Evolution and Growth of Bharathanatyam

The source and relic of Bharathanatyam is seen in the Vedas. A narrative of Bharathanatyam can be found in the Tamil text Silappathikaaram which dates to the 2nd century. Along with that we have a visual portrayal of the dance poses which have been sculpted from the 5th century onwards in the temple constructions.

This classical dance form is practiced in the southern part of India – Tamil Nadu under the tag Bharathanatyam. The origin of Bharathanatyam cannot be stopped with one theory. A very accepted and relatable theory is – Bharatha and Natyashastra.

Sage Bharatha in his Natyashastra traces the source to Natya as follows. After the world being created by Lord Brahma, there was no order and people were leading a wrong way of life. The Ashta-dikpalakas found it very difficult to set things right and lead the Universe properly. So they approached the Creator - Lord Brahma and asked for a solution. Lord Brahma after deep meditation and going through the four vedas, decided to create a fifth veda.

The fifth veda is a compiled by using the elements from the existing vedas. He took the element of recitation from Rigveda, four aspects of acting from the Yajurveda, songs from the Samaveda, and the aspect of sentiment and emotions from the Atharvaveda. After putting together all the aspects Lord Brahma named this veda as the Natya veda.

Now that there was a veda which can be followed to set the Universe right, the Ashta dikpalakas wanted this theoretical form of Natya Veda to be made into a practical aspect so that the human beings could learn through sound and visual media. Therefore, they approached Lord Shiva, who took the avataram of Nataraja – God of Dance and gave what the Ashta dikpalakas had asked for. Finally, the dance form created by Lord Shiva had to be passed on to the humans and that is when, the dikpalakas approached a sage who could connect to the eternal world and the materialistic world. This art form was taught to Sage Bharatha, who then taught it to his 108 disciples, who in turn spread it to the human beings.

History and Growth of the Art form :

The antiquity of dance can be classified under three groups – (1) Prehistoric, (2) Medieval and (3) Modern. The evidence of the prehistoric dancing can be seen in cave paintings, older civilizations, inscribing, Vedic references from the Puranas, Upanishads, etc. The medieval period can be dated from the 2nd century BC through the 9th century AD. References for this period can be brought from Ellora caves, temple sculptures from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, dancing monuments of antiquated reigns. Finally, the Modern period starts from the 10th century AD to the present.

In between, when we had the British rule there was a downfall in classical dance and music. During that period, dance was performed in temple and king’s court. In India Lord is called as Deva and servant is called dasi. So, the dancing girls who performed in the temples were called as “Devadasis”. When the British became aware of the practice followed, they made it as a motive to destroy this practice and brought in the thought that the role of Devadasi is wrong.

Finally, after along struggle of various eminent artist, the art form began to gain its importance and stated to flourish once again. In India there are totally 8 classical dance forms which is recognized by the Sangeet Natak Academy (national academy of music, dance and drama founded in 1953). The 8 classical danced being - Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Sattriya, Manipuri and Mohiniyattam.