Lord Vishnu in a reclining posture is a familiar sight. Are there classifications?
Deities in reclining postures are known as sayana murthis. These are classified as Ardha sayanam, Yogasayanam, Virasayanam and Bhogasayanam based on their characteristics and attitudes.
How can they be distinguished?
When Vishnu is reclining on the serpent couch with right arm placed on the pillow and the other hand stretched out straight and left leg slightly bent, he is Ardhasayana Vishnumurti.
When the space between the two legs is as prescribed in sastras with Sri Devi seated on his right and Bhoodevi near his feet, the posture is called Bhogasayanam.
What is Yogasayanam?
When the deity is seen reclining on the serpent bed with right arm on the pillow and left arm a little close to the waist, right leg stretched straight while the left leg is bent gracefully and eyes half open, in a meditative attitude, it is known as Ardhartha sayanam or Yogasayanam.
And when the Vishnu image is seen reclining with the right arm on the pillow, the left stretched out and the two upper hands holding conch and disc, it represents Virasayanam.
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