Etched in Stone: Sixteenth-century Visual and Material Evidence of Śaiva Ascetics and Yogis in Complex Non-seated Āsanas at Vijayanagara

Recent archaeological discoveries at the Group of Monuments at Hampi, Karnataka, reveal sixteenth-century visual evidence of complex non-seated yoga postures (āsanas), including standing positions and inversions, carved onto temple pillars. These sculptures, dating to the early 1500s CE, represent some of the earliest known depictions of advanced yogic practices in precolonial India. The study suggests that these postures may have originated from Nātha yogic traditions, particularly Haṭhayoga techniques, and could explain the later emergence of intricate non-seated āsanas in yoga texts. By analyzing inscriptional, epigraphical, and visual materials alongside other archaeological sites, the research traces a shift from traditional seated postures to more dynamic, physically demanding practices, potentially linked to broader trends in asceticism (tapas). This finding challenges conventional narratives on the evolution of yogic postures and underscores Hampi's significance as a site of complex yogic innovation.

Powell, S. (2018). Etched in Stone: Sixteenth-century Visual and Material Evidence of Śaiva Ascetics and Yogis in Complex Non-seated Āsanas at Vijayanagara. Journal of Yoga Studies, 1, 45–106. https://doi.org/10.34000/joys.2018.v1.003