The Prayer - An Art!

Today's topic is "Namaskaram"
Every Bharathanatyam dancer will start her / his dance session with "Namaskaram"

There are 2 types of "Namaskarams"
1. The first prayer/namaskaram  is only recited and there is no action.
2. The second prayer is action based Namaskaram.

Today iam going to be writing about the first Prayer that is recited  and i have also recited the same by myself and have prepared a video for all you to listen, my voice is not so bad - so iam sure you all will enjoy.






Once after you listen to my video , it is easy to understand the meaning of this prayer.

The prayer that is recited before starting the dance session is divided into 3 paragraphs.
First paragraph is in praise of Lord Nataraja,

“Angikam bhuvanam yasya
Vachikam sarva vangmayam
Aharyam chandra taradi
Tvam numah satvikam shivam”

We bow to Lord Nataraja who is an embodiment of 4 different Abhinayas.
AngikaAbhinaya  = Bodily expressions.
Vachikabhinaya   = Expression of words through music.
Aharyaabhinaya   = Expressions through costumes.
Sattvikaabhinaya  = Expression of Grace and purity.

Second paragraph is in praise of Guru,

Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Guru Devo Maheshwara
Guru Saakshaat ParaBrahma Tasmai Sri Gurave Namah

Third  paragraph is in praise of Lord Hanuman,

Buddir Balam Yasho Dhairyam
Nir Bhayatvam Arogata
Ajatyam Val Patutvam Cha
Hanumat Smaranat Bhavet

I surrender to Lord Hanuman whose speed is as swift as the mind.
I surrended to Lord Hanuman to provide me with - 
Sensory Motor Skills , 
Perceptory skills , 
Cognitive Skills ,
Discriminatory skills , 
Auditory memory skills , Auditory Grasping skills,
Visual Memory skills , Visual Grasping skills,
Vestibular Skills and sensory integration skills..

Some dancers also offer thanksgiving to the  Audience

Yato hastha , stato drishti  - where the hands are , eyes should be there,
Yato drishti , stato manaha - where the eyes are, mind  should be there,
Yato manaha , stato bhava - where the mind is, emotion should be there,
Yato bhava , stato rasa - where there is emotion , expression / abhinaya should be there



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