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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