Mask of Vaikuntha Vishnu, late 5th century. Learn more about 5th century masks
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Also known as the “triple-bend position,” it is a standing pose found in Indian classical dance forms such as Odissi and Bharatanatyam, as well as in several sculptures from the pre-historic and ancient eras. Derived from Sanskrit –– with tri meaning “three” and bhanga meaning “attitude” or “posture” –– it entails bending the body at three places, namely the knee, the hip and the shoulder. Similar postures found in Western Art include the contrapposto and the S-curve.