 The name "Śīrṣāsana" is relatively recent; the pose itself is much older, but was known by other names.Like other inversions, it was practised as Viparita Karani, described as a mudra in the "Hatha Yoga Pradipika" and other classical texts on haṭha yoga.Hemacandra's 11th century "Yogaśāstra" names it "Duryodhanāsana" ("Duryodhana's pose") or "Kapālīkarana" ("head technique"), while the 18th century "Joga Pradīpikā" calls it "Kapālī āsana", head posture; it is number 17 of the set of 84 asanas described and illustrated there.