Last updated: December 21, 2023
What Does
Viparita Mean?
Viparita is a Sanskrit term that can be translated as “reversed,” “inverted” or “opposite.” The term is used in several names of yoga asanas that are inversions, such as viparita karani (legs-up-the-wall pose), dwi pada viparita dandasana (upward-facing two-foot staff pose) or viparita salabhasana (inverted locust pose).
Viparita is also used to describe a type of Raja yoga – Viparita Raja yoga – which, in Hindu astrology, is caused by a certain planetary combination. This type of Raja yoga is thought to cause improvement following an unfortunate event.
Yogapedia Explains Viparita
Viparita can also mean “turned around,” “inverted,” “backward” or “contrary.” In other contexts, it can also be used to mean “wrong,” “perverse,” “against the rules” or “false.”
In yogic texts, the term, viparita karani, stands for the concept of inversions and translates as “opposite processes.” Inversions are yoga postures where the feet are above the head. Inversions provide new perspectives, both physically and mentally. According to Ayurveda, inversions purify the human body by burning stagnant impurities from the lower abdomen, moving them toward agni, or the fire element in the body.
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