Image title: Figure 41. Aksiptarecita Karana

The left hand is near the chest, the right hand is thrown out in Recita, Siras is in Udvahita -turned to side and lifted up looking at the raised hand, the Parsva is in Nata on left and Samunnata on right, Urah [uras] is in Udvahita, Kati is in Udvahita on right, right leg is thrown out and raised to the level of the shoulder, right Pada is in Kuncita, right Jangha is in Ksipta, right Janu is in Unnata, right Uru is raised. Left leg is straight and unbent. Left Uru is in Stambhana, left Janu is in Sama, left Jangha is unbent.

This fits into the description of Karana Aksiptarecita -which is Karana no. 20 in which “One leg is thrown out in the side with the hand doing Recita. Then Apavidha is performed and this hand is brought near the chest again.” “Apavidha is the movement of the arm where it proceeds out from the region of the chest with a circular movement.”

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.