Indian Aesthetics Paper

1. Iconographic symbolism of "Shiva Nataraja" Ans:-

World exist in never ending sequence journey of creation, existence and destruction.

As per Hindu religion these three things are maintained by three different lords Bramha,

Vishnu and Shiva the lord of creativity, existence and destruction respectively.

Shiva the lord of destruction is covered with the ashes on his body. He has third eye of

anger through which he burn out the cosmos and turn it into the ashes.

These ashes again reborn into cosmos through the continuous life circle of construction,

existence and destruction.

Shiva Nataraja the lord of dance is very popular in India. In south India it is most

famous. It is the form which not only holds the cosmic destruction but also the cosmic

creation. Whole cycle of life is formed in one form. Lord shiva in particular dance form is

surrounded by circle of fire. Fire symbolizes both creation and destruction, creation that can

 be destructed and which can be recreated again. Circle of flame indicates the circle of life.

Shiva Nataraja is multiple armed god. Each arm has specific symbolic function.

Upper left arm has flame in its palm which indicates the destruction of cosmos. Where as

upper right arm hols the small drum which indicates the construction. Drum which beat out

rhythm of life, Sound is related to ether and ether is related to water,earth,fire and air from

which cosmos is formed. God itself holds the life circle.

Particular dance form shows the balance of cosmos. Tandava the dance of destruction

from which world again reborn. Under shivas right feet there is thing which symbolizes the

ignorance & forgetfulness which come into the path of enlightenment. It indicates the

domestic blockages which obstacles out the path of enlightenment. Left leg is lifted and

 pointed out which indicates the released from obstacles. Another left arm is pointed towards

left leg which is form of Mudra. With both extra hands the shiva symbolically indicates both

of his son Lord Kartikeya and Lord Ganesha, god of war and obstacle removing respectively.

This is what Iconographic symbolism of "Shiva Nataraja".

2. Theory of Sadharnikaran Ans:-

The term Sadharnikaran is derived from the Sanskrit word sadharan. Its is drawn

from Hindu poetics and it is extensively used to explain poetics,aesthetics and drama. It is

rooted in Natyashastra. Sadharnikaran means generalizes presentation or simplification.. This

concept is bound to to another concept of Sahridayata.

Sadharnikarn is Hindu theory of communication. It illustrates how the

communicating parties interact in the system. The theory has the following elements in it.

1.  Sahridayas i.e. sender

2.  Bhava

3.  Abhivyanjana

4.  Sandesha

5. 

Sarani

6.  Rasaswadana

7. 

Doshas

8.  Sandarbha

9.  Pratikriya

 

  Sahridayat is the concept upon which meaning of sadharnikarn depends actually.

Sahridaya is the state of common orientation,oneness etc. Sahridayas has the bhavas in mind

and it is starting point of the communication. Sahridaya creates bhava and sends for the

abhivyanja i.e for expression or encoding. Then we can send the sandesha or message which

may be in the form of verbal or non-verbal codes. For transmission of sandesha, there needs

Sarni i.e. channel or medium without which it can not be reached to the receiver. Sarnis may

 be auditory,tactile or visual. According to Hindu theory both mind and body of the human is

form of Sarni. As abhivyanjana is crucial for sender , rasaswadana is important for receiver.

There are some forces, noises which can become doshas in communication. The message

 passed with doshas. The effectiveness of any message depends on the communication

environment i.e. context. Pratikriya refers to the responses of the receiver. Feedback makes

the communication ongoing.