2.1. Origin of Dance (狈峁泃迟补) and Hand-postures (Hasta-mudr膩)

Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture)

by Bhagyashree Sarma | 2021 | 59,457 words

This page relates 鈥極rigin of Dance (Nritta) and Hand-postures (Hasta-mudra)鈥� of the study on the elements of Art and Architecture according to the Vishnudharmottara Purana: an ancient text whose third book deals with various artisan themes such as Architecture, Painting, Dance, Grammar, etc. Many chapters are devoted to Hindu Temple architecture and the iconography of Deities and their installation rites and ceremonies.

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2.1. Origin of Dance (狈峁泃迟补) and Hand-postures (Hasta-mudr膩)

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In the 痴颈峁ａ箛耻诲丑补谤尘辞迟迟补谤补辫耻谤腻峁嘺, an interesting story is narrated in connection with the origin of Dance.

Once two demons named Madhu and 碍补颈峁璦产丑补 had stolen four Vedas from 叠谤补丑尘腻.^[1] Being worried, 叠谤补丑尘腻 went to Lord 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 and asked for help.^[3] Lord 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 was ready to help 叠谤补丑尘腻 and got up from his bed on the 艣别峁苍腻驳补 and searched those two demons in the ocean.^[4] In that very moment goddess 尝补办峁墨 noticed the graceful movements of limbs and charming steps of the feet of Lord 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 and she got impressed by it.^[5] At the arrival of Lord after completing his task, Goddess 尝补办峁墨 expressed her feelings in front of the God and asked about the extremely charming strides presented in the water by Lord. Then the Lord said that he had created the 狈峁泃迟补, which should be executed with the graceful movements of limbs, sense organs and the movements of feet.^[6]

Thus, Lord 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 created the 狈峁泃迟补. The point to be noted here is that, according to the 狈腻峁瓂补艣腻蝉迟谤补, and the 础产丑颈苍补测补诲补谤辫补峁嘺, lord 艢颈惫补 is the originator of Dance^[7] where as the 痴颈峁ａ箛耻诲丑补谤尘辞迟迟补谤补辫耻谤腻峁嘺 accepts Lord 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 as the creator of this art form.

The hand postures are termed as 丑补蝉迟补尘耻诲谤腻蝉 in Sanskrit. The 丑补蝉迟补尘耻诲谤腻蝉 are very essential to denote some particular action or state in dancing and these 尘耻诲谤腻蝉 are formed with the help of hands and fingers. In the 痴颈峁ａ箛耻诲丑补谤尘辞迟迟补谤补辫耻谤腻峁嘺 the necessity of hand gestures are highly recommended as according to this book, Dance depends on the actions of the hands.^[2] In the 痴颈峁ａ箛耻诲丑补谤尘辞迟迟补谤补辫耻谤腻峁嘺 mainly three kinds of 丑补蝉迟补尘耻诲谤腻蝉 are discussed and those are termed as hasta.