Raṅgapīṭha and Raṅgaśīrṣa

Abstract The terms raṅgapīṭha and raṅgaśīrṣa are found in the description of the stage in the second chapter of the Nāṭyaśāstra , which is dedicated to the construction of the theatre building. The current interpretation of the two terms has been based on the commentator Abhinavagupta, who took them to refer two different sections of the stage. According to an alternative interpretation we would be dealing with two synonyms for “stage”. However, a close reading of the Nāṭyaśāstra text will show that they refer to two different aspects of the stage. It demonstrates that at least in this case the reliance on Abhinavagupta has been misplaced and as such arises another question, namely why the commentator did not, as he did in other cases, have a closer look at the matter.