Tribhaṅga or Tribunga is a standing body position or stance used in traditional Indian art and Indian classical dance forms like the Odissi, where the body bends in one direction at the knees, the other direction at the hips and then the other again at the shoulders and neck.
Bhutesvara Yakshis (2nd century CE), Mathura art
Ardhanarishvara, the composite deity of Shiva and his consort Parvati. As in other images of this form, the tribhanga is accentuated by the gender differences at hip and shoulders.
Dancing Girl from Mohenjo-Daro, c. 2300–1750 BCE
Buddhist yakshi at Bharhut, c. 100 BCE
Odishi, also referred to as Orissi in old literature, is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the temples of Odisha – an eastern coastal state of India. Odissi, in its history, was performed predominantly by women, and expressed religious stories and spiritual ideas, particularly of Vaishnavism through songs written and composed according to the ragas & talas of Odissi music by ancient poets of the state. Odissi performances have also expressed ideas of other traditions such as those related to Hindu deities Shiva and Surya, as well as Hindu goddesses (Shaktism).
Odissi
Odissi dancer
Musician and dancer relief at the Konark Sun temple.
A male Odissi dancer