ABHINAYA TECHNIQUES IN BHARATA’S NATYASHASTRA The Natyashastra of Bharata consists of thirty – six chapters, out of which chapters 6 and 7 relate to “rasas” (sentiments) and “bhavas” (emotions), 8 to 14 discuss Angigaabhinaya, 15 to 22 deal with Vachikaabhinaya and chapter 23 talks of Ahaaryaabhinaya. The Sanskrit word “rasa” fundamentally means ‘taste’ or ‘flavour ..read more

Kalidasa, the renowned poet-dramatist of ancient India, left a lasting mark on the association between literature and dance. His many works offer exquisite insights into the art of dance, aligning perfectly with the principles of the Natyashastra. This introduction unveils Kalidasa’s deep understanding of dance, weaving together the elaborate relationship between his literary brilliance and ..read more

The term ‘Abhinaya’ is usually interpreted as ‘acting’. According to Bharata, in the Natyasastra, this is incorrect, for ‘Abhi’ means ‘towards’ and ‘ni’ means ‘to carry’. This denotes the meaning of the play or act which is carried towards the audience. Therefore, the words (vachika), with physical gestures (angika) to suit the emotion (sattva), along ..read more

When Guru Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai accepted Rukmini Devi Arundale as a disciple, despite his reservations, even he did not realise what an epoch-making decision he had taken. Rukmini Devi’s thrust lay in integrating dance with education. In 1936, the International Academy of Arts, which later became Kalakshetra, was established to rejuvenate the priceless art traditions ..read more

All the different styles of Bharatnatyam stem from the Natya Sastra and follow the prescribed pattern of the Sadir Katcheri evolved in the 18th century starting with the Alaripu and concluding with the Tillana. The differences, if any, are very slight and purely regional in flavour depend upon the environmental conditioning of that particular area ..read more

Indian culture is a tapestry woven with threads of ancient traditions, rich history, and vibrant mythology. Among the many art forms that celebrate this cultural heritage, dance stands out as a captivating medium. Indian mythology, a treasure trove of stories, gods, and goddesses, plays a pivotal role in shaping the narrative of traditional Indian dance ..read more

Red font – higher octave, Green font – lower octave X ( CLAP) X ( CLAP) V (WAVE) S . . . . . S . N . P . M . P . G . . . M . R . S . . . . . N . S . R . P ..read more

Any good exposition of Bharatnatyam is dependent not only on the talent, commitment and skill of the dancer, but also on other equally significant factors as well. These are known as the “Pranas”. The word “Prana” literally means “life” and Bharatnatyam, if is devoid of these “pranas” would automatically become dull and lifeless. Pranas can ..read more

Icons are objects through which worship is offered to God. Hence, Iconography means a detailed description of Icons. It is the classification or identification of an image according to what is seen and understood from the outwardly appearance. Iconology, on the other hand, literally means “the science of icons”. It also identifies and studies the ..read more