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 3 - Later developments of dramatic techniques
13 (of 22)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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well. Besides him, the Mahārāja's own nephew Asvati Tirunā! Rāma Varma, one of the greatest poets of that time, Sadāśiva Dīkṣita, Kalyāṇa Subrahmanya, Venkatasubrahmanya, Subrahmanya, Pantaḷam Subrahmanya Sastri, Kuñcan Nambiar, Putiyikkal Tampân, Manṭavappalli Iṭṭirārissa Menon, Iṭaveṭṭikkāṭṭu Nārāyaṇan Nampütiri the author of Rukminipariṇayam Campu, the Brahmin from Tirumandhāmkunnu in Malabar who wrote the Cātakasandeśa, Nilakaṇṭha Dīkṣita - the author of Varṇanåsarasangraha, the Princess Manorama, of the Zamorin's family were all patronised by the Mahārāja. THE MAHĀRĀJA AS A POET - Kārtika Tirunā� Mahārāja was also a poet of distinction. In Malayalam he is the author of six Kathakali works, (āṭṭakkatha) Rājasūyam, Subhadrāharaṇam, Bakavadhom, Gandharvavijayam, Pañcalisvayamvaram and Kalyāṇasaugandhikam, all based on the epi- sodes in the Mahabharata. While a seventh Kathakali work, Narakāsuravadhom, based on a story in the Srimad Bhāgavata, was in progress of composition, Aśvati Tirunal became assosciated with it to its dinstinct advantage. On seeing his talent, Mahārāja allowed him to complete the remaining portion of Narakasuravadhom. The golden age of Kathakali art commences with the reign of Kārtika Tirunā� Mahārāja. Among his works already mentioned above are some which are duplications of stories composed by Kōṭṭayattu Tampuran. Thus the Bakavadhom, Kalyāṇasaugandhikam and 101
