Marichi Asana - Pose of the Sage Marichi

 

Introduction

Marichi: Marichi is the son of Brahma and chief of the Maruts, the warlike storm gods. He's one of the seven seers (rishis) or lords of creation (prajapatis), who intuitively "see" and declare the divine law of the universe (dharma). Marichi is the great-grandfather of Manu ("man, thinking, intelligent"), the Vedic Adam, and the "father" of humanity. See Tantra of the Great Liberation by A. Avalon (J. Woodroffe), Introduction and Preface. Marichi (Marīci, मरीचि); ray of light , ray, mirage, starlight.

Name variations: Marishi, Marichy

The origin of Marichi lies in early Indian scriptures such as The Laws of Manu (Skt. Manava Dharma Shastra) and the Puranas, where Marichi is one of 10 Prajapatis or primal parents /chief of the Maruts produced from the mind of Brahma. In this male aspect, Marichi is father of Surya, the sun and (with his wife Sambhuti) also of Kashyapa 'Old Tortoise Man' one of the seven primordial sages. Thus, Marici, the beam of divine light that initiates creation of the physical world is not only illumination in a physical but also in the spiritual sense.

 

Marishi Marishi

Description

The difficulty of this posture is to keep the back straight and to move the shoulder involved as far back as possible. This is best done by bringing as close as possible the foot to the bended leg and by tilting the pelvis girdle forward as much as possible.

The trunk must also be turned as if dodging with an upward motion. In the illustration, it is the right arm that goes by the right knee and joins the left hand in the back.

It is possible to practice the posture eyelids open or eyelids closed. In the first case, a real or virtual point is gazed. In the second case, more powerful, the glabella point is gazed at.

Breathing occurs in Visamavritti. The inhaled prana can be visualized as leaving an area at the level of the skin surface above the heart to reach an inner surface in the heart. During the exhalation, the visualization is reversed.

The focus is therefore at the level of the heart. The tongue is in Kaki Mudra:

  • Inhalation: the tongue goes out in kaki mudra.
  • Exhalation and retention: the tongue is in kaki mudra inside the mouth, propping against the soft palace.

During the inhalation, the mantra “SO” is enunciated; during the exhalation the mantra “HAM” and during retention, silence is respected.

The root is contracted in Mula Bandha. Heat and vibration should manifest and intensify during the practice.

The practice should reach 3 to 4 minutes minimum while seeking to increase the breathing rhythm to 3/12/6/0, 4/16/8/0, 5/20/10/0 and even more.

Then, switch side. Aim at practicing this posture up to 10 minutes on each side.

 

Variation

 

Marishi

 

Note

Some descriptions of this posture put the trunk and arms in reverse, similar to one of the variations of Ardha Matsyendrasana.