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 4 - Hastalaksanadipika—a study
1 (of 29)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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1 111
HASTALAKṢANADĪPIKĀ - A STUDY
AUTHOR - PLACE - DATE
Though several books30 quote the HLD its author, place and
date are unknown. In the NKD Māṇi Mādhava Cākyar says that the mudrās
of Kūtiyāṭṭom generaly follow the HLD. From this it could be said that
its period is before the 10th century A.D. because Kūṭiyāṭṭom is said to
have acquired its form around the 10th century A.D. No other evidences
about the text are left.
The very fact that all the popular theatre and dance-art forms
of Kerala refer to the HLD as the basic text for the language of gestures
is of commendable significance. The experts and scholars had the least.
worry about the author of the foot. Probably they were and many are very
practical and down to the earth to realise that the plan of action and the
flexibility of the HLD are so high that one need not spend undue time to
trace the exact identity of the author.
MUDRAS IN THE HLD
The HLD follows in principle the basic of deleberation as
followed by the ones mentioned in the texts of the known authors. Though
limited in number the actual scope of converting them into the required
volume and type of vocabulary is very high. The class also is simple and
30. (1) NKD Sec. Ed. 1996 p. 63.
(2) Kerala Sahitya Charitram, Ullur - Vol. III Ch. 34 p.103.
(3) Kerala Sahitya Vijñana Kōśam p. 921.
