BHARAT NATYAM - AN INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE

Dance has always been an integral part of the cultural and religious traditions of mankind. This is specially so in India. There is ample historical, sculptural and literary evidence to show that dance was an art form from antiquity and remains a living tradition. In India, dance and worship are one. The artist is in a privileged position of being able to understand and interpret deep religious themes, and thus should take responsibility with devotion, faith and humility.

The spirit behind the dance is of the utmost importance. All themes are religious because it was originally the temple art, where the artist served the Gods through music and dance. Unless the religious spirit and humble devotion accompanies the dance, it is merely entertainment and not worship.

THE MEANING OF THE TERM BHARAT NATYAM

BHARATA = this word is codified from the first syllables of:
BHA - BHAVA = literally meaning mood or emotion.
RA - RAGA = literally meaning melody or song.
TA - TALA = literally meaning rhythmic timing maintained by the feet.

NATYAM = this word is derived from the combination of these two words:
NRITTA = meaning pure dance - movement without any special meaning or mood and used to show pure technique and the intricacies of complicated timing, rhythms, posture and footwork.
NRITYA = this form of dance is comprised of movements of the body, hands, limbs together with facial expressions, to tell a story.

Thus NATYAM is the combination of pure and expressive dance.

SHIVA NATARAJA

Shiva Nataraja is the lord of dance, the cosmic dancer. He is the unique contribution of Indian thought to world of culture and dance. It is a vivid visualisation of the cosmic creation in the
unending rhythm of evolution, devolution, creation and destruction. His form in the dancing pose is worshipped by every Indian classical dancer.

In many of the Bharat Natyam items reference is paid to Him. All in all, the unique and exquisiste composition of Lord Natraja's dancing form represents His five main activites which are Creation, Preservation, Destruction, Protection and turning of the eternal wheel of life and death (veiling the real illusion).