Image title: Figure 39. Vidyudbhranta Karana

In this dancing sculpture Siras is lifted to one side in Udvahita. Urah [uras] is in Udvahita, Parsva is in Samunnata on left and Nata on right. Kati is in Udvahita on right. Right Pada is in Kuncita, right Uru is in Udvartana, right Janu is in Unnata, right Jangha is in Parivrtta. Left Pada is in Sama, left Jangha is in Nata, left Janu is in Ardhakuncita, left Uru is turned out.

This dancer seems to be performing the Vidyudbhranta Cari which is an “Akasa Cari where one foot is circled back and stretched so as to touch its top part and then the head is moved in a circle.” This can be classified as Vidyudbhranta Karana which is the 65^th Karana of the Natya Sastra according to which, “The foot is turned backwards and the hands in Mandalavidha (circling inwardly) gesture is stretched close to the head.” “Bhrantam [Bhranta] means turning around quickly which gives momentum to perform the next action which involves quick lifting of the leg near the head.”

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.