Image title: Figure 120. Uromandala Karana

The Siras is in slight Ancita, the Parsva is unbent, Urah [uras] is also in Sama, Kati is also in Sama. The hands are in front of the chest. The right hand is in loose Musti, the left hand is loose Pataka. The hands seem to be performing a circling movement near the chest like Uromandala using Udvestita and Apavestita hands. The two legs are crossed but both the feet are in Agratala again showing a movement like Mattalli or Samotsarita Mattalli.

This can be identified as Karana no. 54 which is Uromandala according to whose description, “The hands are in Uromandala and the feet are in Svastika which get released through Sthitavarta or Baddha Cari.”

Gallery information:

Kumbakonam is considered as one of the holiest places in Tamil Nadu and is known for its temples and Mathas (monasteries which were centres of Brahmanical learning). These photographs depict the connection between the sculptures in the temples and Natya Shastra and related texts dealing with iconography.