Image title: Figure 47. Nikuttaka Karana

This sculpture is showing a back or posterior view. The right foot is in Sama and kept in Parsva. The left Pada is in Agratalasancara. Siras is in Utksipta, Kati is in Udvahita on the left side. The body is bent to the right side. The right hand is stretched out in Lata to shoulder level and the left hand is kept near the waist. The movement is being executed from Mandala Sthana.

It can be identified as Nikuttaka Karana (no.9) shown from the back, seeing the position of the stretched hand and Agratala of the left leg. “In Nikuttaka Karana the feet have to do Udghattita for striking, the hand undergoes in Alapallava near the shoulder and is brought back to Caturasra near the chest through Aviddhavaktra.Then the second hand and the other leg begins the movement.” In the beginning both hands are at the chest in Caturasra. Here the stretched out right hand depicts the Aviddhavaktra Hasta Karana being performed before taking it to 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.