This is Padmasana, the destroyer of a yogi's diseases," says the Hatha Yoga treatise of Shiva Gorakhshnath. This asana when performed with perfection reflects the beauty of a yogi's state of being, internal and external. Shiva, the Mahayogi, is shown sitting in the lotus posture, master of all the worlds, he has conquered the turbulent passions within and without. The toes of the upturned feet resemble the petals of the lotus flower, but that is not the only reason for this asana being called the padmasana. The lotus flower symbolises the three stages one must pass through in the quest for self-realisation, which is the goal of a true practitioner of yoga. From the mud of ignorance the lotus struggles and endeavours through water symbolising resistance from inner passions and outer circumstances, to reach sunlight and air that is realisation and knowledge. It marks the progression of evolution of, not only the individual but also the society, the planet and the universe!

While seated in this posture the yogi unifies all the energies to become gradually focussed in meditation. The Kundalini energy is facilitated to flow up the spine, clearing and activating every chakra pushing the practitioner towards the inherent soul consciousness that is contained within. An asana of perfect balance, once mastered this is one of the most relaxing of all sitting asanas. The body feels light and there is no pressure anywhere on the legs to disturb the one deep in meditation.

In today's age of using chairs everywhere, even the toilet is not spared because of the WC culture; one seldom finds people squatting on the floor casually, hence the difficulty in performing sitting asanas. Such beginners can start with the normal sukhasana and swastikasana or by simply squatting on ones haunches. The best way to familiarise is to spend more time closer to the ground, throw some cushions around invitingly to tempt one to sit on the floor, keep the telephone on the floor so you have sit down to answer it, keep your favourite food on the lowest shelf in the refrigerator etc. With practice the muscles of the legs will elongate and become supple to bring ease in all sitting postures. By exercising the legs and the joints thus all pain in the ankle and knee joints are overcome, it arrests and sometimes cures completely the initial onslaught of arthritic pains. In the yogic field this asana starts the process of pratyahar, the fifth stage of yoga.