ukkuṭika

special manner of squatting. The soles of the feet are firmly on the ground, the man sinks down, the heels slightly rising as he does so, until the thighs rest on the calves, and the hams are about six inches or more from the ground. Then with elbows on knees he balances himself. Few Europeans can adopt this posture, & none (save miners) can maintain it with comfort, as the calf muscles upset the balance. Indians find it easy, & when the palms of the hands are also held together upwards, it indicates submission. See; Dial. i.231 n. 4
■ Vin.i.45 (˚ṃ nisīdati); Vin.iii.228; AN.i.296; AN.ii.206; Pp.55; Vism.62, Vism.104 Vism.105 (quot. fr. Papañca Sūdanī) Vism.426; Dhp-a.i.201, Dhp-a.i.217 Dhp-a.ii.61 (as posture of humility); Dhp-a.iii.195; Dhp-a.iv.223.

  • -padhāna [in BSk. distorted to utkuṭuka-prahāṇa Divy.339 = Dhp.141] exertion when squatting (an ascetic habit DN.i.167; MN.i.78, MN.i.515; AN.i.296; AN.ii.206; Ja.i.493; Ja.iii.235 Ja.iv.299; Dhp.141 (= ukkuṭika-bhāvena āraddha-viriyo Dhp-a.iii.78).

fr. ud + *kuṭ = *kuñc, as in kuṭila & kuñcita; lit. “bending up”. The BSk. form is ukkuṭuka, e.g. Av SN.i.315