Dance Chapter of Bharata's Natyashastra : Ancient Indian Set of Dance Figures and Its Representation in the Decoration of South Indian Temples
Abstract
The intention of the text is to present the 108 dance figures (tandava-karana) from Chapter IV of Bharata's Textbook of Theater (Natyashastra) which are called dance expressiveness (tandava-lakshana - signs, ornaments of dance). This set of dance figures, which according to legend were originally presented by the Indian god Shiva on the occasion of the "first performance," was later depicted in the decoration of some ancient Indian temples in Tamil Nadu.
The relationship between the original textual and the subsequent sculptural representation of the karanas is further discussed. The text of the article is based on the author's own reception of the original Sanskrit text of the Natyasastra, as well as its commentary Abhinavabharati written by Abhinavagupta.
The most important recent scholarship on the topic represented by the works of Padma Subrahmanayam or Kapila Vatsyayan is also reflected in the text. The pictorial illustrations accompanying the text are the author's own recent photographs from the Arunachaleshwar temple in Tiruvanamalai.