Purna is a term used in Hindu dance forms in relation to the movements of two parts of the body, namely, udara (belly) and the kapola (cheek). Most of the treatises on natya have classified the udara as a pratyanga and the kapola as an upanga.
Natyashastra of Bharata Muni describes three belly (udara) bends or movements, namely, - Kshama, khalva and purna and their prayogas (usages). The slender and thin one is kshama, the dispersed one is khalva and purna which is utilized in depicting laughter, cry, and yawn.
The slender and thin one is kshama, the dispersed one is khalva and purna which is utilized in depicting laughter, cry and yawn.
The khalva is to be applied in depicting sickness, penance, weariness and hunger. The purna tarabheda, described as “the belly which is distended” or blown up, is to be applied to display gasping because of obesity, disease, excessive eating and the like.
Natyashastra inspired texts like Agni Purana, Sangita Damodara, Vishnudharmottara Purana, Manasollasa, Sangita Ratnakara and Natyashastra Samgraha, give a similar description of the purna udara movement. The Sangita Upanisatsaroddhara, however, calls this movement as praudha.
The purana kapola movement has been described in Natya Shastra as “blowing the cheeks out so as to make them rounded.” This treatise describes six kapola movements and their prayogas (usages). One manuscript of Natyashastra (the Gaekwad Oriental Series Edition) calls this movement as ghurna kapola bheda. Most of Natyashastra inspired texts like Vishnudharmottara purana, Sangita Upanisatsarodhhara, Manasollasa, Sangita Ratnakara and Natyashastra Samgraha, give the same definition of the word purna.