Indian dancing

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PLANETS AND ELEMENTS

Above, Kathakali: Left, Thunder. Both hands in ‘mrusti?. The ‘rasa is ‘raudra’, or fury. The pose

syggests a hurtling thunderbolt. Right, Lightning. The left hand in ‘“musti’, the right in ‘suchi-

mikha, the pose simulating a streak of lightning. This may also be depicted by two ‘pataka’

hands. The ‘rasa’ is ‘bhayanaka’, or fear. Below, Bharata Natyam: Left, Thunder. The left hand

in “musti’, poised on the forehead, the right hand being a modified ‘alapadma’ gesture for which

could be substituted the chandra-kala ‘mudra. The ‘rasa’ is ‘raudra’, or fury. Right, Lightning. The left hand in “ardha-pataka’, the right in ‘suchi?. The ‘rasa’ is ‘bhayanaka’, or fear.

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