tadasana

MOUNTAIN POSE

Tadasana means “mountain pose.” It is a basic standing pose with the feet together and the hands at the side of the body. This posture promotes the stillness, strength, relaxed power, and stability we associate with mountains.

The Himalaya

For a long time the Himalaya mountains have been populated by wandering sages and yogis, who considered the solitude of mountain caves to be ideal for the practice of yoga and meditation. Himalaya means abode (alaya) of snow (hima), but the highest mountain range on earth is also referred to as Devalaya, “the abode of the gods.” According to yoga philosophy, within everything there is consciousness and quality—not only in humans and animals, but also in natural phenomena like rivers, mountains, and trees. The Himalaya are represented by the god Himavat, who is the father of Parvati, the consort of Shiva.

Mountains are of crucial importance to life on earth because they are the source of the rivers, which flow toward the sea, veining the land with essential lifeblood. Rivers have always been an important aspect of spiritual life. They were regarded by the sages as symbols of samsara, the endless cycle of birth and death. On the distant shore, liberation awaited those who were able to cross the river’s turbulent waters with the ship of yoga. Rivers like the Ganges and Yamuna were looked upon as goddesses (devis) and graceful mothers (mayis), who embraced even their dirtiest children. Rivers have the power not only to carry the ashes of the deceased towards the heavens, but also to wash away the bad impressions left by a person’s wrongdoings of the past.

Mountains are inseparable from rivers, which is why Himavat is also considered the father of Ganga Devi, the goddess of the Ganges, which is India’s most sacred river.

The River of Life

Once King Bhagiratha prayed for Ganga to appear on earth and purify it. Ganga would only agree to descend from the heavenly regions if someone would break her fall. Shiva agreed to catch Ganga in his matted locks of hair, which he did. The Ganges now rises from its source in the mountains where Shiva stood. When we stand in tadasana, the head, being nearest to heaven, is where we receive the blessings that flow through the rest of our body like a river.