Matsyendranath Hatha Yoga - Padmasan

Sadhguru says Padmasan is not merely a physical posture; it is a spiritual posture of the soul. Stillness is not the absence of motion; it is the presence of eternity within the motion. To master Padmasan is to master the first gateway to the kingdom within.

Article | Shree Siddhashram | April 07, 2025

Sadhguru: The Sacred Seat of Awakening, the very second step of Hatha Yoga, is Padmasan. In the rich and mystical tradition of Hatha Yoga, as expounded by the great yogi Matsyendranath, the practice of Padmasan, or the Lotus Pose, holds an exalted place. It is more than a physical position; it is a geometric design of balance and an energy conduit through which higher consciousness is summoned. This asana, often considered the king among meditative postures, symbolizes the blossoming of inner awareness, akin to the lotus flower rising untouched through the muddy waters of existence.

Just as the lotus blossoms untouched by water, the yogi in Padmasan remains unsoiled by the world.

Padmasan has been revered not only for its meditative stillness but also for its subtle alchemical power to awaken the Kundalini Shakti—the coiled feminine energy resting at the base of the spine. In the path laid down by Matsyendranath, the founder of the Nath tradition and a pivotal master in the evolution of Hatha Yoga, Padmasan becomes a vehicle of transformation, purification, and transcendence.

Let us delve deeply into this ancient seat of yogic power, understanding its origins, physical form, energetic significance, and the spiritual wisdom it encapsulates.

Stillness is not the absence of motion; it is the presence of eternity within the motion.

Historical and Spiritual Origins in Matsyendranath Hatha Yoga

“The body is the temple, the asana is the throne, and the soul is the king who awakens within.”

The lineage of Matsyendranath, the spiritual father of Gorakshanath, emphasizes Hatha Yoga as a means to unlock the inner mysteries of Shakti and Shiva. Matsyendranath was not just a yogi but a Siddha, one who had conquered the elements of nature and mind through intense sadhana. He taught that the path to liberation begins in the discipline of the body and culminates in the silence of the mind.

In his teachings, Padmasan is not an optional posture; it is the foundational seat—the Yogic Throne from where the inner rituals of breath, mantra, and dhyana (meditation) are conducted. It is through the stillness of Padmasan that the tumultuous mind begins to recognize its chaos and gradually surrenders into silence.

The name "Padma" (lotus) is symbolic of purity and emergence. In ancient Indian symbology, the lotus grows in the mud yet remains unstained. Just as the yogi lives in the world but is untouched by its illusions, Padmasan allows the practitioner to rise through the mire of physical limitations and mental distractions.

Just as the lotus blossoms untouched by water, the yogi in Padmasan remains unsoiled by the world.

Anatomical and Energetic Blueprint of Padmasan

“When the spine becomes a staff of light, and the breath a song of silence, Padmasan becomes the doorway to the infinite.”

Padmasan is executed by placing the feet on opposite thighs, right foot over the left thigh and left foot over the right. The spine remains erect, the head aligned with the heart, the chin slightly tucked in Jalandhar Bandha, and the hands rest gently on the knees in Chin or Jnana Mudra.

Let us break down the physical and energetic effects of this posture:

Root Locking (Mula Bandha): The base of the spine becomes active, engaging the pelvic floor. This action channels prana upwards through the Sushumna Nadi.
Spinal Erectness: The spine becomes a channel for Kundalini energy, rising from the base chakra to the crown. The natural curves of the spine are retained, but the alignment is strictly vertical.
Hip Opening: The hips, the storehouse of emotional memories and karmic imprints, are slowly released and opened through this posture.
Blood Circulation: Blood flow is concentrated around the pelvic and abdominal region, enhancing digestion and sexual health while calming the brain.
Energy Stabilization: The pressure of the feet against the thighs presses key marma points, calming nervous fluctuations and anchoring the yogi in a deep inner presence.

There is no higher temple than the one built with spine erect, eyes closed, and soul awakened.

Padmasan and the Subtle Body: Chakras, Nadis, and Kundalini

“The seat is sacred, not because of the earth it touches, but because of the sky it opens within.”

In the tradition of Matsyendranath, Padmasan is seen as a doorway to the subtle body. The three primary Nadis—Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna—are balanced in this posture. The stillness attained allows pranic energy to move into Sushumna, the central channel that connects the Muladhara (Root Chakra) to the Sahasrara (Crown Chakra).

This position also directly influences:

Muladhara Chakra: Grounding the yogi and stabilizing the energy.
Svadhisthana and Manipura: Stimulating creative and transformative energies.
Anahata (Heart Chakra): The seat becomes a base to rise into unconditional awareness.
Ajna (Third Eye): As the body quiets, inner vision sharpens. Padmasan serves as a launchpad into deep meditative states.

When practiced with Pranayama and Bandhas, Padmasan becomes an initiatory posture to activate Kundalini Shakti, the dormant force within every being. Under the Nath tradition, such activation was not a mere experience but a process of divine union—Shakti merging with Shiva.

Psychological and Emotional Effects of Padmasan

“The mind that rests in the lotus knows neither desire nor despair.”

Padmasan offers profound psychological effects. In Nath yogic psychology, stealing the body is the first conquest over the restless mind. Emotions, thoughts, memories—these lose their grip when the body ceases its involuntary movements.

Practicing Padmasan regularly:

Reduces anxiety, depression, and restlessness.
Cultivates detachment and inner observation.
Enhances concentration and memory.
Fosters equanimity—the mind remains unshaken by praise or blame.

This posture is often recommended as a preliminary position for Japa (mantra repetition), Dhyana (meditation), and Dharana (concentration).

The body folded in lotus is the symbol; the mind dissolved in silence is the truth.

Ritual and Mystical Significance in Nath Yoga

“To sit in Padmasan is to sit at the center of the universe, where breath is mantra and stillness is prayer.”

In the mystical texts of Nath Yoga, the body is described as a cosmic mandala. Each posture is a yantra—a sacred geometric design. Padmasan, when seen from above, resembles the unfolding petals of the lotus, symbolic of Sahasrara Chakra. As the yogi sits unmoving in this position, a silent ritual unfolds within: the breath becomes rhythmic, the mind turns inward, and the divine Self begins to shine.

In Nigam tantric rituals, especially those invoking the Devi or Bhairavi, begin with Padmasan as the foundational seat. The body becomes the altar, the breath the offering, and the mind the flame.

In ancient Nath practices, it was said that a yogi who could sit in Padmasan for three hours without movement attained the siddhi of Kayasiddhi—mastery over the physical body and elements.

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Cautions and Preparatory Practices

Although Padmasan is deeply beneficial, it is not suitable for absolute beginners or those with tight hips or knee injuries. The following steps help prepare the body:

Hip Opening Asanas: Baddha Konasana, Gomukhasana, and Ananda Balasana.
Knee Flexibility Practices: Gentle Sukhasana and half-lotus position.
Consistent Warm-Ups: Surya Namaskar and seated twists before deep meditative postures.
Use of Props: A cushion or folded blanket can reduce stress on knees and hips during the early stages.

In Matsyendranath’s lineage, Yamas and Niyamas (ethical disciplines) are considered foundational. Without cultivating a sattvic (pure) lifestyle, even Padmasan becomes mechanical. Thus, purity of diet, thought, and emotion must complement the physical discipline.

Padmasan is the fire that burns restlessness into radiance.

The Awakening of Shakti: The Inner Lotus Blooms

When practiced with sincerity, Padmasan becomes a ritual of inner flowering. The practitioner begins to feel subtle changes—body temperature stabilizes, breath slows, thoughts become less frequent, and inner joy arises without cause. These are signs that the energy body is aligning.

The lotus blooms in still water; the soul awakens in still posture.

In the Nath tradition, Padmasan is often accompanied by Ajapa Jap—the unconscious repetition of the mantra So-Ham, synchronized with the breath. As the yogi sits still, breathing in “So” and breathing out “Ham,” the identity dissolves, and the eternal Self is glimpsed.

Conclusion: Padmasan – A Return to the Center

In the modern world, where restlessness has become a default condition, the ancient practice of Padmasan offers a sacred refuge. It is a call to return—to return to stillness, to self, to the source.

Under the illuminating gaze of Matsyendranath, Padmasan becomes not just a technique but a spiritual gesture, an inner offering. It is the silent revolution of the soul, the throne of awakening, the bud that opens not under the sun but under the radiance of the Self.