Mayurasana

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title: "Mayurasana" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["balancing-asanas", "medieval-hatha-yoga-asanas"] description: "Hand-balancing posture in hatha yoga" topic_path: "general/balancing-asanas" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayurasana" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Hand-balancing posture in hatha yoga ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Peacock_pose.jpg" caption="Mayurasana"] ::

Mayūrāsana () or Peacock pose is a hand-balancing asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise with the body held horizontal over the hands. It is one of the oldest non-seated asanas, described in the 10th century.

Etymology and origins

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Jogapradipika_16_Mayurasana.jpg" caption="Mayurasana in an illustrated manuscript of the ''[[Jogapradipika]]'', 1830"] ::

The name comes from the Sanskrit words mayūra (मयूर) meaning "peacock" and āsana (आसन) meaning "posture".

Mayurasana is one of the oldest non-seated asanas used in hatha yoga; it is first described in the 10th century Vimānārcanākalpa. The Vāsiṣṭha Saṁhitā 1.76-7 states that it destroys all sins.

File:Nath yogi in Mayurasana peacock pose.jpg|Mural depicting a Nath yogi in Mayurasana at the Mahamandir temple, Jodhpur, India, c. 1810

Description

In this asana the body is raised like a horizontal stick holding the floor with both palms while the body is supported by the elbows.

Variations

Hamsasana (Swan Pose) is identical to Mayurasana except that the hands are placed with the fingers pointing forwards.

Padma Mayurasana (Lotus in Peacock Pose) has the legs crossed as in Lotus Position.

File:Padam Mayur asana.jpg|Padma Mayurasana

References

Sources

References

1. "Yoga Journal - Peacock Pose".
2. "Mayurasana - AshtangaYoga.info".
3. Sinha, S. C.. (1 June 1996). "Dictionary of Philosophy". Anmol Publications.
4. (2017). "[[Roots of Yoga]]". Penguin Books.
5. Ramaswami, Srivatsa. (3 June 2005). "The complete book of vinyasa yoga: an authoritative presentation, based on 30 years of direct study under the legendary yoga teacher Krishnamacharya". Da Capo Press.

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