Visvamitrasana
--Image: ../Asana/Drayva/Plank/Vishvama1a.jpg
--Image Attribution:Demonstrated by Jamie Turner Allison
©Om Zone Yoga Studio
Jamie Turner Allison, Director
P.O. Box 1877
Edwards, CO 81632
Tel. 970-926-3536
--Image: ../Asana/Drayva/Plank/Vishvama1b.jpg
--Image Attribution: Demonstrated by David Swenson
Authorized Ashtanga Teacher
Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice
by David Swenson -
©Ashtanga Yoga Productions ï ISBN 1891252089
Visvamitrasana
"Visamitra" is the name of a Hindu sage.
Visvamitra was the name of a celebrated sage. He was originally a ksatriya (a member of the warrior caste), being the king of Kanyakubja.
One day while out hunting, he went to the hermitage of the sage Vasistha, and seeing there Kamadhenu (the Cow of Plenty), offered the sage untold treasures in exchange for her. On being refused, the king tried to take her by force. A long contest ensued in which the king was defeated.
Although sorely vexed, he was greatly impressed with the power inherent in Brahmanism. The king devoted himself to the most rigorous austerities until he successively achieved the status and titles of Rajarsi (a royal sage, a saint-like prince), Risi (a sage or seer), Maharsi (a great sage or patriarch of mankind) and finally Brahmarsi (a Brahmanical sage), but he was not content until Vasistha himself called him Brahmarsi. During his arduous penance, the heavenly nymph Menaka seduced him and conceived Sakuntala, the heroine of Kalidaa's famous drama. This asana is dedicated to Vismatirta.
Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika
by B.K.S. Iyengar
©1966 George Allen & Unwin Publishters, Ltd.;
ISBN 0-8052-1031-8
Visvamitra (Sanskrit) Friend of all; a celebrated rishi (sage), famed for his contests with the sage Vasishtha. By birth a Kshattriya of the lineage of Pururavas of the lunar dynasty, he was employed at the court of Raja Sudas of the Tritsus, as was Vasishtha. Visvamitra was constantly worsted in his struggles for supremacy over the great Brahmin Vasishtha, and determined to elevate himself to the rank of a Brahmin, which he succeeded in doing after many strenuous austerities. Many verses of the Rig-Veda are said to have been written by him, and he is also credited with authorship of a law book.
In the Ramayana, Visvamitra is stated to be a counselor of Ramachandra.
Encyclopedic Theosophical Glossary
©1999 by Theosophical University Press.
--Image: ../Asana/Kavya/Visvamitra/Full1a.jpg
--Image Attribution: Visvamitrasana
Demonstrated by Daniel Chernoborv
(Kneeling) Visvamitrasana
This pose was difficult to name, and Mr. Sidersky did not. I have also included it in the Yantrasana page, since it could be called an elevated (urdhva) or kneeling (namara) Yantrasana.
If you know the name of this pose, please email me.
--Image: ../Asana/Drayva/SunDial/Var2a.jpg
--Image Attribution: (Kneeling) Visvamitrasana
Demonstrated by Andre Sidersky
Hatha Yoga by Andre Sidersky of Kiev, Ukraine
--Image: ../Asana/Drayva/SunDial/Var2b.jpg
--Image Attribution: (Kneeling) Visvamitrasana
Demonstrated by Andre Sidersky
Hatha Yoga by Andre Sidersky of Kiev, Ukraine
Here is a Master Class from Jason Crandall of Yoga Journal Dedicated to Visvamitrasana http://www.yogajournal.com/livemag/lmcontent/15
And and article written by Shiva Rea http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/2149
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