Image title: Figure 8. A dancer doing Kesabandha Hasta Karana with Adhyardhika Cari

A beautiful sculpture of a lady in a dance posture. She is in Tribhanga posture. Her Siras is in Ancita, her Parsva is unbent, her Urah is in Sama, her Kati is in Udvahita on right side, her Janu are in Ardhakuncitam, her Jangha are in Nata, Her Pada are in Sama facing the sides. Right Pada is behind the heel of the left Pada. Could be performing Adhyardhika Cari in which, “The left foot is on the back (heel) of the right one, then the latter is to be drawn away (a Tala and a half apart).” Her right hand is near her right shoulder, Pataka hand facing upward–seems to be doing Kesabandha Hasta Karana. “In Kesabandha Hasta Karana the hands alternately reach the head region from the side Udvestita and Apavestita movements which involves whirling movements of the hands. As one hand proceeds in, the other moves out.”

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.