The natya shastra is based upon the much older gandharva veda. Kathakali, a pantomimic dancedrama in the tandava mood with towering headgear and elaborate facial makeup, originated in kerala. Indian texts were written by a group of scholars over a long period of time. The most authoritative commentary on the natya shastra is abhinavabharati by abhinavagupta. Natyashastra is a compilation of work by various sages but the tradition offers its authorship to sage bharata.
It was meant as a practical manual for production of successful theatrical performances, which included music and dance as well as acting. Natyashastra is an analytical text of dramatic performance that categorically characterizes fundamentals such as. It was written during the period between 200 bce and 200 ce in classical india and is traditionally attributed to the sage bharata. It is believed to have been written by the mythic brahman sage and. The natyashastra is the oldest surviving ancient indian work on performance. Reprinted in 2016 with the help of original edition published long back. Some scholars believe it was written by various authors at different times. The author of the natya shastra is unknown, and the hindu tradition attributes it to the rishi sage bharata.
It is known as sutra as it embodies principles set out in a very concise form. The natya shastra is the oldest surviving text on stagecraft in the world. Natya shastra is an old treatise about the arts, dance, music etc. Bhava vibhava and anubhava, the concept of bharat muni. Written in sanskrit, mainly in epic slokas with some prose fragments, it is dated by scholars from the 5th century bce to the 7th8th century ce.
The text is written in the sanskrit language, and consists of 6,000 sutras, or verse. To think that this was written in the 60s is just phenomenal. Bharata is considered the father of indian theatrical art forms. Natyashastra may be loosely translated as compendium of theatremanual of dramatic arts. Bharata muni, also known as satsahasri, is the author of natyashastra the first book on performing arts in ancient india. Natya shastra of bharata muni volume 2 hardcover bharata muni on. The author of the natya shastra is unknown, and the hindu tradition attributes it. This was attributed to sage bharata who was considered as the father of indian classical dances. The natya sastra of bharatamuni by board of scholars tr. The natyasastra deals with the rules relating to theatrical performances, in fact to the science of stage. Natya shastra the main source of indias classical dances was written by a nara muni b bharat muni c abhinav gupt d tandu muni.
While it primarily deals with stagecraft, it has come to influence music, classical indian dance, and literature as well. But one needs to understand that, these eight rasas. Details of its author, natyaveda, and origin of natya. Also, there are few researches which have given clues regarding the origin. Full text of natya shastra of bharata muni volume 1 see other formats. A treatise on hindu dramaturgy and histrionics ascribed to bharatamuni. Bharata and his sons shishyas and other actors popularized natyaveda art of theater, created by brahma, in the world. Existence of natyashastra the indian dramatic art is called natya in natyashastra. The text is attributed to sage bharata muni, and its first complete compilation is dated to betwe.
This exceptional art form can be aptly described as a poetry in motion and combines bhava acting, raga melody and talarhythm. In modern usage, this word does not include dance or music, but in sanskrit, the term natya refers to the troika of drama, dance and music. There is no way to translate the natya shastra without also expressing its meaning in the vedic paradigm in which it was written this work is a vedic shastra after all. The natya shastra is accepted today as the source of the tradition of indian classical dance in general, and of bharata natya in particular. Natya shastra of bharata muni in english part 1 and part 2. The natyashastra refers to drama performers as shailalinas, likely because they were so known at the time the text was written, a name derived from the legacy. Many commentaries have expanded the scope of the natya shastra. Bharatanatyam, along with the other classical art forms in india, bharatanatgam its origins in the manuscript called the natya shastra which was written by sage bharata around b. Bharata wrote natyashastra the first indian epic of dramaturgy. The term shastra sastra denotes a specific category of literature and the word natya na. Bharata natyam, which takes its name from bharatas natyashastra, has the lasya character, and its home is tamil nadu, in south india.
Shastra is the term accepted in indian tradition for the holy writ dedicated to a particular field of knowledge. Woman hand showing mayura hasta meaning peacock of indian classic dance bharata natyam. This online edition contains the full english translation of the natyashastra including. Preface the natyasastram of bharatamuni is a unique work of indian culture and literature. Apparently, between the 2nd century bce and the 2nd century ce, it acquired the presently known form. Natyashastra is a detailed compendium of technical instructions about the performing arts. It may be the work of several authors, but scholars disagree. In the natya sastra, bharata muni mentions that the number of rasa is eight. According to pramod kale, who received a doctorate on the text from the university of wisconsin, the surviving version of natya shastra likely existed by the 8thcentury. Bharatanatyam derived its name from the perfect combination of its expressions as well as from sage bharata muni and his natya shastra. Bharat muni natya shastra pdf traditionally assigned to bharata, a legendary sage, natya shastra is one among the famous trio of india, the other two being kautalyas artha. Ntya is attributed to the muni sage bharata and is believed to have been written during the period between b. So far there only exists in the english language a set of very bad translations of the natya shastra. Traditionally assigned to bharata muni, a legendary sage, natya shastra is one among the famous trio of india, the other two being kautalyas artha shastra and vatsyayanas kama shastra.
Its authorship is attributed to one sage or muni called bharata and its date of origin is often suggested as being around the beginning of the first millennium of the current christian calendar. It was also intended as a guide to the poet and to the performer, alike. Whether youre a seasoned copywriter, a newbie or even just someone with a passing interest in advertising, john caples book tested. Natyashastra, in full bharata natyashastra, also called natyasastra, detailed treatise and handbook on dramatic art that deals with all aspects of classical sanskrit theatre. Lord brahma created the natyaveda and instructed bharata muni to create the natyashastra for the art of natya or theatre. Bharathanatyam is the classical indian dance that adhere to natya shastra of 400 b. Figures of speech like upama comparison or simile, rupaka metaphor, dipaka enlightener and yamaka same word with double meaning are enumerated by him. Ii chapters xxviiixxxvi bibliotheca indica, a collection of oriental works, work number 272, issue number 1581 bharatamuni. Bhava vibhava and anubhava, the concept of bharat muni concept of bhava concept of vibhava concept of anubhava concept of rasa.
Traditionally assigned to bharata muni, a legendary sage, natya shastra is one among the famous trio of india, the other two being kautalyas artha shastra and. The natya shastra was written by the sage bharata or bharatamuni who was directly inspired by the god brahma, according to legend. Bharatas natya shastra karana means action and in the context of dance it indicates a coordinated action of the body, the hands and the feet. Who wrote the natya shastra, the main source of indias. Topics natya shastra, natya sastra, dance, bharata muni, barata muni. It is thought that natya shastra has been written by various people of the bharata muni clan as it has been discovered in. Basically, the natyashastra documents the history behind the development of the arts in india. The text, which now contains 6000 slokas, is attributed to the muni sage bharata and is believed to have been written during the. Bharata was an ancient seer who wrote this masterly treatise in sanskrit over a thousand years ago. He is dated to between 200 bce and 200 ce, but estimates vary between 500 bce and 500 ce. Natya was then taught by god brahma to the mythic sage bharata, who is said to have recorded this teaching in the natyashastra. His natya shastra with its 36 chapters includes the writing of drama and its production in any encyclopaedic work on dramatic art.
Bharatas natyasastra names ten forms of drama dasarupaka. Bharatas natyashastra some reflections sreenivasarao. The text, which now contains 6000 slokas, is attributed to the muni sage bharata and is believed to have been written during the period between 200 bce and 200 ce. While it primarily deals with stagecraft, it has come to influence music, classical indian dance, and. It is believed to have been written during the period between 200 bce and 200 ce. The science is intended as a guide alike to the poet and the player. The present edition is critical edition with samskrta text, transliteration, annotated english translation along with detailed index, which makes it very useful for research scholars, performing arts experts and enthusiasts. Full text of natya shastra of bharata muni volume 1. Natya shastra natyashatra or natyasastra ancient indian.