Siddhasana

(Desire Conquered Posture)

Siddhasana can also be called as fourth form of Brahmcharyasana. Siddhasana is believed to be the best of all asanas. This is said to be ideal asana to achieve the highest levels in spiritual practices.

Since earth is home to 84 lakh creatures, yogis had formulated eighty four lakh asanas, one representing each form. But to practice all of them in one human life is impossible. Hence only 84 types of asanas have been retained. These eighty four asanas are also a large number in themselves. Hence all benefit derived from practice of these asanas can also be derived by regular practice of only Siddhasana and Padmasana. It is believed that by mastering practice of only Siddhasana, all the asanas can be mastered on its own. Siddhasana is supposed to be best asana for meditation, sadhana and samadhi.

Siddhasana (Desire Conquered Posture)

Method

This asana belongs to a family of asanas, which are performed in a sitting posture. Sit comfortably on floor. Place heel of left foot near anus. See to it that front of foot remains between inner thigh and calves. Now place right foot on left ankle. Keep spine, shoulders and neck erect. Form the Brahmamudra (right palm over left palm) with hands and place them below the navel. Focusing your sight on the tip of nose, slowly close your eyes.

Effect on Health

Practice ofthis asana influences important glands like hypothalamus, thalamus, thyroid, parathyroid and thymus. These remain healthy and functions efficiently resulting in a highly developed thought process. Both, voice quality and pronunciation improves. Timidness disappears and a strong, independent personality develops. The constriction of anal sphincter (moolbandh) helps to purify air element (apan vayu) circulating in digestive system transforming in to vital energy and flowing towards brain. Apan vayu is purifying. In beginning practice asana only for five minutes as practice becomes intense, increase time according to requirement.

Siddhasana primarily helps in cleansing the nerves. Clean nerves result in a well shaped and glowing body. Lungs get energized. This helps them to function well. This in turn improves blood flow. The erect posture maintained during asana helps improve spinal health and subsequently overall health of body. Laziness vanishes and mind stays steady and peaceful. Purification of physical energy keeps emotions pure and clean. Intelligence improves. A spurt in enthusiasm and energy improves work efficiency and concentration levels.

Apan vayu is purified with regular practice of this asana. When Apan Vayu and Apan Prana merge, sexual energy becomes steady and psyche of practitioner reaches state of Chit Samadhi. With practice of this asana, practitioner is relieved of constipation, indigestion, dyspepsia and dysentery. Positive results are seen in problems like a long running fever, heart ailments, Diabetes and enlargement of the spleen. Some Yogacharyas know this asana as Yonimudra.

Duration

Inhalation and exhalation should be deep and slow. While inhaling, contract Shakti and Swasthya Kendras and firmly believe that the physical energy generated in these kendras is converted into prana energy and is being channelised upwards and flowing towards brain. Apan Vayu gets purified. Initially this asana is to be practiced for five minutes only. With regular practice, time span can be increased.

Precautions

Practitioner gets enhancement of possibilities to achievement of all types of attainment with practice of this asana. This asana is the best of all the 84 types of asanas. Once perfection is attained on this asana, all other asanas are perfected easily and spontaneously.

Effect on Health

The human body contains two energy centers-the shakti kendra (the centre of procreation-Swadhisthan chakra) and centre of knowledge (the crown chakra). Practice of Siddhasana plays an important role in transmuting sacral energy into the energy of centre of knowledge. Practice of this asana effect the gonads in particular. As a result, feelings of lust and sex gets balanced. Mind feels cleansed and emotional purity develops. Enhanced state of meditation is attained with practice of this asana because of balanced and proper enhancement of power of centre of energy. This principle is also believed for awakening of shakti.

Other Benefits

A new vigor and energy is experienced in body. An increase in prana energy also takes place. The voice box is rejuvenated resulting in a strong and clear voice. Pimples and facial wrinkles do not worry anymore. The disorders of digestive system and tonsils are cured.