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 2 - Bharata’s Dramaturgy
10 (of 56)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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in Sanskrit literature, rasa has been the touchstone of any work composed; some old writers accepted it as an alaǹkāra, while others as something separate, the spirit or soul of the literary work. Followers of the School of Dhvani established its superiority and prominence in poetry. RASA THEORY While discussing rasa in the sixth chapter of the NS 14Bharata opines that no sense proceeds without rasa. Bharata describes the 'Realisation' (nispatti) of rasa in the following sutra: - तत्र विभावानुभावव्यभिचारिसंयोगात् रसनिष्पत्तिः � [tatra vibhāvānubhāvavyabhicārisaṃyogāt rasaniṣpatti� | ] This means that realisation of rasa results from the union of vibhāva, anubhāva and vybhicāribhāva. Every good piece of art contains this rasa. Bharata further clarifies his sūtra with an instance stating that flavour or relish (rasa) results from a combination of various spices, vegetables and other articles. Similarly, rasa results from the combinations of various emotions. The various types of nayakas (heroes), nayikās (heroines) and other men and women that are described in a play are defined as prakṛtis or the characters and those that take up the roles of the characters are prayōktās or the actors and actresses .It may briefly be stated that, in 14. a få wulgà plucef: yadà | तत्र विभावानुभावव्यभिचारि संयोगाद्रसनिष्पत्तिः � [tatra vibhāvānubhāvavyabhicāri saṃyogādrasaniṣpatti� | ] NS VI 34 42
