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Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture)

by Bhagyashree Sarma | 2021 | 59,457 words

This page relates ‘Elements of Drama (b): Costume and Make up� of the study on the elements of Art and Architecture according to the Vishnudharmottara Purana: an ancient text whose third book deals with various artisan themes such as Architecture, Painting, Dance, Grammar, etc. Many chapters are devoted to Hindu Temple architecture and the iconography of Deities and their installation rites and ceremonies.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

1.3. Elements of Drama (b): Costume and Make up

Costume and make up are the two important concerns of a Drama which transforms the actors according to their respective roles. In the ṭyśٰ, Bharata advises to pay attention in costume and make-up for a healthy and successful dramatic production.[1] Different kinds of dramatic characters are initially indicated by their attire and make up which represent them in front of the viewers without any effort.[2] Abhinavagupta also admits it.[3] In the 27th chapter of the third part of the վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa, a detailed discussion is found about various costumes, ornaments and make over of different dramatic characters which are included in 󾱲Բⲹ.

According to the վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa, There are four kinds of costume and make up viz.,

  1. prasta,
  2. ṃk,
  3. ṅg and
  4. ī.[4]

The վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa says that Prasta denotes the making of artificial masks of gods, demons, demi gods, different animals and birds etc. by clay, wood, cloth, leather and iron.[5]

In the ṭyśٰ, the word pusta is used instead of prasta.[6] pusta is again divided into three types in the ṭyśٰ viz.,

  1. sandhima i.e., joined object that means which are focused through joining,
  2. i.e., indicating object that means which are focused through that is in guise and
  3. ṣṭ that means which are focused through ṣṭ i.e., moving object.[7]

The tradition of using different masks of gods, demons, birds etc. in Drama is still followed in festival of Assam. ṃk deals with the decoration of garlands and ornaments.[8] In the ṭyśٰ four kinds of ornaments[9] and five kinds of garlands[10] are accepted. In the Sanskrit dramas ornaments like ear-rings, bracelets, headgears etc. are seen to be collected from nature. This is informed in many of the Sanskrit dramas. In the ñԲśܲԳٲ, as for example, ŚܲԳٲ is seen to wear flowers, leaves etc. as her ornaments.[11] She is also seen to remain dependant upon nature for her garments. She was wearing the skin of tree as her daily garment.[12] Her clothes were supplied by trees.[13] The colours of dresses of different characters are also discussed in the third part of the վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa

This վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa notifies that the colour of every costume of every character should be different. As for example, the costume of īǻٳٲ type of hero is suggested as not to be very loud where as it suggests that the costume of king should be graceful.[14] In the ṭyśٰ also the dress of a king is suggested to be variegated in colour[15] which definitely brings graceful look. On the other hand, the attire of the پⲹ첹 i.e., the villain, should be very gaudy and the costumes of rest of the characters should be according to the country and their professions.[16] This part of Drama shows a wide range of options on the basis of various concerned sources.

The վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa has also suggested different types of make up for different characters. ṅg- meaning painting of limbs of different characters, also falls under the category of makeover. The վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa speaks that it should be done according to the caste, position, superiority and country of respective characters.[17] As for example, this book suggests that gods should be white in colour;[18] ܰ쾱 should be black in colour;[19] demons, Kuvera and ʾṣāc should have the colour of water;[20] Brahmins should be white in colour like moon;[21] kings and rich people should have the complexion of lotus[22] etc. The ṭyśٰ also agrees on it.[23] This is important to note that this type of notes and rules give a social implication of the performance. Applying of moustaches and beard can be called an important make-up in facial decoration. The ṭyśٰ says that after painting the face and other limbs the characters are provided with beard according to their territory, profession and spiritual rites.[24] According to վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa, the kings, ascetics, ministers, priests, judges, lovers etc. should be mustached and bearded and the colour of their beard should be white except those of the kings and lovers.[25] All these are the important points in a theatrical performance to project the concerned character in a clear and conspicuous way. The use of crown is also a very important part of ornamentation. In the վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa, three types of crown are accepted for gods, kings, princes and commander-in chiefs.[26]

In the ṭyśٰ also three types of crown are referred to. These are,

  1. ś岵ٲ,
  2. ٲī and
  3. 쾱īṭi.[27]

According to the վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa the characters from lower cast like daityas, Բ, ṣa, pannagas etc. are categorised as having the right to put turbans on their heads.[28]

The last variety of costume and make-up is ī which denotes the entrance of animals on the stage in disguise.[29] The ṭyśٰ also talks about it in the same way.[30] In Sanskrit drama to show the act of different animals, this type of costume and make up relates the wearing of masks of various animals by the characters on the stage.[31]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

󾱲Բ�..ⲹ� prayatnastu nātyasya śubhamicchatā// ṭyśٰ, 21.3

[2]:

nānāvasthā prakṛtaya� ū� nepathyasūcitā�/ aṅgādibhirabhivyaktimupagacchantyayatnata�// Ibid., 32.3

[3]:

[...] 󾱲Բī, p.753

[4]:

ٳܰ� tu ñⲹ� prastolaṃkāra eva ca/ tathāṅg caiva jñeyā īmeva ca// վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa, 3.27.2-3.

[5]:

ṛd ṇ� pi vastreṇāpyatha carmaṇ�/ lohairanukṛtirpi pusta ityabhidhīyate// վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa.,3.27.3-4

[6]:

ٳܰ� tu Ա貹ٳⲹ� pusto’laṃkāra eva ca/ tathāṅgaracanā caiva ñⲹ� īmeva ca// ṭyśٰ, 21.5

[7]:

pustastu trividho jñeyo nānārūpapramāṇata�/ sandhimo ᾱścaiva ṣṭśca īپٲ// Ibid., 21.6

[8]:

ṃkstu vijñeyo mālyābharaṇasasā�/ վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa, 27.5

[9]:

ٳܰ� tu ñⲹ� dehasyābharaṇa� budhai�/ 屹ⲹ� bandhanīyā� ca prakṣepyāropyake ٲٳ// ṭyśٰ, 21.12

[10]:

ṣṭٲ� ٲٲ� caiva ṃgٲⲹ� Գٳ󾱳� ٲٳ/ ٲ� tathā caiva ⲹ� 貹ñ� ṛt�// Ibid., 21.10

[11]:

Բ𱹲첹ٲ貹岵dzٳٳ󾱳ٲ岹ٳԲ󲹰ṇān/ ñԲśܲԳٲ�, 4.5

[12]:

�..첹辱 ٲԱī/ Ibid., 1.18

[13]:

ṣaܳ� kenacidindupāṇḍu taruṇā�./ Ibid., 4.5

[14]:

īǻ󲹳� ś� syānna catyarthasamulvaṇa�/ syādrājñā� lalita ṣyٱ…Ħ�./ վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa. 3.20.16-17

[15]:

citro veṣastu kartavyo nṛpāṇāṃ/ ṭyśٰ. 3.32.131.

[16]:

پⲹ첹veśastu kartavyaśca tathoddhata�/ anyeṣāṃ sadṛśo veśo deśakarmāśrayo bhavet// Ibid., 3.20. 17-18

[17]:

ṃkstu vijñeyo mālyābharaṇasasā/ 屹� samāyoge hyaṅgopāṅgavinirgata�// վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa, 3.27.5-6

[18]:

denāṃ…�. ܰṇa�// Ibid., 3.27.17

[19]:

ś峾ٳ suki��/ Ibid., 3.27.18

[20]:

daityāśca dānaścaiva rākṣasā guhyakānugā�/ 辱ś峦 jalasaṅkāśā sammitāni tu varṇata�// Ibid., 3.27.18-19

[21]:

…ĦcԻṇ� 屹�…�/ Ibid., 3.27.23

[22]:

Բ� padmavarṇābhā ye cāpi sukhino Ჹ�/ Ibid., 3.27.25

[23]:

varṇānā� tu jñāt ⲹ� prakṛtimeva ca/ kuryādaṅgasya deśajātiⲹḥśritā�// ṭyśٰ,21.89

[24]:

𱹲� kṛt yathānyā� mukhāṅgopāṅgavartana�/ śmaśrukarma prayuñcīta deśakarmakriyānugama// Ibid., 21.108.

[25]:

ye puruṣāścaiva tathā vidyādharāśca ye/ śṛṅgāriṇo narendrāśca citraśmaśrudharāsٲٳ/ śܻ� tu liṅginā� ⲹ� ٲٳ峾ⲹܰǻ󲹲�// վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa, 3.27.28-29

[26]:

Ibid.,3.27.33-34

[27]:

ܳٳٲ ye ca 徱nā� teṣāṃ kirṭina�/ maulinaścaiva kaniṣṭā pārśvamaulina�// ṭyśٰ, 21.142

[28]:

daityadānavayakṣāṇā� pannagānā� sarakṣasām/ ekapaṭṭāstu īṇ� 첹ٲ ܰṭāḥ śܲ�// վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa, 3.27.34-36

[29]:

praveśastu tiraścā� vai ī iti saṃjñita�/ Ibid.,3.27.44

[30]:

ya� prāṇinā� praveśo vai sa ñī iti smṛta�/ ṭyśٰ, 21.157

[31]:

teṣāṃ parastena 첹ٲ ṛt� ܰṣāṃٲ/ վṣṇܻ󲹰dzٳٲܰṇa, 3.27.45

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