Preface
Abhinayadarpaoa, the monumental text by Acarya Nandikssvara has undergone studies and translations earlier. When the publishers approached me to write a translation for the text my task was challenging for the reason that stalwarts have already laid a path which I had to tread carefully.
While preparing the present edition, care has been taken to ensure that it becomes a concise guide to the students of Indian theory of Dance as well for the research scholars. An elaborate introduction and a summary of contents of Bharatarnava, another text on Indian Dance attributed to Nandikesvara is also given for the general readers.
This work tries to give a faithful translation of the text Abhinayadarpana and I have added as appendix few information which would be of immense value to both practising dancers as well as theorists of dance studies.
For the research scholars, information on various theories about Nandikesvara, date and his identity, a list of preceptors of Indian Dance-Drama-Music tradition, list of works dealing exclusively with Natya is given. The book also includes a short account of Bharatarnava, another work on Natya attributed to Nandikesvara. For the practising students, a diagrammatic representation of Hasta Mudras are also given for easy reference and a few glances (drsti) for delineation of Rasa, Sthayibhavas and Sancaribhavas are given. Kindly note that all the pictures denoted in the book are not depicted in the respective distance which ought to be according to the text and the pictures serve only as a guideline to understand the text though there may be slight variations in the schools of practice.
The author would consider it to be his good fortune, if the book serves the need of the connoisseurs of Indian Dramatic Tradition.
In this endeavour, I am thankful to Sri. S Ramanarayanan of M/s. Giri Trading Agency Private Limited for having given me this opportunity to serve the scholastic world with this small contribution. Also, my heartfelt gratitude to Smt Sushama Ranganathan who introduced me to the publishers to do the project.
As a homage to my teacher to whom I owe all my academic achievement I place my reverential salutations to Dr. K Srinivasan.
Contents
13
Publishers Note
15
Abhinaya
21
Abhinayadarpaoa
24
Nandikesvara
30
Allusions in Abhinavabharati
31
Allusions in Musicological Texts
32
Other opinions
33
Contributions of Nandikesvara
34
Authors and works cited by Nandikesvara
35
Abhinayadarpanam
40
1.
Namaskriya (Invocation)
2.
Natyotpatti (Origin of Dance)
41
3.
Natyaprasamsa (Greatness of Natya)
42
4.
Natanabhedan (Kinds of Natana)
43
5.
Natana Prayogakalah (Occasions of Dance)
6.
Natya
7.
Nrtta
44
8.
Nrtya
9.
Sabhapati Laksana (Features of Chairperson)
10.
Mantri Laksana (Features of a Counsel)
45
11.
Sabha Laksana (Features of an assembly)
12.
Sabha Racana (Arrayal of the Assembly)
46
13.
Patra Laksana (Features of a Dancer)
14.
Varjaniya Patrani (Disfranchise of a Dancer)
47
15.
Patrasya Prarnah (Fundamental qualities of a Dancer)
16.
Kinkini Laksana (Quality of Chimes)
48
17.
Prarthana (Invocation)
18.
Rangadhidevata Stuti (Acclamation of the deity of stage)
49
19.
Puspanjali (Tribute with flowers)
20.
Natyakrama (The order of Natya)
50
21.
Abhinaya (the gestures)
22.
Angikabhinaya Sadhanani (The various expressions of physical gestures)
52
23.
Sirobhedha (Gestures of head)
54
24.
Drsti Bhedhah (Eye movements)
61
25.
Griva Bhedah (Neck Movements)
67
26.
Hasta Bhedah (Hand Postures)
71
27.
Padabhedah (Movements of Legs)
137
28.
Some later works dealing with Natya
162
29.
A Short Account of Bharatarnava
163
30.
Abhinayas for Delineation of Rasa
175
31.
Rasadrsti (Glances expressing sentiments)
32.
Sthayi bhava drsti (The glances depicting permanent moods)
177
33.
Sancaribhava Drsti (The glances of Transitory Moods)
178
34.
Bhrukuti (The movements of eye-brows)
182
35.
Bibliography
183
36.
Rough Sketch of Preksagrha (Auditorium)
185
37.
Some Important Questions
187
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