There is an interesting history behind Veerabhadra .
“According to Hindu religious beliefs, Veerabhadra is a super being created by the wrath of Rudra (Shiva), when he stepped in to destroy the Yagna (fire sacrifice) of Daksha, after his daughter Dakshayani (Sati) – consort of Shiva, self-immolated in yagna fire. Along with him was created, his consort or wife Bhadrakali from the wrath of Devi.”
Vīrabhadra is described as a warrior who eventually blinded Bhaga and broke, among many other countless gods, Pushan’s teeth. Other gods fled the battlefield unable to sustain his power.
A temple dedicated to him, is situated in the town of Veerbhadra near Rishikesh in Uttarakhand and in Pasumbalur, near Perambalur district, Tamil Nadu .Also, Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Temple is in Bangalore Karnataka”
Source: Wikipedia.
This asana is also called Warrior Pose.
Veera – vigorous, warrior; Bhadra – good, auspicious; Asana – Pose.
Difficulty Level: 1
Note: Difficulty Level increases from 1 to 10. 1 being the lowest and 10 the highest.
How to do Warrior Pose-2 || Virabhadrasana
Yoga Image -2
- Stand in Tadasana or the Mountain pose.
- Spread your legs apart, sideways, keep a distance of 4-4.5 feet. Inhale while doing so.
- Raise your arms sideways in line with the shoulders, palms facing down (Yoga Image 2)
- Now turn your right foot 90 degrees to the right and left foot slightly to the right. Align the left heel with the right heel.
- Stretch the left leg, tighten its kneecap and stretch its hamstring muscles.
- Now exhale and bend your right knee. You should try to bend till you reach a position where your right thigh is parallel to the ground.
- For beginners try to bend as much as possible. Don’t try to force yourself. With regular practice you will see improvement in your poses. (Image 3)
- Keep the right shin perpendicular to the floor, forming a right angle between the right thigh and right calf.
Yoga Image -3
- The bent knee should be in line with the heel.(Image 3)
- As you settle down in Yoga pose, you should further stretch your arms.
- Simultaneously, turn your head towards right.
- Try to stretch back muscles of the left leg fully.
- The back of the legs, dorsal region and hips should be in one line.
- Try to stay for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Inhale while coming up.
- Reverse the feet and repeat for the same length of time to the left.
Benefits of Virabhadrasana
- Helps in strengthening the leg muscles, tones arms, legs and lower back.
- Helps in relieving the cramps.
- Improves the balance of the body.
- Stimulates abdominal organs.
- Beneficial for those who have sedentary lifestyle.
Precautions
- People suffering from spinal disorder or chronic illness or recovering from the illness should perform only after consultation with doctor.
- High blood pressure people should avoid this asana.
- People with weak heart should avoid this asana.
- People suffering from diarrhea or recently suffered from diarrhea should avoid this pose.
It is said that Veerabhadrasana or Virabhadrasana is one of the most graceful yoga postures. One should do this asana with the same grace and a smile on the face.
Mastery of the standing poses helps in performing the advanced poses with ease.
You can also see details on this asana with respect to human anatomy :
