Alternative spellings of this word include Nihanchita.

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In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Nihañcita (निहञ्चित) refers to a specific ‘movement of the head’ (śiras), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 8. The head is one of the six major limbs (aṅga) used to perform certain gestures (āṅgika). These gestures form a part of the histrionic representation (abhinaya).

Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)

One of the Twenty-four Heads. Nihañcita: raising the shoulder, and touching it with the head. Usage: pleasure at seeing the beloved (vilāsa), graceful posing (lalita), affected indifference (bibboka), hysterics (kilakincita), rapture at being reminded of an absent lover (moṭṭayita), feigned anger (kuṭṭamita), modest silence (mauna), affectation of being unmoved (stambha).

Source: archive.org: Natya Shastra

Nihañcita (निहञ्चित).—One of the thirteen gestures of the head;—Instructions: when two shoulders are raised up with the nock bent on one side the Nihañcita head is produced. (Uses): It is to be used by women in pride, Amorousness (vilāsa), Light-heartedness (lalita). Affected Indifffírence (bibboka), Hysterical Mood (kilakiñcita). Silent Expression of Affection (moṭṭāyita), Pretented Anger (kuṭṭamita); Paralysis (stambha) and Jealous Anger (māna). (See the Nāṭyaśāstra 8-23)

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

Languages of India and abroad

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Nihaṃcita (ನಿಹಂಚಿತ):—[noun] (dance.) a bending the head sideway to touch the raised shoulder.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Full-text: Twenty-four Heads, Shiras.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Nihancita, Nihañcita, Nihamcita, Nihaṃcita; (plurals include: Nihancitas, Nihañcitas, Nihamcitas, Nihaṃcitas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Abhinaya-darpana (English) (by Ananda Coomaraswamy)

Chapter 6 - Twenty-four Movements of the Head

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Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)

Chapter VIII - Gestures of Minor Limbs (upāṅga)

Part 4 - The Ancient Indian Drama in Practice < [Introduction, part 1]

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