NATYASHASTRA AND SHILPSHASTRA IN ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL KASHMIR SCULPTURES.

                                            

SAMABHANGA ,  ABHANGA, DVIBHANGA, TRIBHANGA AND ATIBHANGA  IN ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL KASHMIR SCULPTURES.....

(Photo... Avantipora sculpture)

SAMABHANGA ,  ABHANGA, DVIBHANGA, TRIBHANGA AND ATIBHANGA  IN ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL KASHMIR SCULPTURES.....

(Photo... Avantipora sculpture)

 In the standing posture, many sculptures from  Kashmir depict Samabhanga ( standing posture without bends ) ,Abhanga ( standing with one bend )  and Tribhanga ( standing posture with three bends ) posture. These postures mentioned  in Shilpshastra, Natyashatra and other ancient texts have been seen in many stone and metal images of ancient and medieval Kashmir more particularly in stone images of Avantipora. In Kashmir, stone and metal sculpture art had touched its zenith during the rule of Avantivarman. The ancient and medieval sculptures of Kashmir follow guidelines of the Shilpshastra, Natyashastra and other texts of ancient art.

 In Abhanga ( with single flexion ), the feet of the Devi ( goddess ) or Nartaki ( female dancer ) are shown resting on the ground while one leg is in slight flexion with the hip protruding. The body weight rests on the stretched leg . A few broken sculptures in Atibhanga ( where body is shown with more than three bends ) posture have also been seen in Kashmir. 

Abhanga and Tribhanga  postures convey benevolence , divinity, grace and sensuality. A large number of  ancient and medieval stone or metal sculptures from South India depict the Devi ( goddess ) or the Nartaki ( female dancer ) in Abhanga or  Tribhanga  posture. The bronze Natjraja sculptures of South India depict Shiva in Atibhanga posture.

In the sitting posture, Padamasana ( lotus posture ),Virasana (heroic posture ) , Yogasana ( yoga posture ) , Sattvaparyanka ( noble posture ) ,Sattvasana (  showing attention to others ),Maharajaliasana ( relaxed position ) , Lalitasana ( position of serenity ) and Pralambapsana ( position of deep contemplation ) postures have also been seen in many metal and stone sculptures of Kashmir .

And almost every posture of Buddha as mentioned in sacred texts of Buddhism ,has been sculpted in ancient and medieval Kashmir.

                                                                        

   

(Avtar Mota)

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