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Mayūrāsana ( sa, मयूरासन) or Peacock pose is a hand-balancing
asana An asana is a body posture, originally and still a general term for a sitting meditation pose,Verse 46, chapter II, "Patanjali Yoga sutras" by Swami Prabhavananda, published by the Sri Ramakrishna Math p. 111 and later extended in hatha yoga ...
in
hatha yoga Haṭha yoga is a branch of yoga which uses physical techniques to try to preserve and channel the vital force or energy. The Sanskrit word हठ ''haṭha'' literally means "force", alluding to a system of physical techniques. Some haṭha ...
and modern
yoga as exercise Yoga as exercise is a physical activity consisting mainly of postures, often connected by flowing sequences, sometimes accompanied by breathing exercises, and frequently ending with relaxation lying down or meditation. Yoga in this form has ...
with the body held horizontal over the hands. It is one of the oldest non-seated asanas.


Etymology and origins

The name comes from the Sanskrit words ''mayūra'' (मयूर) meaning "
peacock Peafowl is a common name for three bird species in the genera ''Pavo (genus), Pavo'' and ''Afropavo'' within the tribe Pavonini of the family Phasianidae, the pheasants and their allies. Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and female pea ...
" and ''āsana'' (आसन) meaning "posture". Mayurasana is one of the oldest non-seated
asana An asana is a body posture, originally and still a general term for a sitting meditation pose,Verse 46, chapter II, "Patanjali Yoga sutras" by Swami Prabhavananda, published by the Sri Ramakrishna Math p. 111 and later extended in hatha yoga ...
s used in
hatha yoga Haṭha yoga is a branch of yoga which uses physical techniques to try to preserve and channel the vital force or energy. The Sanskrit word हठ ''haṭha'' literally means "force", alluding to a system of physical techniques. Some haṭha ...
; it is first described in the 10th century ''
Vimānārcanākalpa The ''Vimānārcanākalpa'' is a 10th to 11th century text on Hatha yoga, attributed to the sage Marichi. Text The ''Vimanarcanakalpa'' is a 10th to 11th century prose text on Hatha yoga, attributed to the sage Marichi. revised from American Aca ...
''. The '' Vāsiṣṭha Saṁhitā'' 1.76-7 states that it destroys all sins.


Description

In this asana the body is raised like a horizontal stick holding the floor with both palms while the body is supported by the elbows.


Variations

Hamsasana (Swan Pose) is identical to Mayurasana except that the hands are placed with the fingers pointing forwards. Padma Mayurasana (Lotus in Peacock Pose) has the legs crossed as in
Lotus Position Lotus position or Padmasana ( sa, पद्मासन, translit=padmāsana) 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 ...
.


See also

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List of asanas An asana is a body posture, used in both medieval hatha yoga and modern yoga. The term is derived from the Sanskrit word for 'seat'. While many of the oldest mentioned asanas are indeed seated postures for meditation, asanas may be standing, sea ...
*
Planche (exercise) A planche is a skill in gymnastics and calisthenics in which the body is held parallel to the ground, while being supported above the floor by straight arms. It is a move that requires significant strength and balance. There are many variation ...
*
Vrischikasana Vrischikasana or Scorpion pose is an inverted asana in modern yoga as exercise that combines a forearm balance and backbend; the variant with hands rather than forearms on the floor, elbows bent, is called Ganda Bherundasana. ''Light on Yoga'' tr ...
, scorpion pose, with variations including Pincha Mayurasana


References


Sources

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External links


Step by Step instruction
{{Hatha yoga Balancing asanas Medieval Hatha Yoga asanas