Abhinaya Darpana
Abhinaya Darpana is the book upon which Bharatanatyam is based.
The author is Nandikeshwara.
Indra requests Nandikeshwara to teach him Bharatanatyam.
Abhinaya Darpana is the result of this.
Contents of Abhinaya Darpana
- Prayer to Shiva.
- The greatness of natya.
- Characteristics of the audience and its head.
- Positions of the dancer and instrument players on the stage.
- Characteristics of the dancer, female and male.
- Natya lakshana and natya krama.
- Movement of each body part in angikabhinaya.
- Mukhaja, sharira, and cheshtakrita abhinaya.
- Nine types of head movements.
- Eight types of eye movements.
- Four types of neck movements.
- Twenty-eight single-hand gestures.
- Twenty-four double-hand gestures.
- Thirteen nrittahastas.
- Movements of feet.
- Gaits.
Highlights of Abhinaya Darpana
- Defines Nritta, Nritya, and Natya.
- Detailing of angikabhinaya.
- Detailing of hasta lakshanas.
English
Rare Topics
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- 301 The Radiance of Truth
- 300 Words of Wisdom - 8
- 299 Stay Committed or Stay Lost
- 298 The Power of Prasada
- 297 The Sacred Duty to Parents and Gurus
- 296 Cow Protection is World Protection
- 295 Words: Seeds or Swords
- 294 Should we always follow what our mind says?
- 293 Words of Wisdom - 7
- 292 Gayatri Mantra That Guides Us on the Right Path
- 291 Why Devaki was Imprisoned
- 290 The Four Purusharthas: Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha
- 289 Rules for a Healthy Life
- 288 Why Should We Perform Punya Karma?
- 287 The Role of Satsang in Devotion
- 286 Bhavas and Rasas in Indian Aesthetics
- 285 Dashanami Sanyasis
- 284 Understanding Indra's Battles in the Rigveda
- 283 Origin of the Nagas and Garuda
- 282 The Secret of the Trimurtis
- 281 Shankaracharya vs. Vallabhacharya: Two Paths in Vedanta
- 280 Do You Want Everlasting Wealth?
- 279 Words of Wisdom - 6
- 278 Why there are 18 chapters in Bhagavad Gita?
- 277 A Step-by-Step Journey from Turmoil to Liberation
- 276 Science and Religion: Partners, Not Enemies
- 275 Dharma: The Path of Right Action and Cosmic Balance
- 274 The Hindu Joint Family: A Legacy of Unity and Support
- 273 The pledge of Madan Mohan Malaviya Ji
- 272 Role of Gratitude in Devotion
- 271 Words of Wisdom - 5
- 270 Brahma’s Devotion Towards Vishnu
- 269 How the Daityas Became Materialists
- 268 Religious Impurity
- 267 Vedic Concepts of Rainfall
- 266 Words of Wisdom - 4
- 265 How Krishna Defines Sanatana Dharma
- 264 How did the name Chyavana come?
- 263 Some Unique Features of Sanatana Dharma
- 262 Goddess Lakshmi Resides in Cow Dung and Urine
- 261 What You Expect From God, That Is What You Will Receive
- 260 The Power of Cow Worship
- 259 The Transformative Power of Listening
- 258 The Importance of Charity - According to Padma Purana
- 257 Envy vs. Jealousy
- 256 Words of Wisdom - 3
- 255 Can Sanatana Dharma Be Followed by Everyone?
- 254 Sharanagati Yoga
- 253 If People Suffer, How Is Bhagavan the Universal Protector?
- 252 Namaskara: A Simple Guide to Humble Greetings
- 251 Kamadeva’s Arrows: The Divine Influence of Love and Procreation
- 250 How Karma Shapes our Future Rewards
- 249 Narada's Curse of Endless Wandering
- 248 How to Attract the Right Guru
- 247 Why Trusting God Helps Us Avoid the Traps of the Material World
- 246 The Role of Physical Hardship in Spiritual Progress
- 245 Rajas, Tamas, and Disease: Insights from Ancient Sage Sharaloma
- 244 The Divine Play of Creation in Sanatana Dharma
- 243 The Power of Prayer and Devotion
- 242 Soul, Mind and Diseases: Rishi Parikshi Maudgalya’s Philosophy
- 241 Sanatana Dharma - Meaning
- 240 Who is Guru Ji?
- 239 Madurai Veeran
- 238 Distinguishing a Realized Soul from an Ordinary Man
- 237 The Practice of Bhojana Sadhana
- 236 Words of Wisdom - 2
- 235 Defining Goodness - Sanatana Dharma's Perspective
- 234 Vibhishana in Ramayana - A Tale of Morality, Loyalty, and Redemption
- 233 God will not let you break
- 232 A Glimpse into the 64 Arts
- 231 Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar - A Carnatic Maestro's Musical Odyssey
- 230 Understanding Adhyāsa: A Closer Look at False Attribution
- 229 Is Family's Permission Necessary For Becoming Sanyasi ?
- 228 Faith In Upasana
- 227 Divine and Demonic Qualities
- 226 Words Of Wisdom - 1
- 225 Caste System In India - A Unique Perspective
- 224 Ishta Devata: Understanding Your Personal Deity
- 223 The Meaning Of Dharma: A Comprehensive Explanation
- 222 Understanding Sanatana Dharma: The Eternal Truth
- 221 Who Is The Supreme God In Hinduism?
- 220 The Benefits of Akhanda Nama Japa for Mind, Body, and Soul
- 219 Brahma - The Creator God
- 218 10 Quotes on Haridwar That Capture Its Spiritual Essence
- 217 Hinduism - A Religion Or A Way Of Life?
- 216 Why Did Shiva Kill Kamadeva?
- 215 Understanding Karma: What It Means and How It Works
- 214 Putting Time And Effort Into Your Relationship With God
- 213 The 6 Holy Teerthas Near You
- 212 Varuna The Water God
- 211 What Are The Benefits Of Chanting Kalabhairava Ashtakam?
- 210 Chronology Of The Universe
- 209 How the World Works: An Insightful Story
- 208 Why You Should Never Forget Your Promise to God
- 207 What is the importance of planting trees?
- 206 What happens to sinners in Yamaloka?
- 205 Nama Japa - Its Power And Benefits
- 204 Lakshmi And Vishnu - Interesting Facts
- 203 How Did Krishna Die?
- 202 Who Would Have Recorded Vishnu Sahasranama?
- 201 An Easy Way To Learn To See God
- 200 Arundhati
- 199 Anasuya
- 198 Dadhichi
- 197 Alakshmi, The Goddess Of Poverty
- 196 Adultery In Hinduism
- 195 Brahmahatya
- 194 Nath Sampradaya
- 193 Adhiratha
- 192 Ajagava, The Bow Of Lord Shiva
- 191 Who was Karna in his previous birth?
- 190 What are Asuras?
- 189 What happened to Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika?
- 188 How is Jarasandha related to Kamsa?
- 187 Who was Kamsa in his previous birth?
- 186 Akrura
- 185 Panchajanya
- 184 Secrets of Adishesha's Greatness
- 183 Agni Purana
- 182 Who Are Aghoris?
- 181 Allasani Peddana
- 180 The Seasons Are Behind Life On Earth - Says Veda
- 179 Who Advocated The Advaita Philosophy?
- 178 Adityas
- 177 Aditya Purana
- 176 The Yuga-cycle
- 175 These 12 Can Get You Into Trouble
- 174 Nagas, The Serpents
- 173 Alwars
- 172 Adhyatma Ramayana
- 171 Adhidaivika Suffering
- 170 Adavus in Bharatanatyam
- 169 Achyutananda Dasa
- 168 Did Sage Parashara Lose His Self Control When He Saw Satyavati?
- 167 Why Soma Juice Is Used In Yaga
- 166 Abraham Pandithar
- 165 Abhyanga
- 164 Abhivadaye Mantra
- 163 Abhisheka
- 162 Abhinaya Darpana
- 161 Abhinaya Chandrika
- 160 Abhinaya
- 159 Abhinavagupta
- 158 Why Abhimanyu Died In Mahabharata
- 157 Indradyumna Sarovar
- 156 Bhima Meaning
- 155 Other Names Of Bhima
- 154 Son Of Bhima And Hidimba
- 153 Wives of Bhima
- 152 Abhimanyu Vadh
- 151 The mysterious birth of Jarasandha
- 150 How big was the kingdom of Jarasandha?
- 149 Who was the wife of Jarasandha?
- 148 Bharani Nakshatra Female - Characteristics
- 147 Ashwini Nakshatra Famous Personalities
- 146 Who created God Prajapati?
- 145 Abhang
- 144 Abhayamudra
- 143 Abhedananda Swami
- 142 Abhichara
- 141 Abhijnanashakuntalam
- 140 Abhimanyu Samanta Singhar
- 139 Ashwini Nakshatra Female
- 138 Relationship between Nakula And Draupadi
- 137 Madri - Mother Of Nakula And Sahadeva
- 136 Indradyumna Maharaj
- 135 Satyavati Birth Story
- 134 Satyavati And Parashar
- 133 Satyavati - The Powerful Queen in Mahabharata
- 132 Dhanishta Nakshatra Female - Characteristics
- 131 Qualities Of Abhimanyu
- 130 Marriage of Abhimanyu and Uttara
- 129 Why Abhimanyu died at 16?
- 128 Meaning Of Abhimanyu
- 127 Why Prahlada Could Not Be Killed
- 126 Abhimanyu, the Hero of Mahabharata | A True Story of Courage
- 125 Story of Nakula
- 124 Discover the Legendary Satyavati from Mahabharata
- 123 Story of Upamanyu
- 122 Agnivesha
- 121 Uttara Kumara
- 120 Story Of King Indradyumna
- 119 Akupara The Immortal Tortoise
- 118 Muthuswami Dikshitar
- 117 Perumal
- 116 Rudraksha Types And Benefits
- 115 Aghasura And Lord Krishna
- 114 Bilva And Its Greatness
- 113 Puranas are organs of Sri Hari's body
- 112 For A Safe Pregnancy And Healthy Baby
- 111 Lakshagriha
- 110 How did Bhima get the power of 10,000 elephants?
- 109 Rishika - The Female Rishi
- 108 The Expelled Aryans To The West Of Sindhu
- 107 The mysterious birth and childhood of Bhima
- 106 Which Yoga Is Suitable For Me?
- 105 Karma-yoga and Jnana-yoga lead to bhakti
- 104 Action And The Concept Of Brahman
- 103 Did Shiva drink the entire poison?
- 102 What are the characteristics of Kaliyuga?
- 101 How to deal with contradictions within Hinduism?
- 100 Who is Balarama’s wife?
- 99 Is Brahmastra a nuclear weapon?
- 98 What is the real name of Veda Vyasa?
- 97 Why is Prayagraj famous, and great?
- 96 Story of Jarasandha
- 95 Rishis See Mantras
- 94 Why Both Monsoon And Year Are Called Varsha In Sanskrit
- 93 The Rebirth Of The Saptarshis
- 92 Mystery Behind The Births of Parashurama and Vishwamitra
- 91 Parishechana Mantra - Meaning
- 90 How to learn the Vedas
- 89 Geography of Tripuras which Mahadeva destroyed
- 88 Everything comprises of two contradictory elements
- 87 What happens to you when you lie
- 86 What to do with photos and idols if they are damaged
- 85 Dharma is uniting- adharma is dividing
- 84 The real reason behind observing brahmacharya.
- 83 Imposing limitations precedes creation
- 82 Is God necessary?
- 81 Mind also generates dirt
- 80 The Power of Devotion: Aitareya's Story
- 79 Rulers decide how a nation should think
- 78 Do you know what Parasurama did immediately after he got divine weapons from Lord Shiva?
- 77 Vedic concept of perception is completely different
- 76 The structure of our Vedas
- 75 What exactly is Satsang?
- 74 Why Anantha is carrying the earth on his hood
- 73 Corrupt mind suspects- Suspicion corrupts the mind
- 72 How to incorporate the ideals of Sanatana dharma into your daily life
- 71 Do you know what happens when an atma and body come together?
- 70 Yajno hi shreshtatamam karma
- 69 The greatness of Ganga
- 68 What is the difference between Asuras-Daityas-Danavas and Rakshasas?
- 67 Lord Krishna Calls Himself A Brahmachari, Can You Believe That?
- 66 Looking at a painting through a microscope
- 65 Dharma is not common for everyone
- 64 Ayurveda explores into the mysteries of life
- 63 How can you say for sure that this is not there in our scriptures?
- 62 The sixty four organs of Bhakti marga
- 61 Story Of Ekadashi
- 60 Story of Priyavrata
- 59 Someone wanted to know the definition of God
- 58 Birth as a human being is so precious
- 57 Why does one God go to another for help?
- 56 Do you know about the greatness of Mahee Sagar in Gujarat?
- 55 Do you know how we were till a few centuries back?
- 54 Giving 1 percent of yours to God and expecting him to take care of you 100 percent- Is this fair?
- 53 Aham Brahmasmi - is it not arrogance to call yourself God?
- 52 Nayanmars- the perfect Shiva Bhaktas of Tamil Nadu
- 51 The greatness of Ayodhya being explained in the presence of Lord Rama himself
- 50 Are our Puranas myth or narration of real incidents?
- 49 Can women learn the Vedas?
- 48 Do you know why we have two kinds of Yajurveda? Krishna Yajurveda and Shukla Yajurveda
- 47 Do not mix faith and knowledge
- 46 Have you wondered why there is more celebraton during Ganesh Visarjan than the arrival of the Lord?
- 45 It Makes more Sense to Pray for Others than for Yourself
- 44 Is God a positive energy?
- 43 Is it really possible to infuse prana into a stone idol?
- 42 Vairagya means a shift of focus
- 41 Scriptures say that divinity is present in the human body itself- How has this happened?
- 40 Who is greater- Shiva or Vishnu?
- 39 Is there a correct spiritual path?
- 38 Chastity is a great power- Sukanya is an example for this
- 37 Do you know what is the goal of life?
- 36 Are man and God the same?
- 35 How to gain spiritual power?
- 34 Chastity and motherhood are very important in Sanatana Dharma
- 33 Why Bhartruhari became a vairagi
- 32 Sanatana Dharma believes that reforms are for everyone
- 31 Three kinds of duty
- 30 Manki Geeta
- 29 What is the meaning of Vayu?
- 28 Your karma becomes part of you
- 27 Do you know when to use the prefix Shri?
- 26 Do you know how to cultivate virtues?
- 25 God as a variable
- 24 A trader outshines a tapaswi in religious merit
- 23 Loyalty is a great virtue to this story
- 22 Name of the mother used to be more important
- 21 The reason why you are getting married will have bearing upon the child to be born to you
- 20 Universe is called Jagat in Sanskrit- Do you know the meaning of this term?
- 19 Why do we consider Guru as God?
- 18 There is so much about greed
- 17 Which one gives its result first- good karma or bad karma?
- 16 Eight kinds of wealth and how long each one lasts
- 15 Eclipse is not all that dangerous
- 14 Do you know what really Brahmastra is?
- 13 God always answers prayers
- 12 Importance of Anna Danam
- 11 What does Ayurveda has to say about alcoholism
- 10 A boy who went to Yamaloka and came back
- 9 Do you know the importance of undertaking a pilgrimage?
- 8 Nothing Is as Caring About Nature as Sanatana Dharma
- 7 Gautami's Mysterious Story from Mahabharata
- 6 Do you know this about crows?
- 5 Why You Should Never Forget Your Promise to God
- 4 Rules To Follow In Temples
- 3 Your House Is A Living Entity
- 2 How Chanting Stotras While Cooking Can Improve Your Family's Well-Being
- 1 Glory of Shani Bhagawan
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