Is Viparita Karani the same as legs-up-the-wall pose?

This translation of Sanskrit into simple english is creating distance from the meaning of the word instead of proximity. They are two absolutely different things/practices.

Let us understand why there are NOT same:

1) Purpose: Viparita Karani is not legs-up-the-wall. This takes away not only the essence but also the meaning of the practice. Viparita Karani is done with the intention to gather the Soma and legs-up-the wall is practiced to remove tiredness, fatigue from the legs or to reduce swelling, increase fresh blood circulation etc.

2) Meaning: Viparita means "reverse". Karani means "one that leads to the action of". It does not means inversion, it means reversion. There is a huge difference between inverting the flow and reversing the flow. To inverse means to change the order and reverse means to go back to the origin. That is exactly the difference between a simple inversion like legs up the wall and "Viparita karani"

3) Position, Asana or Mudra: Viparita Karani is a Mudra and legs up the wall is simply a body position (not among one of the asana mentioned in Hatha Yoga Pradipika or other Yogic texts). Mudra creates a loop of energy that revolves in the entire body from head to toe. In this case it is the loop of re-vitality, re-birth, re-juvenation, re-verse. this message re-volves over and over in the body, until it starts a conspiracy of pulling the nectar-amrita-soma back to its origin- the Bindu Chakra. We are talking about stagnant fluids in case of legs-up-the-wall versus soma in case of Viparita karani.

4) Technique: In Legs-up-the-wall the angle of legs to the body is 90 degrees (which is pretty sharp) while in Viparita Karani it is about 60 degrees, this gentle inclination allows the soma to gently travel/trickle back to its home, any steep flow will create friction, effort and this will change the clam, gentle nature of soma.

5) Energetic physiology: Viparita Karani is the re-vision/tranformation of the apana into prana creating a Mudra of panic seal in the body. In legs up the wall the stagnant vyana vayu is stirred and refreshed.

6) Subtle physiology: In Viparita Karani the soma flows back to the soma (Bindu/Indu) chakra, instead of being consumed by the Surya Mandala (fire pit in the abdominal region). This consumption or ritualistic sacrifice of soma unto surya (solar energy) is also the homa (sacred fire ceremony), otherwise known as the journey of living in maya or physical world. With Viparita Karani, this mundane journey is transformed into a pilgrimage when the surya as agni is offered unto soma. It becomes a pilgrimage to Self (mortal self to the immortal Self).

Whatever I share is a combination of learning from my masters, and my limited experience, I won't ever say, "this is the only way or the right way or THE way''. So please understand, as much as I am limited by my experiences, it is also "all" that I have to share. Any incompleteness in this knowledge is mine while any good comes from the grace of Yogis/Yogini and Maha Prana.

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