Essay name: Hastalaksanadipika a critical edition and study
Author:
E. K. Sudha
Affiliation: Government Sanskrit College (Tripunithura) / Department of Sanskrit
This is an English study on the Hastalaksanadipika—a manual depicting the Mudras (gestures) of the Kerala theatre. It is a very popular text supposedly dating to the 10th century A.D. This study also touches the subject of Krsnanattam, Kathakali and Kutiyattam—some of India's oldest theatrical traditions in Kerala.
Chapter 1 - Introduction
16 (of 32)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
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like Teyyam, Paḍayaṇi etc it travelled to Kūṭiyāṭṭom through Muṭiyettu in which some classical touch is there. From Kūṭiyāṭṭom, which is the typical art form of Kerala's traditional theatre, Nangiārkuttu evolved. At the same time Kṛṣṇanāṭṭom was flourishing in which Nṛtta was given more importance and acting was supported by music. Kathakali is the most refined from of all these which is blended with Natya, Nṛtta, Nṛtya, music, rhythm etc. The most advanced form of Indian traditional theatre is Tanatunāṭakam. This is a mixture of traditional and the modern theatre. By keeping the pattern of traditional theatre it makes appreciation of rasa more easy and transparent. 16
