The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c9.126.2

v1.c9.126.2

Ordinary women of quality appear squatting with the legs crossed. This is, however, far from being a general rule, and the pose is regulated by the nature of the subject, and by the place where they are located. Standing on one or both legs; leaning forward, or backward, or to one side; dancing, running, leaping, sitting straight, or reclining on a pillow, are positions of common occurrence; but on the whole vigorous manifestations of active energetic action are less frequent, and those of an idle enjoyment of life predominate. "In harmony with this, we find full swelling luxurious softness of forms, and easy carelessness of attitude."⁵⁸ The nature of the Indian climate and its action on the mind and body of man to which references have already been made is sufficient to account for this, without any recourse to the dreaminess of Indian philosophy and religions to [**61**] which European authors are so apt to refer everything Indian. The temper of nations, the outcome of the climate they live in, is a much more potent influence in such cases than religion, which itself is governed and moulded by it. It controls alike their aspirations in a future world as well as in this. The Valhalla of the Scandinavians, the Paradise of Muhammad, and the Indra's heaven of the Hindus, are all manifestations of climatic influences on the mind of man. And such influences are all-powerful on ordinary life and enjoyment.