Alternative spellings of this word include Sthitakunchita.

In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: Vaisnava Agamas And Visnu Images

Sthitakuñcita (स्थितकुञ्चित) refers to one of the various posture (āsanas) defined in treatises such as the Pāñcarātra, Pādmasaṃhitā and Vaikhānasa-āgamas, extensively dealing with the technical features of temple art, iconography and architecture in Vaishnavism.—In Sthitakuñcita pose, one foot is planted straightly and firmly on the pedestal and another foot i placed on the pedestal with a slight bend at the knee hence the name. The terms “sthita” and “kuñcita” meaning “firm” and “bent” clearly indicates one foot is planted straightly and firmly on the pedestal and another foot is placed on the pedestal with a slight bend at the knee.

With reference to the fluxions of the parts of the body, the Sthitakuñcita postures are found three types viz., ābhaṅga, samabhaṅga and atibhaṅga. This is well observed, “This is known as ‘bhaṅga’, based on the loss of height in the sense of lowering it on vertical plane, resulting from keeping the legs at three different distances in which also the bead and other parts of the body are naturally deviated sideward from the brahma-sūtra (middle plumb-line). They are ābhaṅga, samabhaṅga and atibhaṅga in which the natamāna (loss of height vertically) is three, four and five aṅgulas respectively”. Except in case of Durga (Mahiṣamardinī), this Sthitakuñcita posture indicate a subordinate nature of the divinity in iconic forms. In Vaiṣṇava Āgamas, the icons of Śrīdevī and Bhūdevī accompanying Viṣṇu on either side must be depicted in this stance with uniformity that the inner legs must be firm and outer leg must be bent or vice-versa.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Sthita, Kuncita.

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