Significance of Lotus Posture (Padmasana)

The lotus flower grows in a muddy pond. Although the root and the stalk of the flower remain associated with the muddy water and are stained with dirt, the flower itself is out of the water and remains pure. Similarly, the person in lotus posture remains associated with the material world but his or her mind and spirit soars high above. Therefore, the lotus posture is considered the best posture for the meditation.

As all asanas, the lotus posture (padmasana) has its effect on the glandular and bio-magnetic systems. Our hands and feet contain more afferent and efferent nerves as well as exocrine glands than any other single part of our body. Our hands and feet are major ways bio-energy enters and leaves our physical and astral bodies. When we sit with legs crossed and locked and our hands folded, the bio-energy, which usually gets dissipated through our hands and feet, forms a closed circuit. This helps prevent our attention from wandering and thus allows for deeper meditation.

The tantrik meditation system is based on the raising of the kulakundalini from the lowermost chakra. The kundalini moves upwards through our spinal column to the crown of our head (Sahasrara Chakra). The requirement for an asana for meditation is that the spine remains straight. Padmasana is an important beneficial posture for meditation because it literally locks the spine in a straight position. It is also easy to maintain the straightness for a long time without breaks in concentration.

Although the lotus posture is said to be the best asana for higher meditation, it may take some time to learn to maintain it properly. You should not be concerned if you are unable to remain in this posture due to your physical condition. Other sitting postures, even in a chair, where the spine remains erect are as good for meditation as Padmasana because, the final realizations in meditation happen solely in the higher layers of the mind and not in our physical body.