Bharatnatyam

As the oldest known classical dance with a rich history of more than 2000 years, Bharatnatyam is an ancient Indian dance form from Tamil Nadu. The dance uses special hand signals to tell stories and is known for its precise rhythm and expressive performance.  With origins rooted in temple dance traditions, this dance form is known for its unique hand gestures or mudras. In this article, you will know all the information about Bharatnatyam such as what is Bharatnatyam, its origin, core elements and Influential Figures, all of which are important for GS Paper-1 Art & Culture of UPSC IAS Exam.

Table of Content

• What is Bharatnatyam?
• Origin of Bharatnatyam
• Core Elements of a Bharatnatyam
• Influential Figures in Bharatanatyam
• Conclusion
• FAQs on Bharatnatyam

What is Bharatnatyam?

• Bharatnatyam (earlier known as Sadiraattam) is the oldest (more than 2000 years) known classical dance form.
• Bharatanatyam is a classical Indian dance of Tamil Nadu.
• It owes its name to Bharata Muni and ‘natyam’, the Tamil term for dance.
• But some academics attribute the ‘Bharata’ component of the name to ‘Bhava‘, ‘Raga’ and ‘Taal‘.
• It originated from ‘Sadir‘, a solo dance style performed by the temple dancers, or ‘devadasis‘, in Tamil Nadu. Consequently, it was also named ‘Dashiattam‘.
  • As offerings to the deities, these devadasis would perform music and dance in temple courtyards.
• Bharatnatyam is often likened to a ‘fire dance‘ as its movements mirror the fluidity and dynamism of a flickering flame.
• Once a solo female dance, it has now gained immense popularity among male and group performers.
• Bharatnatyam places equal importance on both Tandava (the masculine aspect of dance) and Lasya (the feminine aspect).
• ‘Mudras‘ or symbolic hand gestures, form a crucial component of the dance.
  • A primary mudra used is the ‘Katakamukha Hasta’, where three fingers come together symbolizing the sacred ‘Om‘.
• In Bharatnatyam performances, the dancer typically maintains a semi-squatting position, distributing weight evenly on both feet.
• This dance form also showcases the ‘Ekcharya lasyam’ (ekaharya) style, where a single performer embodies multiple characters.
• In the early 19^thcentury, the famous Tanjore Quartette, under the patronage of Raja Serfoji are said to have been responsible for the repertoire of Bharatnatyam dance as we see it today. 
  • The ‘Tanjore Quartet’ consisted of four influential dance teachers from Thanjavur: Chinnaiah, Ponniah, Vadivelu, and Shivanandam.
  • Under their tutelage, Bharatnatyam also earned the moniker ‘Tanjore Natyam’.

• Historical records of Bharatnatyam can be found in various ancient manuscripts, such as
  • Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra (dated between 200 B.C.E and 200 C.E.)
  • Abhinaya Darpana, penned by Nandikesvara.
• Visual depictions of Bharatnatyam can be found in ancient paintings and sculptures made of stone and metal.
  • Example: Chidambaram temple’s gopurams display a sequence of Bharatnatyam positions, immortalized in stone by sculptors.
• Other temples show the dance’s charis and karanas in their sculptures.
• In Cave 1 of the Badami cave temples in Karnataka, there exists a remarkable sculpture dating back to the 7th century. It presents a 5 feet tall figure of Lord Shiva, known as Nataraja, performing the Tandava dance. The 18 arms of the Shiva statue represent mudras or hand gestures, integral to Bharatanatyam.
• The ancient Tamil literary masterpiece, ‘Silappadikaaram‘ (~2nd century CE), contains the earliest mentions of this particular dance.
• Kanchipuram’s Shiva temple, adorned with carvings from the period between the 6^th and 9^th centuries CE, provides evidence of the dance’s progression by the middle of 1^st millennium CE.
• Eastern gateway of the 12^th-century Thillai Natarajar Temple in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Lord Shiva, features carvings of 108 Bharatanatyam poses, known as ‘karanas‘ in ‘Natya Shastra’, showcased on compact rectangular panels.

Origin of Bharatnatyam

Core Elements of a Bharatnatyam Performance

• Alarippu – It includes basic dance positions, vandana or beginning of dance and rhythmic syllables. It contains no abhinaya.
• Jatiswaram – Part of the Nritta component, it comprises a range of poses and movements, but without expressions. It adds rhythm, melody and movements to dance.
• Shabdam – A dramatic component incorporating expressive words or ‘abhinaya’ within the song, usually to praise the God.
• Varnam – It is actual dance (Nritya) and the most important part of performance. It is synchronized with ‘tala’ and ‘raag’.
• Padam – Emphasizes the dancer’s command over the ‘abhinaya’, communicating spiritual themes. Here, the music is gentle, and the dance is deeply emotive. 
• Jawali – Quick-paced performances of romantic lyrics.
• Thillana – The finale, marked by pure dance (Nritta) featuring energetic movements and complex rhythmic variations.
• Shlokam or Mangalam: Final salute sequence may be in the form of shlokas.

Influential Figures in Bharatanatyam

• The Devadasi tradition’s decline almost led to Bharatnatyam’s disappearance. However, E. Krishna Iyer, a well-known freedom fighter, played a significant role in rejuvenating this dance tradition.
• Rukmini Devi Arundale, an influential figure in Bharatnatyam, is recognized for promoting this dance form globally.
• Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, a dance instructor hailing from Pandanallur village, is remembered for his unique contribution to Bharatanatyam, particularly his creation of the Pandanallur school style.
• Rukmini Devi, a student of Pillai, was a prominent practitioner and promoter of the Pandanallur (Kalakshetra) style. She also led the classical dance revival movement.
• Last century’s notable exponent of this dance tradition was Bala Saraswati.

Conclusion

Bharatnatyam, with its rich lineage exceeding 2000 years, is a prominent classical dance form, the roots of which trace back to Tamil Nadu’s temple dance tradition. Its significant elements, like the mudras and the fusion of Tandava and Lasya aspects contribute to its unique appeal. Historical records and depictions of Bharatnatyam emphasize its profound influence over time, while its core performance elements demonstrate its rhythmic and expressive complexity.

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FAQs (frequently asked questions)