Image title: Figure 69. Adhyardhika Cari

A beautiful sculpture performing movement from Mandala Sthana. Both the feet are on the ground, right foot is in Sama and the left is slightly lifted from the ground. The left foot is a little ahead of the right foot. Right Kati is in Udvahita. Urah is in Sama. Siras is in Sama. Right hand is in Uru position. Left hand is in Lata. It cannot be identified as any particular Karana but one can definitely observe a Cari. Sthanas are positions of the whole leg. Sthanas are very important because they are the positions from where the Caris begin and follows into Karanas.Bharata has given 6 Sthanas for men and 3 Sthanas for women.

The dancing figure seems to be performing the Adhyardhika Cari according to whose description “The left foot is lifted and placed near right heel. Then the right foot is moved one and a half spans away and placed on its side as Tryasra.” If we observe the dancer it looks as if she has lifted her left leg to place it near the right heel. This movement of the leg is performed alternately with each leg.

Adhyardhika Cari is a Bhumi Cari in which the leg is moved close to the ground and is not lifted high up.

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.