Yogaśayana-mūrti

Oil Painting on cloth, Madurai, 1780s; British Library

Yogaśayana-mūrti is a recumbent image of Śri Viṣṇu floating in the cosmic ocean (Kṣīrasāgara) lying upon his serpent bed, Ananta. Upon a lotus issuing from his navel is seated Lord Brahma. This aspect may also be described as Jalaśāyī, the one conceived by him at the end of the mahā-pralaya or the great deluge of universal dissolution. The Jalaśāyī (śāyī (शायी) meaning “one that sleeps”), is an image of Viṣṇu shown to be lying in the midst of these waters, resting on the Ādiśeṣa. The top of the head of Viṣṇu is difficult to discern on account of the excess of lustre from the jewels on the heads of Ādiśeṣa.