Uragashirsha, Uragaśīrṣa, Uraga-shirsha: 1 definition
Introduction:
Uragashirsha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Uragaśīrṣa can be transliterated into English as Uragasirsa or Uragashirsha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (natya)Uragaśīrṣa (उरगशीर्ष) (also ahiśīrṣa) refers to one of the twenty-two Asaṃyuktahastas or “single hand gestures” (in Indian Dramas), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—The hasta-mudrās (lit. “hand-gestures”) are very essential to denote some particular action or state in dancing and these mudrās are formed with the help of hands and fingers.—The name of this posture itself identifies that the hand posture should look like the head of an uraga i.e., a serpent . In this posture the thumb should be in clinching form and the middle part should remain hollow. According to Abhinavagupta, this posture looks like the head of a snake and that is why this posture is named as uragaśīrṣa. According to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa as well as the Abhinayadarpaṇa, this posture is used to show some activities like offering of water, giving information, sprinkling, nourishing and wrestling. The Abhinayadarpaṇa states that to easblish the picture of a snake, this hand posture is used in Dance
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Shirsha, Uraga.
Starts with: Uragashirshahasta.
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Full-text: Uragashirshahasta, Serpent, Sprinkling, Snake, Information, Nourishing, Wrestling, Water offering, Ahishirsha.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Uragashirsha, Uraga-shirsha, Uraga-śīrṣa, Uraga-sirsa, Uragaśīrṣa, Uragasirsa; (plurals include: Uragashirshas, shirshas, śīrṣas, sirsas, Uragaśīrṣas, Uragasirsas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Arts in the Puranas (study) (by Meena Devadatta Jeste)
5. Hasta-mudras (gestures of the hands) < [Chapter 2 - Dance in the Puranas]
Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture) (by Bhagyashree Sarma)
2. The Viṣṇudharmottara-purāṇa and the Indian Classical Dances < [Chapter 6 - Modern Relevance of Different Art Forms and Architecture]
2.2. Hand Postures (a): Asaṃyukta-hasta < [Chapter 3 - Drama and Dance]