In the context of cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called 'Tribhanga' has be

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Question

In the context of cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called 'Tribhanga' has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: A — One leg is bent and the body is slightly but oppositely curved at waist and neckStep-by-step Solution:Tribhanga (Sanskrit: त्रिभंग, meaning 'three bends' or 'triple-bent') is one of the most elegant and widely recognised body postures in Indian classical dance, sculpture, and painting. The name itself describes the pose: tri = three, bhanga = bend/break.The pose involves three simultaneous bends in the body: (1) One leg is slightly bent at the knee (typically the right knee is bent, shifting the weight to one side); (2) The waist/hip curves in the opposite direction; (3) The neck curves again in the opposite direction from the waist. The result is a graceful, triple S-curve — creating a relaxed yet dynamic posture that conveys elegance, femininity, and ease. The Tribhanga is particularly associated with Krishna iconography in Indian sculpture and painting — the iconic image of Krishna playing the flute in the Tribhanga pose is ubiquitous in Indian art.This pose appears extensively in: Indian classical sculpture (Mathura school, Gupta period); Indian classical dance (Bharatanatyam, Odissi — Odissi particularly emphasises Tribhanga); Mughal paintings; contemporary Indian artistic representations of deities.Why other options are incorrect:Option B describes aspects of classical theatre/drama character representation (like Kathakali). Option C describes the general concept of expressive movement in classical dance. Option D describes the 'Shringara' (love/erotic) rasa expression — a specific emotional sentiment, not a specific body pose.Key Concept: Tribhanga: the three bends are at the neck (shirsha), waist (kati), and knee (janu); creates a triple S-curve; considered the most aesthetically pleasing pose in Indian art; widely used in sculpture of Vishnu, Krishna, Lakshmi; Odissi dance form particularly known for Tribhanga stance; similar to the Western contrapposto but with an additional bend. Related terms: Samabhanga (symmetrical pose — straight, formal); Abhanga (slight asymmetry — one hip slightly displaced); Tribhanga (three bends — most dynamic); Atibhanga (extreme version — very pronounced S-curve, used for vigorous deity representations). Natya Shastra (Bharata Muni) classifies body postures (sthanakas) extensively.

In the context of cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called 'Tribhanga' has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?

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In the context of cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called 'Tribhanga' has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?

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