Role of Bharatanatyam in Preserving Indian Mythology

bharatanatyam in Preserving Indian Mythology

What is Bharatanatyam?

Bharatanatyam is a dance from South India. It comes from Tamil Nadu. People dance to music. The dance tells stories. Dancers use hands, face, and eyes. These signs help people know the story. Bharatanatyam often shows stories from Indian myths and gods. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Why this dance is special

The dance uses three main things: feelings, music, and beat. Dancers show emotions with face and hands. They keep the torso still and move the legs. The steps match the music and the beat. The dance can be slow or fast. It can be simple or very detailed. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Where the ideas come from

Long ago, people wrote a book called the Natya Shastra. This book talks about dance and drama. Many dance steps come from that book. Bharatanatyam follows many ideas from Natya Shastra. This link helps keep old knowledge alive. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Short note about history

Bharatanatyam grows from temple art. Dancers used to perform in temples. They told stories of gods and heroes. Later, people bring the dance to big stages. Teachers and artists work to keep old stories true. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Today

Now many schools teach Bharatanatyam. Many groups and teachers help students learn. The dance stays strong in India and around the world. It helps children and adults know old tales. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

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How Bharatanatyam tells myth stories

Dancers tell stories in five clear ways:

• Hands (mudras) — Hands make shapes. Each shape means a word or idea.
• Face (abhinaya) — Faces show feelings. Eyes show who the dancer is talking about.
• Body moves — Pose and steps show action. A small jump can mean a great hero.
• Music and song — Singers and instruments set the mood. Music helps the listener feel the scene.
• Costume and make-up — Bright clothes and jewels show gods and kings.

These tools help the dancer show events from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and from the Puranas. The audience sees the whole story even if no one speaks. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Example: Telling the Ramayana

A dancer can show Rama’s arrow with a hand sign. She can show Sita’s sorrow with face and slow steps. The crowd sees the whole scene. In this way, the story stays alive in the mind of the people.

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Why Bharatanatyam keeps myths alive

Here are simple reasons:

1. It teaches young people. Kids learn the stories while they learn dance.
2. It shows stories in a fun way. People like to watch dance. They remember the tales.
3. It uses old texts. Teachers use old poems and songs. These come from ancient books and scriptures.
4. It crosses languages. The dance can tell stories to any person. People do not need to read the book to know the tale.

So Bharatanatyam works like a living book. It speaks with body and music. This way, myths do not stay only on paper. They live on the stage. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

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How teachers and schools help

Teachers train students for years. They teach the steps, the hand signs, and the stories. Schools hold shows. Teachers explain who the characters are. They tell the old story before the show. This helps the new learners and the audience to understand.

• Teachers use small plays called pieces.
• They use songs that come from the temple or old poetry.
• They also teach costume and stage craft.

Many schools get help from culture groups and the government. These groups give support and awards. This help keeps the art strong. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

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Role of festivals and shows

Festivals bring dancers from many places. People watch and learn. The shows keep myths in the public eye. When a child watches, the child learns the story and the dance moves.

Shows also let old masters teach new artists. This way, the old style and old stories go on to the next generation. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

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How Bharatanatyam helps local culture

Bharatanatyam speaks of local gods and heroes. It uses regional songs and tales. This helps keep local culture alive. The dance also links many parts of India with the same stories. Thus, people in many states know the same myths.

It also helps tourists and new friends to learn about Indian myths. They see the dance and ask about the tale. This helps spread the story far away from home.

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Simple ways you can learn from Bharatanatyam

You can do small things at home to learn more:

• Watch a Bharatanatyam video. 😊
• Learn a few hand signs and what they mean.
• Read a short tale like the story of Rama or Krishna.
• Ask a teacher or a dancer to tell you one story.

These steps help you love the myth and the dance. They help you keep the story alive in your life.

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Challenges and hope

Some challenges exist. Sometimes people forget old songs. Sometimes movies change the story. But teachers and groups work hard. They record songs and teach the young. Many people still care. So the stories keep living through the dance. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

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Conclusion

Bharatanatyam is more than a dance. It is a way to save old stories. It uses body, face, music, and costume. Dancers tell the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and many other tales. Teachers, schools, and shows keep these myths alive. When we watch or learn Bharatanatyam, we help keep Indian mythology. This is why the dance is so important for our culture. ❤️

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Resources and further reading

• About Bharatanatyam — Wikipedia. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
• Bharatanatyam — Britannica. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
• Sangeet Natak Akademi — National academy for performing arts. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
• Natya Shastra and roots — educational article on Natya Shastra. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
• Technique and storytelling in Bharatanatyam — research article. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}