Image title: Figure 16. A dancing girl standing with feet in front Svastika

This is a beautiful figure of a girl whose feet are in front Svastika. Siras and Urah are in Sama. Left leg is straight, left Pada is in Sama facing the front, left Janu is in Sama left Jangha is unbent. Kati is in Udvahita on left side.The right leg is crossed in front and placed in Suci. Right Uru is turned out. Right hand is holding a lotus, Hasta not clear, could be Katakamukha. Left hand is placed on hip and is in Ardhacandra. She could be performing the Samotsarita Mattalli Cari which is a Bhumi Cari 15.

According to the description of this Cari by Sarngadeva “One foot is in Agratalasancara behind the other foot, then the other foot is made Agratala and then the feet make circular movements by moving away and coming together.” The bend of the left leg to the left gives the impression of a movement. What is to be noted is that the hands don”t seem to be making corresponding movement with the legs since the girl has a lotus in one hand. So the feet could be ready to make Samotsarita Mattalli Cari movement and the hands seem to be fixed with one on waist and the other holding a lotus near the shoulder.

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.