padmasana

P3A1D2M3A1S1A1N1A1
UK/padˈmɑːsənə/

noun

A pose in which one sits cross-legged with each foot sole-upwards on the opposite leg; the lotus position.

First used 19th c.Scrabble 14

Meanings

nounpadmasana (uncountable)

alternative padmasan

  1. uncountableyogaA pose in which one sits cross-legged with each foot sole-upwards on the opposite leg; the lotus position.First known use 19th c.

    When he was a child of four, he sat in padmasan, his backbone a relaxed ninety degrees to the ground, for five or six hours while the singer or instrumentalist expounded a raga.

    1997, Kiran Nagarkar, Cuckold, HarperCollins, published 2013, page 127
adverbpadmasana (not comparable)

alternative padmasan

  1. not comparableIn the padmasana pose.

    Iconographically - according to Rupamandana, Brahma is depicted as standing or sitting padmasana with four heads […]

    1982, T. N. Srinivasan, A Hand Book of South Indian Images: An Introduction to the Study of Hindu Iconography, Tirupati: Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanams, page 96
    4 more examples

    One sculpture (P/27-R/4) on southern wall towards west of the gopura dvara shows a person sitting padmasana on Yoga danda.

    2004, G. Venkataramayya, Narrative Art of South Indian Temples: Srisailam, Bharatiya Kala Prakashan, →ISBN, page 60

    […] oh, even the clay khaddar-turbaned and dhoti-loinclothed fakir snake charmer sitting padmasana on his dhurry mat swaying from shrab and blowing jadu musica ficta, or the kind in the background of daravani films, on his miniature pungi flute in front of his jhow basket and donation bowl while diminutive papier mache nude bayaderes were scaling ambary ropes which the serpentwood flute’s notes caused to rise up from the basket for them to escape being pursued by a nittany hissing cobra . . . Fascinating!

    2009, William Penn, “Garden Speedwells, Rain Lilies”, in Love in the Time of Flowers, Trafford Publishing, →ISBN, section 1, page 586

    There’s a little guy sitting padmasana on the hood, there in the middle of the concentric rings of cramped white letters.

    2011, Kip Manley, “Freeway”, in City of Roses, volume 1 (“Wake up…”), Supersticery Press, →ISBN, page 132

    There are two ways of finding an Earth Chakra. You ask or you experience. You could ask the guy stripped to the waist sitting padmasana in the centre of the castle courtyard but he’s otherwise engaged.

    2014, Colin Kirk, Life in Poetry, Xlibris LLC, →ISBN

Origin

  1. Sanskritपद्मासन“lotus seat”
  2. Englishpadmasana

From Sanskrit पद्मासन (padmāsana, “lotus seat”), from पद्म (padma, “lotus”) + आसन (āsana, “asana”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

padmasana. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/padmasana

MLA

“padmasana.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/padmasana. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “padmasana,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/padmasana.

Source: padmasana on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.