Viparita Karani
Description
Viparita Karani: Asana
Asana Type
inverted
Pramana
Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण
Sastra Pramana Source
Yoga-Tattvopanishad .122-126
Original Verse
"करणी विपरीताख्या सर्वाधिव्याधिनाशिनी ॥ १२२ ॥ नित्यमभ्यासयुक्तस्य जाठराग्निविवर्धनी । आहारा बहवस्तस्य संपाद्याः साधकस्य च ॥ १२३ ॥"
Transliteration
"karaṇī viparītākhyā sarvādhivyādhināśinī ॥ 122 ॥ nityamabhyāsayuktasya jāṭharāgnivivardhanī | āhārā bahavastasya saṃpādyāḥ sādhakasya ca ॥ 123 ॥
- for extended verse see end of chapter"
Translation
"The Karari known as Viparita, which destroys all mental and bodily ailments, develops the Jatharagni of the daily practitioner. Various kinds of food will have to be procured by the practitioner (of that Karani). Should the kinds of food fall short, fire will eat up the body in a minute. With his head down and his feet up, he should remain for a minute on the first day. "
Apta Pramana Source
Joga Pradipika (164-166)
Transliteration
"prathama sayana südho hoya öhäneà paga miläé ammara disi tänai | bahuri urdhvako deha ucävai bhüpari maurä päëi rahävai ॥164॥ dou paga puni avara saréra südhä uradha samya räkhai théra | dou pagathalé samatä däkhai gaganadisä sanamukha kari räkhai ॥165॥
- for extended verse see end of chapter"
Translation
Lie supine on floor. Keep feet together. Raise both legs and trunk vertically. Body weight rests on shoulders and neck. Keep hands spread out on ground. Direct the gaze at the tip of the nose.
Apta Additional References
YMS 17
Instruction
"1. Lie supine on floor.
2. Raise both legs and trunk vertically.
3. Body weight rests on shoulders and neck.
4. Keep arms extended on the ground.
5. Direct the gaze at the tip of the nose."
Atma Pramana Benefits
"Alleviates all diseases. Enhances gastric fire."
Sakshi Pramana Benefits
Relaxing and blissful
Regular Photo
Viparita-Karana-asana or Viparita-karani i (JP-164-166) .jpg
Technique of Viparita Karani
Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण
Sastra Pramana Source: Shiva Samhita(BA)-IV.45
Original Verse: "अथ विपरीतकरणी मुद्रा भूतले स्वशिरोदत्त्वा खे नयेच्चरणद्वयम् । विपरीतकृतिश्चैषा सर्वतन्त्रेषु गोपिता ॥ ४५ ॥"
Transliteration: "atha viparītakaraṇī mudrā bhūtale svaśirodattvā khe nayeccaraṇadvayam । viparītakṛtiścaiṣā sarvatantreṣu gopitā ॥ 45 ॥"
Translation: Putting the head on the ground, let him stretch out his legs upwards, moving them round and round. This is viparit-karana, kept secret in all the Tantras.
Benefits of Viparita Karani: Conquer Death, Drink Nectar, Becomes an Adept
Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण
Sastra Pramana Source: Shiva Samhita(BA)-IV.46-47
Original Verse: "एतद्यः कुरुते नित्यमभ्यासं याममात्रतः । मृत्युं जयति स योगी प्रलये नापि सीदति ॥ ४६ ॥ कुर्य्तेऽमृतपानं यः सिद्धानां समतामियात्। स सेव्यः सर्वलोकानां बन्धमेनं करोति यः ॥ ४७ ॥"
Transliteration: "etadyaḥ kurute nityamabhyāsaṃ yāmamātrataḥ । mṛtyuṃ jayati sa yogī pralaye nāpi sīdati ॥ 46 ॥ kuryte'mṛtapānaṃ yaḥ siddhānāṃ samatāmiyāt। sa sevyaḥ sarvalokānāṃ bandhamenaṃ karoti yaḥ ॥ 47 ॥"
Translation: "The Yogi who practises it daily for three hours, conquers death, and is not destroyed even in the Pralaya. 46. He who drinks nectar becomes equal to Siddhas; he who practises this Bandha becomes an adept among all creatures. 47."
Viparita Karani Removes Diseases
Pramana: Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण
Apta Pramana Source: Haṭhapradīpikā of Svātmārāma V.110
Original Verse: "ūर्ध्वन्āभिर्-अधस्त्āलुर्-ūर्ध्वṃ भ्āनुर्-अधḥ śअśī ॥ करṇī विपर्īत्āख्य्ā सर्वव्य्āधि-विन्āśइन्ī"
Transliteration: "ūrdhvanābhir-adhastālur-ūrdhvaṃ bhānur-adhaḥ śaśī ॥ karaṇī viparītākhyā sarvavyādhi-vināśinī ॥110॥"
Translation: "The practice, which puts the navel up and palate down, the sun up and moon down, is known as viparīta-karaṇī. It removes all diseases."
Daily practice of Viparita Karani
Pramana: Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण
Apta Pramana Source: "Haṭhapradīpikā of Svātmārāma V.111"
Original Verse: "करणी विपरीताक्या गुरुवाक्येन लभ्यते ॥ निथ्यम् अभ्यासयुक्तस्य जठराग्नि- विवर्धिनी ॥ १११ ॥"
Transliteration: "karaṇī viparītākyā guruvākyena labhyate ll nithyam abhyāsayuktasya jaṭharāgni- vivardhinī ll 111 ll"
Translation: Viparita-Karani is best learnt from the Guru. Its daily practice stimulates the gastric fire. 111
Adequate Diet for Practitioner of Viparita Karani
Pramana: Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण
Apta Pramana Source: "Haṭhapradīpikā of Svātmārāma V.113"
Original Verse: "आहारो बहुलस्तस्य संपाद्यः साधकस्य तु ॥ अनाहारो यदि भवेद् अग्निर्-देहं दहेत् क्षणात् ॥ ११२ ॥"
Transliteration: "āhāro bahulastasya saṃpādyaḥ sādhakasya tu ll anāhāro yadi bhaved agnir-dehaṃ dahet kṣaṇāt ll 112 ll"
Translation: "An aspirant requires increased quantity of food. If one does not take sufficient food, fire quickly consumes the body. 111"
Gradual Practice of Viparita Karani
Pramana: Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण
Apta Pramana Source: "Haṭhapradīpikā of Svātmārāma V.114"
Original Verse: "अधःशिराश्चोर्ध्वपादः क्षणं स्यात् प्रथमे दिने ॥ क्षणाच्च किञ्चिदधिकम् अभ्यसेच्च दिने दिने ॥ ११३ ॥"
Transliteration: "adhaḥśirāścordhvapādaḥ kṣaṇaṃ syāt prathame dine ll kṣaṇācca kiñcidadhikam abhyasecca dine dine ll 113 ll"
Translation: "One the first day, one should remain in the topsy-turvy position for a short time. Every day, one should retain the posture longer increasing the time little by little. 113"