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Bharatanatyam




💃 Chapter 06 · Topic 01 · Classical Dance

Bharatanatyam

Tamil Nadu’s classical dance — Devadasi tradition, Rukmini Devi Arundale’s revival, nritta/nritya/natya, Natya Shastra, key exponents — complete UPSC & PSC notes.

💃 Overview of Bharatanatyam

  • Bharatanatyam is the oldest and most widely practised classical dance form of India
  • Originated in Tamil Nadu; associated with the temples of South India
  • Name derived from: BHAva (expression) + RAga (melody) + TAla (rhythm) + NATYAM (dance) — or from the sage Bharata Muni who wrote the Natya Shastra
  • Traditionally performed by Devadasis (temple dancers) as an offering to the deity
  • Also called Sadir or Dasi Attam in its traditional form
  • Recognised as a classical dance by the Sangeet Natak Akademi

📜 Historical Background

  • Ancient origins — described in the Natya Shastra (2nd century BCE–2nd century CE) by Bharata Muni
  • Devadasi tradition — temple dancers dedicated to the deity; performed in temples as part of worship; tradition flourished under Chola, Pallava, and Vijayanagara dynasties
  • Decline — British colonial rule; Anti-Nautch movement (late 19th century) condemned Devadasi practice; Devadasi Abolition Act (1947) in Tamil Nadu
  • Revival — Rukmini Devi Arundale (1904–1986) revived and reformed Bharatanatyam; founded Kalakshetra in Chennai (1936); brought the dance to the concert stage; removed erotic elements; made it respectable for upper-class women
  • E. Krishna Iyer — lawyer and activist who also championed the revival of Bharatanatyam
⭐ Rukmini Devi Arundale: The most important figure in the revival of Bharatanatyam. She was the first Brahmin woman to learn and perform Bharatanatyam publicly (1935), breaking social taboos. She founded Kalakshetra (meaning “field of arts”) in Chennai in 1936, which became the premier institution for Bharatanatyam training. She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha and was offered the Presidency of India (which she declined). She received the Padma Bhushan (1956) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship.

🎭 Structure of a Bharatanatyam Performance

ItemDescription
AlarippuOpening invocation; awakening of the body; pure dance (nritta)
JatiswaramPure dance set to a raga and tala; no abhinaya
ShabdamFirst item with words; simple abhinaya; devotional
VarnamCentral and most important item; combines nritta, nritya, natya; longest item; tests the dancer’s full range
PadamExpressive item; abhinaya; devotional or romantic themes; slow tempo
JavaliLighter expressive item; romantic themes; faster tempo
TillanaConcluding item; pure dance; fast tempo; rhythmic patterns
MangalamAuspicious concluding prayer

🎭 Three Aspects of Classical Dance

  • Nritta — pure dance; abstract rhythmic movements; no expression or meaning; focuses on technique, rhythm, and beauty of movement
  • Nritya — expressive dance; combines rhythm with expression (abhinaya); conveys meaning through gestures (mudras), facial expressions (bhava), and body movements
  • Natya — dramatic element; dance-drama; tells a story; combines nritta and nritya with dramatic narrative

🤲 Abhinaya — The Art of Expression

  • Abhinaya = the art of expression in classical dance; conveying emotion and meaning to the audience
  • Four types of abhinaya (from Natya Shastra):
    • Angika — body movements (gestures, postures, gait)
    • Vachika — vocal expression (speech, song, recitation)
    • Aharya — costume, makeup, jewellery, props
    • Sattvika — emotional expression; involuntary physical responses to emotion
  • Mudras — hand gestures; 28 single-hand (asamyuta) and 24 double-hand (samyuta) mudras in Bharatanatyam
  • Navarasas — nine emotions: Shringara (love), Hasya (humour), Karuna (compassion), Raudra (fury), Vira (heroism), Bhayanaka (terror), Bibhatsa (disgust), Adbhuta (wonder), Shanta (peace)
📌 Key Exponents of Bharatanatyam: Rukmini Devi Arundale (revivalist); Balasaraswati (traditional Devadasi lineage; Padma Vibhushan); Yamini Krishnamurthy (Padma Vibhushan); Mrinalini Sarabhai (Gujarat; Padma Bhushan); Sonal Mansingh (Padma Vibhushan); Alarmel Valli (Padma Bhushan); Leela Samson (former Sangeet Natak Akademi chair). Balasaraswati and Rukmini Devi represented two different approaches — traditional vs reformed.

✅ Revision Checklist — Bharatanatyam

✅ Bharatanatyam = Tamil Nadu = oldest classical dance = temple origin
✅ Name = BHAva + RAga + TAla + NATYAM (or from sage Bharata)
✅ Traditional form = Sadir/Dasi Attam = Devadasi tradition
✅ Rukmini Devi Arundale = revived Bharatanatyam = Kalakshetra (1936) = Chennai
✅ Nritta = pure dance; Nritya = expressive; Natya = dramatic
✅ Varnam = central item = combines all three aspects
✅ Abhinaya = 4 types = Angika + Vachika + Aharya + Sattvika
✅ Navarasas = 9 emotions = Shringara, Hasya, Karuna, Raudra, Vira, Bhayanaka, Bibhatsa, Adbhuta, Shanta
✅ Mudras = hand gestures = 28 single-hand + 24 double-hand
✅ Balasaraswati = traditional lineage; Rukmini Devi = reformed tradition
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