Belur Chennakeshava Temple: Nātya Mohini – Madanike with a perfect dance pose

Nātya Mohini - Madanike with a perfect dance pose - A bracket figure mounterd on the exterior wall of the Belur Chennakeshava Temple in Karnataka, India

Nātya Mohini – Madanike with a perfect dance pose

Nātya Mohini – Madanike with a perfect dance pose
Popularly known as Nātya Mohini, this shilābālike is performing a traditional Indian classical dance move. Accompanying her are the three male musicians at the bottom, each playing different instruments. The two musicians on the right are playing tāla and the flute. The single musician on the left is beating dolu, a drum-like musical instrument. There was likely another one on the left, but missing.

This exquisitely sculpted shilābālike is also carved with extreme precision. It is believed that if you pour water on her right-hand finger on the top, the water droplets will fall on her forehead, nose, left breast, on the left hand, and finally on the left-leg toe. In other words, these are on a straight line.

Nātya Mohini is one of the 38 bracket figures mounted on the exterior wall surrounding the Navaranga of the Chennakeshava Temple in Belur, Karnataka, India. Each figure is attached to an inclined bracket placed just below the eaves, with its base mounted on a pillar slightly below its capital.

Check the Navaraga Layout page for the location of the bracket figures. Referring to this layout, Nātya Mohini is number 25, i.e., mounted on the second pillar from the left on the north entrance.

Read more about this and other shilābālikes at Belur Chennakeshava Temple: Bracket Figures.

Shilābālikes – Female Bracket Figures
Darpana Sundari, Sukha Bhashini, Nātya Sundari, Gāna Sundari, Kesha Sundari, Tribhangi, Nagna Sundari, Kapāla Durga, Koravanji, Nātya Mohini, Betegārthi

Male Bracket Figures
Flute playing male musician
Narthaka – Davane playing male dancer
Davane playing male musician

Hoysala Temples:
Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Bracket Figures
Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Navaranga
Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Garbhagriha Outer Wall
Kappe Chennigaraya Shrine
Somanathapura Keshava Temple
Badami Chalukya Temples:
Badami, Cave – 1, Cave – 2, Cave – 3, Cave – 4
Durga Temple at Aihole

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