Indian dancing

INDIAN DANCING

(b) The bherunda hasta (two kapittha hands with the tip of the forefinger resting on top of the thumb and the remaining fingers bent inwards, the hands facing each other in front) indicates a pair of birds in dalliance.

(c) The shivalinga hasta consists of the right hand in the s#khara mudra with the fingets folded inwards and the thumb raised, the base of the hand thus folded resting on the palm of the left hand, the fingers of which are extended horizontally, while the thumb is stretched out. This double-hand gesture symbolizes Shiva’s phallus.

(d) The matsya samyukta, with the palm of one hand placed on the back of the other, with the thumbs outstretched, signifies a fish.

A mote detailed description of these hand gestures, both single and double, cannot be given in a work of the present length. Here we have ttied to explain how varied and intricate is the use of mudras in Indian dancing. It is this symbolic use of the hands that makes watya so tich a lore and so precise a science.

3. Aharyya Abhinaya We now turn to the third and last subdivision of mriya — the aharyya abhinaya, which covets the visual plane as opposed to the astral and divine planes of the former two.

Indian dance-drama embodies a harmonious blend of all the atts — acting, dancing, painting, singing, and music. In the abhinaya instrumental in achieving this concord, the aharyya abhinaya plays a secondary but important role. It aids the presentation of a performance with: (a) Background, or décor. (b) Make-up. (c) Music.

BACKGROUND: Decoration creates the right atmosphere for a dance number. It forges a link between drawing, painting, and the kindred arts, such as dancing and music.

Just as an audience is called upon to be rasa-conscious, so must the stage designer have a basic knowledge of the dance technique for which he designs the sets. To create the background for Bharata Natyam, for instance, he must know something about the architectural intricacies of South Indian temples, while for Kathak sets he should have an appreciation of Moghul miniatures and Kangara

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