Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c8.162

v1.c8.162

The word *āsana* means also a seat or a pedestal. In this sense *pīṭha* is often used as its synonym. Descriptions of some material *āsanas* of this kind are met with in Saṁskrit works treating of the make-up of images. *Suprabhēdāgama* mentions five different kinds of *āsanas*, namely, *anantāsana*, *siṁhāsana*, *yōgāsana*, *padmāsana* and *vimalāsana*. According to *Chandrajñāna*, *anantāsana* is a triangular seat, *siṁhāsana* rectangular, *vimalāsana* hexagonal, *yōgāsana* octagonal, and *padmāsana* circular. The same *Suprabhēdāgama* adds that *anantāsana* should be used as the seat for the image when it has to witness amusements, *siṃhāsana* when it has to be bathed, *yōgāsana* during invocation, *padmāsana* during the conduct of worship, and *vimalāsana* when the offerings are offered. The height of the *padmāsana* consists, according to the same work, of sixteen parts, of which two form the thickness of the lowest layer, five make up the lower lotus, two the intervening neck, and four the upper lotus and two more the uppermost layer (see Pl. VI, figs. 1 and 5).