Image title: Figure 38. Krantaka Karana

Siras is in Ancita. Urah [uras] is in Nirbhugna. Parsva is in Nata on right and Samunnata on left. Kati is in Udvahita on right. The right foot is in Agratalasancara and is slightly behind the left. The left Pada is in Sama and Parsva. Both the Janu are in Ardhakuncita.The right hand is lifted up and could be doing Recita. The left hand is already brought down and is in front of the chest in Lata. The right foot seems ready for a movement. The dancer seems to be performing Atikranta Cari. The bend to the left side suggests this. From the figure we can say that the movement is being executed from Mandala Sthana.

This can be identified as Karana no.51 which is Krantaka in which, “Atikranta Cari is performed with a Kuncita foot. The hand is stretched out from the body with Vyavartita and thrown down with Parivartita and rests in Katakamukha at the chest .”

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.