Representation of Lāsya In Temple Architecture of Odisha: A Study With Reference to Alasākanyās

Author(s)	Ms. Arupa Gayatri Panda, Prof. Dr. Ratikant Mohapatra
Country	India
Abstract	This paper explores the expression of lāsya—the graceful and lyrical aspect of feminine movement—through the alasākanyā figures found in the Kalinga temples of Odisha (7th–13th century CE). Drawing on the Śilpa Prakāśa, an important medieval treatise on temple architecture, the study examines the artistic and geometric principles that shape the sixteen canonical alasākanyās. Through an embodied, practice-based approach, these sculptural forms are interpreted and recreated through Odissi dance postures, allowing their principles of balance, body alignment, and movement to be experienced in practice. The study reveals a close relationship between the sculptural language of temple art and the movement vocabulary of Odissi dance. By bringing together textual study, temple sculpture, and dance practice, it shows that the alasākanyās are not merely decorative figures but living expressions of movement, preserving a shared aesthetic tradition that continues to resonate through the dancer’s body.
Keywords	lāsya, alasakanyā, Śilpa Prakāśa, Odissi
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On	2026-06-25

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