Arts in the Puranas (study)
by Meena Devadatta Jeste | 1973 | 74,370 words
This essay studies the Arts in the Puranas by reconstructing the theory of six major fine arts—Music, Dance, Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, and Literature—from the Major and Minor Puranas. This thesis shows how ancient sages studied these arts within the context of cultural traditions of ancient India....
8. Movements of the Eye, Eyelids, Eyebrows
Like the different parts of the face the drstis (glances) inclusive of the movements of the eyeballs, the pupil of the eye, the eyelids and the eyebrows form an important part of the Abhinaya technique of Indian dancing which express various Bhavas very effectively. The face and eye movements correspond very accurately with the particular sthayi bhava or Rasa. The nine movements of the eyelids (Puta) and the seven movements of the eyebrows (Bhru) explained by the texts are all physically possible. Movements of the eyelids are Nimesa, Unmesa, Prasarita, Vivartita, Auncita, Sama, Sphurita, Pihita and Tadita. Movements of the eyebrows are Utksepa, Patana, Bhrukuti, Catura, Nikuncita, and Svabhavika. The eyeball movements may be either with reference to the object of perception or without it, which suggest the positions of the eyeballs in different parts of the eye. Up and down or circular movements of the eyeballs are possible. The movements of the eyeballs (Taraka karma) as given in the Purana are nine viz. Valana, Bhramana, Calana, Sompravesana, Vivartana, Patana, Niskarma, Udvarta, and Prakrta. Eight kinds
- 95 of Drsti karmas or movements of sight are Sama, Sacikrta, Anuvrtta, Alokita, Ullokita, Lokita, Vilokita and Avalokita.