Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture)
by Bhagyashree Sarma | 2021 | 59,457 words
This page relates ‘Hand Postures (c): Nritta-hasta’ of the study on the elements of Art and Architecture according to the Vishnudharmottara Purana: an ancient text whose third book deals with various artisan themes such as Architecture, Painting, Dance, Grammar, etc. Many chapters are devoted to Hindu Temple architecture and the iconography of Deities and their installation rites and ceremonies.
2.2. Hand Postures (c): Nṛtta-hasta
Again there are thirty kinds of nṛttahastas as mentioned in the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa. These are—
- caturasra,
- udvṛtta,
- laghumukha,
- arālakhaṭakāmukha,
- āviddha,
- vakra,
- saṃvyāsva,
- recita,
- ardharecita,
- avahittha,
- pallavita,
- nitamba,
- keśavardha,
- latā,
- karihasta,
- pakṣodyota,
- ancita,
- garuḍapakṣa,
- daṇḍapakṣa,
- urdhvamaṇḍalaja,
- ārśvamaṇḍalaja,
- pārśvordhvamaṇḍala,
- uromaṇḍalaka,
- iṣṭa,
- svastika,
- padmakośa,
- alapallava,
- ullvaṇa,
- lalita and
- valita.[1]
The practice of these nṛttahastas is strictly prohibited in sickness of body, in old age, in fear, drunk and anxiety.[2]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[...] Ibid.,3.26.7-12
[2]:
Ibid.,3.26.93