Image title: Figure 143. Two dancing girls or Dasis

This is again a beautiful sculpture of a dancing girl. Her Siras, Parsva and Urah [uras] are in Sama. Her Kati is in Udvahita on the left side. The left leg is in Sama straight. Her left Pada is bent to the outer side meaning the little toe and the rest of the side of the foot is touching the ground. The left Uru seems to be in Valana, left Janu is in Sama, left Jangha is in Avartita. The right leg seems to be at ease. The Janu is slightly bent and the right Pada seems to be in Sama. Looking at the position of the left Pada which is depicting a movement one can say the dancer is performing Utsyandita Cari in which, “The floor is alternately rubbed with the big toe and small toe.” She is holding a parrot with her left hand and her right hand is in Ardhacandra on her Uru. The small lady next to her is in a Samabhanga posture with her right hand on Uru and her left hand holding some object.

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.