Forgiveness Prayer (kṣamā prārthanā) - Yoga Series
- ayurvidyaorg
- Mar 21, 2024
- 2 min read
In the final week of Advanced Yoga training at Mt Madonna Institute, we learned and practiced a new series of Yogāsanās called "kṣamā prārthanā" (or forgiveness prayer). This series was very different from any of the other series like Surya Namaskār (Sun Salutations) and Chandra Namaskār (Moon Salutations). To practice the series, all the students made a circle around the altar. And everyone practiced the asanā series along with mantra chanting to the higher Self asking for forgiveness while surrendering all the negative emotions/attributes.
I love this series; its relatively simple and almost anyone can practice this with ease. I teach this in my studio and the students love it.
The series for the practice is as followed -
Stand in Pranamāsana (Prayer pose)
Inhale and move to Hasta Uttanāsana (Raised Arms)
Exhale and do Hasta Padāsana (Hand to foot - forward fold)
Inhale and make a Bajrāsana variation to sit on toes (Thunderbolt)
Exhale and move to Astāngāsana (Eight limbs pose)
Inhale and make a Bhujangāsana (Cobra)
Exhale and come to Balāsana (Child)
Inhale and make a Bajrāsana variation to sit on toes
Exhale and move to Hasta Padāsana
Inhale and make a Hasta Uttanāsana (Raised Arms)
And repeat the series with every emotions/attributes that you would like to ask for forgiveness. The idea is to surrender all negative emotions/attributes during the āsana practice. And you do so with the mantra. There are 28 emotions/attributes listed here but you can add/subtract based on what emotions you are personally struggling with.
Mantra: नमामि त्वां ब्रह्मणे ᳵᳵᳵᳵᳵᳵ (emotion/attribute) अर्पयामि ॥
Namāmi tvām brahmaṇe xxxxxxx arpayāmi ॥
Mantra Meaning: I bow to the higher Self for removal of my (emotion/attribute).
वासना - Vāsanā - Egocentric desires
क्रोध - Krodha - Anger
भय - Bhaya - Fear
मोह - Moha - Attachment
लोभ - Lobha - Greed
मात्सर्य - Mātsarya - Jealousy
क्रुरता - Kruratā - Cruelty
भ्रम - Bhrama - Delusion
असन्तोष - Asantoṣa - Discontentment
ललुपता - Lalupatā - Clinging
शत्रुता - Śatrutā - Hostility
छल - Chala - Dishonesty
आलस्य - Ālasya - Laziness
द्रोह - Droha - Malice
अविश्वास - Aviśvāsā - Distrust
कपट - Kapaṭa - Dishonesty
सन्देह - Sandeha - Doubt
स्वार्थता - Svārthatā - Selfishness
निर्लज्जता - Nirlajjatā - Disrespect
अकृतघ्नता - Akṛtaghnatā - Ungratefulness
कृपणता - Kṛpaṇatā - Miserliness
अपवित्रता - Apavitratā - Self-interest
परिग्रहता - Parigrahatā - Possessiveness
दुराग्रहता - Durāgrahatā - Stubbornness
चन्चलता - Cancalatā - Unsteadiness
धुर्त्तता - Dhurttatā - Cunning
व्याभिचार - Vyabhicāra - Corruption
अहंकार - Ahaṃkāra - Egoism
May you start this practice and surrender all your negative emotions and attributes to be the pure self as you are !!
*Credit goes to https://www.tummee.com/yoga/poses/all for all yoga pose images.
Comments