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Nartananirṇaya: Bāhu (Movements of the fore arms)

1500 CE - 1600 CE - by Puṇḍarīka Viṭṭhala

Bāhu - Movements of the fore arms

Nartananirṇaya - Language: Sanskrit

The author is thought to be a South Indian, who migrated between courts, eventually writing this text for the Emperor Akbar. The text talks about drama, music, and dance - much like the Natya Sastra, but includes more modern concepts. Bose describes it as the missing link between ancient and current classical dance.

Descriptions and Meanings

Pṛṣṭhagata
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:63

reaching out back(ward), it is pṛṣṭhagata.

Svastika
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:63

Svastika is [performed] by crossing the arms.

Maṇḍala
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:63

Maṇḍalagati is aptly named (i.e. the arm sweeps round in all directions).

Añcita
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6

Moving from the chest to the head is añcita.

Āviddha
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:64

Moving [the arm] inward is āviddha

Kuñcita
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:64

by bending at the elbow is kuñcita.

Adhomukha
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:61

touching the ground is adhomukha

Sarala
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:64

Sarala [bahu] moves sidewise.

Āndolita
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:65

Āndolita is aptly named [i.e. the arm makes swinging movement].

Namra
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:64

Namra [moves] slightly bent.

Udveṣṭita
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:63

Udveṣṭita is [made] by the arm moving outward;

Utsarita
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:65

Utsārita [consists of the arm] moving from the other side to its own side.

Prasarita
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:63

[The arm] going out to the front is prāsarita.

Pārśvagata
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:62

Extending to a side is pārśvagata

Apaviddha
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:62

apaviddha [consists of the arm] moving outward from the chest.

Ūrdhvastha
Nartananirnaya of Sri Pandrika Vitthala Vol. 3

6:61

[Arm] extending above the head is urdhvastha

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