What is the origin of Bharatanatyam and how did it develop over the time.
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Bharatnatyam is considered to be one of the oldest classical dance forms India. It is also known as mother of many Indian classical forms. It’s origins can be found in Bharat Muni’s Natya Shastra and Nandi Keshvara’s Abhinay Darpan.
In India it emerged from Devdasi system of Tamil Nadu temples. Young girls were donated to the temples who were symbolically married to main gods and served them with dance. This system also led to exploitation of these Devdasis by temple authorities which led to decline of both Bharatnatyam and Devdasi system in 1930s.
Later E Krishna Iyer revived Bharatnatyam without any system of Devdasi and encouraged Brahmin girls to learn the dance without any sexual or explicit meanings. Further Rukmini Devi Arundale provided global recognition to Bharatnatyam through her performance. Now Bharatnatyam has become popular and has reached other parts of India and abroad as well.
Bharatnatyam is considered to be one of the oldest classical dance forms India. It is also known as mother of many Indian classical forms. It’s origins can be found in Bharat Muni’s Natya Shastra and Nandi Keshvara’s Abhinay Darpan.
In India it emerged from Devdasi system of Tamil Nadu temples. Young girls were donated to the temples who were symbolically married to main gods and served them with dance. This system also led to exploitation of these Devdasis by temple authorities which led to decline of both Bharatnatyam and Devdasi system in 1930s.
Later E Krishna Iyer revived Bharatnatyam without any system of Devdasi and encouraged Brahmin girls to learn the dance without any sexual or explicit meanings. Further Rukmini Devi Arundale provided global recognition to Bharatnatyam through her performance. Now Bharatnatyam has become popular and has reached other parts of India and abroad as well.
Bharatnatyam is a dance form which comprises of bhav, raag, and taal . It’s origin can be traced back to “sadir natyam” . A dance form which is performed by devadasis in temples. The devadasis were the young girls who were donated to the temples and were married to the main gods and served them with dance.
It originated in Tamil Nadu 2000 years ago and It’s origin can also be found from Bharat Muni’s Natya shastra and Nandi keshvara’s Abhinaya darpan.
With the declination of Devadasi system, Bharatnatyam also declined in 1930s. However, E. Krishna Iyer, an indian lawyer, freedom fighter, a classical artist and an activist revived Bharatnatyam. He himself was a Sadir performer . In 20th century he got popular and encouraged girls to learn this dance form. Later some of the famous proponents like Rukmani Devi Arundale, Mallika Sarabhai and Yamini Krishnamurthy provided global recognition to Bharatnatyam by their performances. Now this dance form has its recognition all over the world. It is famous in India and is well known in foreign countries .
Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest classical dance forms of India with its roots stretching back over 2000 years to the temples of Tamil Nadu.
The original manuscripts of this intricate dance form were found in ancient texts like Natya Shastra written by Bharata Muni. In its literal translation, “Natya” means dance and “Shastra” means the “science of dance”. Almost all of India’s classical dance forms originated through Natya Shastra.
Formerly referred to as “Sadir”, it was traditionally performed by Devadasis – women who dedicated themselves to Gods in temples through dance and music.
The golden era of Baratanatyam was during the Chola dynasty (9th to 13th century) when it was as important to temple ceremonies as Wi-Fi is to modern life. This dance brought mythological stories to life with a combination of dramatic narration (abhinaya), expressive hand gestures (mudras), and fast paced footwork (adavus).
Fast forward to the 19th century, Bharatanatyam was on the verge of extinction due to the colonial British government’s disapproval of the Devadasi tradition.
However, early 20th-century artists like E. Krishna Iyer and Rukmini Devi Arundale revitalized and transformed Bharatanatyam. They brought it to the concert stage and changed how it was presented, removing its temple only status and giving it a more contemporary twist.
With its gracefulness, accuracy, and expressive storytelling, Bharatanatyam is not only surviving but flourishing internationally today, all the while keeping India’s rich cultural heritage dancing in the spotlight.
Bharatnatyam is considered to be one of the oldest classical dance forms India. It is also known as mother of many Indian classical forms. It’s origins can be found in Bharat Muni’s Natya Shastra and Nandi Keshvara’s Abhinay Darpan.
In India it emerged from Devdasi system of Tamil Nadu temples. Young girls were donated to the temples who were symbolically married to main gods and served them with dance. This system also led to exploitation of these Devdasis by temple authorities which led to decline of both Bharatnatyam and Devdasi system in 1930s.
Later E Krishna Iyer revived Bharatnatyam without any system of Devdasi and encouraged Brahmin girls to learn the dance without any sexual or explicit meanings. Further Rukmini Devi Arundale provided global recognition to Bharatnatyam through her performance. Now Bharatnatyam has become popular and has reached other parts of India and abroad as well.