Patanjali

Tamil Nadu

Wood, extensively polychromed

A fine and rare polychromed and patinated figure of Patanjali. According to legend, Patanjali is the incarnation of the Serpent-God Adisesa, who was moved to become Shiva’s follower after witnessing his cosmic dance. Adisesa wanted to experience the dance, so he was born on Earth with half his body as a snake and was named Patanjali, which means “fallen into folded hands”. When represented in this aspect, Patanjali has the lower body of a snake and his hands are folded in Anjalimudra.

He is most famously known as the compiler of the “Yoga Sutras,” a foundational text on the theory and practice of yoga. The “Yoga Sutras” provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the philosophy and practice of yoga, encompassing principles such as self-discipline (tapas), self-study (svadhyaya), and devotion to the divine (ishvara pranidhana).

Size (cms): 60(H) x 17(W) x 16(D)
Size (inches): 23.5(H) x 6.5(W) x 6.5(D)