Today we will explore Shabdam!
Shabdam is performed in slow tempo and it is the 3rd item of Bharatanatayam Margam Syllabus after Jatiswaram.
Shabdam introduces a dancer to ABHINAYA for the first time.
Natya Veda as a reflection of Human Life :
We learn to crawl and walk as a child - Angika Abhinaya
We learn to speak - Vachika Abhinaya
We are introduced to the beautiful colours of life / ILLUSION - Aharya Abhinaya
Finally we discover the REALITY where there are no COLOURS ; we see only WHITE which is the source of all COLOURS far away from ILLUSION - Sattvika Abhinaya.
DEATH IS THE ABSOLUTE REALITY. An example of Sattvika Abhinaya ;
I started my childhood with Sattvika Abhinaya - WHITE COLOUR.
Natya Veda introduced me to AHARYA ABHINAYA - COLOURS OF LIFE.
We will explore Aharya Abhinaya today! The colours of life.
Aharya Abhinaya is borrowed from YAJUR VEDA.
Aharya in Sanskrit means CONSTUMES AND ORNAMENTS.
All shabdams are based on Mishra Chapu Talam (7 BEATS).
The 7 circumambulations taken by Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy forms :
1. The 7 SOUND WAVES (SA,RI,GA,MA,PA,DA,NI)
2. The 7 LIGHT WAVES (VIBGYOR)
The light and sound waves together forms the 7 ENERGY CENTERS.
The 7 Energy Centers are DECORATED with 7 types of ORNAMENTS and the COSTUME should be charmingly beautiful.
The 7 types of ORNAMENTS to adorn 7 ENERGY CENTERS.
There is a concept called LALITA in NATYA VEDA which means a dancer's movement of hands, limbs, feet should be graceful.
LALITA = GRACE.
COSTUMES PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN BRINGING GRACE IN MOVEMENTS.
However - Much of the LALITA is presented by CHITRABHINAYA.
CHITRABHINAYA is the NATURAL EXPRESSION OF THE SPIRIT/SOUL.
As per Natya Veda a silk cloth of 9 Yards draped in a warrior style is the costume of a dancer. The 9 yards silk not only look graceful but also will help the dancer strengthen the abdominal muscles ; correct the body posture and support the back. The body should transform into a Mandala - Sree Yantra which is the most complex structure yet the most stable structure. The 9 yards saree is what was used for YOGA AND WAR by ancient Indian woman. One of the recent evolution in costumes is a stitched pleated Bharatantayam costume that emerged in 1930's which is not a part of Natya Veda.
Natya Veda mentions that those who strictly follow the RULES of Natya Veda including COSTUMES and ORNAMENTS will be free from all SINS.
Aharya Abhinaya means presenting your CHARACTER before the audience.
Song : Shiva Shabdam
Language : Kannada
Talam : Mishra Chapu
Ragam : Ragamalika
Comments