The Mirror of Gesture Being the Abhinaya Darpana of Nandikesvara

The Mirror of Gesture Being the Abhinaya Darpana of Nandikesvara

ISBN-10 — 8121500214
ISBN-13 — 9788121500210
Publisher Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers
Published In 2010
Binding Type Hardback
Weight 0.74 lbs
Pages pp. x + 54, Illus., 15 Plates, References

Summary : The Mirror of Gesture Being the Abhinaya Darpana of Nandikesvara 7th Impression 7th Impression

The Mirror of Gesture is the English translation of the Abhinaya Darpana of Nandikesvara which was originally published with a Telugu interpretation by Madabhushi Tiruvenkata-chari of Nidamangalam in 1874. The Abhinaya Darpana, according to Nandikesvara, who is a legendary figure, is an abridgement of the Bharatarnava, an exposition on the Art of dancing.

For those not acquainted with the Indian dramatic technique, it may be difficult to understand the importance of such texts. However, as Coomaraswamy has pointed out, this work may be of immense interest to the living actor in the European theatre and will not only be profitable for him “to adopt the actual gesture Language of the East, but it may inspire him with the enthusiasm and the patience needful for the re-creation of the Drama in his own environment.” This book, which will serve as An Introduction to the Indian dramatic technique and its essentials which imply not merely a thorough understanding of the natya, nrtta and nrtya but also the conditioning Aesthetic qualities of rasa, bhava, etc.

Indian acting and dancing, which are, in fact, dovetailed, possess a special hieratic significance and can be understood by a cultivated audience. In general, however, natya also corresponded to the common and collective need of the folk.

To those interested in a Study of Indian Arts in general, the present manual is of great importance. Gesture, as a Means of conveying and interpreting ideas extends beyond the Stage into the domains of plastic art, Painting and statuary. The mudra, an essential component of Indian acting or dancing, is of equally great importance in studying the graphic or Sculptural representations.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Indian Editor’s Preface
3. Invocation
4. Dialogue of Indra and Nandikesvara
5. Natya, Nrtta, and Nrtya
6. The Audience, Ministers, Stage, Danseuse, Bells, Dancer, Inner and Outer Life of the Danseuse, Vulgar Dancing, the Course of the Dance
7. Gesture
8. Nine Movements of the Head
9. Twenty-Four Movements of the Head
10. Eight Glances
11. Forty-Four Glances
12. Six Movements of the Brows
13. Lives of the Hands
14. Twenty-Eight Single Hands
15. Twenty-Four Combined Hands
16. Twenty-Six Combined Hands
17. Hands Denoting Relationships
18. Hands Denoting Devas
19. Hands Denoting the Nine Planets
20. Hands Denoting the Avatars Of Vishnu
21. Hands Denoting the Four Castes
22. Hands Denoting Famous Emperors
23. Hands Denoting the Seven Oceans
24. Hands Denoting Famous Rivers
25. Hands Denoting the Upper and Lower Worlds
26. Hands Denoting Trees
27. Hands Denoting Animals
28. Hands Denoting Flying Creatures
29. Hands Denoting Water Creatures
30. Colophon
31. Works of Comparison and Reference

List of Plates

I. The Cosmic Dance of Siva (Nataraja). Madras Museum
II. Kurukulla. Calcutta Museum
III. Danseuse. Buddhist Frieze, Borobodur, Java
IV. Dancing Frieze. Ceiling Sculpture, Dilwarra, Mt. Abu
V. [Danseuses Before A Jaina Goddess. Dilwarra, Mt. Abu. Apsaras Dancing Before Vishnu. From Early Kangra Painting
VI. Danseuse. From an Ajanta Fresco
VII. Hands of Images
VIII. Seated Image With Anjali Hands
IX. Nautch Dance Before a Royal Patron
X. Single Hands
XI. Single and Combined Hands
XII. Single and Combined Hands
XIII. Combined Hands
XIV. Combined Hands
XV. Complete Poses

About the Translator

Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy, the greatest among the Indian art-historians, was born in Colombo on August 22,1877. After graduating from the University of London with Honours in Geology in 1900, he became the Director of the Mineralogical Survey of Ceylon. During his three-years’ stay in Ceylon, he formed the Ceylon Social Reformation Society and led the University Movement in which he initiated the national education, teaching of vernaculars in all schools and revival of Indian culture. Between 1906 and 1917, when he joined as the Curator of Indian Art in the Boston Museum be was busy lecturing on Indian art and formed societies for the study of Indian art. In 1938, he became the Chairman of National Committee for India’s Freedom. His contributions on Indian philosophy, religion, art and iconography, painting and literature are of the greatest importance as were his contributions on music, science and Islamic art. He died on September 9,1947.

Book Information

8121500214|9788121500210, The Mirror of Gesture Being the Abhinaya Darpana of Nandikesvara published in the year 2010 was published by Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. View 1384 more books by Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. The author of this book is Ananda Coomaraswamy, Gopala Kristnayya Duggirala. We have a dedicated page displaying collection of Ananda Coomaraswamy books here. This is the Hardback version of the title “The Mirror of Gesture Being the Abhinaya Darpana of Nandikesvara” and have around pp. x + 54 pages.