Lalitasana is a pose or mudra in Indian art and the art of dharmic religions in other countries. It is often called "the royal position" or "royal ease" in English, and is a relaxed pose typical in royal portraits and those of religious figures whose "kingly" attributes are being emphasized. The figure sits on a throne with one leg tucked inwards on the seat and the other hanging down to touch the ground or rest on a support. Usually it is the proper right leg that dangles, but the reversed image can be found. Bare feet are normal. Asana is a general term for a seated pose, from आसन āsana "sitting down", a sitting posture, a seat. Some sources distinguish between the lalitasana posture, as described above, and the "royal ease", where the right leg is bent, and the foot rests on the same level as the sitting body, and the extended arm is placed on the raised knee. With all variants the technical phrasing describes a figure as being "in" the pose: "seated in lalitasana". Other sources regard the two as synonymous. The pose with an arm resting on a raised knee is especially seen in Chinese Buddhist art, for bodhisattva images, but is found in Indian art from at least the 8th century, with one famous example from the Ajanta Caves probably dating to around 478. It became associated in China with Guanyin from the late 9th century. In many Chinese lalitasana postures, especially for Maitreya, the tucked-in leg rests on the other thigh, which is generally not seen in Indian art.
Details
Very often the proper left hand holds a lotus flower, and the right foot may rest on another one. The dangling foot often rests on something, whether a lotus flower, or the figure's vahana or "vehicle", the animal that is also an identifying attribute, or a vase. As the pose emphasizes the royal aspect of the figure, they will very often wear a high Indian crown. In Indian art, especially ancient and medieval, the pose is often used for female figures, but in the art of Java these are very rare, and restricted to figures closely following Indian models. This restriction may well be because the normal female dress made the pose impossible for women. The pose with the proper left leg pendent is technically savya-lalitasana or sukhasana, and with the right leg pendent vama-lalitasana.
History
The pose is typical in depictions of kings, and sometimes queens and court notables, in early Buddhist sculpture from sites such as Sanchi, Bharhut and Amaravati. Mostly these show scenes from the life or earlier lives of the Buddha, but there are other secular scenes. The pose is found for religious figures from Kushan art from Gandhara and Mathura, although at this period it is rare, with a larger number of seated Buddha images, many with crossed legs, a pose that disappears later. It becomes increasing popular in the Post-Gupta period of medieval India, and has remained so, being often used in contemporary Hindu imagery in particular.
In later periods, the pose is very common for bodhisattva images, and deities such as Tara, but rare for the Buddha himself, except as the "future Buddha" Maitreya. It is often seen depicting the pot-bellied god of wealth, Jambhala in Buddhism and Kubera to Hindus.
Hinduism
The pose is common for Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and their consorts, from around the Gupta period onwards. Also the Matrikas, who are typically identified by their different animal supporters, and numerous other figures. As a distinctive regional feature, temples in Odisha in the classic Kaḷinga architectural style very often have a figure of Gajalaxmi in lalitasana as their lalatabimba or central protective image over the doorway to a temple or the sanctuary of one.
