What is the significance of Lord Ayyappa's sitting posture?

Question

Lord Ayyappa is mostly shown as sitting in a peculiar posture. Like shown in the images given below:

When i checked his Dhyana Sloka in order to find out whether this posture is any particular Yogic posture or not, i found out that he is mentioned as sitting in the regular lotus posture (or the Padmasana).

Jeemoothashyamadhama mani maya viladsad kudalollosivakthro,
Hasthabjam daksha mathrothpalamitharabhujam vama janoo paristham,
Bibrath padmasanastha parikalitha thanuryogapattena jushta,
Sri poornapushkalabhyam puraharamurajith puthrakapathu sastha.||

Let us be protected by god Sastha who is the son of lord Vishnu and Shiva, Who is of the black colour of the clouds, who has a face shining because, Of the gem studded ear drops that he wears, Who has the red lotus in right hand, Who places his left hand on his left knee, who sits in the lotus pose along, With his two wives Poorna and Pushkala in the throne of Yoga.

But his sitting posture is something different, it's definitely not the Padmasana. (May be we need to check other Dhyana slokas)

Question: What is the significance of Lord Ayyappa sitting in that particular posture?

Answer 1

As @Surya mentioned, the dhyana shoka is for Dharma Sashta and not Ayyappa, considered an avatara of him.

The name for this posture is not clear as it's called by different names like, Arddhasana, Yogapadasana or Yogarudha Siddhasana.

The posture of Ayyappa involves multiple elements of iconography,

1. When a deity is represented in sitting form, his/her folded thighs indicate whether he/she is giving a seat for his family/consort. For eg. A male deity with his left leg folded, may be considered that he is willing or expecting his consort to sit over it. The left side (vaamabhaga) is considered as for wife. The wife is imagined to be seated on the left side of the husband. If it is the right leg folded it is designated be be for the children. Deities who are imagined as sa-parivara i.e. with family are shown with having spouse and off springs on either side. See iconography of Shiva, for instance.

   Ayyapa's has taken an oath of brahmacharya, which is why he has not left either of his thighs on which anyone can sit, and constricted them in an uncomfortable squatting position.

2. When deities are shown sitting on a simhasana or a throne, they are shown in a rajasic bhava or bhoga-bhava. Ayyappa in ardhasana portrays tapo-bhava. He's shown as balancing on his feet, and not hips which shows the severity of his tapas.

3. The band of cloth across Ayyappa's legs are called yogapatta. These are essentially used to immobalize his legs in that particular squatting posture. The belt Ayyappan wears signifies the territory of the observance. So instead of getting in the lying posture (totally inactive) in which we cannot experience anything (samadhi), it is best for experience to be in this conscious and aware state. This is the sitting posture of Ayyappan.

4. His hands show two mudras, chinmudra (aka jnyanamudra) and abhayamudra. Chinmudra indicate that Ayyappa has attained union with the universal consciousness while abhayamudra is a gesture of reassurance and safety in Kaliyuga. This is indicative of the sharanamantram Ayyappa devotees sing, "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa i.e. (Let's seek) refuge in Lord Ayyappa.

Reference:

• Chinmudra and YogaPatta

• What Is The Speciality Of The Sitting Posture Of Lord Ayyappa?

• An insight into Lord Ayyappa’s Sitting Posture

Answer 2

Ayappa's idol is very much different from other Hindu idols.

His Pranama-Mantra says :

नमामि धर्मशास्तारं योगपीठस्थितं विभुम् । प्रसन्नं निर्मलं शान्तं सत्यधर्मव्रतं भजे ॥

So, unlike other Gods who sits on flowers or thrones, Ayyappa sits on yoga- pitha (on feet)

Usually three positions are there in which the Hindu idols can be seen erected in the temples - Sitting, Standing or lying.

Ayyappa’s sitting posture is called Yoga asana, which is different from the posture of other idols. Yogasana is meditating.

The lap is not kept free, like other Gods which has the worldly meaning of providing space to the consort.

The left lap is considered to be the seat or place for wife/ consort.

Ayyappan is considered as the Brahmachari ( observing celibacy) - Naishtika Brahmachari.So His lap is folded.

Reference : 1. https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_deities_misc/shAstuHdhyAnAShTakam.html?lang=sa

2. https://www.devotionalstore.com/blogs/devotional-blog/what-is-the-specialty-of-the-sitting-posture-of-lord-ayyappa