Hatha yoga ancient yoga texts of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it is the Hatha yoga texts that provide step by step methodology on how to enter into an "asana". The Hindu text "Gheranda samhita", for example, in section 2.8 describes the "padmasana" for meditation. Most "asanas" are inspired by nature, such as a form of union with symmetric, harmonious flowing shapes of animals, birds or plants. Early hatha yoga was used to prevent the dripping of bindu (semen) from the heads of men. The two early hatha yoga techniques to achieve this were inverted poses such as Viparita Karani, known as the
Aparoksha from which unity of existence is derived. This knowledge is gained by establishing a "guru-shishya sambandha" (Guru-shishya tradition) with a teacher who has already experienced that kind of knowledge (Aparoksanubhuti); the karma or acts required to be done, after gain of "Aparoksha jnana" is "Vidya-karma" which consists in "sravana" (hearing of srutis), "manana" (reflection) and "nididhyasana" (meditation on Brahman). Aparoksha is "savikalpa jnana" (knowledge) when one re-recognizes the non-dual nature of the ever-realized Self (Tat Tvam Asi), it is the immediate knowledge gained through the "pramanas"; practice of "Dhyana" (meditation) removes all "vikalpas" (varied thoughts) and leads to "nirvikalpa" or