The Role of Devadasis in the Evolution of Bharatanatyam

Devdasis

What is Bharatanatyam?

Bharatanatyam is a dance from South India. It uses hands, eyes, and feet. Dancers tell stories with the body. The dance looks bright and strong. People love it on stage and in temples.

Where does it come from?

Bharatanatyam grows from old books about dance. People also learn it in temples. Long ago, women called Devadasis dance for the gods. Their dance helps keep the art alive. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Who are the Devadasis?

Devadasis are women who serve a temple. They live near the temple. They learn music and dance. They perform during rituals and festivals. They pass the art from mother to daughter. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

What did they do?

They sing and dance for the god. They teach younger girls. They also work as artists in the town. Devadasis know many old songs and steps. Their dance is part of worship. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Why are they important?

Devadasis keep the art safe. They practice every day. They keep old songs and moves. They keep the dance alive when times change. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

How Devadasis Shape Bharatanatyam

Devadasis teach a style called Sadir. Sadir is the old form of Bharatanatyam. They make the steps, the gestures, and the tune live. The dance carries stories from epics and gods. People watch and learn. This way the art grows. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

• 🩰 Steps: Devadasis create and keep many dance steps.
• 🎼 Music: They sing and play with musicians.
• 🎭 Stories: They act scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• 💍 Costume: They wear temple jewelry and silk. This look becomes part of the dance.

The Change in the 19th and 20th Century

When the British came, the dance faces hard times. People judge the Devadasi system. Some see it as wrong. Others try to protect the art. Many things change. People stop dancing in temples. They start to dance on stage. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Who helps the dance revive?

Many teachers and artists help the dance come back. One big name is Rukmini Devi Arundale. She teaches and shows Bharatanatyam to many people. She makes a school for dance. She also changes the look of the dance for the stage. Her work helps many new dancers learn. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

How do reforms help?

Reformers change some parts of the dance. They make it more public. They change some costume pieces. They keep the strong and beautiful parts. This helps the art reach more towns and countries.

Good Things Devadasis Give to Bharatanatyam

Here are the main gifts from Devadasis.

1. Technique: Fine footwork and hand gestures come from them.
2. Stories: They keep the tales and bhakti (love for god).
3. Teaching: They train the next dancers.
4. Music: They keep old songs and rhythms alive.
5. Art Sense: Their sense of stage and costume stays in the dance.

Little example

A Devadasi may teach a child a small song. The child learns a step. The child then tells this step to others. The step moves to many places. This is how the dance grows and spreads.

Hard Truths and Respect

The Devadasi system has hard parts. Some women face trouble and shame. The old temple system also falls. Laws and change come to help. We must tell both sides of the story. We must respect the art and the people who kept it. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Why respect matters

Many brave women keep the dance alive. They teach and they work hard. We must honor them. We must not only see the changes. We must see their art and love. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Modern Bharatanatyam and Devadasi Memory

Today, Bharatanatyam shines on world stages. Schools teach it in many cities. Teachers use old pieces and new ideas. Devadasis stay part of the story. Their songs and steps live on in the modern dance. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

• 🎓 Dance schools teach theory and practice.
• 🌍 Dancers travel and present the art globally.
• 📖 Scholars write books about Devadasis and dance history.

How to Learn More (Fun and Simple)

If you want to learn more, try these easy steps:

1. Watch a short Bharatanatyam video. See the steps and faces.
2. Read a child-friendly story about temple arts.
3. Visit a local dance school and ask simple questions.
4. Look at old photos to see costumes and jewelry. 📸

Conclusion

Devadasis help Bharatanatyam grow. They pass the steps, the songs, and the heart of the dance. The dance moves from temple halls to bright stages. Many people help it along the way. We must learn the whole story. We must honor the women who keep the art alive. 🙏

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Resources and Further Reading

• Devadasi — Wikipedia. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
• From Sadir Attam to Bharatanatyam — Indian Culture. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
• Rukmini Devi Arundale — Wikipedia. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
• “Serving the Goddess” — The New Yorker (article on Devadasis). :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
• Academic paper on evolution of Bharatanatyam (IJCRT). :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}

© Article for easy reading. If you want, I can make a printable PDF or a classroom poster from this text. 🎨

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