THE 84 “BEST” ASANAS
ACCORDING TO THE HATHA RATNA AVALI
There are eighty-four hundreds of thousands of Asanas described by Shiva. The postures are as many in
number as there are numbers of species of living creatures in this universe. Among them eighty-four are the
best; and among these eighty-four, thirty-two have been found useful for mankind in this world.
Gheranda-Samhita 2.1-2
* Confirmed (33): described in the text
+ Possible (16): described in other texts
^ Poses described by Gheranda (19) (omitted: Bhujanga, Garuda, Gupta, Makara, Matsya, Mukta, Sankata, Ustra,
Utkata, Uttana manduka, Vriksha, Vrisha, Yoga)
? Unknown (16)
number as there are numbers of species of living creatures in this universe. Among them eighty-four are the
best; and among these eighty-four, thirty-two have been found useful for mankind in this world.
Gheranda-Samhita 2.1-2
* Confirmed (33): described in the text
+ Possible (16): described in other texts
^ Poses described by Gheranda (19) (omitted: Bhujanga, Garuda, Gupta, Makara, Matsya, Mukta, Sankata, Ustra,
Utkata, Uttana manduka, Vriksha, Vrisha, Yoga)
? Unknown (16)
NAME WHAT IT MEANS IYENGAR EQUIVALENT?
? Akasha Space, Ether
–The subtle and ethereal fluid supposed to fill and pervade the universe and be the vehicle of life and sound
+ Angushtha Thumb (or Big Toe) 1) Padangushtha, 2) Supta padangushtha,
3) Sit in vajra with the toes turned under
? Ardha narishvara Hermaphrodite (ardha =
half; nari = woman;
ishvara = Lord)
–“The male principal is ... Fire, the devourer, while the female principle is Soma, the devoured
offering. The Hermaphrodite is then the embodiment of the cosmic sacrifice, the image of the
universe” (Danielou, The Gods of India, 203)
? Baddha pakshi ishvara Bound Lord of Bird
+ Baka Crane or Heron Same
–Also a “hypocrite, cheat, rogue, the crane being regarded as a bird of great cunning and deceit as
well as circumspection”
*^ Bhadra Auspicious, Prosperous Baddha kona
–Also “blessed, fortunate, happy, gracious, excellent, beautiful, lovely”
* Bhairava Terrible Mula bandha (stage 1)
–Derived from bhiru, “fearful, timid, cowardly”
? Brahma Immense Being
–Derived from brih, “to expand, increase, make strong”; the one impersonal universal spirit
manifested as a personal creator and as the first of the triad of personal gods; he never appears to
have become an object of general worship
? Brahma prasadita Brahma Pleasing
+ Chakra Wheel or Circle Urdhva dhanu
? Chandra Moon
–Literally “glittering, shining; a lovely or agreeable phenomenon of any kind”
? Chandra kanta Beautiful Moon
–The Moon Stone, a gem supposed to be formed from the congelation of the moon’s rays and to dissolve
under the influence of its light
The moon’s white rays the smiling night illume,
And on the moon-gem concentrated fall,
That hangs in woven nets in every hall;
Whence cooling dews upon the fair descend,
And life renewed to languid nature lend.
Meghaduta
? Chaurangi Name of a maha siddhi (see HYP 1.5)
? Chitra pitha Excellent Seat
? Chitra karani Excellent Instrument
*^ Dhanu Bow Akarna dhanu (in GS = dhanu)
? Dharavaha ?
+ Dridha Firm Like Ananta
–Also “whole, complete; steady, resolute; confirmed, established; intense, violent”
* Eka padaka One Foot 1) Bhairava, 2) Virabhadra III
*^ Gomukha Cow Face Same (legs only)
+^ Goraksha Cow Herder 1) In padma, stand on knees, 2) From
bhadra, sit on heels, 3) Like siddha (in
Gheranda)
+ Hamsa Swan or Goose Like mayura, but feet on floor
–A bird of passage; sometimes a mythic or poetic bird, the vehicle of Brahma; soul, typified by the pure
white color of a goose or swan, and migratory like a goose; sometimes the Universal Soul, identified with
Viraj, Narayana, Vishnu, Shiva, Kama, and the Sun; resolvable into aham sa, “I am That”
? Indrani Wife of Indra
–One of the 8 mothers or divine energies; also called Divine Grace (Shachi); the pupil of the left eye (Indra
is the pupil of the right eye)
I am the banner and the head, a mighty arbitress am I ...
Rig Veda 10.159
? Kabandha ?
* Kama dahana Desire (kama) Consumed Mula bandha (stage 2)
–Literally the “burning up of the god of love (Kama) by Shiva”; the “gods, perturbed by the power
of the antigod Taraka, sent Kama to awaken Shiva from his meditation. The angry god, disturbed
by Lust, reduced him to ashes with the fire that flashed from his central eye. Hence Lust became
the Bodiless (Ananga). Moved by the plaints of Desire (Rati), Shiva allowed Lust to be reborn as
Pradyumna, the son of Krishna ...” (Danielou, The Gods of India, 313)
? Kanta Beloved
? Kanthava ?
+ Karmuka Bow Dhanu (from Iyengar)
+ Khaga Moving in the Air In padma, lie prone, lift the chest and head
(i.e., Bird) off the floor, hold ribs with hands
–The “chief of birds,” Garuda, Vishnu’s vehicle
+ Krauncha Curlew or Osprey (Heron) Same
Kukkuta (5 types) Rooster
1) *^ Akarita kº Rooster-like Kukkuta
2) ? Bandhachuli kº Bound Crest
3) ? Eka pada kº One Foot
4) ? Panchaculi kº Five Crest
5) ? Parshva kº Side
+^ Kurma (3 types) Tortoise Sit in vajra, evert feet (from Gheranda)
2) + Baddha kº Bound Tortoise Sit in kurma, cross arms behind back, grasp
feet (or simply grasp each foot with sameside
hand)
3) ^ Uttana kº Extended Tortoise Garbha pinda
–The earth considered as a tortoise swimming on the waters; Vishnu’s second incarnation, who descended
to support the mountain Mandara at the churning of the ocean
*^ Manduka Frog Wide-knee Vira
* Markata Monkey Like Uttana
*^ Matsyendra (3 types) Lord of Fish Ardha matsyendra I
2) ? Baddha mº Bound Lord of Fish
3) * Parshva mº Side Sit right buttock on right heel, set left foot to
outside of right hip; twist left, right back shoulder
to outer left knee, clasp hands behind back;
reverse
Mayura (6 types) Peacock
1) * Bandha mº Bound Hamsa
2) *^ Danda mº Staff Mayura
–Also “scepter as symbol of power and sovereignty, rod as a symbol of punishment”
3) * Eka pada mº One Foot Eka pada koundinya I?
4) * Parshva mº Side Dvi pada koundinya
5) * Pinda mº Ball Eka pada koundinya II
–Also “embryo in early stage of gestation”
6) ? Sahaja mº Natural
–Derived from saha “jointly, in common”; ja “born or descended from”
? Mushtika Handful
+ Nabhi lasita padaka Foot Playing From bhadra, grasp feet with hands, lift
at Navel heels to navel (see next)
+ Nabhi tala Sole to Navel See previous
? Naga pitha Serpent-Demon Seat
–Nagas are a race of serpent demons inhabiting the waters or city of Bhoga-vati under the earth;
they are supposed to have a human face with serpent-like lower extremities, their kings are Shesha,
Vasuki, and Takshaka
? Narjava ?
* Niralambana Unsupported Like Makara, but chin supported the palms
joined “like a lotus”
* Pada pindana Foot Press In Tada, bend one knee, bring heel to
buttock, hold ankle with both hands
Padma (4 types) Lotus
1) *^ Bandha Bound Same
2) ? Kara Making
3) * Samputita Bowl-Shaped In padma, stack cupped hands in lap
4) ? Shuddha Pure
* Pani patra Drinking Out of the Kanda
Cupped Hand (pani)
*^ Pashchimatana West Same
–Pashchima, “being behind, later, last, final”; pashchima sandhya, “evening twilight”; pashchima
avastha, “last state,” i.e. verging on death
* Phani indra Serpent King Dvi pada shirsha
–Phanindra is another name for Shesha
? Raja King
–Cognate with “royal” and “regal”
? Ratna Jewel
–Also “gift, present, wealth, riches”
* Saura Sacred Sun, Divine Perform utkata, squatting on raised
heels; then extend one leg and grasp
toes with same-side hand
–Derived from sura, “wise person,” and surya, “sun”
+^ Sharabha Deer or Grasshopper 1) Like shalabha, 2) From vajra, lean
forward, place forehead on floor,
stretch arms behind back
–Fabulous animal supposed to have 8 legs and inhabit snowy mountains, stronger than the lion and
the elephant
*^ Shava Corpse Same
–Derived from shvi, “to swell”
* Shayita pashchimatana Reclining West Urdhva mukha pashchima II
*^ Shilpa simha Ornament Lion Same
? Shuddha pakshi Pure Bird
*^ Siddha Accomplished Same
–Also “fulfilled, effected, gained, acquired; one who has attained the highest object; perfected,
endowed with supernatural faculties; holy, divine; true or right, proved; effective, powerful,
miraculous; a semi-divine being of great purity and perfection and said to possess the eight
supernatural faculties; any inspired sage or prophet or seer, any great adept in magic”
? Sudha asara Shower of Nectar (sudha)
– Sudha, literally “good drink,” the beverage of the gods; honey of flowers; juice, water, milk
? Sumandraka Very Slow
*^ Svastika Auspicious, Fortunate Like siddha
–Mystical cross or mark made on persons or things to denote good luck (it is shaped like a Greek
cross with the extremities of the four arms bent round in the same direction; the majority of
scholars regard it as a solar symbol; that is, as representing a curtailed form of the wheel of the
solar Vishnu, consisting of four spokes crossing each other at right angles with short fragments of
the periphery of the circle at each end of each spoke turning round in one direction to denote the
course of the sun ...)
? Utpada tala Emerging Sole
? Utphalaka Jumping
+^ Vajra Thunderbolt, Adamantine Sit on heels (from Gheranda)
–The “hard or mighty one,” thunderbolt, especially that of Indra, said to be formed out of the
bones of the rishi Dadichi, and shaped like a circular discus, or in later times regarded as having
the form of two transverse bolts crossing each other thus: X
? Vichitra nalina Beautiful Lotus (nalina)
* Vidhunana Trembling Squat on raised heels, stretch one leg out,
touch the toes with the same-side hand
*^ Vira Hero 1) Ardha padma, 2) One leg in ardha vira,
the other in ardha padma (from Gheranda)
* Vrishchika Scorpion Same
+ Vyaghra Tiger 1) Like simha, hands on floor beside hips,
torso leaned slightly forward, 2) On all
fours, round back, draw one knee toward
head, then reverse (from Dharma Mittra)
* Yoga nidra Union Sleep Same
–Meditation-sleep, which admits of the full exercise of mental powers; it is peculiar to devotees;
the sleep of Vishnu at the end of a yuga; Vishnu’s sleep personified as a goddess; the great sleep of
Brahma during the period between the annihilation and reproduction of the universe
VERIFIED ASANAS FROM THE HATHA RATNAVALI (32)
NAME MEANING IYENGAR EQUIVALENT
Angushtha Big Toe Turn the toes under and sit on the
heels. Rest the knees on the floor
Bhairava Fearful Shiva Like Mulabandha
Chakra Wheel Urdhva Dhanu
Dhuna Pitha Liberation Seat From Saura, hold extended-leg toes
Dridha Firmly fixed (MW 490) Side-lying position of Ananta
Eka Pada One Leg Bhairava
Hamsa Swan
Kama Dahana Desire Burning Mulabhanda
(Kama = God of Love; MW 272)
Karmuka Bow Sit cross-legged. Hold the right big
toe with the right hand, the left big
toe with the left
Khaga Bird (“moving in the air”) Perform Padma, lie on belly, hold
(kha go = “space going”) ribs with hands, lift upper chest and
head
Markata Monkey Like Uttana
Matsyendra* Lord of Fish Matsyendra I
Parshva Flank Like Marichi II
Baddha Bound Like Marichi II
Mayura* Peacock 5 variations:
Danda Staff (or Stick) Mayura
Parshva Flank (or Side) Dwi Pada Koundinya
Baddha Keki Bound Cry of Peacock? Padma Mayura
Pinda Eka Pada Koundinya II
Ekapada Eka Pada Koundinya I
Pada Pinda Foot Pressing Like one-legged Tada
Padma* Lotus 4 variations:
Baddha Bound Same, JB, NAD
Shuddha? Pure No JB, NAD
Kara Hand Like Padma (upturned hands on
thighs, NAD, KB, JB)
Samputita pankaja “Hollow of the hands lotus” Like Padma (fold the palms to make
a putita, “cavity”)
Pani Patra ? See MW 613 Kanda
Phani Indra Serpent King (Shesha) Like upright Dwi Pada Shirsha
Saura Sacred Sun From Utkata, extend one leg, heel on
floor
Shayita Pashchima Sleeping West Urdhva Mukha Pashchima II
Vicitra Karani Wonderful Action (MW 959) Like Hala
Vidhunama (dhuna pitha) Shaker (? MW 517) None
Vrishchika Scorpion Same
Yoga Nidra Yoga Sleep Same
RATNA POSES FOUND IN GHERANDA (18)
Bhadra
Gomukha
Goraksha
Kukkuta
Kurma
Manduka
Matsyendra
Mayura
Padma
Pashchima
Shalabhasa
Shava
Siddha
Simha
Svastika
Uttana Kurma
Vajra
Vira
RATNA UNVERIFIED (33)
NAME MEANING
Akasha Space
Ardha Narishiva Half-Male ?
Baddha Pakshi Bound Bird
Baka Crane (or Heron)
Brahma Brahma
Brahma Prasadita Brahma Pleasing (MW 709)
Chandra Moon
Chandra Kanta Moon Loved (candra kanta is the magical moon-stone, supposed to
be formed from the coagulation of the moon’s rays, which
dissolves under the influence of its light; also the wife of the
Moon; MW 386)
Chaurangi Chaurangi
Chitra Pitha Excellent Seat (pitha sometimes is used as a synonym of asana)
Dharavaha
Indrani Indrani is the god Indra’s wife
Ishvara Ishvara
Kabandha [meaning not clear, unless the word is wrong for kavandha
meaning "barrel/belly posture," even though such a posture also is
not known from other texts]#
Kanta Beloved
Kanthava [the meaning of this word is not known; misspelling?]#
Krauncha Heron
Mushtika Handful
Nabhi lastita padaka foot-appearing-at-the-navel posture???
Nabhi tala Sole-to-Navel
Naga pitha Snake Seat
Narjava
Raja Royal
Ratna Jewel
Shilpa Ornament (MW 1073)
Shuddha pakshi Pure Bird
Sudha Sara Shower of Nectar (MW 1226)
Sumandaka Slow (MW1231)
Utpadatala Sole-of-the-Stretched Leg
Utphalaka Leaping
Vicitranalina
Vyaghra Tiger
ASANAS IN 1982 ED. NOT FOUND ABOVE
akarita kukkuta [cock]-like posture
baddha kurma bound tortoise posture???
bandha culi kukkuta bound-crested [cock] posture
bandha bondage posture
bandhakara binding posture
chitra karani adorned instrument posture
eka-padaka- kukkuta single-footed cock posture
nalina day-lotus posture [nalina is the flower nelumbium speciosum]
niralambana unsupported posture
panchachuli five-crested posture
parshva side posture
parshva kukkuta sideways cock posture
pinda ball posture [pinda is also a name for the body as a whole]
sahaja natural posture
sharabha deer posture [possibly wrong for shalabha or locust posture]
shilpa simha artful lion posture???
shuddha pakshi
yoga mudra Yoga's seal posture
HATHA RATNAVALI
NAME MEANING IYENGAR EQUIVALENT
Baka Crane
Bhadra* Auspicious, Propserity Like Baddha Konasana
Bhairava Fearful Shiva
Chakra Wheel
Gomukha* Cow Face Similar position of legs only
Goraksha
Hamsa Swan
Kamadahana
Karmuka
Kukkuta* Cock
Panchachuli
Ekapada
Akarita
Bandhachuli
Parshva
Kurma* Tortoise
Manduka* Frog Like wide-knee Virasana
Markata Monkey
Matsyendra* Lord of Fish Matsyendrasana I
Mayura* Peacock Same
Danda
Parshva
Sahaja
Bandha
Pinda
Ekapada
Padma* Lotus
Bandha
Kara
Samputita
Shuddha
Panipatra
Pashchima* West
Shava* Corpse Same
Shilpa
Siddha* Attainment, Accomplished Same
Simha* Lion Similar
Svastika* Auspicious, Fortunate
Uttana Kurma Extended Tortoise
Vajra* Thunderbolt, Adamantine
Vira* Hero Like Ardha-Padmasana
Vrishchika Scorpion
1. Achintaniya-asana Inconceivable
2. Andha-asana Blind, Dark
3. Atmarama-asana Self-delight
8. Bhujanga-asana
9. Brahma-jvara-ankusha
11. Chatushkona-asana Quadrangular
12. Dhanur-asana* Bow Like Akarna Dhanurasana
13. Dvi-pada-shirsha-asana Two-Feet-to-the-Head
14. Eka-hasta-asana One-Hand
15. Eka-pada-shirsha-asana One-Foot-to-the-Head
16. Garbha-asana Fetus
17. Garuda-asana* Eagle None
19. Go-puccha-asana Cow Tail
21. Gupta-anga-asana* Hidden Limb None
22. Hala-asana Plow
24. Hasta pada-angushtha-asana Hand-and-toe
25. Janulagna-asana Touching-of-the-Knee
26. Kanda-pida Pressing-the-Bulb
27. Karna-pida-mula-asana
28. Kona-asana Angle
31. Maha-mudra Great seal
32. Makara-asana* Sea Monster Similar
35. Matsya-asana* Fish Same
38. Mrityu Bhanjaka-asana Splitting-death
39. Mukta-asana* Liberated None
40. Pada-angushtha-asana Big Toe
41. Pada-hasta Hand-to-Feet
44. Pavana mukta-Asana Free-From-Wind
45. Phodya-asana
46. Prasiddha siddha-asana Celebrated Attainment
47. Purva-asana East
48. Runda-asana Headless
49. Sankata-asana* Critical
50. Sarpa-asana Serpent
51. Sarva-anga-uttana-asana All-limbs-raised
52. Savitri Samadhi
53. Shalabha-asana* Locust Same
54. Shanti priya-asana Peace-loving
56. Shirsha-asana Head
57. Shoka-asana Sorrow
59. Siddha mukta-avali-asana Pearl-string-of-attainment
61. Supta Padma-asana Reclining Lotus
62. Surya-asana Sun
63. Surya-bheda-asana Piercing-the-sun
65. Trikona-asana Triangle
66. Tulita-asana Balance
67. Uddharaka-asana Drawing Out
68. Urddhva padma-asana High Lotus
69. Ushtra-asana Camel
70. Utkata-asana* Superior Similar
71. Uttana Manduka-asana* Extended Frog None
73. Uttana-pada-asana Extended Feet
74. Utthita Padma-asana Raised Lotus
76. Vatayana-asana Horse
77. Viloma-asana Inverted
79. Viyoga-asana* Separation
80. Vriksha-asana* Tree Same
81. Vrisha-asana* Bull None
83. Yoga-asana* Integration, Union
84. Yoni-asana Womb
