Ganesh Shloka

Invokation to Lord Ganesh

Vakratunda Mahaakaaya
Suuryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kurume Deva
Shubha Kaaryeshhu Sarvadaa

Meaning
O Lord Ganesha,
Who possesses a large body (mahakaya),
A curved trunk (vakratunda),
Who shines with the brilliance of a million suns (surya koti)!
Please make all my work free of obstacles, always.

Dussehra

Today it felt so nice to have my students come celebrate dussehra with me. It creates a special bond between the teacher and the student which goes a long way. All my students came and offered their prayers to king of Dance - the Nataraj. And they performed their favorite steps and items. As for me it gives a big satisfaction. No wonder in south of India after the saraswati puja when they do puja of all the learning medium be it the books, musical instruments, or in the business , their machinery, this custom is believed to be so sacred. And therefore on this auspicious occasion of dussehra they enrol in new school or have a new beginning blessed by Goddess Saraswati.

Paada Bhedas-Foot Movements

As given in Natya Shastra

Udghattitam Samamchaiva Tathaa
Agratala sanchara anchita kunchitaschaiva
Suchi paadaprakeerthitha

Essence of Dance

This shloka from natya shastra summarizes the essence of Indian classical dance; the power of dance.

'"na thath gnanam na thath shilpam
na saa vidhya na saa kalaa
naasau yogo na thath karma
naatye asmin yanna drshyathe"

" There is no other knowledge, no other sculpture, no other learning, no other art, not even yoga or action that is not found in dance. No wise utterance, no means to acheive learning, no art or craft is complete without dance." - Natya Shastra

Music and Dance

Carnatic Music is usually used for BharatNatyam, although there have been many experiments of doing bhatanatyam on hindustani music also.
It is ver important as a dancer to know atleast the basic structure of carnatic music. I have gien very information in my website. To know more, please click here

Hand Gestures in BharatNatyam

Mudras or the hand gestures in BharatNatyam help in conveying and expressing the emotions. In simple terms, they are like the ABC's of a language. Just as we initially learn the alphabets, then the small words and their meanings, then sentences and finally stories. Similarly we "Abhinaya Darpanam" by Nandikeshwara gives us the basic hand gestures and their meanings, varoius eye, head, neck movements, different leg positions and movements, different gaits, etc.

Following are the shlokas of single and combined hand gestures with meanings and their "viniyoga", that is their uses.
Single Hand Gestures or the Asamyukta Hastas
Single hand Gesture Vinyoga (Uses)
Combined Hand Gestures - Samyuta Hasta
Samyuta Hasta Viniyogam (Uses)


Like these , the dancers is taught many more shlokas and gestures which come under the Angika Abhinaya through which the dancer expresses herself. For more notes on Angika abhinaya , please visit my website nadanam.in

RedWoods...students learning the stage dynamics when moving....hand gestures and the traditional steps!