Today we will explore Bharatanatyam and its history in India starting from Natya Veda to Devadasi (Temple Dancer) to Devadasi (Prostitution) and then the Revival of Bharatanatyam.
Practicing Bharatanatyam in India today means negotiating a dance form with a sensitive past and a problematic present.
Practicing Bharatanatyam in India today means negotiating a dance form with a sensitive past and a problematic present.
In Retrospect,
Bharatanatyam was a part of Natya
Veda which was created by Lord Brahma which is a concise instruction setting
forth all the events of the world, which will be a source of counsel in the
matters of righteousness, emotions and sentiments, the theatre was a place for
the audience to learn the Vedas and it was created for those who were unable to
understand the first four Vedas.
Bharatanatyam was started as a Devadasi (Temple Dancer) practice that originated around the 2 century B.C in the temples of
South India.
Devadasi (Temple Dancer) was a female artist
who was dedicated to worship and performed dance inside the temples. At the age
of 16, her family typically from Devadasi lineage would send an application to
the king - Once approved, an auspicious day would be fixed for the aspiring
dancer’s training. Their glory reached heights under the Chola Kingdom between 9th and 12th century AD.
However after 12th century AD during
the rule of
different Hindu kingdoms in south India and then the British, Kings became the
patrons of temples, and Bharatanatyam was brought into the Royal courts for
entertainment and fun. Eventually Devadasi community turned into Prostitution and for more than 10 centuries they flourished as Prostitutes. Dance was practiced and performed without the knowledge of the
Vedic Scriptures. The daughters of
Devadasis followed their mother's profession, and the sons became Nattuvanars,
musicians, and dance teachers. Most of them were illiterate and had no access
to the Vedic literature connected with the arts.
Madras Devadasis (Prevention of
Dedication) Act was enacted in 1947.
About
the same time Rukmini Devi Arundale revived
Bharatanatyam.
Rukmini Devi Arundale studied the
Vedic Scriptures and started learning dance at the age of 30.
She revived Devadasi
(Prostitute Dance).
The Prostitutes danced without having any knowledge of the
Vedic Scriptures. Rukmini Devi Arundale started a University and created a new syllabus for Bharatanatyam - No student would step on stage without learning the
Vedas and the first performance was to be made to Lord Nataraja.
The University is called Kalakshetra in Tamil Nadu which is of National Importance today.
Once you cross the age of 8 you can enroll into the university.
Aspiring dancers were still looking at Bharatanatyam with Suspicion.
Rukmini Devi Arundale learnt Bharatanatyam for ONE YEAR and then in 1935, despite objections from
her guru that one year of learning was inadequate, Rukmini Devi
performed on stage, becoming one of the first non-Devadasis to dance in public.
Rukmini Devi's purpose of stepping on stage was to influence and recruit more students with the University and change the perception that people had about Bharatanatyam. Soon Rukmini Devi became a Role model and many aspiring dancers enrolled into the University.
With one year of experience in dance she started a university in 1936 which is considered to be the BEST UNIVERSITY of the WORLD in Bharatanatyam.
Arundale was indeed the Renaissance woman.
Very soon many universities in South India started offering courses in Bharatanatyam and the students of these
universities have access to the Vedic and Sanskrit literature and they dont step on stage without learning the Vedas.
This is all about the sensitive past of Bharatanatyam.
Now let us talk about the problematic present.
Rukmini Devi resolved to erase the
stigma and social stereotypes connected with Bharatanatyam.
However,during the revival of Bharatanatyam - men and women of the Devadasi community -
traditionally the ones who were dance teachers and musicians, did not disappear
completely they still survived as GURU to generations of dancers well into the
second half of the 20 century. Most of these dancers who have learnt dancing
form these GURU’s have stepped onto stage without having any idea about
the Vedas and they have no idea about what is the purpose of Natya Veda.
But thanks to those families of Devadasis and Nattuvanars (dance
teachers) who managed, within their family traditions, to preserve this
beautiful dance and they also took the dance onto International Stage. They have trained more than Thousands of dancers who in turn have trained many more dancers.
We have University students having access to Vedic Scriptures and then those dancers who have been trained by the so called GURU's of Devadasi community who have no idea about the Vedas.
This has challenged the purity of the dance. This Art form needs be rescued.
Rukmini Devi Arundale has proved that to bring about a CHANGE in
any field/society all that you need is a THOUGHT LEADERSHIP MINDSET.
A modernist and a visionary who is a benchmark for the new
generation and dance historians, Arundale was indeed the Renaissance woman.
I plan to become an agent to some of the top Bharatanatyam universities in Future and encourage and recruit students for university education. Stepping on the stage without having any knowledge about the Vedas will not serve the purpose of Natya Veda. Even if iam able to recruit about 10 people, i would consider myself successful in the field of Arts.
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