Category Posture of the figure

The hand posture as well as the posture of the figure, e.g. sitting, standing, bent, dancing, meditating.

sama

Sama (सम), a type of reclining posture (Sayana); Lying down with the face upwards and the hands free and turning downwards is called the Sama posture. It is the posture in deep sleep.

samabhanga

Samabhaṅga (समभङ्ग) a posture in which the figure is shown without flexions of the body (see also abhanga, tribhanga and atibhanga); The plumb line runs through the navel from the crown of the head to a point midway between the… Continue Reading →

samadhi

The attitude of meditation. In this hand-pose, both hands are placed on the lap, right hand on left, with the fingers fully extended and the palm facing upwards. Also called yoga-mudra or dhyana.

samapada

Samapāda (समपाद) or Samapādasthānaka refers to the ‘erect posture’; In samapada posture, the head and body are held erect with legs and arms close together. There is no flexion in the body. The gaze is direct. Samapada-sthanaka is of two… Continue Reading →

samapada-sthanaka

Samapādasthānaka (समपादस्थानक) or Samapada refers to the ‘erect posture’; In samapada posture, the head and body are held erect with legs and arms close together. There is no flexion in the body. The gaze is direct. Samapāda-sthānaka is of two… Continue Reading →

sampada

Sampāda (सम्पाद), straight pose with feet together; standing with the feet together or even

samyukta

Saṃyukta (संयुक्त) or Saṃyuktahasta is the presentation of a double hand in dance gesticulation (cf. asamyukta-hasta and nrtta-hasta).

samyukta-hasta

Saṃyuktahasta (संयुक्तहस्त) or Saṃyukta is the presentation of a double hand in dance gesticulation (cf. asamyukta-hasta and nrtta-hasta).

sandarsana-mudra

hand-pose in the attitude of teaching or exposition; In this hand-pose, the tips of the thumb and the forefinger touch each other to form a circle, while the other fingers are kept open. The palm faces outwards.

santi

similar to abhaya

sarbamudra

a pose like a hooded serpent

sausthava

The Sauṣṭhava (सौष्ठव) of limbs is to be presented by being still, unbent, at ease, not very upright and not much bent. When the waist and the ears as well as the elbow, the shoulder and the head are in… Continue Reading →

savya-lalita

Savya-lalita or Savya-lalitasana; Sitting on a high platform like a stool, with one leg hanging down and the other bent with the sole of the foot facing upwards resting on the leg (also called Lalita or Sukhasana).

savya-lalitasana

Savya-lalitasana or Savya-lalita; Sitting on a high platform like a stool, with one leg hanging down and the other bent with the sole of the foot facing upwards resting on the leg (also called Lalita or Sukhasana).

sayana

Śayana (शयन), reclining posture; Six types of reclining postures are defined: Akuncita, Sama, Prasarita, Vivartita, Udvahita, Nata.

sayanasana

Śayanāsana (Sanskrit: शयनासन) refers to the posture dependent on the reclining state, and represents one of the five types of asana.

simhakarna-mudra

In this hand-pose, the tips of the fingers are loosely joined to the thumb to form a ring. This is done with a view to inserting a fresh flower in the hand of the icon every day. (cf. Kataka, Kataka-hasta… Continue Reading →

simhasana

Siṃhāsana (सिंहासन), a seating with a lion’s face; four-legged and is rectangular or circular in shape; its four legs are made up of four small lions; Sitting cross-legged as in Kurmasana. The palms of the hands are kept on the… Continue Reading →

sopasraya

Sopāśraya (सोपाश्रय) or Sopasrayasana, Sitting with legs loosely locked, the soles of the feet resting in the front.

sopasrayasana

Sopāśrayāsana (सोपाश्रयासन) or Sopasraya, Sitting with legs loosely locked, the soles of the feet resting in the front.

sthana

Sthāna (स्थान) refers to ‘standing posture’ (cf. Sthanaka). The six different kinds of sthānas are as follows: Vaisnava, Sampada, Vaisakha, Mandala, Alidha, Pratyalidha.

sthanaka

Sthānaka (स्थानक) refers to ‘standing posture’ (cf. sthana). The sthānaka in iconography has two typs: samapada-sthanaka and kayotsarga-sthanaka.

sthanasana

Sthānāsana (स्थानासन) refers to the posture dependent on the sthana, and represents one of the five types of asana.

suchi-hasta

hand with pointing finger in terrifying attitude; In this hand-pose, the projected forefinger points to an object below.

sukha

Sukha (सुख), Sitting in any comfortable position.

sukhasana

Sukhāsana (Sanskrit: सुखासन) seated at comfortable posture; Sitting on a high pedestal as on a stool, with one leg hanging down and the other folded and resting on a cushion or a pedestal (cf. Savya-lalita or Lalita).

svastika

Svastika (स्वस्तिक) or Svastikasana, Sitting cross-legged with the toes of the feet touching the opposite knees.

svastikasana

Svastikāsana (स्वस्तिकासन) or Svastika, Sitting cross-legged with the toes of the feet touching the opposite knees.

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