Be it meditation, repetitive chanting of mantra (japa) or worship, a seat (asana) is essential. People generally tend to sit on any seat to do the chanting. However as per our scriptures certain types of seats are prescribed. As specified in Guru Gita, japa done without any seat, sitting directly on the floor yields no results. Why?

As per science, earth has tremendous power of attraction and gravity. During mediation and nama japa, a special energy is generated within the body. Where the seat is improper or where a person sits directly on the ground, this energy which is generated gets absorbed completely into the earth. That is why a seat is used. Such seat should have the ability to prevent the earth from drawing the generated energy. In such cases, the energy generated remains within the body itself.

Japa done daily seated in Padmasana grants mental calmness and peace. White colour seat is most preferred for meditation.

Seat of Grass: This is a sattvik seat. It is also known as kusa-asana. The Atharvana Veda extols the greatness of this kusa asana. Kusa is that which purifies the person as soon as he touches it. It enables the person to acquire the subtlest knowledge. That is why a blade of grass (darbha) is sued during all special karmas like thread ceremony, death ceremony and so on. This kusa also has the capacity to destroy diseases. To depict its significance, Valmiki named Sita’s son as ‘Kusha’.

Deerskin: In addition to acquiring jnana, deerskin also possesses the power to control sensual and other desires in the person. It also aids in controlling anger. That is why there is a practice of tying deerskin to the sacred-thread of the boys who have completed their thread ceremony. In addition, it also protects the person seated on it from various diseases.

Bhaktimala Feb 1984