हठयोग प्रदीपिका (योगी स्वात्माराम - ज्योत्स्ना टीका सहित सटीक)

HAṬHAYOGAPRADĪPIKĀ 13
foot by the right hand] and remain with the body
turned around [to the left]. This is the Āsana described
by Matsyendra.
27. This MATSYENDRĀSANA, [which increases
appetite by] fanning the gastric fire, is a weapon
which destroys all the terrible diseases of the body;
with [daily] practice it arouses the Kuṇḍalinī and makes
the Moon steady in men.
Above the root of the palate, the Moon is said to be located,
ever dropping cool, ambrosial nectar that is wasted by mixing
with the gastric fire. But this Āsana prevents it.
There is a curious story told of Matsyendra, who is said to be
the pupil of Ādinātha or Śiva. Once, Śiva went to a lonely island
and, finding it uninhabited, taught his wife Pārvatī, the mysteries
of Yoga. A fish that happened to approach the shore heard every-
thing and remained motionless, with its mind concentrated.
Ādinātha perceived that the fish had learnt the Yoga and, being
extremely merciful, sprinkled water upon him. Immediately,
he became a Siddha possessing a divine body and was called
Matsyendra.
This is deeply symbolical and suggestive. Compare the
story of the Matsya Avatāra and the fish to whose horn the Hindu
ark of Vaivasvata was tied during the flood. For some valuable
hints towards the elucidation of this, see the article by Madame
Blavatsky on ‘Lamas and Druses’ in The Theosophist, June 1881,
p. 196 footnote.
28. Stretch out both the legs on the ground
without bending them, and having taken hold of the
toes of the feet with the hands, place the forehead upon
the knees and rest thus. This is PAŚCIMATĀNĀSANA.
29. This most excellent of all Āsana-s, Paścima-
tāna, makes the breath flow through the Suṣumnā,