Abhinaya-darpana (English)

by Ananda Coomaraswamy | 1917 | 16,981 words | ISBN-13: 9788121500210

The English translation of the Abhinaya-darpana (“the mirror of gesture”) by Nandikeshvara: an encyclopedic manual of the art of gesticulation. It belongs to a wide range of literature known as Natya-shastra: the ancient Indian art of dramatic performance, theatrics, dance and music. The Abhinaya Darpana is an abridgement of the Bharatarnava, a m...

Chapter 5 - Nine Movements of the Head

Nine Movements of the Head.—The following nine Heads are named by those who are versed in the Science of Dancing:

  1. Sama,
  2. Udvāhita,
  3. Adhomukha,
  4. Ālolita,
  5. Dhuta,
  6. Kampita,
  7. Parāvṛtta,
  8. Utkṣipta,
  9. Parivāhita.

Sama (level): not moving, not bent, nor raised. Usage: at the beginning of dancing, prayer,[1] authoritative speech, satisfaction, anger, indifference, or inaction.

Udvāhita (raised): raising the head and keeping it still. Usage: flag, moon, firmament, mountain, flying things in the air, anything tall.

Adhomukha (face inclined): the head is bent. Usage: modesty, sorrow, bowing, regarding anything vile, fainting, things on the ground, bathing.

Ālolita (rolling): the head is moved in a circle. Usage: sleepiness, obsession, intoxication, faintness, dizziness, hesitation, laughter, etc.

Dhuta (shaken): the head is turned to and fro from right to left and left to right. Usage: denial, looking repeatedy at things, condolence with others, astonishment, dismay, indifference, cold, fire, fear, first moment of drinking liquor, preparing for battle, rejection, impatience, glancing at one’s own limbs, summoning from both sides.

Kampita (nodded): shaking the head up and down. Usage: indignation, saying “Halt!”, enquiry, summoning, threatening, etc.

Parāvṛtta (turned round): the head is turned aside. Usage: saying “Do this”, aversion, modesty, quiver, relaxing the features, slighting, hair, etc.

Utkṣipta (tossed): turning the head aside and upwards. Usage: saying “Take this”, etc., indication, cherishing, assent.

Parivāhita (wagging): the head is moved from side to side like a fan. Usage: being in love, yearning for the beloved, pleasure, gratification, reflection (vicāra).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Cf. usage in “Bhagavad Gītā”, VI, 13.

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