Introduction
Siddhasana is a yoga posture most suitable for Meditation. It is one of the ancient yoga postures like Padmasana.
Normally, householders don’t take this posture for practice. This is because people believe that this posture is for those yogis who have renounced the world. This is the reason why Siddhasana has not become as popular as other traditional yoga postures.
However, this posture can be a good alternative to Padmasana, because it is comparatively easier to get mastery over. Classic Yoga texts eulogize this posture as the most important one for meditation.
This article sheds light on its meaning, step-by-step procedure, and benefits.
Siddhasana Information
| Pose Name | Siddhasana |
| Sanskrit Name | सिद्धासन |
| IAST | siddhāsana |
| English Name | Adept Pose Accomplished Pose |
| Origin | Ancient Indian |
| Difficulty Level | Intermediate |
| Type | Seated Posture |
Siddhasana Meaning
The word Siddha means a yogi who has accomplished or succeeded in the yogic path. In other words, Siddha means an Adept Yogi.
However, A modern yogi who has simply got mastery over yoga postures could not be termed as Siddha. Only a yogi who has reached the very goal of yoga is a Siddha. Siddha is a realized yogi or Jivan Mukta.
We call this posture in English Adept Pose or Accomplished Pose.
Moreover, a number of Siddhis or psychic powers will accrue with the yogi who regularly practices this posture. In this sense, it may be called Psychic Power Pose.
Siddhasana Procedure
The practice routine includes precautions, preparatory postures, step-by-step procedures, and follow-up postures.
Siddhasana Safety and Precautions
Persons having knee ailments or sacral ailments should avoid this pose. For instance, one who is having a degenerated disc or sciatica pain should take care before attempting this one.
While perfecting this posture, one should not overdo and harm oneself. Hence one should attempt this posture in a gradual and conscious way, and if she/he senses any discomfort either in her/his knees or sacral area of the spine, she/he should not proceed further. But consistent practice leads to perfection in due course.
Preparatory Poses
The following poses are preparatory poses for Adept Pose.
How to Master Siddhasana?
The first step to mastering Siddhasana is to sit in Sukhasana. This will make you comfortable in a cross-legged sitting position which is the basis for advanced postures like Adept Pose and Lotus Pose. Next, Butterfly stroke or Titali Asana, a dynamic yoga pose, is a hip opener that helps to perform adept poses for a longer duration of time. To summarize, Sukhasana and Titali Asana prepares you to master Siddhasana.
Siddhasana Steps
Step 1
Sit with legs stretched out. Bend the right leg and place the heel under the perineum. Then, the perineum should be seated on top of the right heel, and place the right sole flat against the inner left thigh.
Step 2
Bend the left leg and place the left ankle over the right one. Now place the left heel above the genitals so that the genitals lie in between the two heels.
Step 3
Place the right toe in between the left calf and thigh and the left toe in between the right calf and thigh. Adjust the knees suitably. Ensure the knees touch the floor.
Step 4
Place the hands on the knees in Chin Mudra or Jnana Mudra. Close your eyes. Breathe slowly.
Practice Note
If you feel discomfort placing the ankle on one another, place a piece of cloth in between them.
One may place either of the heels under the perineum.
Duration
Initially, a longer duration is not possible. For getting psychic powers one should extend the duration for a period of at least three hours.
Variation
Hatha Yoga Pradipika gives two versions of Adept Pose. The first version is mentioned above. In the second version, both the heels are placed one on another above the genitalia instead of placing the genitals in between them.
Siddha Yoni Asana
Ladies should modify Step 2 of the complete version. They should place the left heel against or inside the labia majora of the female organ.
Ardha Siddhasana
Similar to Ardha Padmasana, there is a variation called Ardha Siddhasana. In this variation, one heel is placed under the genitals and another heel is placed on the floor. It is comparatively easy to perform. Therefore, a beginner may start this practice first. After some days of practice, he may attempt the complete version. While practicing the half version, he should change the legs and practice it for an equal period of time.
Advanced Pose Variation
Like Yogamudrasana, the forehead is placed on the floor after sitting in Adept Posture. This advanced variation is called Padayoniyasana.
Siddhasana Vs Padmasana
Both Adept Pose and Lotus Pose are seated yoga postures. Moreover, the two poses are the most ancient yoga postures and are used mainly for meditation. Ancient Yogis of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism used either of these two poses for meditation. The difficulty level of Adept Pose is comparatively lesser than that of Lotus Pose.
Normally, Sannyasins and yogis prefer adept poses and a householder prefers any other seated yoga posture for meditation or breath control exercises.
Though the mastery of both poses gives Siddhis or psychic powers, mostly Adept Pose is preferred.
Considering the physical aspects of the poses, both are hip openers. Butterfly Stroke and Easy Pose are very good preparatory poses for mastering these Seated Poses.
Siddhasana Benefits
- Siddhasana is the most suitable pose for Pranayama and Meditation
- It helps in the practice of Brahmacharya
- This posture activates the Base and Sacral Chakras.
- It opens the hip joints and improves flexibility in the lower part of the spine.
- This posture helps develop psychic powers like clairvoyance, clairaudience, remote healing, etc.
- Siddhasana calms down the nervous system and the activities of the brain. The whole body experiences serenity. This is the main reason why it is mostly preferred for Meditation.
