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Nṛttaratnāvalī: Bāhu (Movements of the fore arms)

1200 CE - 1300 CE - by Jāya Senāpati

Bāhu - Movements of the fore arms

Nṛttaratnāvalī - Language: Sanskrit

The Nṛttaratnāvalī by Jāyana (also called Jāya Senāpati) is in Sanskrit, and written down in Telegu text.  It dates from the Kātatīya Dynasty, which covered what is now modern day Telegana.  The rulers where worshippers of the goddess Kātatī and this was a golden age for the region, with a lot of writing on the arts and other intellectual concepts. Jāyana wrote 3 texts on dance, however the Nṛttaratnāvalī is the one that survives.  The Gītaratnāvalī and Vādyaratnāvalī did not survive.  The work divides itself into 8 chapters - 4 devoted to marga - the classical format that traces to the long linneage of historical treatises, and 4 desi dance which isn't within this cannon and is generally described as regional and popular, which the author then describes meticulously.  This kind of division starts at this time period.

Descriptions and Meanings

Ūrdhvagata
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:220

The forearm which moves to the area above the head is ūrdhvagata

Pṛṣṭhagata
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:220

goes behind the back, pṛṣṭhagata

Svastika
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:220-221

crosses the other forearm svastika

Maṇḍala
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:221

circumambulates in both directions, maṇḍala


2:221

starts to move fix the chest area and executes maṅḍala is apaviddha.

Añcita
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:222

The forearm which goes to the head area from the chest and comes back is añcita

Āviddha
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:222

that which is made to move between shoulders is āviddha;

Kuñcita
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:222

that forearm where the elbow is stiffened and bent is kuñcita

Adhomukha
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:222

and that brought down towards earth is adhomukha.

Sarala
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:224

The forearm which extends to the sides, upwards or downwards is sarala

Āndolita
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:224

sways, āndolita

Namra
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:224

bent slightly, namra...

Udveṣṭita
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:225

...made to move/drop transversely over the wrist, udveṣṭita

Utsarita
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:225

which moves from its side to the other side, utsarita;

Prasarita
Jāyasenāpativiracita Nṛttaratnāvalī, Volume I

2:226

The forearm stretched straight ahead is prasarita.

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