A Medieval Hindu Saint

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The saint here wearing a Maratha turban, rabab and a garland of rudrakshas represents the bhakti tradition of Maharashtra, initiated by saints like Jnaneshwara, Ekanath, Namadeo and others. These great saints were as great poets and singer's and sought god's realization in Vaishnava devotion, wherein combined poetry, song, music, dance, communion, commemoration and yoga. Hence, in their line a seeker of Him had to be a poet, singer, instrumentalist, dancer, yogi and capable to dialogue with Him in solitude as well as in a commune.

The saint here is in the padmasana, a posture considered so pious in the Indian tradition that many deity images are cast in it. For added emphasis the artist has created a lotus, the padma, fashioned out of the saint's dhoti under his feet.