Image title: Figure 81. Sucividha Karana

Siras is in Sama, Parsva is in Sama, Urah [uras] is in Sama, Kati is in Sama. Right hand is in Ardhacandra at the waist and the left hand is at the chest in Katakamukha. The dancer is in Svastika. The left Pada is in Sama facing the side. The right leg is crossed in the front (in Svastika) and is in Kuncita.

This can be identified as Sucividha Karana no. 78 in which, “One foot of Suci Cari is put on the heel of the other foot, the two hands to be respectively on the waist and the chest.” Here in the above figure the right foot is crossed in the front in Kuncita but the hands correspond to the description. The cross can be released to to be put in Suci Pada. In Suci Cari a Kuncita foot is thrown up and brought above the knee of the other foot and allowed to fall on toes.

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.