Dhanurasana

Half-tone engraving of Yogi Ghamande in Dhanurasana in his Yogasopana Purvacatuska, 1905. The text below the image cites the Gheranda Samhita, whose description of the pose is ambiguous.[1]

The name comes from the Sanskrit words धनुर (dhanura) meaning "bow",[2][3] and आसन (āsana) meaning "posture" or "seat".[4]

A similar pose named Nyubjasana, "the face-down asana", is described and illustrated in the 19th century Sritattvanidhi.[5] The pose is illustrated in half-tone in the 1905 Yogasopana Purvacatuska and named Dhanurāsana, quoting the Gheranda Samhita's description.[6]

It is unclear whether the asana is medieval, as although the name is used, the intended pose might be the sitting Akarna Dhanurasana rather than this backbend. The account of Dhanurasana in the 15th century Hatha Yoga Pradipika is ambiguous about whether the pose is reclining or sitting, stating[1]

Having held the big toes of both feet with both hands, one should pull [them] like a bow as far as the ears. This is called bow pose. (HYP 1.25)

The 17th century Gheranda Samhita is similarly ambiguous, stating

Spreading the legs on the ground, straight like a stick, and catching hold of the feet with the hands, and making the body bent like a bow, is called by the Yogis the Dhanurasana or Bow-posture. (GhS 2.18)[7]

Dhanurasana is used in the classical Indian dance form Bharatanatyam.[8]

From a prone position, the feet are grasped to lift the legs and chest to form the shape of a bow with the body, with the arms representing the bowstring.[9][10][11] Balasana can be used as a counter pose.[3]

Purna Dhanurasana, a more extreme variant of the pose with the legs brought to the head

Variations include:

• Parsva Dhanurasana, the same pose with the body rolled onto one side.[12]
• Purna Dhanurasana, a more extreme backbend with the legs brought to the head[13]

Counter asanas are Halasana and Sarvangasana.[14]

• Akarna Dhanurasana, a sitting pose resembling an archer shooting an arrow
• Salabhasana, an easier reclining backbend
• Urdhva Dhanurasana, the upwards bow or wheel

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dhanurasana.

• Iyengar, B. K. S. (1979) [1966]. Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika. Thorsons. ISBN 978-1855381667.
• Mehta, Silva; Mehta, Mira; Mehta, Shyam (1990). Yoga: The Iyengar Way. Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 978-0863184208.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Sjoman, Norman E. (1999) [1996]. The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace (2nd ed.). Abhinav Publications. ISBN 81-7017-389-2.
• Vishnudevananda, Swami (1988) [1960]. The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0-517-88431-3.