Web:  www.ashtangayogaroom.com

Concentration is fixing the mind to a place.

Shiva, being the lord of yoga, would spend all his time in contemplation.  He was entirely free of samsara and the cycle of life, and had no need to engage in worldly pursuits.  However, it greatly vexed Brahma, creator of the universe, to see all the followers of Shiva renouncing the world to pursue spiritual liberation.  Brahma preferred for everyone to work and procreate, but Shiva’s devotees would do none of that.  Brahma brought his concerns to Vishnu, preserver of the universe, and Vishnu suggested a compromise.  Since moksha, spiritual liberation, is balanced by dharma, worldly duty, Brahma and Vishnu conspired to find Shiva a wife who would stir his interest in the material world, and inspire his followers to do the same.

Shakti, the divine female force, took human form as Sati, the daughter of Daksha.  Daksha was one of the Prajapati, the servants of Brahma, and his particular responsibility was to guard tradition and maintain order, so that civilization would endure.  He considered himself to be quite important, dispensing laws and rules and judgments, and expected everyone to bow before him.  Daksha was accustomed to being indulged this way, but Shiva was unimpressed, and treated Daksha as though he didn’t exist.  When Sati announced her intention to marry Shiva, Daksha would not hear of it.  He fumed over the ways that Shiva was an unsuitable candidate to marry his youngest daughter: no family, no job, no possessions, no manners, and so forth.  In reality this was all pretext, though.  Daksha’s immense ego simply couldn’t tolerate being ignored.

Raising any objections made no difference to Sati, as she had already made her decision.  Through great effort she convinced Shiva to take her as his wife.  As Shiva became established in a blissful marriage, the balance of the world was restored, to the great relief of Brahma and Vishnu.  Daksha however, was very unhappy.

To all the gods, demigods and sages, throughout all the planes of existence, invitations were sent for a great fire ritual to be hosted by Daksha.  Everyone was invited–except Shiva and Sati.  Of course Shiva had no interest in such things anyway, but Sati was completely infuriated.  She insisted that they go: whether it was an oversight or an intentional slight was immaterial.  Shiva counseled temperance, but Sati was adamant.  She left for the party without her husband.

In great finery and with many attendants, Sati arrived at the great hall but was acknowledged by nobody.  Daksha, offering no courtesy at all, announced to everyone present that she was uninvited, and he continued with a few choice comments about her husband.  Sati was unable to abide this humiliation.  She summoned the full force of her prana, spontaneously burst into flames, and was completely consumed in fire.

Sitting in meditation, Shiva received word of what happened.  His suffering and anger were deep.  He responded by tearing out a lock of his hair, lashing the ground with it.  From the ground sprang Virabhadra, a warrior of wrath such as had never been seen or heard of.  On Shiva’s instructions, Virabhadra interrupted Daksha’s fire ritual and killed every guest, one by one.  Dragging Daksha to the fire altar, Virabhadra raised his axe and severed Daksha’s head, throwing it into the fire after drinking Daksha’s gushing blood.  The ritual hall was reduced to rubble, and the grandiose ego of Daksha was no longer.

Thus ends the story of our Warrior pose, Virabhadrasana.  The two forms of this asana show Virabhadra performing his primary task.  The first form has the arms raised, preparing to swing the axe; the second form has the arms extended out, the axe-blow having been struck.

The preceding pose, Utkatasana, also has significant meaning.  With a slight difference in pronounciation, utkata can translate as either “a state of longing or regret,” or simply “furious.”  Probably both meanings could be ascribed to Shiva’s state just before the wrathful vengeance began.

So next time you get on the mat, summon your fury and channel your inner Virabhadra, and see if afterward the roses smell even a little sweeter.

Friday 10/21    4:00 – 6:30 pm
Saturday 10/22    8:00 – 11:00 am
Saturday 10/22    4:00 – 7:00 pm
Sunday 10/23    9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Full Workshop $250 (Early Bird: $225 by 10/7)

Number of participants is limited!  Registration: Register in the Store or mail your check to The Yoga Room, 4905 Freret Street New Orleans, LA 70115.

For more information: Annie Pace    (719) 256-5668    www.shaktisharanam.com