THE FOLLOWING ARE THE SIX LIMBS OF PAINTING

1. ‘RUPA’- it is a Sanskrit word meaning shape or form of the painting. It is said that rupa is not just the physical existence of an object, but also its tangible nature.
2. ‘Pramana’- it means direct knowledge of the harmonious division and the measurement of the form or painting.
3. ‘Bhava’- it is a self understood word meaning sentimental grace or the emotions which connects us with the painting. What we feel after looking at a painting the feeling and the energy which generates is known as bhava.
4. ‘Labanya’- it’s the overt(open) and covert(hidden) beauty of form. It is the direct interaction between heart to heart of the artist and the viewer. Abhindranath tagore also emphasises this labanya as THE MOST ESSENTIAL IN THE SIX LIMBS OF INDIAN PAINTING.
5. ‘Sadrishya’- means determination of the real form and similarity. For example if we paint a scenery it should look like a scenery and the viewer should feel and relate to that scenery.
6. ‘Varnikabhangam’- means the colour scheme applied in an artistic style whereas use of wrong colours mars the effectiveness of the painting. For this we should always follow colour theories and colour wheel.

The word Shadanga is sanskrit word for painting.