Vageesh Express

Samarpanam

Samarpanam: The art of Expression

'Abhinaya,' the art of expression is a very important feature in Bharatanatyam. Knowledge of music, stories, visual arts, culture, and language help the dancer to perform with total involvement and expression. The dancer, internalizing the music, uses several hand gestures called as 'Hastha Mudras,' facial expressions, and body language to communicate the ideas, images, and the essence of stories.

'Abhinaya' includes Angika (body movements), 'Aharya' (costumes and adornment), 'Vachika' (spoken word), and 'Sattvika' (expressing feelings from within). There are several approaches and views when it comes to teaching and performing 'Abhinaya' oriented dances. 

The performing arts in India – music, dance, drama and poetry are also based on the concept of Nava Rasa, or the “nine sentiments”. The study and practice of 'Nava Rasa' ('Nava' means nine and 'Rasa' means sentiments) is an important aspect of learning Abhinaya in Bharatanatyam. Literally, rasa means “juice” or “extract;” but in this context it means “emotion” or “sentiment.” According to Indian aesthetics, 'Rasa' is the taste or the flavor of an art, object or work. The 'Nava Rasas' are universally felt and experienced by everyone alike. 'Rasa' has no exact meaning; it can be described, however, as an aesthetic experience felt by the spectator, which results from the artist's soulful performance filled with 'Bhava'. 'Bhava' is the emotional feeling or (an) expression felt and expressed by the performer. It is an existing condition of the artist.

The Nava Rasas, in some manner, are analogous to the nine planets in the universe.

According to Natyashastra, there are eight 'Rasas.' The text 'Abhinaya Darpana' by Nandikeshwara includes peace ('Shantham') as the ninth 'Rasa'. The 'Nava Rasas' are: Love (Sringaram), Courage (Veeram), Pathos (Karunyam), Wonder (Adhbhutam), Mirth (Hasyam), Fear (Bhayam), Disgust (Bheebhatsam), Anger (Roudram), and Peace (Shantham). 

References: www.culturalhorizons.com

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