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Natya Sastra: Nṛttahastas (Dance hands (single and combined))

200 BCE - 200 CE - by Bharata

Nṛttahastas - Dance hands (single and combined)

Natya Sastra - Language: Sanskrit

The earliest available comprehensive work on dramaturgy. It includes dance - and much, much more - describing all aspects of theatrical production, of which dance is a significant part. Earlier works are referenced in literature, but to date, have not been found and/or translated. It is also the foremost source generally cited as the historical reference for all modern classical dance styles. There is a very wide range of dates attributed to the Natya Sastra. The early range of dates are based upon linguistic dating, asserting the time range as 500-300BC because the words, figures of speech, and location names are relevant to that time period, and no longer used at later periods. The later dates of 700-900 AD are an estimate based on linguistically dating the latest chapters in the 36-37 chapters available now. 200BC-200AD seems like a reasonable compromise and is a reasonable bet given that texts after this time seem to build from concepts in this text. The analysis around what date it, or all of its parts, may be deserves its own publication.

Descriptions and Meanings

Caturaśra
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra
9:178

(a) Two Khataka Mukha hands are to be held eight Angulas away from the chest while the shoulders and elbows are on the same level. This is called Caturaśra.

The Natyasastra, Volume I
9:174

Caturasra—two Kaṭakāmukha hands held forward eight Aṅgulīs away [from one’s chest] the two shoulders and elbows on the same level.

The Natysasastra
Udvṛtta
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:179

(b) Two Hamsapaksa hands are waved like Tiilavrnta (palm leaf fan). This should be known as Udvṛtta or Tālavṛntaka.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:175

Udvṛtta—the two Haṃsapakṣa hands waved like a palm-leaf (fan). Its alternative name is the Tālavṛnta (palm-leaf).

The Natysasastra
Talamukha
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra
9:180

(c) Two hands from Caturasra position are held obliquely facing each other. This is called Tālamukha.

The Natyasastra, Volume I
9:176

Talamukha—the two hands from the Caturasra position to be held obliquely facing each other.

The Natysasastra
Viprakīrna
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:181

(d) Svastika. The Tala Mukha hands when placed crossed at the wrists in the shape of a Svastika are termed Svastika, when they are released they are called Viprakirna.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:177

Svastika—the Talamukha hands crossed at the wrists; but released after this they are called Viprakīrṇa.

The Natysasastra
Arālakaṭakamukha
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:182

Two Alapallava hands palms up wards changed into Padmakosa hands are called Arālakaṭakā Mukha or Arālākhaṭaka.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:178

Arālakhaṭakāmukha—the two Alapallava (Alapadmaka) hands with palms upwards changed into Padmakośa hands. Its another name is Arālakaṭaka.

The Natysasastra
Āviddhavakraka
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:183

The two hands are to have Kutila (oblique) movement after touching the opposite shoulder elbow and hands. Then the palms are moved and turned towards the back. This is known as Āviddhavakraka.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:179

Āviddhavakraka—The two hands are to have a graceful (kuṭila) movement after touching [successively] the opposite shoulder, elbow and hands, and the palms [of the hands] moved are to turn towards the back.

The Natysasastra
Sūcīmukha
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:184

When two Sarpasirsa hands have their tips stretched obliquely with the thumbs touching middle fingers it is remembered as Sūcīmukha.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:180

Sūcīmukha—The two Sarpaśiraḥ hands with their thumbs touching middle fingers are to stretch their tips obliquely.

The Natysasastra
Recita
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:185

Recita. Two Hamsapaksa hands moving swiftly with the palms facing upward is called Recita. This is like the ordinary Recita of the hands.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:181

Recita—the two Haṃsapakṣa hands swiftly moving with the palms facing upward. This is like the ordinary Recita [of the hands].

The Natysasastra
Ardharecita
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:186

The left hand is as in the Caturasra and the right hand as in the Recita. This should be known by those convcrsent with the principles of dance as Ardharecita.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:182

Ardharecita—The left hand should be as in the Caturasra and the right hand as in the Recita.

The Natysasastra
Utthānavaṁcita
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:187

Two Tripataka [hands arc slightly bent obliquely and the shoulders and the elbows are moved. This is remembered as Uttānavancita.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:183

Uttānavañcita—The two Tripatāka hands are slightly bent obliquely and the shoulders and the elbows are moved.

The Natysasastra
Pallava
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra
9:188

Two Pataka hands joined at the wrist termed Pallava.

The Natyasastra, Volume I
9:184

Pallava—the two Patāka hands joined at the wrist.

The Natysasastra
Nitamba
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9

They taken out from the shoulder to the hip are termed Nitamba.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9

Nitamba—the two Patāka hands taken out from the boulder [to the hip].

The Natysasastra
Keśabandha
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:189

Two hands are moved out from the Keśabandha (hair knot) and held on the sides are termed Keśabandha.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:185

Keśabandha—the two hands moved out from the hair-knot (keśabandha) and held on the sides.

The Natysasastra
Latā
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra
9:190

Two hands to be obliquely stretched sideways are termed Latā.

The Natyasastra, Volume I
9:186

Latā—the two hands to be obliquely stretched sideways.

The Natysasastra
Karihasta
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra
9:191

Karihasta. The Lata hand held up and swung from side to side and the other hand Tripataka is held on the ear. This is glorified as Karihasta.

The Natyasastra, Volume I
9:187

Karihasta—the Latā hand held up and swung from side to side and the Tripatāka hand held on the ear.

The Natysasastra
Pakṣavañcita
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra
9:192

A Tripataka hand is placed on the waist and the other on the head. The sponsors of dance programmes know this as Pakṣavañcitaka.

The Natyasastra, Volume I
9:188

Pakṣavañcitaka—one Tripatāka hand placed on the waist and another on the head.

The Natysasastra
Pakṣapradyota
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra
9:193

The hands in the Pakṣavancitaka change places (waist and head). Then they are remembered as Pakṣapradyotaka.

The Natyasastra, Volume I
9:189

Pakṣapradyotaka—the Pakṣavañcitaka hands changing places (i.e. the hands placed on the waist to be put on the head and vice versa).

The Natysasastra
Danḍapakṣa
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:194

Two Hamsapaksa hands moved alternately and then held out like a staff are called Danḍapakṣa.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:190

Daṇḍapaksa—the two Haṃsapakṣa hands moved alternately and then held out like a staff.

The Natysasastra
Urdhvamaṇḍali
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:195

If the hands have circling movement near the upper part of the body they are called Urdhvamaṇḍali.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:191

Ūrdhvamaṇḍalī—the two hands to have circling movement near the upper region (i.e. the upper part of the body).

The Natysasastra
Pārśvamaṇḍali
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9

The same with the movement made on one side is called Pārśvamaṇḍali.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9

Pārśvamaṇḍalī—the same movement made on one side.

The Natysasastra
Uromaṇḍali
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:196

One hand is to be raised up after the circling movements and the other is to be kept hanging down. Some movements are to take place near the breast. This is called Uromaṇḍali.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:192

Uromaṇḍalī—after circling movements one hand to be raised up and the other to hang down, and movements to take place near the breast.

The Natysasastra
Uraḥpārśvārdhamaṇḍala
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:197

The Alapadmaka and Arala hands are moved by ' turns above the breast and on the sides. This should be known as Uraḥpārśvārdhamaṇḍala.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:193

Uraḥpārśvārdhamaṇḍala—the Alapallava (Alapadmaka) and Arāla hands moved by turns above the chest and by the sides.

The Natysasastra
Muṣṭisvastika
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:198

When two Khaṭakāmukha hands are bent at the wrists and moved round they shall be called Muṣṭisvastika.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:194

Muṣṭikasvastika—the two Kaṭakāmukha hands bent at the wrists and moved round.

The Natysasastra
Nalinīpadmakośa
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:199

The hands are moved by turns with Vyavartita and Parivartita Karatja, from Padmakośa form. They should be known as Nalinī Padmakośa.

(movements not yet uploaded?)

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:195

Nalinīpadmakośa—the hands to be moved by turns with Vyavartita and Parivartita Karaṇa.

The Natysasastra
Alapallava (Alapadmaka)
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9:200

The hands have Udvestita Karana in their movements in Alapallava hand.

(Udvestita not uploaded yet)

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:196

Alapallava—the two hands to have the Udveṣṭita Karaṇa in their movements.

The Natysasastra
Ulbaṇa
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra

9

When they are stretched up and waved they are called Ulbaṇa.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9

Ulbaṇa—the two hands to be stretched up and waved.

The Natysasastra
Lālita
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra
9:291

Two Pallava hands are to be moved above the head. It is remembered as Lalita.

The Natyasastra, Volume I

9:197

Lalita—two [Ala]-pallava (Alapadmaka) hands to be moved above the head.

The Natysasastra
Valita
Tāṇḍava Lakṣaṇam
The Natya Sastra
9

Valita When two Lata hands are crossed at the elbows they are called Valita.

The Natyasastra, Volume I
9

Valita—the two Latā hands crossed at their elbows.

The Natysasastra

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