Image title: Figure 19. A dancer in Avahittha Sthana

A Nartaki holding a Padma with her right hand and her left hand is in Uru Hasta. Her Siras and Urah are in Sama, her Parsva is unbent, her Kati is in Udvahita on the left side. Her left leg is straight and unbent, left Uru is in Stambhana, left Janu is in Sama, left Jangha is unbent and left Pada is in Sama. Right Janu is bent, right Jangha is in Nata, right Pada is in Sama. She is standing in Avahittha Sthana, in Abhanga posture. Cannot identify any movement like a Cari or a Karana. Again we can see the huge bun on the left side of her head reinforcing the style prevalent amongst the Dasis during the Cholas and Nayaka rules.

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.