Image title: Figure 31. Katisama Karana

A beautiful sculpture of a girl showing movement. Siras is in Ancita (bent to right), Urah is in Sama, left side Parsva is in Unnata and right side is in Nata, Kati is in Udvahita on the right side showing Chinna movement, left leg is straight, unbent, left Uru is in Stambhana and left Janu is in Sama, left Pada is in Sama in Parsva. Right Uru is in Valana right Janu is bent, right Jangha is in Nata, right Pada is in Agratalasancara and looks as if being lifted from the ground. Left hand is placed on Uru and is in Ardhacandra. Right hand is raised and maybe in Kataka (not clear) or Suci (not clear). The girl seems to be ready to perform the Apakranta Cari–“From the Valana position of the Baddha Cari, the foot is lifted in Kuncita and dropped on its own side.” Since right hand is in Katakamukha and left hand is in Ardhacandra on the Uru, it can be classified as Katisama Karana where the dancer, “After

performing the Aksipta and Apakranta Cari, ends in Vaisnava Sthana with one hand kept at the navel as Katakamukha and the other placed as Uru Hasta.”

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.