# आसन (āsana)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/asana

आसन (āsana) is a Sanskrit word meaning sitting down, halting, stopping, encamping, abiding, dwelling, seat, place, or stool, the withers of an elephant, the part where the driver sits, maintaining a post against an enemy. Its 25 recorded definitions are grouped into 11 contexts, among them Act of Sitting / General Term, Seat, Stool, or Place for Sitting, Abiding, Dwelling, or Staying.

- **Root:** आस् (ās)
- **Etymology:** E. आस to abide, and युच् or ल्युट् aff — E. āsa to abide, and yuc or lyuṭ aff
- **SLP1:** `Asana`  **IAST:** āsana  **Devanagari:** आसन
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asana
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/asana/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** आसना (āsanā), असना (asanā), असन (asana)

## Meanings by context

### Act of Sitting / General Term (8 definitions)
- sitting down  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 159,3] 1. आसन (āsana) n. (but आसन (āsana), Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa (Title) ) sitting, sitting down, Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra (Title); Manu-smṛti (Title) [ ID=27854 ]
- 1. Sitting down or a sitting posture. 2. Halting, encamping, or abiding. 3. A seat, position, or royal office.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > आसन (āsana) [Printed book page 043-3 ] आसन (āsana) ā́s-ana ( or á), n. sitting, down; sitting posture; halting, encamping; abiding; seat; position, office ( of a king ); -bandha, m. sitting down; -vat, a. having a seat, sitting; -vidhi, m. offer of a seat; -stha, a. sitting. [ ID=3991 ]
- 1. Sitting. 2. A seat or stool. 3. A peculiar mode of sitting. 4. A particular mode of sexual enjoyment. 5. Maintaining a post against an enemy. 6. The front part of an elephant’s body.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > आसन (āsana) [Printed book page 113-02 ] आसन (āsana) n. 1. Sitting; 2. a seat, a stool, प्रयत्नमुक्तासनया गृहागतः (prayatnamuktāsanayā gṛhāgataḥ) R. iii.11, or स्वहस्तदत्ते मुनिमासने मुनिः (svahastadatte munimāsane muniḥ) Sis. i.14; 8. any peculiar mode of sitting; 4. any peculiar mode of sexual enjoyment; 5. maintaining a post against an enemy (one of the six modes of foreign policy which are- संधिर्ना विग्रहो यानमासनं द्वैधमाश्रयः (saṃdhirnā vigraho yānamāsanaṃ dvaidhamāśrayaḥ) ); 6. the front part of an elephant’s body. [ ID=5604 ]
- 1. Sitting. 2. Sitting in a peculiar posture for pious purposes. 3. Sitting encamped. 4. Dwelling. 5. A seat.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > आसन (āsana) [Printed book page 0092-b ] आसन (āsana) ās + ana, m. and n. 1. Sitting, Man. 6, 22; Daśak. in Chr. 180, 22 ( vigṛhya-, Sitting separately, not to- gether). 2. Sitting in some peculiar posture for pious purposes, Vedāntas. in Chr. 217, 14; 16. 3. Sitting en- camped, Man. 7, 160. 4. Dwelling, Man. 2, 215. 5. A seat, Man. 3, 208; Bhag. 6, 11. — Comp. Ardha-, n. half a seat, Śāk. 97, 10. Kamala- and Jalaja-, m. a name of Brahman. Dharma-, n. the seat of a judge, Man. 8, 23. Nṛpa-, n. a throne. Padma-, I. n. 1. a seat consisting of a lotus- flower. 2. a kind of posture when ab- sorbed in meditation. II. adj. dwell- ing in a lotus-flower. Bhadra-, n. 1. a throne. 2. a peculiar posture, in which abstract meditation is performed by a devotee. Vīra-, n. 1. a field of Page0093-a+ 43 battle. 2. a bivouac. 3. a kind of posture, Man. 11, 110. Śakra-, n. a throne, Pañc. iii. d. 270. Saha-, n. sitting on the same seat. Siṃha-, n. a throne. [ ID=1792 ]
- 1. Sitting or the way of sitting. 2. Sitting quietly or halting. 3. A seat, throne, or high position.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > आसन (āsana) [Printed book page 070 ] आसन (āsana) n. sitting, sitting down; the way of sitting ( (r.) ); sitting quiet, halting; seat, throne, high position. [ ID=4783 ]
- 1. Sitting or sitting down. 2. A posture or way of sitting. 3. Halting or sitting quietly. 4. A seat, throne, or high position.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > आसन (āsana) n. sitting, sitting down; the way of sitting ( (r.) ); sitting quiet, halting; seat, throne, high position. [ ID=4784 ]
- 1. Sitting. 2. A seat.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > आसन (āsana) [Printed book page 127-b ] āsana, n. sitting, 4 12; seat. [ √ās. ] [ ID=680 ]
- 1. Sitting or sitting down in general, or in peculiar ascetic postures. 2. Halting, stopping, or encamping. 3. Abiding or dwelling. 4. A seat, place, or stool. 5. The withers of an elephant where the driver sits. 6. Maintaining a military post against an enemy. 7. Stay, abiding, or sitting. 8. A shop or stall.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > आसन (āsana) [Printed book page 0134-c ] 1. āsana, am, n. sitting, sitting down; sitting in peculiar postures, according to the custom of devotees, (five or, in other places, even eighty-four postures are enumerated; see padmāsana, bhadrāsana, vajrā- sana, vīrāsana, svastikāsana: the manner of sitting forming part of the eight-fold observances of ascetics); halting, stopping, encamping; abiding, dwelling; seat, place, stool; the withers of an ele- phant, the part where the driver sits; maintaining a post against an enemy; ( ā ), f. stay, abiding; ( ī ), f. stay, abiding, sitting; a shop, a stall; a small seat, a stool. [ ID=9601 ]

### Seat, Stool, or Place for Sitting (5 definitions)
- seat, place, or stool  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > seat, place, stool, Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra (Title); Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa (Title) xiv; Kumāra-sambhava (Title); Manu-smṛti (Title) &c. [ ID=27854.2 ]
- a small seat or stool  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a small seat, a stool, Kauśika-sūtra (Title) [ ID=27854.5 ]
- 1. A stool or seat. 2. Maintaining a post against an enemy. 3. The withers of an elephant where the driver sits. 4. Halting or stopping. 5. Sitting in a peculiar posture. 6. A tree. 7. Staying, abiding, or sitting. 8. A shop or stall.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > आस (āsa) न (āsana) [Printed book page 126 ] आस (āsa) न (āsana) n. ( - नं (-naṃ) ) 1 A stool, a seat. 2 Maintaining a post against an enemy. 3 The withers of an elephant, the part where the driver sits. 4 Halting, stopping. 5 Sitting in some peculiar posture, as in the custom of devotees, &c. eighty-four kinds are enumerated: see पद्मासन (padmāsana), &c. m. ( - नः (-naḥ) ) A tree, ( Pentapheca tomentosa.) also असन (asana) f. ( - ना - नी (-nī) (-nā-nī) ) Stay, abiding, sitting. ( - नी (-nī) ) 1 A shop, a stall. 2 A small seat, a stool. E. आस (āsa) to abide, and युच् (yuc) or ल्युट् (lyuṭ) aff. [ ID=6042 ]
- A stool  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > आसन (āsana) [Printed book page 102-a ] आसन (āsana) ( नं ) ((naṃ)) 1. n. A stool. [ ID=5421 ]
- 1. A seat or stool. 2. Maintaining a post against an enemy. 3. The withers of an elephant where the driver sits. 4. Halting or stopping. 5. Sitting in a specific posture practiced by devotees. 6. A tree with the botanical name Pentapheca tomentosa. 7. Staying, abiding, or sitting. 8. A shop or stall. 9. A small seat or stool.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > आसन (āsana) [Printed book page 103-b ] आसन (āsana) n. ( - नं (-naṃ) ) 1. A stool, a seat. 2. Maintaining a post against an enemy. 3. The withers of an elephant, the part where the driver sits. 4. Halting, stopping. 5. Sitting in some peculiar posture, as is the custom of devotees, &c. eighty-four kinds are enumerated: see पद्मासन, (padmāsana,) &c. m. ( - नः (-naḥ) ) A tree, (Pentapheca tomentosa.) Also असन (asana). f. ( - ना - नी (-nī) (-nā-nī) ) Stay, abiding, sitting. ( - नी (-nī) ) 1. A shop, a stall. 2. A small seat, a stool. E. आस् (ās) to abide, and युच (yuca) or ल्युट् (lyuṭ) aff. [ ID=6040 ]

### Abiding, Dwelling, or Staying (3 definitions)
- abiding, dwelling  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > abiding, dwelling, Atharva-veda (Title) xx, 127, 8; Manu-smṛti (Title); Yājñavalkya (Author); Hitopadeśa (Title) &c. [ ID=27854.15 ]
- stay, abiding  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2B) [Printed book page 159,3] आ (ā) सना (āsanā) ( आ (ā) ), f. stay, abiding, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=27854.35 ]
- Staying, abiding, or sitting  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > आसनी (āsanī) ( ई (ī) ), f. stay, abiding, sitting, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=27854.4 ]

### Etymological/Grammatical Note (2 definitions)
- See root ās.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 160,2] आसन (āsana) a See 2. √ आस् (ās). [ ID=27986 ]
- See under 4. ās and 2. āsa.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > आसन (āsana) āsana, See under 4. ās and 2. āsa. [ ID=9630 ]

### A Specific Tree (Terminalia Tomentosa) (1 definition)
- Terminalia Tomentosa  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 160,1] 2. आसन (āsana) = 2. असन (asana), Terminalia Tomentosa. [ ID=27906 ]

### Elephant's Withers / Driver's Seat (1 definition)
- the withers of an elephant, the part where the driver sits  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the withers of an elephant, the part where the driver sits, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=27854.25 ]

### Halting, Stopping, or Encamping (1 definition)
- halting, stopping, encamping  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > halting, stopping, encamping [ ID=27854.1 ]

### Maintaining a Military Post (1 definition)
- maintaining a post against an enemy  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > maintaining a post against an enemy [ ID=27854.3 ]

### Shop or Stall (1 definition)
- a shop or stall  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a shop, a stall, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=27854.45 ]

### Sitting Posture (1 definition)
- sitting in a peculiar posture according to the custom of devotees  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > sitting in peculiar posture according to the custom of devotees, (five or, in other places, even eighty-four postures are enumerated; see पद्मा (padmā) सन (sana), भद्रा (bhadrā) सन (sana), वज्रा (vajrā) सन (sana), वीरा (vīrā) सन (sana), स्वस्तिका (svastikā) सन (sana) : the manner of sitting forming part of the eightfold observances of ascetics) [ ID=27854.05 ]

### The Act of Throwing (1 definition)
- 1. Throwing. 2. The name of a tree.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > [Printed book page 0135-a ] 2. āsana, am, n. throwing; ( as ), m., N. of a tree. See asana. [ ID=9607 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546