, lotus position (like tree pose) had been used by advertisers to sell "all manner of goods and services."<ref name="Lane 2003">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She noted that both "healthy living"<ref name="Lane 2003"/> goods such as vitamins, fitness clubs, water filter and probiotic yogurt, and unrelated items such as cars, airlines, financial services "and even beer"<ref name="Lane 2003"/> have made use of images of yoga to convey a message of well-being.<ref name="Lane 2003"/> Poland's Obory Dairy gave its advertising agency the goal of creating awareness of their "Jogi" yogurt as exclusive and with a positive image. The agency responded with a photograph of two young women meditating in lotus pose at dawn under the heading "Start your day with Jogi", the brand name also meaning "yoga" in Polish.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
See alsoEdit
- Kukkutasana, cockerel pose, a balancing asana with the hands threaded through the folded legs of Padmasana
- List of asanas
- Maravijaya
- Padmasana (shrine)
- Zazen
ReferencesEdit
SourcesEdit
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External linksEdit
Template:Asana Template:Hatha yoga Template:Yoga Template:Yoga as exercise