In Hinduism

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: archive.org: Gheranda Samhita

Uttānakūrmakāsana (उत्तानकूर्मकासन) is one of the thirty-two āsanas (postures) taught in the second chapter of the Gheraṇḍasaṃhitā: “Assuming the Kukkuṭāsana, hold the neck with arms and remain straight like a tortoise. This is called Uttānakūrmakāsana”.

Uttānakūrmakāsana is one of the selected 32 postures amongs 8,400,000 total mentioned by Śiva, according to Gheraṇḍasaṃhitā 2.1-2, “In all, there are as many Āsanas as species of animals. Eighty-four lacs of them are mentioned by Śiva. Out of them, 84 are regarded as important and among these 84, again 32 are good (enough) in this world of mortal beings”.

The 17th-century Gheraṇḍasaṃhitā (mentioning uttānakūrmaka-āsana) is one of the three classic texts of Haṭha-yoga: a major branch of Yoga, sharing similarities with the Yoga system taught by Patañjali, though claiming its own mythical founder known as Matsyendranātha. This gheraṇḍa-saṃhitā is an encyclopedic Sanskrit treatise describing thirty two such āsanas.

context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Kurmaka, Uttana, Asana.

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Search found 1 books and stories containing Uttanakurmakasana, Uttana-kurmaka-asana, Uttānakūrmakāsana, Uttāna-kūrmaka-āsana; (plurals include: Uttanakurmakasanas, asanas, Uttānakūrmakāsanas, āsanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Yoga-sutras (with Bhoja’s Rajamartanda) (by Rajendralala Mitra)

Sūtra 2.46 < [Second Chapter (Sadhana Pada)]

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