NATYA SHASTRA – TREASURES OF DRAMA

Natya shastra is a Sanskrit word which means art of expression and ancient treatise on performing arts, theatre, dance, music etc.  Natya means drama and shastra means weapon. It came into existence during t6he period of 200 BCE in Indian classical form and contributed to sage bharata. It’s just an incredible way and has a wider scope. It is a wonderful blend of stage formation, design along with some beautiful ways of portraying India’s culture, literature, music. It’s an ancient form of fine art which gives a detailed meaning of music, instrument. Mostly the contributions were made by Abhinav Gupta. To perform natya shastra one needs good an ample knowledge, learning of science, yoga, music, dance, etc. Its prime focus is to bring out the emotions from the audience.

            There are four kinds of abhinaya which describes the body part motions which includes make up, acting, directing, bhavas like angika, vachika, ahara, sattvika. It underlines a detailed drama which adds a gist to the poetry which refers to bhavas. As said in rasa there are eight major elements like love, pity, anger, heroic mood, disgust, terror, awe and comedy. Natya shastra is brought by Bharat Muni was the first text to highlight music in a wide range. It is still remained as an important element in fine arts for many extras and is referred to as fifth Vedas. Major forms of dance and music were defined from it. These forms of statues can be seen in elephant caves where body forms, movement’s sculptures are there from centuries. The influence of music and dance can even be seen today especially in the Hindustani dance like bharatnatyam. Cinemas are greatly influenced by these rasas and natya shastra.

             Natya shastra has been divided into 36 chapters where there are hundreds of muni’s which approach to the secrets of Natyaveda. Natya shastra mainly involves chapters like drama where there is involvement of audience, theatre, architecture, rituals, emotion, aesthetics of rasas, dance, music, dhvani, make-up, philosophy, etc. And also the instruments used in Natya shastra were stringed instrument, windblown, cymbals, percussion instruments. There are questions and answers based on the topic and even lot of great information has been noted down. Natya shastra was first done in an open theatre where along with dance meaning was also being passed out.  Even natya shastra is somewhere or the other is connected to the roots of Indian culture and Indian religion. Without this, I don’t think the beauty of Indian dance is possible. In Hindu mythology, it is said that dance first existed in heaven itself. As we have heard that there used to be a constant conflict between Asuras and Devas for elements like power, wealth. It seems that Lord Brahma went into the deep meditation and made four Vedas, out of which he blended all ingredients and flavours and created a new and fourth Veda which was named as Natya Veda.

            There is no doubt in that these dance form can be represented and well defined by Bharat muni during that dynasty. Thus it is unique and valuable element which defines great dance tradition on the basis of dance performers. It glimpses into the art of dance and also gives a beautiful sight into its evolution through unique sculptures.