27/04/2024
While our Yogfather, is indulging in some self care in Portugal, his photo of a bridge was a good opportunity to remind us about the symbolism of it.
Setu Bandha Sarvāṅgāsana (Sanskrit: सेतु बन्ध सर्वाङ्गासन), Bridge
Practicing Setu Bandha Sarvāṅgāsana teaches us a lot about the architecture of bridges.
Tailbone tucked under, hips lifted, spine arched, heart open, feet grounded.
The bridge is inherently symbolic of communication and union, whether it be between heaven and earth or two distinct realms. It unites what is otherwise separate.
Take Hanuman, the Hindu deity, who is a personification (monkey-ification?) of a bridge. The mythology surrounding Hanuman is all about mediation, connection, and bridging. He is associated with the breath, that which bridges the physical and spiritual bodies.
He can move between the worlds of gods and mortals. And as the devoted and faithful servant of Rama, he famously re-unites the god with his beloved counterpart Sita, rescuing her from the clutches of Ravana in a literal act of bridging: he leaps across the ocean which divides the lovers to return Sita safely home. Hanuman’s importance derives from his ability to bridge, uniting what is otherwise separate.
“All the world is a very narrow bridge, and the main thing is not to be afraid” wrote Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in the 18th century. Perhaps we can think of the world itself as a bridge, a space through which we transit, connecting what comes before and what comes after.
How do we bridge to deal with everyday life? We ground down. Root down through the feet and the hands. Seek steadiness, and strength. And then we lift up, and open our hearts. And we learn not to be afraid.
