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
47 (of 56)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
संज्ञामात्रा- [ṃjñ峾ٰ- ] Riding a chariot, or horse, or travelling in an aerial vehicle, रथगतिः आकाशगमने गतिः, अश्वयाने गतिः ). [rathagati� ākāśagamane gati�, aśvayāne gati� ). ] Such action can be performed only through symbolic gestures. 'अङ्कुशग्रहणान्नागं खलीनग्रहणाद्धयम्। [aṅkuśagrahaṇānnāga� khalīnagrahaṇāddhayam|] ' (NS XIII 106) By holding the gesture of an ankle-hook, an elephant is indi- cated; by holding the gesture of a bridle, a horse is indicated (Also see the stage direction in शकुन्तलम� - [śakuntalam - ] ' रथवेगं निरूप्�, शरसन्धान� नाटयति, कुसुमावचयं नाटयन्ति [rathavega� nirūpya, śarasandhāna� nāṭayati, kusumāvacaya� nāṭayanti] ' etc). 79 (iv) Āharya: Bharata places great emphasis on the costumes and make-
up of the actors. What is called ч or character preparation,
according to Bharata's instruction relating to colours, ornaments,
dress etc. suitable to each character and mood, is still nearly
followed today; in Kathakaḷi, Kūtiyāṭṭom, Kṛṣṇanāṭṭom etc. It is
an elaborate ritual by itself. Although sets and props were not used
on Bharata's stage, there were some stage properties, such as
simple weapons like bows and arrows, sword mace etc.. But this
use was minimal and symbolic rather than naturalistic, the
predominant emphasis being on gestural interpretation of actions
and meanings. Different face masks for gods and men were also
used, and Bharata gives elaborate instructions for the making of
artificial legs, heads, hands and skin. In Kathakali, in the
story Nalacaritam, the actor wears an artificial swan's beak to play
the role of Hamsa. In Kalyāṇasaugandhikam, during the episode
relating to Bhima's encounter with Hanūmān, the actor wears
