About Bharatanatyam

About Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam is evenly divided between three elements Nritta, Nritya and Natya .



Nritta : Rhythmic Element.Interprits the language of rhythm with the help of body movements.



Nritya : Combination of Rhythm with Expression.Conveys poetic meaning with the help of expressions, rhythmic gaites and postures. eg. Varna, Shabda, Pada etc.



Natya : Dramatic Element.Performing for a theme like Ramayana, Mahabharata etc.



Nritta

Nritta can be broadly divided into Chari, Karana, Angahara and Mandala. Movement of a leg is called Chari. Movement of both the legs is Karana. 3 Karanas make a Khanda. 3 to 4 Khandas make a Mandala. 4 to 9 Karanas make a Angahara. 4 to 5 Angaharas also make a Mandala. 108 Karanas and 32 Angaharas are defined in Natyashatra. The 13 Nritta Hastas (explained later) are used to perform nritta. The rythmic body movements along with hand gestures are called Aduvus. Number of aduvus constitute a Jati. Jati will generally end with a Muktaya or Teermana.

There are varieties of Aduvus like

• Tattaduvu
• Mettaduvu
• Nataduvu
• Kattaduvu
• Kudittamettaduvu
• Maiaduvu
• Mandiaduvu
• Jati
• Nadai
• Ardi

There are 12 aduvus in each of the above explained. Hence 120 aduvus exist in total. Only about 70 - 80 are in practice. The aduvus are more or less Karanas. Hence can be concluded that there are 108 aduvus. The 108 Karanas or Aduvus are carved in the Chidambaram Temple in Tanjore, Tamilnadu, India. To perform an aduvu aramandi, bending of the knees is very very important.



The entire body is divided as Anga, Pratyanga and Upaanga.

Anga

Anganyatra shirohastau vaksha paarshwakateetatau

Paadaviti shaduktaani greevamapyapare jaguhu

Head, Hands, Chest, Waist, Bottom, Legs are the Six Angas. Some people include Neck also.



Pratyanga

Pratyangaani twathaskandhau baahoo prushtam tathodaram

ooroo janghe shadityahurapare manibandhakau

jaanooneekoorparamiti trayamapyadhikam jaguhu

Shoulders, Arms, Stomuch, thighs, Knee are the Six Pratyangas. Some people include Wrist, elbow and Ankle also.



Upaanga

Drushtibhrooputatarashcha kapolau naasikaahanuhu

Adharodashanaa jihwaa chubukam vadanam tatha

Upaangani dwadashitaanyanyaanyangaani santi cha

Paarshnee gulbautathangulyaa karayoho padayostale

Sight, Eyebrow, Eye lids, Eye balls, Cheeks, Nose, Gums, Lower Lip, Teeth, Tongue, Chin and Face are the 12 Upaangas. Few people include Heels, Fingers, Feet, Palm also into upaangas.

Pratynaga and Upaangas should move along with the Angas.

Anga Lakshana, the way of moving body parts, are described below.

• Shirobhedha - Head Movement
• Greevabhedha - Neck Movement
• Drushtibhedha - Eye Movement
• Paadabhedha
• Mandala - Standing Posture
• Utplavana - Leaps
• Bhramari - Circling Movement
• Chari - Leg Movement
• Gatibhedha - Charecteristic walks and
• Hastas or Mudras - Hand Movements
• Asamyuta Hasta
• Samyuta Hasta
• Deva Hasta
• Dashavatara Hasta
• Navagraha Hasta
• Jaati Hasta
• Bandhu Hasta
• Nritta Hasta

When all Angas(main body parts) coordinate (along with pratyanga and upaanga) the artist is said to have Angashudhi. Anga meaning body parts and shudhi, meaning perfect. Any dancer should try to achive this perfection. The Natyashastra, which talks about all aspects of Bharatanatyam, quotes shlokas to perform all the above movements. All the above said movements are dealt in detail in the respective links.

Shirobedha



Samam Udvahitam Adhomukham Alolitam Dhutam

Kampitancha Patavruttam Utkshiptam Parivahitam.



Samam = Keeping head straight

Udvahitam = Lifting the head up

Adhomukham = Putting the head down

Alolitam = Rotating the Head Clockwise & Anti-clockwise

Dhutam = Nodding the head as if to say "NO"

Kampitam = Shaking the Head

Paravruttam = Lifting the head from right side

Utkhiptam = Lifting the head from left side

Parivahitam = Nodding the head as if to say "YES".

Greevabhedha



Sundareecha tirashcheena tathivaparivartita prakampitachabhavagny gneyagreeva chaturvidha



Sundari = Neck movement on both sides

Tirashcheena = Above movement with increase in speed

Parivartita = Movement to the corners

Prakampita = Moving the neck like a rooster



Drushtibedha



Samam Alolitam sachi pralokita nimeelite Ullokita anuvruttecha tathachivavalokanam



Samam = Looking Straight

Alolitam = Turing eye balls clockwise & anti-clockwise

sachi = Looking to the sides without turning the head

Pralokana = Looking to the sides alternatively without turning the head

Nimeelana = Looking down

Ullokana = Looking Up

Anuvrutta = Looking Up & Down

Avalokana = Looking deep down.