The Sanskrit word UTKATASANA comes from the root “UT” that means “to rise”. The English for KATA is “to squat”. Therefore, the translation for UTKATASANA is “the raised squat pose”.
This posture is presented in GHERANDA SAMHITA as follows: “Being squat and leaning on the toes, you raise your heels under the anus. The heels have to be apart from one another. Then, place your elbows on your kneels and your fingers on your face.”
