Cobra: The snake, a yoga pose, an effect and symbolism

A deep dive into the cobra as a snake, its symbolism and as the yoga posture Bhujangasana. From embodying the cobra to the nitty gritty of how to do it, we explore this pose in-depth.

the snake

The cobra, like other snakes and serpents, can trigger a primal fear in human beings. After all, they are part of the reptilian family, one of the most ancient and adaptable forms of life on this earth. Almost all can bite. Some are poisonous, and some will strangle their prey. Without eyelids, they cannot blink, which can be quite unnerving for humans. They smell with their tongue, and their jaws can unhinge, allowing them to swallow all the nourishment they need at once. Their skin is a conglomeration of tough scales that appear smooth and sometimes shiny. Although it is quite dry, it helps them to move with ease and protects them from adversity.

All of the known cobras are venomous. Many of them are capable of rearing upwards and producing a hood when threatened. The black desert cobra and the coral snake are cobras that do not rear upwards, nor do they produce a hood when threatened. However, they are still highly venomous.

symbolism

These ancient creatures are found in art and symbols throughout the ages worldwide. As an intrinsic part of the whole of creation, the snake is associated with danger and death, death and rebirth, and initiation. It correlates with all of these things for a variety of reasons. One of the most obvious is the process of shedding its skin. As it outgrows its old skin, the shedding process begins first as its eyes begin to cloud over. The snake enters into a trance-like state, and as the shedding begins, its eyes clear as it begins a new life.