Gālavāsana: Pose dedicated to Gālava

Mythology: Gālava was a disciple of the wise Viśvāmitra. In the Mahābhārata, it is told that upon the completion of his studies, Gālava wanted to give his teacher, Viśvāmitra, a guru dakṣiṇā (gift).

Viśvāmitra became irritated and demanded 800 horses, each with one black ear. This task seemed initially impossible to Gālava. Therefore, he sought help from Garuḍa, a mystical eagle. Garuḍa took him to King Yayāti in Pratiṣṭhāna.

However, King Yayāti could not help him with the 800 horses either, but he gave him his daughter, Madhavī. Gālava arranged marriages for Madhavī with three kings: Haryaśva of Ayodhyā, Divodāsa of Kāśī, and Uśīnara of Bhoja. Since Madhavī bore each of the three kings a son, Gālava received 200 horses from each as a dowry.

Gālava could not find a fourth king, therefore he eventually returned to Viśvāmitra with 600 horses and offered Madhavī as the equivalent for the missing 200 horses. Viśvāmitra accepted this offer and had a son named Aṣṭaka with Madhavī.

This story doesn't represent my views on gender equality. Quite contrary: For me it highlights that ancient India had its injustices too.

In the story, Madhavī remained a virgin despite her marriages and motherhood, through a boon. When Viśvāmitra retired to the forest, Madhavī, as the mother of three kings and a sage, had fulfilled her karmic duty and returned to her father. Viśvāmitra handed over his hermitage and his horses to Aṣṭaka and Gālava. Gālava ultimately also withdrew to the forest for meditation.

The story of Gālava offers multiple levels of significance that can be symbolized through the practice of Gālavāsana in yoga. Gālava's endeavor to fulfill his guru's seemingly impossible demand reflects the dedication, perseverance, and innovative thinking that are required in practice and in life. The pose Gālavāsana, which demands balance, strength, and focus, mirrors these qualities. It teaches practitioners steadiness and composure under challenges, embodying the very qualities that Gālava demonstrated on his journey: determination and respect for teachers. Ultimately, the journey is often just as important as the destination.

Tip: First, place your right ankle on your left thigh, as close to the knee as possible. Then you can use your left thigh to gently push your right ankle toward your left armpit.

Note: In Ashtanga Yoga, the extended left leg and the upper body point diagonally into the air. However, there is a variation of the pose where you can support the upper body on the elbows and balance the body horizontally.

Tip: Don't just fall out of the tripod headstand into Caturāṅga Daṇḍāsana. First, lower your straight legs until your toes almost touch the ground. From there, give an upward impulse with your legs. This will effortlessly lift your head so you can control your descent into Caturāṅga Daṇḍāsana.

Effect: As an arm balance, Gālavāsana strengthens the wrists, arms, and shoulders. The pose activates and fortifies the core muscles. Additionally, it combines external rotation with flexion in the hip joint, making it one of the hip-opening postures.