Asana
and Mudra is an encyclopedia of yoga in two parts: a
book of photographs of asanas and mudras and a comprehensive text written
originally in Gujarati and translated into English by Gauri
Modi, a disciple of Swami Kripalvananda. The Gujarati versions
were published in 1974 by the Sri Kayavarohan Tirth
Seva Samaj. In 1985 an English edition was prepared from Gauri
Modi's translation by Narada Muni of Menlo Park, CA. The text
is available today in part on this website. The intention is to make available the complete text if there is a demand.
From Narada Muni's Preface: "Asana and Mudra is
a text on sadhana, on living a life that leads to complete fulfillment
at the feet of the Lord. In it,
Swami Kripalvananda shows how to integrate devotion, action,
and knowledge so that one's life may be filled with the grace
of God. The book is built around commentary on 134 asanas based
on the deep yogic experiences of Kripalu. He interweaves spiritual
and psychological principles, descriptions of God and advanced
stages of samadhi, and citations from the ancient yogic scriptures
into his practical descriptions of the techniques for performing
asana, mudra, pranayama, sat karma and meditation. He explains
how yogic techniques such as asana, pranayama, diet and fasting
can be used to cure disease. In giving guidance to students of
asana, he classifies the different types of asana, and describes
how to practice them in a balanced sadhana program.
The remarkable feature of this text is that Swami Kripalvananda
did not learn these asanas and mudras from books, pictures, or
hatha yoga teachers. Instead they occurred spontaneous in his
meditation, the meditation of total surrender to God. Thus,
his narrative touches on the deepest experiences of life, shows
how those experiences are also described in yogic scripture,
and explains how to practice yoga sadhana so that we can enter
those realms."
Swami Kripalvananda writes in his Preface: "Asana and
Mudra is a cultural text. It is an immortal
gift from yoga; therefore, I took a scientific approach in
composing it. Only through science can life's most difficult
problems be unraveled. To quench the insatiable curiosity
of the people of India and the rest of the world, this study
of asanas and mudras is presented scientifically. The body,
mind, soul, Almighty God, and the universe are all connected.
This requires bringing together and embracing physiology, which
gives knowledge of the gross body; psychology, which resolves
the difficulties of subtle relations and thoughts; yoga, which
builds an individual's character; hygiene, which protects
the body from disease; and ayurvedic science which lead one
to health. These sciences must work together, so I wrote Asana
and Mudra as a scientific exposition of these subjects."
From his Program of Asana Practice, he writes: "Thousands
of asanas and mudras have come my way during my practice of yoga.
I originally planned to include photographs of 500 asanas and
mudras in this book. This first edition contains only 277 photographs,
yet people were discouraged, and asked how and when they could
possibly do all these asanas and mudras. When I heard that,
I forever gave up my idea of a book encompassing a detailed collection
of asanas and mudras.
The ancient teachers of yoga did not have cameras, so carved
their teachings in rock sculptures. This method of expressing
their profound knowledge is responsible for the preservation
of the aryan culture. Some modern scholars say that such carving
had been intended only to pass on the art of dancing. While there
is some truth in this inference, yogic sculpture has much
deeper mysteries to reveal. The purposeful statues of goddesses
and gods parallel the esoteric scriptures of yoga. The advanced
yogi derives continual inspiration from them. Wherever such
statues exist, we find the source of aryan culture. In other
words, the purna yogis (perfect yogis) have given guidance
to future yogis through these sculptures.
By learning a new asana everyday, one can learn hundreds of
asanas in five years. Physical exercise is as necessary for life
as water and food. The invalid, the healthy person, and the
yogi should not be upset on seeing the number of asanas and
mudras illustrated here. All of the asanas and mudras will
become easy with practice.
In his Guidance to Asana Students, he writes: "Asanas
benefit men and women, young and old, sick and health equally.
Practice under the strict guidance of an expert in a pure and
peaceful environment. Avoid straining the body through over-enthusiastic
practices. Stop as soon as you feel tired.
sarvetra sukhinah santu sarve santu niramayah,
sarve bhadrani
pasyantu ma kascid duhkhamapnayat
May everyone be happy;
May everyone be healthy;
May everyone be prosperous;
May no one be unhappy.
om santih, santih, santih!
Om, peace, peace, peace!
Your beloved,
Kripalu
Salutation to the Sun
