The Shirobhedas, as described in the Abhinaya Darpana are 9 in number.
These Shirobhedas, or gestures of the head are used primarily communicate meaning gesturally, and also used for specificity in Nritta.
Please refer to the Shloka below for pronunciation. Please note that the separate movements of the head when put together in a Shloka form 'Sandhis', or compound words in the Sanskrit language. Words like 'ca', 'thatha', mean "and", "also". The separate words for each movement are also given below the shloka.
Samamudvāhitamadhomukhamālolitam dhutam
Kampitam ća Parāvrttamutksiptam Parivāhitam
Navadha kathitam sirsham natyasastravisharadhaihi
Sama
Udvāhita
Adhomukha
Ālolita
Dhuta
Kampita
Parāvrtta
Utksipta
Parivāhita
Up Next in Abhinaya Darpana
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Grīvabheda Abhinayadarpanam
The Grīvabhedas, as described in the Abhinaya Darpana are 4 in number.
These Grīvabhedas, or gestures of the neck are used primarily communicate meaning gesturally, and also used for specificity in Nritta.Please refer to the Shloka below for pronunciation. Please note that the separate movement...
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Drishtibheda Abhinyadarpana
The Drishtibhedas, as described in the Abhinaya Darpana are 8 in number.
These Drishtibhedas, or gestures of the eyes are used primarily communicate meaning gesturally, and also used for specificity in Nritta.Please refer to the Shloka below for pronunciation. Please note that the separate move...
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Daśavatāra Hasta
Daśavatāra Hasta
The Abhinaya Darpana Hastas for the ten incarnations of VishnuAvatar: Right Hand / Left Hand
1. Matsya: Ardhaćandra (shoulder level) / Ardhaćandra (shoulder level)
2. Kūrma: Mrugasirśa (shoulder level) / Mrugasirśa (shoulder level)
3. Varaha: Mrugasirśa (waist level) / Mrugasi...