The Mirror of Gesture is an English translation of the Sanskrit text on dance, Abhinaya Darpana by Nandikeshvara, an exponent of theatre in ancient India. It is an abridged version of Bharatarnava, which is an exposition of classical Indian dance.
This treatise is based upon the principles of Indian theatre: natya, nritta, and nritya sastras. Abhinaya Darpana contains 4,000 slokas and an exposition of classical Indian dance, theatre, and music. The date of this treatise goes back to the fifth and fourth centuries bc. It was Nandikeshwara, who had much influence on popular dance exponents, such as Bharatamuni, the author of Natyasastra (second century bc), and Matangamuni, the author of Brihadeshi (fifth century bc).
In this English translation, forms of posture used in Indian dance and theatre, such as head movements, mudras made by hands along with its interpretation, invocation to nine planets in the universe, veneration of ten Vishnu's incarnations, four castes, upper and lower worlds, and living and non-living beings on Earth are discussed. This book will benefit scholars and researchers interested in Indian theatre, art, and dance.
• Introduction I
• The Indian Editor's Preface Ii
• Invocation 13
• Dialogue Of Indra And Nandikesvara 13
• Natya, Nrtta, And Nrtya 14
• The Audience, Ministers, Stage, Danseuse, Bells, Dancer, Inner And Outer Life Of The Danseuse, Vulgar Dancing, The Course Of The Dance 15
• Gesture 17
• Nine Movements Of The Head 18
• Twenty-Four Movements Of The Head 19
• Eight Glances 21
• Forty-Four Glances 21
• Six Movements Of The Brows 24
• Lives Of The Hands 25
• Twenty-Eight Single Hands 26
• Twenty-Four Combined Hands 38
• Twenty-Six Combined Hands 41
• Hands Denoting Relationships 44
• Hands Denoting Devas 45
• Hands Denoting The Nine Planets 46
• Hands Denoting The Avatars Of Vishnu 46
• Hands Denoting The Four Castes 46
• Hands Denoting Famous Emperors 47
• Hands Denoting The Seven Oceans 48
• Hands Denoting Famous Rivers 48
• Hands Denoting Nit. Upper And Lower Worlds 48 Hands Denoting Trees 48
• Hands Denoting Animals 49
• Hands Denoting Flying Creatures 50
• Hands Denoting Water Creatures 51
• Colophon 51
• Works Of Comparison And Reference 52
