“BHARATHANATYAM….”

1.Namaskaram (VIDEO).

2.Thiyana slokam (VIDEO).

3.Adavu (The initial steps)

The basic positions described are:

1. ARAIMANDI - Half Seated Position.2. SAMAPADAM - Legs Together3. MANDI- Full Seated Position

The positions “Araimandi” is synonymous with “Ardhamandal” and “Samapadam” is synonymous with “Sama” mentioned in my “Day - 1″ posting.

Adavu Positions [The Art of Bharatanatyam],

4.Asamyukta Hasta or Single Hand Gesture

Asamyukta hastas are done using single hand. The Natyshastra mentions about 28 Mudras ie upto Trishula Mudra. There are four new mudra added to this list ie Kataka, Vyagraha, Ardhasuchi and Palli. These Hand Gestures are a Part of Angika Abhinaya. I shall be explaining each of these Mudras with reference to the shlokas of Abhinayadarpana.

Following are the list of all the Single hand Gesture. ( VIDEO).

1. Pataka 30.Vyagraha2. Tripataka 31. Palli3. Ardhapataka 32. Kataka4. Kartarimukha 5. Mayura 6. Ardhachandra 7. Arala 8. Shukatunda 9. Mushthi 10. Shikhara 11. Kapitta 12. Katakamukha 13. Suchi 14. Chandrakala 15. Padmakosha 16. Sarpashirsha 17. Mrigashirsha 18. Simhamukha 19. Kangula 20. Alapadma

21. Chatura 22. Bhramara 23. Hamsasye 24. Hansapakshika 25. Sandamsha 26. Mukula 27. Tamrachuda 28. Trishula 29. Ardhasuchi

YOU TUBE::

1. Kapitta Hand Gesture (Mudra) 2. Ardhasuchi Hand Gesture (Mudra) 3. Chandrakala Hand Gesture (Mudra) 4. Trishula Hand Gesture (Mudra) 5. Mushthi Hand Gesture (Mudra)

5.Samyukta Hasta (Double hand Gesture 24) (VIDEO).

6.More about Adavus (VIDEO).

Let us explore on Adavus a little more. The word “Adavu” means basic step. Adavus forms the ABC’s of pure dancing(Nritta) in bharatanatyam. Just like a combination of

alphabets give words and thereafter sentences, adavus are combined to form a dance sequence in Bharatanatyam.

An Adavu is the combination of:

Position of the legs (Sthanakam) Posture of our standing (Mandalam) Walking movement (Chari) Hand gestures (nritta hastas)

All the four done in synchronization with Rhythm or Tala is ADAVU. Every Adavu will have certain number of steps and would have a BOL or syllable like “Tai Ya- Tai Hi”.

Following are the Ten important Adavus that a new student is asked to practice thoroughly:

1. Tatta Adavu 2. Natta Adavu 3. Visharu Adavu (Mardita Adavu or Paraval Adavu)4. Tattimitti Adavu 5. Tirumanam Adavu 6. Murka Adavu 7. Jati Adavu 8. Kuditamitta Adavu 9. Mandi Adavu10. Sarikal Adavu

Some parents and students have often asked me why should we learn these steps and not the dance directly?A child when starts schooling , learns the alphabets first. Imagine if they were taught words directly!!!Learning just the adavus and practicing them for a while helps the students to :1. to develop flexibility and overcome the initial muscle cramps and sore feet at the beginning stages.2. attain right posture3. develop stamina4. become aware to the sense of Talam (Rhythm) and kalam (speed)5. become Swift and agile and attain control over the body.

Generally During the first year of Bharatanatyam coaching, a student is trained only in Adavus, and Nritta Hasta or Hand Gestures. Gaining perfection over Adavus is the most important.

7.Shlokams (VIDEO).

Shloka/ Shlok/ Shlokam in sanskrit means a verse, hymn in praise of or a proverb.  They are usually two lined verses or a collection of such individual verses are then called as stotrams. Shlokam form a part of Hindu prayers. Following Shlokams were taught to me by my grandmother as a kid. They are the most common verses sung in every Indian homes.  While teaching I realized that children were excited to act out the shlokams  they chanted every day. It was in the dance class that they learnt what these verses meant , because I had to explain them every gesture that we put together. Now their prayer time was much more meaningful, as they surprised their parents with the meaning.

Saraswati:

Saraswati Namas thubyamvarade kama roopiniVidya-rambham karishyamiShiddhir bhavatumay sada

Meaning

Hey Goddess Saraswati, my humble prostrations to you,Who is an embodiment of all wishesRemembering you I begin my studiesso that your grace and blessings shall bring success always.

Ganesha:

Shuklam Bharadharam Vishnum,Shashi varnam chatur bhujam,prasanna vadanam dhyayetsarva vighnopa shantayet,

Meaning :

one who wears a white garment; One who is everywhereone who has the complexion like the moon; who has four armsWho has a pleasant smiling countenane; one should meditate uponin order to remove all obstacles

Vishnu:

Shantakaram BhujagashayanamPadmanabham sureshamvishvadharam gaganasadrashammeghavarnam shubhangamlakshmi kantam kamala nayanamyogi bhir gnyana gamyamvande vishnum bhavabhaya haramsarva lokaykanatham

Meaning:

I bow to Lord Vishnu the One Master of the Universe, who is ever peaceful, who reclines on the great serpent bed, from whose navel springs the Lotus of the Creative Power, who is the Supreme Being, who supports the entire universe, who is all-pervading as the sky, who is dark like the clouds and has a beautiful form; the Lord of Lakshmi, the lotus-eyed One, whom the yogis are able to perceive through meditation, He, who is the destroyer of the fear of Samsar

Guru:

Gurur Brahma gurur vishnumgurur devo maheshwarahaguru sakshat parabrhmatasmai shree gurave namaha

Meaning:

Oh teacher , I see you as Brahma, Teacher I see you as Vishnu, Hey Guru I see you as Mahesh(Shiva). You are the lord of Lords, I bow unto thee.

8.Kautukams

Kautukam means in “Praise of” . It is also called Kavithuvam or  Kausthuvam. Kavithuvam meaning “Poetic Quality”. The Kautukams were once performed  by temple dancers as rituals. On the day of “Tiruvadira” in month of  Margazi season (Margashirsha) when the gods were brought out for procession the Kautukams were danced and sung amidst the crowds. Certain temples had it own Kautukam. Panchamurthy kautukams were written on Lord Vinayaka, Muruga, Natesha, Sambanda and Sandeshwarar. The custom was to use high pitched ragas like Natti, Varali, Arabhi to compose them. Gangai Muthu Nattuvanar has composed most of the popular kautukams danced in the present .  Danseuse Priyadarshini Govind has made a special note on Navasandhi kautukams in her video CD . She says “The Navasandhi kautukams were performed in the temples at different sandhis (junctions of the temple).  This was performed to propitiate the Gods of different sandhis. The Navasandhi kautukams are on Brahma, Indra,  Agni, Yama, Niritti, Varuna, Vayu Kubera and Ishana.”  The Structure of kautukam is such that poetic lines are often followed and preceded by Sollu’s. Also the poetic lines are first recited and then sung in a ragam. Following are the kautukams that have been worked for you.

9.Natesha or Nataraja Kautukam (VIDEO).

The steps are same almost in every style. I like the the Kalakriya series music for this Kautukam. Hence the demonstration is a blend of what I had learnt and Mrs Priyadarshiniji’s choreography.  This Kautukam is in Ragam Varali and Adi Talam.

Please see the lyrics and the meaning below:

Thatavana Muni Jana Sakala Asura-suraOne who is worshipped by the rishis of tadavana(dense forest) and the Demons and Gods alike.

Sannutha Paada Kinkini Jhum JhumI bow to him who adorns the anklets that make the sound jham jham.

Jhana Jhana Jhana Jhana Noopura laya gatiHis Bells produce the sound jhana while he performs his cosmic dance

Ghana ghana ghana ghana Viti Hari SevitaBhrahma and vishnu also worship him.

Thaanda Vidambarathe one who performs the tandava

Vyaghrama Shankara the one who is worshiped by vyagrahas

(If it was “Vygra charma Dhara“, then it would mean “one who wears the Tiger’s Skin”. This interpretation is also used in some songs. The hastas used would change).

Trishula DharaOne who holds the Trishula

Nandi Vaha,  Nada yoga priyaOne who rides the Nandi, and one who loves dance and music.

Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Shashi ravi BhoshanaSalutations to one who adorns the sun and the moon

Roopa BhayankaraOne who has an awesome personality .

(The word Bhayankara could also mean Fearful. But how can the lord be fearful? May be  his raudra Avatara sounds scary.)

Damaruka hastaOne who holds a Damru (handy percussion drum) in his hands.

Tritiya sahastra Dikshita NathaOne who is lord of Three thousand Dikshitas of Chidambaram

10.Pushpanjali (VIDEO).

The word “Anjali” means “an offering”.  Thus offering can be made in various ways.  The most commonly heard is pushpanjali ie an offering with “pushpam” meaning flowers, Geetanjali an offering of a song that is geetam, Swaranjali an offering of music, Shraddhanjali an offering of love.

In this context Pushpanjali is an offering of flowers by the dancer. It is an invocation piece done at the beginning of a performance.  Sometimes a shlokam is also incorporated into it. Shlokam can be in praise of any deity. Pushpanjali that I have explained here is most commonly seen with the students of Kalakshetra Lineage.

11.Eye Movements or Drishthi Bheda (VIDEO.)

Drishthi in sanskrit meaning “Vision”. In relation to our eyes it means “sight” or “to see”. The classification of these eye movements are based on how we move the eye balls. Infact we use each of them in our every day routine. Just a matter of identifying with their names. There are eight types of Eye movements given in the shastras:

1. Sama:  Eye kept still without any movement.

2. Alokita: Rolling your eye balls in a circular pattern.

3. Saachi: Looking through the corner of the eyes.

4. Pralokita: moving your eyes side to side.

5. Nimilita:  It looks like a half shut eye. Here one tries to focus the eye ball towards the heart.

6. Ullokita: Looking upwards.

7. Anuvritta: Rapid movement of the eyes up and down.

8. Avalokita: Looking down.

Shloka :

Samam Alokitam Saachi pralokita NimilityUllokita-anuvritte cha tatha chaiva-avalokitamIthyashtho drishthi bhedaha syu kirtitah purvasuribhi

12.Head movements or Shirobheda (VIDEO).

Head movements are also called Shirobheda. Shira or shirasa meaning ” Head” in sanskrit. The head  movements refer to the head positions, while expressing a particular bhava. There are Nine head movements.

1. Sama : The head kept straight2. Udvahitam : Head Looking upwards3. Adhomukham : Looking Down4. Alolitam: Circular Movement of the head5. Dhutam: Right to left movement of the head6. Kampitam: Up and down nod of the head7. Paravrittam: Brisk turning of the head to the right or left8. Ukshiptam: Head is turned and raised or a slanting position of the head.9. Parivahittam: Quick small shakes of the head.

Shloka :

Sama udvahitam adhomukha-lolitam Dhutamkampitam cha paravrittam ukshiptam parivahitamnavdhakathitam shirasa natyashastra visharadaihi.

12.Neck moments (VIDEO).

13.Ranga Pravesa order and the Theory….

Bharata Natyam Arangetram Margam (Graduation Recital)

SlokamsPushpanjali    Ganapati Kavtavam AlarippuJatiswaramVarnamPadamSabdamTillanaMangalam

Kuchipudi Ranga Pravesam Margam (Graduation Recital)

SlokamsRanga PujaJatiswaramVarnamPadamBhama KalapamKrishna SabdamTarangamShiva TandavamMangalam

Dance Theory:

Technical TerminologyBasic positionsSlokams - Selected Sanskrit PoemsSamyukta Hastas - Single Hand GesturesAsamyukta Hastas - Double Hand GesturesDeva Hastas - Hand Gestures for GodsNayana Bheda - Eye MovementsGriva Bheda - Neck MovementsBru Bheda - Eye Brow MovementsNava Rasas - Nine Moods & FeelingsPada Bheda - Positioning of FeetHasta Bheda - Positioning of HandsKaranas - Combined Movement of Hands & FeetNayika Bhedas - Classification of HeroinsNayaka Bhedas - Classification of HerosAbhinaya - Facial Expressions & Story TellingCarnatic music - basics of south Indian classical music, melodies & rhythmic patternsHistroy of dance - Evolution & DevelopmentHinduism - Gods, Godesses & StoriesAaharyam - Ornaments, Makeup & CostumesOther Indian dance styels - Kathak, Mohini Attam, Odissi & other styles

Andhra Natyam Ranga Pravesam (Graduation Recital)

Kumba Harati - Ganapati KoutvamAddi Satyari NrityamBhama KalapamPadamShiva KaivaramNava Janardana Parijatam Kaivara SabdamJavali Sita KalyanamMangalam

Mohini Attam Arangetram (Graduation Recital)

Slokam - Ananta Padma NabhamNritha PrabhandhamShiva PadamKavya NarthakiPapa Bhaya HaranamDundubhi NatyamAstapadi