Asanas from the “Treasure of Truth” (Shri Tattva Nidhi)
Sri Tattva Nidhi was compiled in the early nineteenth century from hundreds of old texts under the direction of
Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (1780-1865), Maharaja of Mysore. It contains about 1500 pages divided into nine sections
(called “treasures,” nidhis), describing traditional poetry, arts, music, as well as contemporary games and
entertainment. It also includes 122 asanas.

An earlier text of gymnastic exercise, Vyayama Dipika (Light on Exercise) is very similar to the Sri tattva nidhi.
Vyayama Dipika is a compilation of English exercise, gymnastics, trapeze, and parallel bars, and the Indian system
of bodybuilding, wrestling, and the use of weapons.

ASANAS FOUND IN IYENGAR (*found in Iyengar but names a different pose)
English
Sanskrit
Iyengar Equivalent
ACCOMPLISHED
 Siddha
 Similar
BANNER
 Dhvaja
 Parshva Sarvangasana
BOAT
 Nauka
 Similar (spelled nava)
BOW*
 Dhanu
 Akarna Dhanurasana
CHARIOT
 Ratha
 Like Parshvottanasana?
CORPSE
 Shava
 Same
COUCH*
 Paryanka
 Urdhva Dhanurasana
COW
 Dhenuka
 Gomukhasana legs
CRANE
 Baka
 Same
CROW
 Kaka
 Malasana
EAGLE*
 Garuda
 Like Vatayanasana
ELEPHANT
 Gaja
 Adho Mukha Shvanasana
ELEPHANT GOAD
 Ankusha
 Bhairavasana
EMBRYO
 Garbha
 Pashchimottanasana
ENDLESS*
 Ananta
 Bhairavasana
EXTENDED TORTOISE
 Uttana Kurma
 Garbha Pindasana
FACE DOWN
 Nyubja
 Parshva Dhanurasana
FISH*
 Matsya
 Like Bhujangasana
FOOT/HAND JOINED
 Padahastasamyoga
 Padangushtha Dhanurasana
FOREST SPARROW
 Aranaya Cataka
 Like Dvipada Shirshasana
FORTUNATE
 Bhadra        
 Like Baddha Konasana
GARLAND*
 Mala
 Tittibhasana
GOAT
 Aja
 Adho Mukha Vrikshasana
GOOSE*
 Hamsa
 Like Kukkutasana
GOOSE
 Kadamba
 Like Malasana I
HALF MOON*
 Ardha Chandra
 Vrikshasana
HALF WEST
 Ardha Pashchima
 Janu Shirshasana
HEAD
 Kapala
 Shirshasana II
HELL
 Naraka
 Like Shirshasana
HERO*
 Vira
 Simhasana legs?
HIP GIRDLE
 Kanchya
 Like Malasana II
LION
 Simha
 Same
LORD OF FISH SEAT         
 Matsyendra Pitha
 Marichyasana IV
LOTUS
 Padma
 Same
LOVE SEAT
 Kama Pitha
 Setu Bandha
MEDICINAL PLANT
 Parpata
 Like Dandasana, hands clasped below thighs
MOUNTAIN*
 Parvata
 Simhasana legs (?), arms crossed in front of torso
NOOSE
 Pasha
 Similar
PARTRIDGE
 Tittirya
 Like Ganda Bherundasana
PEACOCK
 Mayura
 Same
PILLOW
 Ucchirsaka
 Like Yogadandasana
PLANET
 Graha
 Like Malasana I
PLOW
 Langala        
 Same but called Halasana
NORTH STAR
 Dhruva         
 Like Utthita Hasta Padangushthasana
PRESS
 Utpida
 Like wide-knee Utkatasana
REED
 Vetra
 Like Setu Bandha
ROLLING
 Luntha
 Viparita Chakrasana?
ROOSTER
 Kukkuta
 Same
SANDAL
 Panduka
 Like Pada Hastasana
SERPENT
 Sarpa
 Bhujangasana
SKYLARK*
 Bharadvaja
 Like Tolasana
SNAKE
 Sarpa
 Shalabhasana
SPIKE
 Shula
 Shayanasana
STRETCHED OUT LEGS
 Uttanapada
 Samakonasana
SUPERIOR
 Utkata
 Similar, in deep squat
THREE STEPS
 Trivikrama
 Durvasana
UNION
 Yoga
 Yogamudra
UPPER WEST
 Urdhva Pashchima
 Skandasana
WHEEL*
 Chakra
 Vrishchika
WOMB
 Yonya        
 Mula Bandha
NOT FOUND IN IYENGAR
* Name found in Iyengar but asana is different
English
Sanskrit
What?
ARROW
 Shankva
 Standing, lift each heel in turn to buttock
AUSPICIOUS
 Svastika
 Sitting like “loose” Padmasana
BALL
 Kanduka
 Supine, roll into “ball”
BEAR
 Riksha
 Step from Adho Mukha Shvanasana to lunge
BOAR
 Varaha  
 Elbows and knees on floor, hands on head, heels to
buttocks
BOUND FINGER
 Hastangulibaddha
 Kneeling, stretch arms with clasped hands behind
CAMEL*
 Ushtra         
 Stand on balls of feet, stretch arms up
CHILD HUG
 Balalinga
 Standing, hug one knee to chest
CROOKED
 Kubja
 Sitting cross legged, place chin on navel
DEER
 Harina
 Jump up, kick buttocks with heels
DIAMOND
 Vajra
 Heels press perineum
EASY
 Sukha
 Sitting cross legged
EMBRACER
 Alinga
 3 forearm lengths from wall, touch wall with chest
EXTENDED CAT
 Marjari Uttana
 Supine, clasp hands behind neck, elbows pressed by
drawn up thighs
FLYING ROOSTER
 Kukkuta Udana
 Palms and soles on floor, “raise up and fall”
repeatedly
FRANTIC DANCE
 Tandava
 Stand on one foot, raise other
GATE LATCH*
 Parigha
 Supine, legs straight on floor, hands clasp on neck,
perform kumbhaka
HATCHET
 Parashvadha
 Supine, elbows on navel, stretch each hand to nose
tip, lift hips from floor
HARE
 Shasha
 In Adho Mukha Shvanasana, repeatedly bend knees
HAWK
 Shyena
 From Adho Mukha Vrikshasana, touch nose to floor,
raise up again
HEART-KNEE JOINED
 Hrijjanusamyoga
 Sitting, cradle foreleg in arms
HORIZONTAL BOAT
 Tiryannauka
 Like Viparita Karani Mudra
HORSE MAKER
 Ashvasadhana
 Sitting, hands on floor, feet on top, move “body
like a horse”?
HYENA
 Tarakshva
 From Adho Mukha Shvanasana, twist head
repeatedly towards armpits; do same from Plank
position  
INTENSE STRETCH*
 Uttanasana
 Supine, knees to navel, wrap arms around neck,
elbows to knees, rock back and forth
KICKING THE BULL FOOT
 Vrshapada Kshepasana
 Supine, clasp hands on neck, elbows together,
buttocks on floor, stretch out one leg, rotate other
MONKEY
 Vanara
 Stand upright on knees, clasp arm with opposite
hand
PESTLE
 Musala
 Standing, repeatedly raise arms
PIGEON*
 Kapota
 Standing, bring hands down backward to knees
POTTER’S WHEEL
 Kulalachakra
 Stretch out, rotate hands
PURE
 Vimala         
 Squat on one raised heel, place free foot on bent
knee
RAM
 Mesha
 In Adho Mukha Shvanasana, strike floor with each
arm
REVERSE DANCE
 Viparitanritya
 In Adho Mukha Vrikshasana, “dance on hands”
SANDAL
 Paduka
 Sitting, knees bent, feet on floor, place hands
under soles, walk forward
SHAKER
 Prenkha
 (1) In Dandasana, press hands on floor, lift legs
(2)Then lift feet over head, buttocks on floor
SPARROW
 Cataka
 Forearms and shins on floor, draw knees to navel
STAND UP
 Utthana Utthana
 Knee bends
STONE
 Drishada
 In Kandukasana, roll side to side
SWORD
 Khadga
 ?
THREE PEAKS
 Trikuta
 Supine, knees bent, feet on floor, rest raised torso
and head on forearms by sides
TRIPLE STRIKE
 Kuttanatraya
 Strike arms, thighs, sides of body “and so on”
TWO HEAD
 Dvishirsha
 Raise the shoulders to the ears
WOLF
 Vrka
 Supine, soles on floor, stand up
WOMB
 Shuktya
 Heels to navel, thighs together?
UNKNOWN ASANAS from the Shri Tattva Nidhi: sequence
English
Sanskrit
What?
    SUPINE
    
    BALL
 Kanduka
 Supine, roll into “ball”         
    STONE
 Drishada
 In Kandukasana, roll side to side
    INTENSE STRETCH*
 Uttanasana
 Supine, knees to navel, wrap arms around neck,
elbows to knees, rock back and forth
    EXTENDED CAT
 Marjari Uttana
 Supine, clasp hands behind neck, elbows pressed
by drawn up thighs
    THREE PEAKS
 Trikuta
 Supine, knees bent, feet on floor, rest raised
torso and head on forearms by sides
    HARE
 Shasha
 In Adho Mukha Shvanasana, repeatedly bend knees
    HYENA
 Tarakshva
 From Adho Mukha Shvanasana, twist head
repeatedly towards armpits
    BEAR        
 Riksha
 Step from Adho Mukha Shvanasana to lunge
    BOUND FINGER
 Hastangulibaddha
 Kneeling, stretch arms with clasped hands behind
SQUAT
    PURE
 Vimala
 Squat on one raised heel, place free foot on bent
knee
STANDING
    POTTER’S WHEEL
 Kulalachakra
 Stretch out, rotate hands
    PESTLE
 Musala
 Standing, repeatedly raise arms
    CAMEL*
 Ushtra
 Stand on balls of feet, stretch arms up
    CHILD HUG
 Balalinga
 Standing, hug one knee to chest
    ARROW
 Shankva
 Standing, lift each heel in turn to buttock
    STAND UP
 Utthana Utthana
 Knee bends
    EMBRACER
 Alinga
 3 forearm lengths from wall, touch wall with chest
    PIGEON*
 Kapota
 Standing, bring hands down backward to knees
SITTING
    EASY
 Sukha
 Sitting cross legged
    TWO HEAD
 Dvishirsha
 Raise the shoulders to the ears
    HEART-KNEE JOINED
 Hrijjanusamyoga
 Sitting, cradle foreleg in arms
    SANDAL
 Paduka         
 Sitting, knees bent, feet on floor, place hands
under soles, walk forward
    SHAKER
 Prenkha
 (1) In Dandasana, press hands on floor, lift legs
(2) Then lift feet over head, buttocks on floor
INVERTED
    HORIZONTAL BOAT
 Tiryannauka
 Like Viparita Karani Mudra
Click below to download a PDF of all asana sources:
Download the Asana Practices
Asana Sources: