Sitting Avalokiteshvara Simhasana

myminifactory

Avalokiteśvara, meaning "Lord who looks down," is a bodhisattva that embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. This bodhisattva can be depicted in different ways and described as either female or male. In Chinese Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara has become Guanyin, a somewhat different female figure. In Cambodia, he appears as Lokeśvara. He is often shown sitting in the Simhasana position, also known as the Lion Pose. The Simhasana position resembles a seated lion, which is why it's called Simha (lion in Sanskrit) asana. Practitioners modify their facial expressions to look like a lion when performing this pose. The Lion Face Gesture (Simha Mudra) can be done while sitting in Padmāsana (Lotus Pose), or standing with the palms on the waist and the feet 6-12 inches apart.