Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c74.s7.8

v2.c74.s7.8

**Virasana.**—is represented on an Ujjayinī coin and also on a Bharhut relief. The Aihole figure of Viṣṇu depicts the **Sukhāsana**. A gold coin of Śaśāṅka in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, depicts Śiva (seated on his mount) also in this pose. An āsana called **Utkūṭikāsana**, is illustrated in some images of seated Kevala Nṛsingha and of Lakulīśa, the so called founder of Pāśupata sect. Seated figures of Maitreya in medieval Buddhist art illustrate **Paryāṅkāsana**. ‘The figure of Ambikā, on the reverse side of some coins of Chandragupta-Kumāradevī type sits on her lion mount in this manner’. The **Vajrāsana** is said to, be particularly depicted in Buddhist images (*cf.* Vajrāsana Buddha) Dr. Bannerjea remarks ‘One of the commonest types of sitting modes is the **Ardhaparyankāsana** known also as **lalitāsana** or **lalitaksepa**. Many Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jain deities who are profusely endowed with ornaments are often depicted in this pose’. A word now remains to be said of **Pretāsana.** It is really a yogic āsana, in which the whole body lies rigid like a corpse. Its representation, in the art, however, is quite different and is literal e. g. Cāmuṇḍā, one of the seven Mothers described as Pretāsanā, is seated on a dead body.