Akarna Dhanurasana

Akarna Dhanurasana (Sanskrit: आकर्ण धनुरासन; IAST: Ākarṇa Dhanurāsana), also called the Archer pose,[1] Bow and Arrow pose,[2] or Shooting Bow pose[1] is an asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise.

The name of the pose is from Sanskrit कर्ण Karṇa, "ear" with the prefix Ā, "towards" or "near".

The name alludes to a myth in the Ramayana in which the infant Sita is able to lift Shiva's enormous bow, and when she reaches marriageable age, only Rama is able to wield it, and so become her husband.

[5] Akarna Dhanurasana involves pulling the foot towards the ear from a seated position with the legs outstretched.

[5][6] The pose can be prepared for with Marichyasana; Baddha Konasana is sometimes used to lead into Akarna Dhanurasana.