Image title: Figure 7. A dancer holding a parrot

This is a sculpture of a dancer holding a parrot with her left hand. Her Siras is in Ancita, Urah is in Sama, her Parsva is on right side Samunnata and on left side Nata, her Kati is in Udvahita on the left side. Her left hand is in Katakamukha, holding a parrot. Her right hand is in Uru Hasta. Left leg is absolutely straight and unbent, her right leg is crossed in a front Svastika, her right Pada is in Agratalasancara. Doesn”t give any indication of a Cari or a Karana.

Such sculptures which do not indicate a Cari or a Karana are very common in the temples. They seem to add beauty and grandeur to the whole temple but they do not capture a dance pose or movement.

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.