("lotus
stance") The lotus posture is a well-known sitting position (asana) used
in yoga and meditation; it is also one of the sitting postures in which Hindu
deities are shown.
The individual sits cross-legged in this posture, with each
foot on the thigh of the opposing leg.
Because the angle of the lower legs maintains the top
section of the legs level on the ground, creating a large platform to support the
body, it is exceptionally stable and ideally suited for meditation.
When done correctly, it also maintains the spine straight,
which is said to be necessary to avoid limiting the subtle body's channels.
The lotus position is often represented at the foot of a
statue by a sculpture of a lotus, which serves as the basis on which the figure
is set in Indian iconography.
