20/05/2026
സാഞ്ചി മുതൽ ശബരിമല വരെ...
One of the ancient Indian meditation traditions is "Yogapattasanam" or "Yogapatasanam". In this asana, the practitioner folds his legs, ties a strap around the waist and knees and sits in long meditation. This strap is called a "yoga strap". This is useful for keeping the spine stable, not moving forward.
This asana is not a normal yoga pose. It mainly concerns spiritual practices such as penance, meditation, burial, breath control.
The use of this Yogapatta can be seen in the Sanchi pillar sculptures dating from around 1st century BC to mid- 1st century. In the horoscope stories scenes, tapasvasus are carved in meditation by tying straps to waist-knees. This suggests that Yogapattasana is very ancient in the Buddhist labor tradition.
Later in the sculptural wealth of areas like Ajanta, Aurangabad, Amaravati, Mahabalipuram, meditation yogis, tapasvas, mahasiddhas will be seen in these asanas. Especially in Mahabalipuram cave sculptures, the appearance of Yogi figures sitting with a strap around the waist indicates that this tradition has continued in South India as well.
In Tibetan Vajrayana tradition, statues of Mahasiddha, forms of meditation gurus, and asanas with yoga are widely seen. Body stability is considered an important aspect of long-term meditation even in Padampa Sangye, Mahasiddha traditions and Chod practices.
This tradition has not completely disappeared even after the Middle Ages. Even in Mughal period paintings, Yogis are seen meditating with their knees and waist straps. This means this is a Yogi-Sramana meditation tradition that has continued for thousands of years.
Interesting now — this is the main feature of Shasta/Ayyappa idols in the post-Yogapattasanam period.
If you observe Sabarimala Ayyappa statue today:
Sitting up with folded knees
Yoga around the waist
Meditation stamp
The form of a yogi
The feeling of the grave
All remind me of an ancient meditation tradition.
This special Yogapattasanam is not seen as a major part in the ancient Vaishnava sculpture traditions. Some researchers are discussing the possibility that many old Yogi-Tapasvi traditions have merged into new forms of religion as temple systems, Agama traditions, and mythological writings have expanded in later times.
Sculptures, landmarks, writings of old historians, and tourist relics suggest that Buddhist influence was once widespread in Kerala. Some historians have suggested that the Shasta temples in the Travancore area may have first been Buddhist pilgrims. Discussions took place in courts also on Sabarimala roots.
The question of whether the concept of "Sharanam" in the Buddhist tradition called "Buddham Saranam Gachami", followed by "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa" continued in the form of "Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa", also became part of the research. While not the only basis of word analogy, Yogapattasan, a Yogi form, a sense of refuge, a meditation tradition, a forest pilgrimage, a ritual of equality — all together lead to discussions that the Sabarimala tradition may have an ancient Sramana-Buddhist background.
History is not just a word written in a book. In some cases sculptures speak. Asanas will speak for themselves. Traditions speak for themselves. Symbols that have lasted for thousands of years remind us of a forgotten history.
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copied by Vinodkumar
