Indological Studies

Author(s): H C Bhayani
Publisher: Parshva Prakashan

Page 65

On Chatra and Calli
In Dharmasena-gaại's Vasudevahindi-Madhyama Khanda, in the fifteenth Lambha, called Kanakavati-lambha, we have an elaborate description of the residential palace of Princess Kanakavati. Therein it is said that in the fifth hall of the palace a group of delicate maid-servants, all of the same age and beauty of form, putting on the same type of the dress, ornaments etc. were busy making the rehearsal of the Chatraka performance : सरिसालकार-वय-वत्थ-लायण्णाण छत्तय-प्पयोग-वावडाण सुकुमालाण' चेढीण बंद ।
(p. 224). Regarding the form and character of the Chatra or Chatraka we have no information except the implication of the above-noted allusion that it was obviously a group dance. But its mention in the Brhat-kathā-kośa along with Dombikā etc., all of which are known to be Uparūpakas makes it likely that Chatra too was an Uparūpaka.
2. Calli : a Mode of Popular Dance
In the section on the Uparūpakas, while discussing Rāsaka and Nātyarāsaka, Raghavan deals at length with the passage in Rājasekhara's Karpūramañjari (IV, vv. 11-18) wherein the Vidūşaka describes in detail the troupes of danseuses and revellers performing on the occasion of Spring Festival. Besides the Daņdarāsaka, Rajasekhara has referred there to the performance of a dance called Calli. Raghavan's passage5 on Calli I reproduce below :
Next, Rājasekhara describes a dance called Calli which seems to be a division of the Nartakis in two rows facing each other.
समंस-सीसा सम-बाहु-हत्था, रेहा-विमुद्ध अवराउ देति
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