Natyashastra & Abhinaya Darpana

2 Seasons

The Hastas, Bhedas & Sthanas will be dealt with in this series. The Natyashastra will be used as the primary reference point, but a few examples from the Abhinaya Darpana will also be given.

All the shlokas from the Natyashastra and Sangita Ratnakara are taught in the lineage of Dr Padma Subramanyam and are a product of her research.

40 Episodes

00:22

Bāhu bheda Introduction
Episode 25

Bāhu bheda Introduction

Episode 25

The arms considered one of the Upāngas, or minor limbs, has many movement possibilities enumerated in the Natyasāstra.

The movements are used primarily to communicate meaning in the context of gesture and also clear articulation in dance or nritta.
00:34

Bāhu bheda Shloka
Episode 26

Bāhu bheda Shloka

Episode 26

The arms considered one of the Upāngas, or minor limbs.

The movements are used primarily to communicate meaning in the context of gesture and also clear articulation in dance or nritta.

Please refer to the Shloka below for pronunciation. Please note that the separate movements of the head when...
00:37

Ćarañāguli bheda Introduction
Episode 27

Ćarañāguli bheda Introduction

Episode 27

The toes are considered one of the Upāngas, or minor limbs.

The movements are used primarily to communicate meaning in the context of gesture.
00:17

Ćarañāguli bheda Shloka
Episode 29

Ćarañāguli bheda Shloka

Episode 29

The toes are considered one of the Upāngas, or minor limbs.

The movements are used primarily to communicate meaning in the context of gesture.

Please refer to the Shloka below for pronunciation. Please note that the separate movements of the head when put together in a Shloka form 'Sandhis', or...
00:37

Driśti bheda Introduction
Episode 33

Driśti bheda Introduction

Episode 33

The eye movements are considered one of the Mukhaja, or gestures of the face according to the Nātyasāstra.

The movements are used primarily to communicate meaning in the context of gesture.
00:38

Driśti bheda Shloka
Episode 34

Driśti bheda Shloka

Episode 34

The eye movements are considered one of the Mukhaja, or gestures of the face according to the Nātyasāstra.

The movements are used primarily to communicate meaning in the context of gesture.

Please refer to the Shloka below for pronunciation. Please note that the separate movements of the head w...
00:35

Grīva bheda Introduction
Episode 36

Grīva bheda Introduction

Episode 36

The neck movements are considered one of the Mukhaja, or gestures of the face according to the Nātyasāstra.

The movements are used primarily to communicate meaning in the context of gesture.
00:26

Grīva bheda Shloka
Episode 36

Grīva bheda Shloka

Episode 36

The neck movements are considered one of the Mukhaja, or gestures of the face according to the Nātyasāstra.

The movements are used primarily to communicate meaning in the context of gesture.

Please refer to the Shloka below for pronunciation. Please note that the separate movements of the neck ...
00:27

Bru bheda Introduction
Episode 32

Bru bheda Introduction

Episode 32

The eyebrows are considered one of the Mukhaja, or gestures of the face according to the Nātyasāstra.

The movements are used primarily to communicate meaning in the context of gesture.
00:17

Bru bheda Shloka
Episode 35

Bru bheda Shloka

Episode 35

The eyebrow movements are considered one of the Mukhaja, or gestures of the face according to the Nātyasāstra.

The movements are used primarily to communicate meaning in the context of gesture.

Please refer to the Shloka below for pronunciation. Please note that the separate movements of the he...
00:41

Hastakaranas Introduction
Episode 38

Hastakaranas Introduction

Episode 38

The movements of the wrists and fingers according to the Nātyasāstra.
00:24

Hastakarana Shloka
Episode 40

Hastakarana Shloka

Episode 40

The movements of the wrists and fingers according to the Nātyasāstra.

apaveśtithameka syāth udveśtithamathaparam
vyāvartitam tritīyantu ćaturtham parivartitam

apaveśtitham
udveśtitham
vyāvartitam
parivartitam
00:38

Feet Positions and movements
Episode 42

Feet Positions and movements

Episode 42

These feet positions are a collection from various texts to help us better understand the karanās in the Nātyasāstra.

(These are taught according to the Bharatanritya school, as researched by Dr Padma Subrahmanyam)

samam
parśvam
trayśram
anćitam
kuñćitam
agratalasanćāram
sūći
svastikam
udghatti...
00:52

Sthānakās Introduction
Episode 29

Sthānakās Introduction

Episode 29

Though the Sthānakās, or static positions for male and female characters are not limited to be used only by a specific gender, they are the building blocks for Karanas.
00:25

Purusha Sthāna
Episode 31

Purusha Sthāna

Episode 31

Though the Sthānakās, or static positions for male and female characters are not limited to be used only by a specific gender, they are the building blocks for Karanas.

There are 6 Sthanakas for male characters.

Vaiśnavam samapādam ća vaiśakham mandalam tathā
pratyālīdam matālīdam sthanān yethā...
00:16

Strī Sthānas
Episode 30

Strī Sthānas

Episode 30

Though the Sthānakās, or static positions for male and female characters are not limited to be used only by a specific gender, they are the building blocks for Karanas.

Āyatam avahittam aśvakrāntamatāpi ća
Strīnām sthānāni kāryāni gatiśvabharaneśu ća

Āyatam
avahittam
aśvakrāntam