Image title: Figure 104. Talasamsphotita Karana

Siras is in Ancita, Parsva is in Samunnata on right and Nata on left, Urah [uras] is in Sama, Kati is in slight Udvahita on the left side. Right Pada is in feet Sama and left is in Agratala, facing the two sides. Sthana from which movement is done is Mandala. The hands are in Pataka and are facing downwards. They seem to be clapping.

This can be identified as Karana Talasamsphotita which is no. 69 of the Natya Sastra according to whose description “A foot is to be switly lifted in Atikranta or Dandpada and is made Aksipta and put down quickly in front and the two hands show Talasamsphotita gesture meaning clapping.” According to Abhinavagupta, the clapping has to synchronise with the dropping of the foot. What is seen in the above figure is the clapping after the lifting of the foot. The clapping can be done by Pataka hands as is visible from the sculpture.We can also decipher from the figure that the clapping must synchronise with the Mandala Sthana.

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.