Image title: Figure 25. Recitanikuttita Karana

Below is another dancing sculpture around the Garbha Graha.The girl is in Mandala Sthana, her left Kati is in Udvahita. Her Urah [uras] or Urah [uras] is in Sama, Siras is in Ancita–bent to the left slightly. Her left hand is in Uru in Ardhacandra, her right hand is touching the right knee and seems to be in Dola or Lata Hasta.

She seems to be doing the Svastikarecita which is Karana no. 7 according to whose description, “Two hands with Recita and Aviddha gesture held together in the form of a Svastika, then separated and held on the hip.” This seems to be the end part of the Karana.

Gallery information:

Kumbakonam is considered as one of the holiest places in Tamil Nadu and is known for its temples and Mathas (monasteries which were centres of Brahmanical learning). These photographs depict the connection between the sculptures in the temples and Natya Shastra and related texts dealing with iconography.