Poses close to Virabhadrasana were described independently of yoga in a European source early in the 20th century, namely in Niels Bukh's 1924 Danish text Grundgymnastik eller primitiv gymnastik (known in English as Primary Gymnastics). Still, these poses are not attested in the hatha yoga tradition until the 20th century with the practices of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya and his student Pattabhi Jois, who was photographed in Warrior I in about 1939. Ancient cave rock sculptures in the Ellora Caves, specifically cave 16 and cave 29, show a warrior- Shiva figure in a pose somewhat resembling Virabhadrāsana while conquering demons or wooing his consort Parvati. Accordingly the asana is often called 'Warrior Pose' in English.

The name is from the Sanskrit वीरभद्र Vīrabhadra, a mythical warrior, and आसन āsana, a yoga posture or meditation seat. Virabhadrasana has been described as one of the most iconic poses in yoga.Įtymology and origins Pose like Virabhadrasana III, variant with arms out to sides, Niels Bukh's Primary Gymnastics, 1924 Virabhadrasana has some similarity with poses in the gymnastics of Niels Bukh the early 20th century it has been suggested that it was adopted into yoga from the tradition of physical culture in India at that time, which was influenced by European gymnastics. The name of the pose derives from the Hindu myth, but the pose is not recorded in the hatha yoga tradition until the 20th century. Virabhadrasana ( Sanskrit: वीरभद्रासन IAST: Vīrabhadrāsana) or Warrior Pose is a group of related lunging standing asanas in modern yoga as exercise commemorating the exploits of a mythical warrior, Virabhadra. Standing lunging posture in modern yoga Virabhadrasana I or Warrior Pose I

Warrior sequence hatha yoga