Three Hindu Tantra Positions

This article describes a number of Hindu tantra positions, including the Tantra Cobra Position, Tantra Stretch Position and Tantra Extreme Stretch Position.

Tantra Cobra Position:

1) To begin this tantra technique, lie down in a prostrate position, keeping your legs tightly together and stretched to the rear.

2) Position your hands under your shoulders, palms facing down.

3) Inhale and raise your head, stretching your neck to the rear and using your hands to stretch your trunk upwards until you form a graceful arc from the lower back to the back of your neck. Do not proceed beyond this if you experience strain; however, if you have the flexibility, straighten out your arms altogether, bending the legs at the knees and dropping your head back to touch your feet. If your head does not reach feet, drop it back as far as you can and maintain the position with deep breathing.

4) Emerge from this tantra posture gradually, returning to the prostrate posture.

5) Relax with your head to one side, then repeat the exercise.

Tantra Stretch Position:

1) Lie down prostrate on your exercise mat. Ensure that the mat is properly cushioned if you are very lean.

3) Inhale deeply, bending your knees upward. Stretch your arms to the rear and grab your ankles, keeping fingers and thumbs together.

4) Breathe in and simultaneously raise your head and chest, pulling in at your ankles and lifting your knees and thighs. Breathe normally and try to lift your legs higher upwards, simultaneously lifting your head as if to meet them. You will wind up in a bent bow position, focusing the weight of your body on your belly. You can stop at this stage if you cannot proceed further, but can also stretch further and slide your hands down your legs, lifting them higher. Keep the knees together and pull back as much as you can.

5) Maintain this tantra posture for the duration of a couple of deep breaths, then return to the prostrate position with head to one side.

Tantra Extreme Stretch Position:

1) Sit down with both legs stretched out in front, keeping your back straight.

2) Reach forward with both hands and hold your feet, grabbing the right foot with the left hand and the left foot with the right hand.

3) Breathe in, bending the left knee and drawing your foot across your body and around your chest, maneuvering the elbow up and twisting your body slightly to the right. The left hand continues to firmly hold the right foot. Maintain this tantra position with normal breathing, the release it slowly and relax

4) Repeat the posture. Initially, it is adequate to clasp the bent left leg with the right hand. When this is comfortably achieved, stretch down and clasp the left foot with the right hand. Continue pulling the left foot, lifting it higher as you breathe out in sequence.

Do not attempt these Tantra techniques without the close guidance and supervision of an experienced Tantra teacher if you wish to derive the optimum benefits. Without proper guidance and supervision, many Tantra exercises can cause harm.

Copyright (C) Subhojit Dasgupta.

Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra teacher and offers Tantra lessons to select pupils.

Bhairav Tantra And The Tantric Wisdom Sutras

Bhairav Tantra encompasses several facets of our life. It prescribes a systematic conduct for structuring our learning of Tantra techniques, and on achieving reunion with Supreme Consciousness. In instructing you on Bhairav Tantra, your Tantra teacher aims to help you realize your true Self by focusing your attention to any physical or non-physical object. You will then meditate on this object to the exclusion of everything else.

The art of Tantra is not just about a bunch of postures or meditative techniques; ancient Tantra is, in fact, a way of sadhana or self-realization. Bhairav Tantra addresses the eight steps to awakening or Nirvana, as authoritatively declared by Rishi Patanjali. The eight astangas or subdivisions of awakening our inner consciousness through Tantra practices are yamas, niyamas, asanas, pranayamas, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi.

The Tantric yamas teach us conscientious and interpersonal behavior. While instructing you in these, your Tantra teacher will direct you to avoid untruthfulness, thieving and avarice. Ahimsa (or non-violence and kindness towards all living beings) is the first step towards self-realization. Communicating what is right and moderation in all the Tantra sadhanas is revered and sublime.

The Tantric niyamas teach us what inner values we should have towards ourselves: flexibility, cleanliness, peacefulness, devotedness and austerity. They teach us to always abide by discipline and accept the Supreme Intelligence that exists beyond ourselves, and to accept our limitations in relation to this Supreme Intelligence (or God).

In the Tantric asanas, the Tantra master has us focus on Tantra posture practice session, aligning the body and integrating tantric breath to attain higher consciousness of mind, body and soul. The mind needs to be conscious and at ease, without stress, and must be able to observe the responses of the body and breath to varied Tantra positions. These minimise the dietary and climatic influences on the body.

Pranayama in Tantra is highly advanced in its restraint and control of the tantric breath, dynamically stimulating and balancing our mind and body.

Pratyahara through Tantra is the relaxation of our sensory faculties so that nothing can disturb or unfocus the mind.

Tantra Dharana is the power to channel the mind towards a preferred objective and center in on that exclusively.

Tantra Dhyana (or meditation) is the power to evolve concentrated interactions on what we attempt to realize in Tantra.

Finally, Tantric Samadhi constitutes the supreme state of Self-realization in Tantra.

Copyright (C) Subhojit Dasgupta.

Subhojit Dasgupta is a Tantra teacher and offers Tantra lessons to select pupils.