Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 11

English Translation

Having firmly established in a clean place his seat, neither too high nor too low, and made of cloth, skin and kusa-grass, placed successively one below the other;

Detailed Commentary

।।6.11।। Explanation— 'Śucau deśe'—the purity of the ground is of two types: (1) Naturally pure places, such as the banks of the Ganga and other rivers, forests, places near sacred trees like Tulasi, Āṁvalā, Pīpal, etc. and (2) Purified places, such as purifying the ground by plastering it with cow dung or sprinkling water. Where there is soil, remove the top four or five fingers of earth to purify the ground. On such a level ground, place a wooden or stone platform (cauki). 'Cailājinakuśottaram'—The sequence for the seating is cloth, deerskin, and Kuśa grass. However, one should first spread Kuśa, then the skin of a deer that died naturally (unharmed), because the skin of a slaughtered deer is impure. If such a deerskin is unavailable, then spread a burlap sack or a woolen blanket over the Kuśa. On top of that, spread a soft cotton cloth. Kuśa is considered very sacred, hence its use in an Āsana. During eclipses (grahaṇa) and other times, Kuśa is placed in clothes for purification. The Lord has spoken of spreading Kuśa so that electrical energy does not flow into the ground, hence the use of deerskin. Spreading a cotton cloth over the deerskin makes the Āsana soft. 'Nātyucchritaṁ nātinīcam'—The platform or cauki placed on the level, purified ground should be neither too high nor too low. Excessive height poses a risk of falling, and excessive lowness can allow creatures on the ground to disturb one's meditation. 'Pratiṣṭhāpya sthiramāsanmātmanaḥ'—The Āsana placed for meditation should be stable. All four legs should be firmly established on the ground. The Āsana for meditation should be one's own, not another's. Other people's belongings can be influenced by their atomic vibrations. Therefore, there is a rule to keep one's own separate Āsana. One should also keep one's own Gomukhī, rosary (mālā), Pāñcapātra for Sandhyā, Ācamanī, etc., separately. Using others' Āsanas, shoes, or clothes can lead to participation in their merits and demerits. One should not even sit on the Āsana of virtuous saints and Mahātmās, so as not to disrespect them by infringing upon their sacred space.