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Gati in Theory and Practice

by Dr. Sujatha Mohan | 2015 | 88,445 words

This page relates ‘References to drama, dance and music in Sanskrit literature� of the study on the Theory and Practice of Gati (“gait�) which refers to the “movement of a character on the stage�, commonly employed (as a Sanskrit technical term) in ancient Indian Theatrics and the Dramatic arts, also known as Natya-shastra. This thesis explores the history and evolution of Gati and also investigates how the various Gatis are employed in regional performance traditions.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

References to drama, dance and music in Sanskrit literature

ṭy is a composite art that can be known with different terms. Terms related to ṭy are ṛśy屹ⲹ, ū貹첹, upaū貹첹, ṅgīٲ, prekṣa, prayoga, ṛtٲ, ṛtⲹ, nartana, ԲṭaԲ, , ٲܰⲹṛk and so on. The performers of ṭy were known as Բṭa, bharata, śūṣa, śī and so on. The art of dance and drama are interrelated. Scholars opine that the art of dancing was present prior to the art of dramatics as we have reference to the word ṛtٲ in the Vedas, but the word Բṭa was first located in ṇiԾ’s work. Even when ḥm creates the ṭyveda, Ś says that he was reminded of his ṛtٲ. However, the art of dance, music and drama are interrelated. The Vedic literature reveals a good knowledge of drama, dance, music and musical instruments. Antiquity of the art of ṭy is known through references in Sanskrit literature. These were responsible for the development of these art forms. The ṭyveda is the knowledge of ṭy or the holistic theatre and the ṭyśāstra is the record of the science of ṭy.

1. Vedic period

The Vedas reveal a good knowledge of dance and music. ṻ岹 has more recitations, the Yajurveda has actions made by priests and in the Atharvaveda, a mental state was produced by the priests in order to perform the rituals.[1]. Vedic sacrifices were essentially mimesis. The concentration of mind that evokes rasa is also connected with Atharvaveda procedures. While enumerating the wide range of professions and pastimes, the Vedic seers refer to dance. ṻ岹 refers to the term �ṛt�.[2].The word �ṛtu� occurs in the sense of a female dancer to whom Goddess ṣa is compared. ṣa is described as revealing her beauty like a dancer removing the garments in the form of darkness.[3]

The Apsaras and Ի岹, whose profession was dancing, and singing have found a mention in this work. The Ṛk or verses in the ṻ岹 are all composed in musical accents called ٳٲ, Գܻٳٲ and svarita. The eighth book of this Veda, in which songs predominate, is called ʰ, a word derived from the root �� (to sing). Another reference to music is made where the girls sing to welcome a person.[4] Instruments such as dundubhi (drum), karkari (flute), īԲ, and (reed flute) are mentioned in some instances.[5]

The ᲹԱ⾱ samhita of the Śܰ Yajurveda mentions of the term ṛtٲ and īٲ. It says, a ūٲ is employed for dance and a Śūṣa for music.[6] In the Atharvaveda there is a mention about dance and the term �ṛt[7] 峾岹 comprises of the ṛk, which are sung, with melodic extensions of the vowels called stobhas. Many aspects of musical notes can be seen in this Veda. 峾岹 with the hymns set to tune clearly shows that the art of music was fully developed in Vedic age.

Other than these, the Vedic index shows a very wide variety of musical instruments in use in Vedic times. Instruments of percussion are represented by the terms such as ḍa; a kind of drum; ū-dundubhi, an earth drum made by digging a whole in the ground and covering with hide; vanaspati, a wooden drum. The stringed instruments are represented by the 첹ṇḍ īṇa, a kind of lute; īṇa a lute of hundred strings. The solid instruments by aghati, a cymbal used to accompanying dance and the hollow instruments represented by ٳṇa, a wooden flute. Thus, many references to the music, dance and drama are seen from the Vedic age.

Among the four upavedas, the Ի󲹰 Veda is the science of music that embraces a wide sphere of dancing, singing, acting, playing on the instruments and so on. The Ի󲹰 Veda is the Upaveda of 峾岹.

ṭyśāstra refers to music as Ի󲹰.

gandharvāṇāṃ ca yasmāddhi tasmādgandharvamucyate ||[8]

Abhinava in his commentary says gā� dhārayatīti Ի󲹰m |

He quotes Viśākila who says:

svarapadasamavāye tu Ի󲹰m |[9]

Kallinātha in the commentary of Saṅīٲratnākara says,

峾岹DZ貹 Ի󲹰veda� |

He also adds,

ṭy� veda eva īٲԲⲹvivakṣayā Ի󲹰veda ucyate |
abhinaya Բⲹ vivakṣayā tu ṭy veda iti cocyate ||[10]

Ի󲹰 is referred to in 峾ⲹṇa. The singers were connected with the sacrifice, while the Ի󲹰s were professional musicians. The word Ի󲹰 denoted music other than music. Of course, the music must have impetus to the Ի󲹰 music.[11] The Ի󲹰veda was used in the preliminaries and in the actual performance in the form of ܱ songs and as an accompaniment to various movements.[12]

Music is referred to in the ṃh works Maitrayāṇi ṃh, ղٳپīⲹ ṃh and Yajusṃh. They saw that women were taught some of the fine arts like dancing and singing.[13] In the śīٲ쾱 ḥmṇa sacrificial priests are described as performing gestures. It also says ṅgīٲ forms a part of ⲹñ. Ś貹 is described as dance, vocal and instrumental music in śīٲ쾱 ḥmṇa[14] and ṅkⲹԲ ḥmṇa.[15]

In the Śٲ貹ٳ ḥmṇa the Apsaras are referred to as dancing and singing at the ś岹 sacrifice.[16] In the ղٳپīⲹ ḥmṇa[17] we get reference to ṃśa Բپ峾 which ŚⲹԲ explains as vaṃśāgra ṛtٲ jīvanam, one who has livelihood by dancing on the pole end. In the Jaiminīya ḥmṇa, we have reference to ṛtٲ and īٲ as found in the sixth world.[18]

Some of the ūٰ works furnishes details about dancing and singing. In the Ā貹ٲ gṛhyaūٰ there is reference to music.�

“gⲹٲپ�[19]

The well known ñⲹṛt says that if īṇ� is played as a devotional offering with flawless śܳپ, svara and , this itself leads to salvation (ǰṣa).

īṇ� 岹Բ tatvajña� śܳپ پ ś岹� |
jñaśca aprayatnena ǰṣamārga� sa gacchati ||

The earliest usage of �Բ�� from which the term ṭy, is found in ṣṭⲹī. ṇiī mentions about Բṭaūٰs, hand-book on aphorisms. These aphorisms on the science of ṭy were prepared by two earlier authors� Śilālin and ṛśāśv.[20] ṇiԾ mentions that at the time of 屹ٲٴdz rite, wives of the priests and young maidens danced. The orchestral band inclusive of vocalists and the accompanying artiste of īṇ� are mentioned.

The art of dancing was confined to women alone in the period of ʲٲñᲹ. He refers female dancers as nartakika. Ѳṣy refers to the actors taking feminine roles as Bhrukumsa[21] and the trainers of actors as ŚDz󲹲Բ첹[22]. ʲٲñᲹ mentions some musical instruments like drum (ṛdṅg), conch (śṅk), flute (ٳṇa) and another instrument of the guitar type īṇ� having seven-strings.[23] One proficient in playing on ṛdṅg was known as 岹ṅg첹.[24]

In the Kāmaūٰ of ٲⲹԲ dated 2nd century B. C. refers to īٲm, , ṛtⲹm, Ա貹ٳⲹDz�, ṭa⾱ 岹śԲ� as sixty-four ṅg .[25] This marks as progressive development in the field of music and dance. The ٳśٰ mentions about Բṭas and nartakas.[26] The ѲԳܲṛt that is a ٳ󲹰śٰ has some references to dance and music.

In the Siddhānta Kaumudī, the specialist in the art of story telling, Բṭa is mentioned in the sense of dancing and acting.[27] The dancing girls go to the bride’s village in a procession from the bridegroom’s village along with the accompaniment of musicians. This ceremony is prescribed in the ūٰ of ṅkⲹԲ. A passage from the Ā貹ٲ Dharmaūٰ says that the women possessed a complete knowledge of all the branches of art. In the ٲⲹԲ Śrautaūٰ, ṛtٲ, īٲ and 徱ٰ are mentioned.[28]

2. Classical period

The پ, ܰṇa and 屹ⲹ have many references about the various art forms. 峾ⲹṇa and Ѳٲ have influenced all Hindu art through the ages. The 峾ⲹṇa refers to Բṭa, nartaka, ⲹ첹, and so on.[29] All through the description of the royal entertainments provided by the sage 󲹰屹Ჹ to Bharata and his army, there is reference to , ճṃbܰ and Ի󲹰s and to various apsaras as dancers. In the ṣkԻṇḍ, Svayamprabhu refers to dance and music. In the ܲԻ岹ṇḍ experts in dance and instrumental music are referred to while describing 屹ṇa’s harem.

The Ѳٲ also refers to terms like ṛtٲ, īٲ, 徱ٰ, nartaka, Բṭa, ⲹ첹, and so on.[30] This work mentions that the Ի󲹰s and Apsaras delighted the priests in the intervals of sacrificial rites by the arts of dance and music. In this epic, we are told how Arjuna learnt the art of dance from Citrasena and during the incognito stay of the ṇḍ in վṭa kingdom he as the eunuch ḥmṇa, taught this art to ٳٲ, the daughter of the King. ܲ󲹻, the sister of ṛṣṇa and the queen of Arjuna, was an expert in dancing.

Many ʳܰṇa makes references of dance and music. Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa states that,

“There is indeed no success in dancing for one who is beautyless.�

arūpasya ṛtⲹm vyartham |
yathā-ṛtyenālamarūpeṇa siddhirṭysya rūpata� |[31]

Here we find Ṛtǻ屹Ჹ, son of king Śᾱ, who is fond of dance and music. All heavenly beings like Apsaras, Ի岹, and ճṃbܰ worship the Sun God by dancing and singing. Chapter twenty-three of this ܰṇa deals with the technicalities of music.[32] Ի󲹰 Veda is included among the eighteen subjects of study.[33]

In Vāyu ܰṇa, Ś is referred to as one who is fond of dance.

namostu ṛtⲹśīlāya ṛtⲹ priyāya ca |[34]

īٲ, , ṛtⲹ and ṭy are considered the foremost among the sixty-four arts. Reference to these arts is found in many Sanskrit works. The works, which give the list of the name of the arts, are Śtantra,[35] ܰīپ, ⲹṅg, Samavāyaūٰ, Lalitavistara, ūٰṅk, Գٲ峦Ծ, and so on.

In Raghuṃśa, Ծṇa is described as an adept in and laya. When he was playing upon the ṣk he inspired the dancing girls, who erred in their gesticulations, though their masters were standing by their sides.[36] He contended for superiority with the dance masters who were proficient in abhinayas namely 峦첹, ṅg첹 and ٳٱ첹.[37] This type of abhinaya has been by explained by Bharata as sāmānya abhinaya. The ī posture suitable for shooting with the bow and arrow mentioned by Bharata is referred here.[38] In the description of the spring season, the creepers in the garden with their leaves shaken by the winds are compared with the dancers keeping laya within their hands.[39]

In ܳ󲹱, the enactment of ṭy by the Apsaras is mentioned. says, �ṭy is full of graceful body movements (ṅg), where the four styles (ṛtپ) were displayed at various junctures and had different notes in the transition of emotions.�[40] ‘On the birth of ܳ, as the musical instruments ṅkⲹ, ṅgⲹ and ū󱹲첹 sounded, the Apsaras danced according to the lilt of the well measured songs with relish, dripping with emotions and sentiments in which words coalesced well.�[41] The gait of Apsaras,[42] the gait of ī compared with Ჹṃsī[43] and a creeper[44] and her gait in ṛṅ after seeing Ś are described in a very beautiful manner.[45]

In ѱ𲵲ūٲ, a reference to the dancing girls says,‘their waist zones are jingling at the planting of their feet and their hands are fatigued by the waving of chowries.�[46] This is called ś첹 in ṛtⲹ, which refers to the dancing girls, loins girdled up with jingling tones and having in their feet anklets furnished with tinkling bells, dance with measured steps set down as stated intervals, holding in their hands a īṇ�, a ball, the hem of their garment, chowries and so on.[47]

In Śܱ, there is reference to dancing. “She walked, with a step languid through love, with her anklets sounding with a graver music then when in brisker movement, with her lotus like left foot gracefully dancing, while planting the other one not so coquettishly�.[48] In ٲśܳٲ, Dandin refers to 첹ṇa and ṅg as performed by the ܳ in disguise of a Բṭa and also princess Իܰ屹ī executing the 첹ṇa and ṇḍ. He describes various movements in the design of lotus, snake, etc.[49] These are similar to the 辱ṇḍ given by Bharata.

In Բī󲹰ṇa, there is a reference to the dancer proficient in the depiction of the ٳٱ첹 bhāvas.[50] In Ҳⲹ첹ṇāmṛt the spring season is referred to as the dance master, who teaches , to the creepers which are swaying in the breeze.[51] While describing the capital city, the silken banner cloth is described as executing �recakas� due to the wind.[52] The banners on the chariot which moved softly in the wind are portrayed as doing the delicate movements of .[53] The battlefield with full of beheaded bunks of solders, which performed violent actions, is compared to a theatre where the forceful dance ṇḍ is performed.[54]

ṭṭīٲ of Dāmodaragupta describes the performance of the first act of 鲹ٲ屹 by the courtesans.[55] Dance was regarded as a ś貹. ʰṅkṇa첹, a kind of dance and parikrama movement of the feet in dance known as are mentioned. 岹ٰ is explained as keeping time with feet. Hand gestures like Ի岹ṃśa and 첹ṭa峾ܰ are mentioned.[56] Ჹٲṅgṇi mentions thirty-two modes of dancing. Lalitavistara calls dance as ⲹṛtⲹ, dancing to the accompaniment of instrumental music. In ṇa’s Ჹṣaٲ a performance of ṭi ṛtپ is described where the actors move about with blowing hair due to their virile movements. Hariṃśa refers to ṭa첹.[57]

mentions that the techniques of dance are given by Bharata.

󲹰dipraṇītāni ṛtⲹ śāstrāṇi |

Ś rahasya describes the form of Nṛtta mūrti. Lord Ś has many forms but above all he is celebrated as ṭaᲹ, the king of dancers, and worshiped by the dancers as their patron. The form of ṭaᲹ who performs the Ānanda ṇḍ represents the 貹ñ kriyas namely the ṛṣṭi, sthiti, ṃh, پDz屹 and anugraha. The Lord dancing with ñٲ is described.[58]

ѳܰپԳܳԳٲԲ describes Ś as ĀԲԻ岹ūپ who performs the ԲԻ岹 ṇḍ which leads one to cross over the ocean of ṃs.[59] The ṇḍ of Ś along with the musicians Tumburu and singing the songs and Nandi handling the cymbals is described.[60] The dance of Muruga on seeing Ś is also explained.[61]

ܰپ첹ṇāmṛt describes the beautiful upward, circular and speedy movements of Ś’s Ի ṇḍ at the end of the kalpa.[62] Haravijaya describes Lord Ś performing the 岹ṇḍ貹岹� 첹ṇa gracefully, which was similar to the one performed by Lord վ in his ղṇa .[63] Lord Ś performing the ṅg, 첹ṇa, ṛtٲ hastas, ṇḍ and recakas are also given.[64] Śpādādikeśa varṇanam, Śkeśādi岹 varṇanam, Sri Śrahasyam, ٰdzٰṇa, ñṅgٲ, and so on, explicitly describes the dance of Ś. ṛṣṇalīlātaraṅgiṇ�, ⲹṇīy, and the like, refers to Krishna’s kāliṅganartana and īḍ�.

The ṭyvarga of 峾ṅgԳśԲ of Amarasiṃha refers to this art.

śailālinastu śailūṣ� jāyājīvā kṛśāśvina� |
󲹰 ityapi Բṭāścāraṇāstu kuśīlavā� ||[65]

ś further contains terms like Բٲī and for female actors. Բٲīlāsikesame | Names are enlisted for male actors and males who take female roles.

bhrakuṃsaśca bhrukuṃsaśca bhrūkuṃsaśceti Բٲ첹� |
ٰīṣaī puruṣo nāṭyoktaugaṇikājjukā ||[66]

Ś岹ٲ첹 says,

ṭy is referred to as ٲܰⲹṛk, a combination of ṛtⲹ, īٲ and .�

ٲܰⲹٰ첹� ṛtⲹīٲⲹ� ṭy� ca tata trayam |

The evidences for music, dance, mime and dialogues are found in Vedas, ܰṇa, ṃhٲ, ūٰs, 屹ⲹ, śٰ and many other Sanskrit works. It was considered as the foremost among the arts and was learnt and practsed in society. It was also a pastime during this period. Thus, from the Vedic, Epic and classical periods, dance and drama had come through as an uninterrupted stream.

Footnotes and references:

[back to top]

[1]:

Prof.Jaitly a.i.o.conference paper 1959.

[2]:

ṻ岹 1.30.7; 8.24.9; 8.37.7; 8.81.3; 10.18.3; 10.29.2;

[3]:

Ibid.1.92.4;

[4]:

Ibid.9.56.3;

[5]:

Ibid.1.28.5; 2.43.3; 10.32.4;10.135.7;

[6]:

Śܰ-yajurveda:35.6;

[7]:

Atharva-veda:12.1.41; 4.9.8;

[8]:

ṭyśāstra XXVIII.9.

[9]:

Ibid.Com.p.7.

[10]:

Saṅīٲ�-ٲ屹ī com.pp.3,4.

[11]:

峾ⲹṇa: I.4.10; II,2,35;

[12]:

Studies in the ṭyśāstra-G.H.Tarlekar. p.2,3.

[13]:

Yaj.Sam. VI. 7. VII.5.

[14]:

śīٲī-ḥmṇa XVII.8.

[15]:

San.Br.29.5.

[16]:

Sat.Br. III. 2.4.3-6; XIII.4.3.5;

[17]:

ղٳپīⲹ-ḥmṇa III. 2.1. Ibid.

[18]:

Jaiminīya-ḥmṇa I. 42.

[19]:

Āp.Gr. su. 14.4

[20]:

ṣṭī: 4.2.66; 3.110-111.129.

[21]:

Ѳṣy: IV.1-3

[22]:

Ibid. III.1-26

[23]:

Ѳṣy:II.2-34

[24]:

Ibid.IV.4-55

[25]:

Kām.Sūt: 1.3.16.,1.4.421.

[26]:

ٳ-śٰ: II 27.25.

[27]:

Գٲ-첹ܻܳī: p.444.

[28]:

ٲⲹԲ-śrauta-ūٰ: XXI.P.867.

[29]:

峾ⲹṇa: III.15.13.

[30]:

Ѳٲ: IV.39.55-56.

[32]:

Ibid.XXIII. 51-54.

[33]:

Vāyuܰṇa: 24.2.39.

[34]:

Ibid.61.78-80.

[35]:

As quoted in Śabdakalpadruma Vol.II.p.58.

[36]:

Raghuṃśa: 19.14.

[37]:

Ibid.XIX.36.

[38]:

Ibid.III.52.

[39]:

Ibid.IX.35.

[40]:

ܳ󲹱: VII.91.

[41]:

Ibid.XI.36.

[42]:

Ibid.I.4.

[43]:

Ibid.I.34.

[44]:

Ibid.III.54.

[45]:

Ibid.V.85.

[46]:

Megasandeśa I.38.

[47]:

Ibid.Com. p.30.

[48]:

Śiśupālavadha VII.18.

[49]:

ٲśܳ-carita VI.

[50]:

Բī󲹰ṇa: VIII.20.

[51]:

Ҳⲹ첹ṇāmṛt: p 39.

[52]:

Ibid. p.61.

[53]:

Ibid.p 59.

[54]:

Ibid.p 33.

[55]:

ṭṭīٲ: 88-928.

[56]:

Ibid.878, 547, 86, 804, 928, 87, 759

[57]:

Hariṃśa: II. 91.26;93.28;

[58]:

Siv.R: I.33. 5 -15.

[59]:

Muktimārgānucintana: II.84.

[60]:

Ibid. II.95.

[61]:

Ibid.II.101.

[62]:

ܰپ첹ṇāmṛt:3,5.

[63]:

Haravijaya: II.43.

[64]:

Ibid.II.36.59.

[65]:

峾ṅgԳśԲ N.V. 1.7.

[66]:

Ibid.1.7.429, 430

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