Gorakshasana (Sanskrit:गोरक्षासन,IAST:Gorakṣāsana,Cowherd pose) is a seatedasana inhatha yoga. It has been used formeditation and intantric practice.

The pose is named for the sageGorakhnath, founder of thenath yoga tradition, who is said to have used the pose formeditation. It is accordingly practised by histantric devotees, the kanphata yogis. It is said to awakenkundalini and to halt the process of aging.^[1][2] The Sanskrit wordāsana (आसन) means "posture" or "seat".^[3][4]

Gorakshasana is medieval in origin, described inhatha yoga texts including the 14th centuryShiva Samhita 3.108-112, the 15th centuryHatha Yoga Pradipika 1.28-29, and the 17th centuryGheranda Samhita 2.24.

Gorakshāsana is a seated pose with the soles of the feet pressed together and the knees on the ground, as inBaddha Konasana (in medieval times known as Bhadrasana), with the difference that the heels are under the body.^[1][5]

The pose is sometimes described as having the toes on the ground with the heels directly above them, as inMulabandhasana.^[2] TheHatha Yoga Pradipika directs the yogin to "place the ankles under the scrotum on either side of the perineal seam, with the left ankle on the left and the right ankle on the right. Take hold of the sides of the feet firmly and steadily with both hands." It claims that the pose destroys all diseases.^[6]

The name Gorakshasana is given to a different balancing pose inB. K. S. Iyengar's 1966Light on Yoga, where the legs are folded as inPadmasana with the knees only on the ground, the hips directly above the knees, and the hands in prayer position. Iyengar describes it as "a difficult balancing pose and one is elated even if one can only balance for a few seconds."^[3]

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• Sitting asanas
• Medieval Hatha Yoga asanas
• Meditation asanas

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