Classical Indian dance

India offers a number of Classical Indian dance forms, each of which can be traced to different parts of the country. Each form represents the culture and ethos of a particular region or a group of people. The eight main styles are Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam, Manipuri and Kathakali. Besides, there are several forms of Indian folk dances such as Bhangra, and special dances observed in regional festivals. Image File history File linksMetadata Classical_indian_dance_10. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Classical_indian_dance_10. ... Mohiniaattam Indian classical dance is a misnomer, and actually refers to Natya, the sacred Hindu musical theatre styles. ... Bharatanatyam dancer Bharatanatyam (also spelled Bharathanatyam, Bharatnatyam or Bharata Natyam) ( Sanskrit: भारतनाट्यम bʰāratanāṭyam, Tamil:பரதநாட்டியம் ) is a classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu, a state in Southern India. ... Stamp issued in honour of Kathak Kathak is one of the classical dance forms of India (originally from North India), and the national dance of Pakistan. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Kuchipudi (కుచిపుడి) is a classical dance form from Andhra Pradesh, a state of South India. ... Mohiniaattam (മൊഹിനിയാട്ടം) (also spelled as mohiniattam or mohiniyattam) is a traditional South Indian dance form from Kerala, India. ... Stamp issued in honour of the Manipuri dance Full Manipuri dance costume for Radha Manipuri dance is one of the major Indian classical dance forms. ... Kathakali Kathakali is a form of Indian dance-drama. ... Indian folk and tribal dances are simple dances, and are performed to express joy. ... Bhangra (Punjabi: , , ) is a lively dance originating from the region of Punjab, now divided between North India and Pakistan. ...

Most Indian dance is based on the treatise Natyashastra by the sage Bharata Muni, which explains the Indian art of acting. Acting or natya is a broad concept which encompasses both drama and dance. Natya Shastra is the classic Indian text of theater, acting, dance, music, and gesture. ... Bharata Muni was an ancient Indian writer whose life has been dated differently from the 5th century BCE to the 2nd century Ad. ... Link title:For legal meaning of acting, see Acting (law). ... ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Classical Indian dance

Classical Indian dance

Main article: Classical Indian dance

Sacred Hindu temple dancer produced by author of Photo gallery of the sacred Hindu dance Bharata Natyam though it doesnt seem to be listed there (see talk page for details). ... Sacred Hindu temple dancer produced by author of Photo gallery of the sacred Hindu dance Bharata Natyam though it doesnt seem to be listed there (see talk page for details). ... Mohiniaattam Indian classical dance is a misnomer, and actually refers to Natya, the sacred Hindu musical theatre styles. ...

Indian folk dances

Main article: Indian folk dances

Indian folk and tribal dances are simple dances, and are performed to express joy. ...

Shaivite tradition

The Shaivite cult abounds in numerous myths of Shiva and his consort Devi performing dance in their various manifestations. Unlike Vishnu, Shiva is seen almost as a regular dancer performing for accomplishing an objective as also for pure aesthetic delight of his consort and devotees. The tradition hence reveres him as both, 'Adi-nratya-guru' - the first teacher of dance, and Natesh or Nataraja - the king of dance. Shiva (English IPA: Sanskrit: शिव; Hindi: शिव; Malayalam ശിവന്‍; Tamil: சிவன் (when used to distinguish lordly status), also known as Siva and written Śiva in the official IAST transliteration, pronounced as ) is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari , with honorific Shri Vishnu; , ), (also frequently referred to as Narayana) is the most popularly worshipped form of God in Hinduism [1]. Within the Vaishnava tradition he is viewed as the Ultimate Reality or Supreme God (similarly to Shiva within Shaivism). ... Bronze Chola Statue of Nataraja Nataraja (literally, The King of Dance) is the dancing posture of Lord Śiva, the aspect of God as the Destroyer in Hinduism. ...

In him revealed both faces of dance - 'lasya' and 'tandava', of which all subsequent dance forms were offshoots. 'Lasya', the dance of aesthetic delight revealed beauty, grace, love and all tender aspects of existence. 'Lasya' is the mode that defined many of Shiva's iconographic forms - Kalyana-Sundara, Vrashavahana, Yogeshvara, Katyavalambita, Sukhasanamurti, Vyakhyanamurti, Chinamudra, Anugrahamurti, and Chandrashekhara. The term lasya, in the context of Hindu mythology, describes a highly sensuous and languorous dance, which the goddess Parvati performed as a counterpart but in a completely different style. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ...

Devi, Shiva's variously named consort, is alluded to have performed dance in her manifestations as Kali - Mahakali or Shamshana-Kali, and Bhairavi. Devi had many other forms, each representing a particular 'bhava'. So did ten Mahavidyas and 'Saptamatrikas'. Each of such forms was modeled using the dance-mode in which its characteristic 'bhava' transpired. Thus, in modeling Devi's other forms, too, a similar dance-iconography was used. Commonly known as Devi (goddess), Vaishnodevi (देवी, Devī in Hindi and Sanskrit) is the Divine Mother of Hinduism. ... Kali (Sanskrit: काली) is a goddess with a long and complex history in Hinduism (although sometimes presented in the West as dark and violent). ... Mahakali is one of the fourteen zones of Nepal. ... Bhairavi is a fierce and terrifying aspect of the Goddess virtually indistinguishable from Kali, except for her particular identification as the consort of the Wrathful Shiva. ... In Hinduism, the ten mahavidyas (Great Wisdoms) are aspects of Devi. ...

Vaishnava tradition

Classical Indian dance

Vishnu or his incarnations resorted to dance only on a few occasions, but despite, he is revered as the 'Adi-nratya-guru' along with Shiva and Kali. Vishnu resorted to dance once in his incarnation as Vamana, when in mere two strides he spanned three worlds and won for himself Trivikrama - conqueror of three worlds, or Vishnukrant epithet. Image File history File linksMetadata Classical_indian_dance_10a. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Classical_indian_dance_10a. ... Vishnu (IAST , Devanagari , with honorific Shri Vishnu; , ), (also frequently referred to as Narayana) is the most popularly worshipped form of God in Hinduism [1]. Within the Vaishnava tradition he is viewed as the Ultimate Reality or Supreme God (similarly to Shiva within Shaivism). ... In Hinduism, Vamana is the fifth avatar of Vishnu, a dwarf. ...

Vishnu as Krishna danced once to subdue venomous serpent chief Kaliya and many times for delighting 'gopis' - Radha in particular. Krishna with Radharani, 18th C Rajasthani painting Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari, in IAST ), according to various Hindu traditions, is the eighth avatar of Vishnu. ... This page may meet Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... In Hinduism a gopi (somtimes gopika) is one of the several cow herding girls who had pure devotion (bhakti) to Krishna. ... Radha is a famous female personality from Hindu, (Vedic) tradition, also known as Radharani, prefixed with the respectful term Srimati by devout followers. ...

Indra had at 'Indrasabha' - his court, numerous dancing nymphs - Urvashi, Menaka being better known. Besides dancing, these nymphs were used for seducing opponents. The legend of Menaka seducing sage Vishvamitra and corrupting his fifty thousand years long penance is well known. herro For other uses, see Indra (disambiguation). ... Urvasi was an Apsaras in Hindu mythology. ... Menaka was sent by Indra, the king of the Gods, to break the severe penance undertaken by Sage Vishwamitra. ... Brahmarishi Viswamitra or Vishwamitra is one of the most venerated sages of Hinduism. ...

See also

• Rasa Lila

References

• Dance: The Living Spirit of Indian Arts by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr Daljeet