Essay name: Arts in the Puranas (study)
Author:
Meena Devadatta Jeste
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute Pune
This essay studies the Arts in the Puranas by reconstructing the theory of six major fine arts鈥擬usic, Dance, Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, and Literature鈥攆rom the Major and Minor Puranas. This thesis shows how ancient sages studied these arts within the context of cultural traditions of ancient India.
Chapter 2 - Dance in the Puranas
15 (of 43)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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- 87 - symbolize some object. The Visnudharmottara has discussed the Hastabhinaya in chapter 26. Three kinds of Hastas viz. Asanyuta, Sanyuta, and Nrtta Hasta are described with their usage in detail. The Visnudharmottara following the Natyasastra mentions 64 hands. According to the Purana the Asalyuta Hastas (Single hands) are 22, Sahyuta (Combined) are 13, and Nrtta hastas are 29. Natya sastra mentions 24 Asalyuta, 13 Sanyuta and 27 Nrtta Mastas. The description is similar with slight variations. I shall here merely group and name them without detailed description. An elaborate and detailed narration of the usages and meanings of the different hand-poses as described by the Visnudharmottara can be found in the Visnudharmottara, III, by Dr. Priyabala Shah, (pp. 69-76). The twenty-two Asahyuta or single hands - 1 Pataka (flag) 2 Tripataka (flag with three fingers) 3 Kartarimukha (Scissor's blades) 4 Arala (bent) 5 Ardhacandra (Crescent moon)
6 Sukstunda (Parrot's beak)
7 Musti (fist)
8 Sikhara (Peak)
9 Kapittha (Elephant apple)
10 Katakamukha (Crab-face)
11 Sucasya or Sucimukha (Needle)
12 Padmakosa (Lotus-bud)
