Essay name: Hastalaksanadipika a critical edition and study
Author:
E. K. Sudha
Affiliation: Government Sanskrit College (Tripunithura) / Department of Sanskrit
This is an English study on the Hastalaksanadipika—a manual depicting the Mudras (gestures) of the Kerala theatre. It is a very popular text supposedly dating to the 10th century A.D. This study also touches the subject of Krsnanattam, Kathakali and Kutiyattam—some of India's oldest theatrical traditions in Kerala.
Chapter 2 - Bharata’s Dramaturgy
36 (of 56)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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for beautifying the presentation: as when, in an amorous situation (where the Kaisiki style of bearing is employed) the heroine enters sporting her hands in dance style with four types of hand movements (hastakaraṇas:- Avestita, Udvestita, Vyāvartita & Parivartita) simply serving to enhance the charm of the presentation (ii) that which partially follows popular mundane behaviour (34) eg. miming an action through dance mudrās (eg: the use of Tripatāka, to show words spoken aside).- The above is Abhinavagupta's analysis. Now Bharata's own definition of these terms (NS XIV 69-85) may be taken into con- sideration. 68 1) Lōkadharmi is the abhinya that depends on a natural expression
of the emotions () on the natural behaviour of people -
men and women of various types (that follows the well
known activities of people (that is simple and unartificial
(शुद्धं त्वविकृतम्) [śuddha� tvavikṛtam) ] and free from playful flourish of the limbs (अङ्गलीलाविवर्जितम्).
[ṅgī屹ᾱٲ).
] 2) Natyadharmi is illustrated by the following
au = This according to AG, consists in the inventive use of
well-known themes, with a view to intensifying the dramatic effect.
अतिसत्वातिभावकम् [پٱپ屹첹 ] = स्वभाव� चित्तवृर्त्तिं � अतिकृत्य यत� स्थितं कविकल्पि�- चित्तवृत्त्यन्तरयुक्तं
( [svabhāva� cittavṛrtti� ca atikṛtya yat sthita� kavikalpita- cittavṛttyantarayukta�
(] Abhi. Bha.)
That is, portraying behaviour and mental states in a manner
that deviates from natural conditions and the invention by the poet, of
