The World of Courtesans c9.36

c9.36

The *Brihatkathashlokasamgraha*, IX. 1-7 repeats this story in another form. It attributes proficiency in cutting the designs to Gomukha, a bosom friend of Naravahanadatta. The story runs that Gomukha thought of a way of amusing his friend by cutting designs out of lotus petals. These blended properly with the cheeks of the women. To satisfy their friends’ curiosity Gomukha described in detail the designs employed in *patrachchhedya*. The designs were of four kinds—triangular (*tryasra*), rectangular (*chaturasra*), long (*dīrgha*) and circular (*vritta*). The triangular pattern was used for cutting the figures of cattle, birds, houses and so on. The rectangular design was employed for cutting the patterns of the city, of men etc. The long pattern was employed for representing lakes, rivers, pathways, canopies (*pratana*), etc., and the circular designs for spaces in a necklace (*bhūshanasamyoga*).