16 February 2025

Nāṭyaśāstra:Terminology (Subject to Regular Updates)  Dance-Related Terms Nāṭya – The dramatic aspect of performance that integrates dance, music, and expression. Abhinaya – Expressive storytelling using gestures, facial expressions, and body language. Karaṇa – A fundamental dance movement involving specific coordination of limbs. Cārī – Movements of a single leg forming the basis of dance postures. Aṅgahāra – A sequence of multiple Karaṇas combined in a structured manner. Maṇḍala – Circular movement patterns in dance. Piṇḍībandha – Group formations in synchronized dance movements. Bhramarī Cārī – A whirling or spinning movement. Tāṇḍava – A vigorous, masculine dance style associated with Lord Shiva. Lāsya – A delicate, graceful dance style associated with femininity. Hand and Body Gestures (Hastas and Recakas) Nṛtta-hasta – Hand gestures used specifically for pure dance (as opposed to storytelling). Patāka – A hand gesture where fingers are extended and joined with the thumb bent. Añjali – A gesture of joining both palms together (used in greetings or offerings). Chaturasra – A structured hand movement held forward symmetrically. Svastika – A hand position where the wrists are crossed while the palms face outward. Recita – A swift hand movement where both hands move with palms facing upward. Talamukha – A hand position with both hands placed obliquely facing each other. Recaka – Isolated movements of different body parts (hand, foot, waist, neck) executed separately. Grīvā-recaka – Controlled neck movements used to enhance expressions. Hasta-recaka – Isolated movement of the hands for expressive or ornamental purposes. Kaṭi-recaka – A waist movement that adds fluidity to dance. Facial and Expressive Terms Ākampita – A slow up-and-down head movement for emphasis. Kampita – A rapid shaking of the head to express strong emotions. Parivāhita – A smooth side-to-side head movement. Añcita – A slight tilting of the neck to express sorrow or sickness. Bhāva – Emotional states or moods conveyed in performance. Rasa – The aesthetic flavor or emotional essence of a performance. Sthāyibhāva – The dominant emotion that persists throughout a performance. Sāttvika-bhāva – Involuntary emotional expressions connected to inner feelings. Music and Rhythm Terms Gāndharva – A type of musical performance where melody dominates. Mūrchanā – A system of musical scales and progressions. Tāla – Rhythmic time cycles used in music and dance. Jāti – A category of melodic structures from which later Rāgas developed. Vṛtti – A stylistic mode of expression in music and dance. Śruti – Microtones or subtle pitch variations in Indian classical music. Dhātu – The structural framework of a melody. Linguistic and Dramatic Terms Sanskrit – The classical language used in scholarly and high-status dramatic dialogues. Prakrit – Vernacular dialects assigned to specific character types in plays. Tatsama – Words in Prakrit that are directly borrowed from Sanskrit. Tadbhava – Words that evolved from Sanskrit but took on distinct Prakrit forms. Deśī – Indigenous words not derived from Sanskrit. Māgadhī – A Prakrit dialect used by royal characters and noblewomen. Śaurasenī – A Prakrit dialect often used by heroines in drama. Ardhamāgadhī – A middle dialect between Māgadhī and Śaurasenī. Drāviḍī – A language spoken by forest dwellers or certain southern characters. Oḍri – A dialect assigned to specific groups such as grooms and prison guards. These terms represent the rich vocabulary of classical Indian performance arts as described in the Nāṭyaśāstra.😊 Recent Post​ Natya Shastra Terminology ByHaridass Blathur 18/02/2025 Nāṭyaśāstra:Terminology (Subject to Regular Updates)  Dance-Related Terms Nāṭya – The dramatic aspect of performance that integrates dance, music, and… Mastering the Basic Bharatanatyam Adavus for Beginners ByHaridass Blathur 09/02/2025 Mastering the Basics of Adavus Bharatanatyam, one of India’s oldest and most esteemed classical dance forms, is celebrated for its grace… The Art of Drawing Readers In: Your attractive post title goes here ByHaridass Blathur 21/01/2025 Engaging Introductions: Capturing Your Audience’s Interest The initial impression your blog post makes is crucial, and that’s where your…