KAH-KAAAAAAH!!!!
Are you ready to fly, my little crows? Today you will learn how to do Crow step by step (at the end of the post) and the beautiful story in Hindu Mythology as recounted in the Epic Mahabharata that teaches us to be calm, focused and grounded.
Since this summer's hotter
you will find Crows in the water
The story goes something like this:
In an effort to avoid a long and bloody civil war, the emperor Yudhisthira and his 5 brothers went into exile to the forest for 12 years. At some point during this time they found themselves tired, frustrated, hungry, parched and in great need of water for their wandering troupe. From a tall tree one brother could see water a little ways off. So Yudhisthira sent him to fetch some. When he didn’t come back, Yudhisthira sent each brother, one after the next. When none of the brothers comes back Yudhistrhira goes next to find them.
In the golden autumn
a Crow always looks awesome!
He walked until he came to a beautiful crystalline lake, surrounded by trees, flowers, wildlife, and general loveliness. So thirsty, he rushed to the beautiful bank and to his horror he found all of his brothers lying there. Dead.
At the dreadful sight before him, he lamented, he grieved, and as he sat beside his brothers he heard a voice.
"I am the cause of your brother’s deaths....... I warned them- but they would not listen. This pool belongs to me, and unless you are given my permission to drink water, you will die too." The voice belonged to a crane.
Each of the brothers saw the crane as an enemy challenging their strength, courage and rights. Their reaction was to attack the crane to fulfill their duty. Yudhisthira always represents the calm level-headed man and in this story he quiets his grief and anger and allows his cool head to be in control of judging the situation. The crane shed his disguise and revealed that he was a forest Ogre or Yaksha. He challenges Yudhisthira; if he can answer 108 questions, he can have water.
*Every winter in the snow
Crows put on a stunning show
Some of the questions are like riddles, some teach philosophy and some teach virtuous universal principles.
Here are a few of those questions:
What is fleeter than the wind? And what is more numerous than grass?
Yudhishthira answered, the mind is fleeter than the wind; and our thoughts are more numerous than grass.
The Yaksha asked, what is the best of all kinds of happiness?
Yudhishthira answered, contentment is the best of all kinds of happiness.
What is the highest duty in the world? What is that which if controlled, leads not to regret?
Yudhishthira answered, the highest of duties is to refrain from injury: the mind, if controlled, leads to no regret.
After 108 questions the Yaksha is very happy with Yudhisthira’s answers and tells him that he can not only drink as much water as he needs but he can also pick one brother to bring back to life.
Yudhisthira is very close to his brothers, but he chooses his half-brother, Nakul. The only one with a different mother.
The Yaksha asks why he would pick a halfbrother over the others, and Yudhisthira says that it would be a way to honor both Mothers by allowing one son from each to live in the world.
This thoughtful choice and sacrifice wins the Yaksha over and he agrees to resuscitate all the brothers.
In our dreams (and sometimes waking life seems like a dream) what appears to be an enemy is an ally in disguise. A confrontation with the enemy is an occasion for inquiry. What do we really believe in? Which are our core values? Maybe by articulating and clarifying those values, we stop seeing an enemy and we can find a well-wisher and companion.
The spring brings flowers
and Crows with unicorn powers
"GET ME INTO THE POSE!!" you say..
Ok ok, but we just talked about not rushing into outcomes!
When we perform the posture bakasana, it is important for proper balance to maintain the eyes focused in one point and not get too aggressive in getting the feet up off the floor. Just like Yudhisthira allowed for the best outcome by being wise, calm and focused on his duty.
Step 1- Squat, and plant your hands on the floor, shoulder with distance apart or wider with fingers spread wide. Place a pillow or blanket right in front of your hands ;)
Step 2. Start shifting your weight into your arms. Rest your knees on your triceps.
Step 3. Bend your arms so you have a bit of a shelf for your legs, start sending your chest forward enough so that your legs start to get lighter
Step 4. Keep your gaze forward. Maybe lift one foot off the ground. Squeeze your abs, feel lift from your core! Don’t dump all your weight on your arms or your wrists will suffer.
Step 5. Lift the other leg, guiding both feet towards your butt.
Your fingers act like your brakes, if you’re going too far forward press the floor away.
What is the difference between Crow and Crane pose? In crow you have arms bent and knees behind your arms. Crane is a more advanced variation where your arms are straight and your legs hug your arms, as if you were a yummy piece of sushi and your legs were the chopsticks.
Everything is sweeter when you share it with a friend
I hope you found this entertaining and interesting and that you feel ready to try this fun stuff!
All the pictures are of me and taken by different smartphones..
NOW SOAR WITH YOUR STRENGHTS!
Love this post what an amazing story and what sense it makes. Crane is one of my favourite asanas but I never knew this story behind it :). It’s really good to hear these tales surrounding the asanas, where do you find them. And also great you covered a pose I can do this time although need to work on the partner one ;)
Crow is fun, and harder than it looks! All the stories come from the Hindu Epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Much like Aesop’s fables and folk tales, they tell stories that have some moral or philosophical teaching. There's a lot more to each story and a lot more background to each character, and they represent more than just one trait. I've heard the stories related to the poses through my teachers or doing some research. I'm glad you're enjoying reading the stories! I love telling them!
Great keep it up :)
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STOPworking on this! dang! Love the post, great read! You are a magical unicorn!
A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?
- Albert Einstein
As soon as i get healthy again I'll be balancing on everything.
yeah you will!
Good read. Very interesting.
Followed and upvoted.
Your channel seems hella interesting. :)
I'm glad you like it! Stick around for more!
Will do!
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Yes yes yes!! 😁
Amazing work Val! got to try this one time
you should! show me the picture when you do!