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Gati in Theory and Practice

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

This page relates ‘Secondary sources on Natya� 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.

Secondary sources on ṭy

Secondary sources in which the theory and practice of drama has been referred to are taken for explaining the concept. Scholars like Ananda Comaraswamy, V. Raghavan, K.M. Varma, Daśarūpaka Mankad, P.V. Kane, S.N. Sastri, ṅgīٲ-峾ṛt Janaki, K.K. Raja, N.P. Unni, K.D. Tripathi, Govardhan Panchal, Kapila Vatsyayan, Padma Subrahmanyam, G.H. Tarlekar, G.S. Hegde, Radhavallabh Tripathi, C. Rajendran, Mandakranta Bose and many others have worked on the ṭyśٰ and allied topics on theatre as a holistic art. Western scholars like Sylvain Levi, H.H. Wilson, Kay Ambrose, Mac Donnell, A.B. Keith, H.W. Wells, Faubion Bowers, R.V.M. Baumer, J. R. Bradson, Beryl de Zoete and many more have also written works on ancient theatre forms. They were the source of inspiration for this research. Many works on dance has elaborated on ṅg첹 abhinaya and works on drama have elaborated on the origin, theory and practice of drama. Other than these commentaries on the dramas of and has also been taken for explaining the concept of gati in dramas.

Previous works and researchers in topics related to ṭy

Some of the previous works and researches done in the field of theatre has been taken for references. The technical details connected with ṭy, gati, 첹ṇa, etc. are noted and analysed based on these works.

1.1. Dance of Shiva -By Ananda Comaraswamy

This work contains valuable essays based on Indian art. Some topics related to art are Hindu view of art: Historical and Theory of beauty, The Dance of Shiva, Indian images with many arms, Indian music and so on. This gives an insight into the field of dance, music and drama.

2.2. The Sanskrit Drama in its Origin, Development, Theory and Practice -By A.B. Keith.

The author of this work has dealt elaborately about the origin, development, decline and theory of drama. Regarding the practice of drama, the author has outlined about the playhouse, make-up, actors, histrionic representation and the audience. The information regarding ṅg첹 abhinaya and its practice and performance is explained briefly.

2.3. Sanskrit Drama -Its aesthetics and production -By Dr. V. Raghavan

The author has researched extensively in the field of Sanskrit Drama. This work is a compilation of his valuable writings on this subject. In this work, he discusses about the history, aesthetics, music, architecture, production and performance of Sanskrit drama. He gives a detailed description of the important aspects of ṭy such as 岹śū貹첹, ܱ貹ū貹첹, 󲹰ī and ṛtپ. He explains the facets of classical ṭy forms such as ūḍiṭṭ, kathakali, ⲹṣaԲ and so on, and their relevance to the elements of the ṭyśٰ. He also adds a chapter on the evidence of tamil literature in relation to the ṭyśٰ.

2.4. Sanskrit Drama on the Stage -By Dr. K. Kunjunni Raja.

The author writes about the importance of the ūṅg in Sanskrit drama and ū徱ṭṭ. He also adds about the theatre of the ṭyśٰ and Kerala ūٳٲ. He has given an outline of some movements in ṅg첹 abhinaya and its relation in ū徱ṭṭ.

2.5. Sanskrit Drama in Theory and Practice -By Dr. ṅgīٲ-峾ṛt Janaki.

The author has given the early literary evidences and highlighted the elements of Sanskrit drama in ṭyśٰ. She has elaborated on the theoretical aspects of 岹śū貹첹s. From the practice point of view, she has given the performance of Sanskrit drama on stage dealing with ṅg첹 abhinaya such as abhinaya hastas, and the like mentioned in commentaries of dramas.

2.6. Lectures on ṭyśٰ -By Dr. Radha Vallabh Tripathi

Various lectures on ṭyśٰ such as ṭyveda–the cosmic view of theatre, ṭy ⲹñ-rituals of theatre, etc. are compiled by Dr. Radha Vallabh Tripathi. The author analyses the sub-headings under ṭy ṅg, the ritualistic worship followed in Vedic age and the relation between پ and ṭyśٰ in a systematic manner. He has explained the approach of playwrights such as and towards the ṭyśٰ and topics related to ܱ貹ū貹첹.

2.7. Studies in the ṭyśٰ–With special reference to the Sanskrit drama in performance -By Dr. G.H.Tarlekar.

Dr. Tarlekar has done a thorough study of all the details given in the chapters of the ṭyśٰ. In this work, he has brilliantly explained the aspects of abhinaya and has given the stage direction of how the dramas should be presented, based on the ṭyśٰ.

2.8. Classical Indian dance in literature and the arts -By Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan

This work is the result of the author’s doctoral thesis on Indian classical dance in relation to the literature. It includes chapters on Indian aesthetics, theory and techniques of classical dances of India, dance in relation to literature, sculpture and music.

2.9. ṇa—Common dance codes of India and Indonesia -By Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam

Dr. Padma who is a performer of classical dance has done her doctoral research on �ṇa in Indian Dance and Sculpture�. In this work, she has brought out the elements of ṅg첹 abhinaya in detail and dealt with the chapters on dance such as ṅg, upṅg, ٳԲ, , ṇḍ, 첹ṇa and ṅg of the ṭyśٰ. She has re-constructed the 첹ṇas based on the ṭyśٰ and 󾱲Բī, along with the 첹ṇa sculptures found in the temples of Taṃjāvūr, Kumbakonam, Cidambaram, վܱṇṇ峾 and Vriddhācalam. After completing the research, she has found some 첹ṇa sculptures in Prāmbaṇan temple, South Java, built in the 9th century, which resembled her 첹ṇa re-construction. ṇa were translated as �poses� by previous scholars but the author has explained all the 첹ṇas based on śǰ첹 of ṭyśٰ and 󾱲Բī, and proved that they are ‘movements�.

2.10. A study of the technique of Abhinaya in relation to Sanskrit drama -By Dr. Shiveni P. Pandya

The author has given a detailed description of the techniques of abhinaya as in the ṭyśٰ and a comparative study with other works such as 󾱲Բⲹ岹貹ṇa, ṃgīٲٲ첹, ṛtⲹٲԲś and so on along with illustrations from Sanskrit dramas. He explains where to make use of the ṅg첹, 峦첹, and ٳٱ첹 elements in dramas. In ṅg첹 abhinaya, the author has dealt with the aspects of ṅg, upṅgs, hasta, , ṇḍ and gati. The concept and usage of gati is briefly described in this work.

2.11. The concept of Dance in Classical Sanskrit Literature -By Dr. G.S. Hegde

The terms connected with drama and dance is explained based on its varieties in available texts. The elements of dance occurring in poetry, dramas and prose in Sanskrit literature along with citations from them are discussed in this work by the author in detail. This is a general study and it does not refer to any particular aspect of of abhinaya.

2.12. Movement and Mimesis -By Mandakranta Bose

The author has given an elaborate account of the dance works in Sanskrit literature and their contents followed by the aspects of dance such as , ṛtⲹ and ܱ貹ū貹첹, bandha and anibandha ṛtⲹs, and the ś traditions. She has referred to gatis without elaborating its technical aspects.

2.13. Sanskrit play production in Ancient India-By Tarla Mehta

This work deals with the entire elements of play production starting from the audience side i.e. siddhi, ṅg, rasa, , ṛtپ, praṛtپ and then comes to the performance side i.e. abhinaya, 󲹰ī, Բ and ٴǻⲹ. Evidence of the survival of play in India, South East Asia and other countries are discussed. Then the scenes from various dramas of , and others are explained based on its performance of abhinaya.

2.14. Movements (Gatis) in ṭy according to Bharata’s ṭyśٰ

[Dissertation for M.Phil. and ṭy abhinaya-Ph.D. Thesis by Dr. Ambika Kameswar]

The author has enlisted the theoretical aspects of gati as in the ṭyśٰ with a critical introduction and concluding remarks. The author’s Ph.D. research on nātya abhinaya includes a detailed study on Sanskrit dramas and abhinaya aspects related to them but here the aspect of gati is not given primary importance. Performance of abhinaya in ñԲ ŚܲԳٲ and 鲹ٲ屹 are elucidated.

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