This asana has an enormous positive effect — from massaging the internal organs and filling them with energy through to calming the mind. Nune Rojas, creator of the YogaHormonal hormonal yoga method, explains what makes this pose special.
But first, a little history. At the beginning of time, when the Universe had not yet been finished, the Hindu god Brahma decided that people should see the final stage of the world’s creation. He created 10 rulers, the “prajapati”, from his mind, and 9 others from his body. One of the first ten was called Marichi, which translates as “a ray of light from the moon or the sun”.
The sage had a son, Kashyapa, and a grandson, the sun god Surya. Incidentally, it is to him that Surya Namaskar, often practised in yoga classes, is dedicated. Surya’s son, Marichi’s great-grandson, Manu, became the father of all humankind. The first three letters of the word “manu” are the root of the Sanskrit word for “to think”. And, incidentally, it is from that root that the English word “man” later arose.
Interestingly, the name “Marichi”, with the same meaning, belongs in Buddhism to a female deity of the dawn. This lady has her own chariot drawn by seven pigs, or by seven horses in the Hindu version. She has an eye in the middle of her forehead, and three faces and ten arms besides.
In Japanese Buddhism she is Marishi-ten, a goddess popular with the samurai. Warriors depicted her on their helmets for protection from death. In China Marishi is also regarded as queen of heaven and is a protector who removes obstacles and brings pleasure.
By practising this asana you will be able to absorb the goddess’s qualities, feel supported, remove obstacles from your path and experience delight in your body. You will become a true “ray of light” for this world.
So then…
1. Sit on the mat with a straight back. Straighten your legs and bring them together.
2. Cross your bent left leg over your right knee. Turn your torso to the left.
3. Reach your right shoulder towards your left knee.
4. Bend your arm and rest the elbow on your left thigh, with the palm facing up.
5. Turn your head to the left and direct your gaze over your left shoulder.
6. Take several intensive breaths into the lower abdomen, drawing it in on the exhale and expanding it on the inhale. Then take a deep breath in, fill your whole body with air and prana, contract the muscles of the genitals and tuck your chin slightly towards your chest. You will probably notice a light pressure arising at the crown of your head at this moment.
7. Picture a kind of glowing sphere forming there at the crown of your head.
8. On the exhale, direct a ray of light from the crown of your head into the left side of your pelvis. Observe how that space fills with radiance inside.
9. Move your attention slightly higher and observe the sensations around the heart centre, then around the neck and in the space beyond your skin. Observe the light and the boundaries of that space.
10. Repeat all of the above with the other leg.
This is exactly how we perform this asana in YogaHormonal hormonal yoga classes. You will notice the effect if you practise daily:
- You will start waking up more easily,
- you will feel better through the day,
- you will be able to adapt more quickly to whatever happens in life,
- and most importantly, Marichyasana will help relieve many health problems, since performing it improves blood flow in the pelvic and abdominal organs and fills the endocrine glands with prana, or energy.
And isn’t that what we all want — a vigorous, healthy life?
Practise yoga. Be healthy and happy, as fully and as long as you can.
