Dr Jyotsna Sharma
j.shriji@gmail.com
Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra represents the sublimity of art, emotion, and philosophy. Its influence on Indian culture is very deep, giving ample opportunity to classical performing arts and artist that continue to flourish. The inclusion of the Natyashastra in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register proves its inevitable relevance globally. The treatise is not merely a historical document; it is a living treasure that continues to shape the way of classical performing arts, art forms, classical dance, and artistic expressions. By preserving the Natyashastra, the Government of India ensured that its wisdom is passed down through generations, allowing future artists, performers, and scholars to dive deep into its rich cultural legacy. The Natyashastra by Bharat Muni is one of the most important and notable texts in the history of Indian art and culture. This treatise is originally written in Sanskrit, now inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. The Natyashastra, one of the most profound works is of great significance in the field of Indian classical performing arts, giving insights into dance, music, drama, and theatre. Due to its invaluable contribution to the world’s cultural heritage, the Natyashastra is now enjoying the status of globally significant work. The exact date of the Natyashastra’s is debated. According to scholars It is an estimated that, the Natyashastra was composed around the 2nd century BCE to the 2nd century CE. Some legend attributes its origin to divine inspiration. Among Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh the creator god means Brahma is said to have bestowed this knowledge upon Sage Bharata Muni, to elevate and enlighten humanity through the various art forms. The aim of this work is to entertain as well as also educate the masses. The text begins with a conversation between Bharata and other sages:?
Devanamidam tanmune katham sambhutamuttamam,
Kena va karanenedam srstam natyam tvaya vibho. (NatyaShastra 1.4)
It measns, O sage, how did this supreme art of the gods come into being? For what reason, O lord, was this drama created by you?
Natyashastra comprising over 6,000 verses spread across 36 or 37 comprehensive chapters as per available sources. Sage Bharata Muni laid fundamental principles and techniques on various facets of the performing arts like the construction of the stage, use of costumes and makeup, intricacies of acting, dance and music. Bharata Muni identified eight primary Rasas – Shringara (love), Hasya (humor), Karuna (compassion), Raudra(anger), Veera (heroism), Bhayanaka (fear), Bibhatsa (disgust), and Adbhuta (wonder) – and explained how the skilled performer, through the skillful deployment of bhava (emotional expression), could evoke these sentiments in the audience. The concept of rasa is at the core of heart of the Natyashastra. In addition to the rasas, Sage Bharat Muni elaborated the emotions and moods that actors portray through facial expressions and gestures. His work is an exemplary example that presents a detailed study of human emotions and instructions for performers on how to express these emotions through their art, dance and other techniques.
In this way, the Natyashastra serves as a comprehensive guide for the both performer and the audience. Another important concept introduced by Bharat Muni is the concept of the “Natyadharmi” and “Lokadharmi”. In the simple words, we could say that Natyadharmi is related to the rules specifically made for drama whereas Lokdharmi is more inclined towards the folk or everyday performance practices. These two provided the foundation for both classical theatre and folk performances across India. The Indian classical theatre revolves around the ideas on structure, rhythm, and music. The legacy of the Natyashastra influence drama and dance forms deeply, but it also plays a pivotal role in the development of classical music in India. Classical music and its Raga and Tala draws from the principles from the Natyashastra. Bharat Muni’s idea of integrating music in the dramatic performance works as unifying force in these art forms. The Natyashastra has also great impact on classical dance forms including Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, and Kathakali. In these dance styles, many of the core elements of such as hand gestures (mudras), facial expressions, footwork are directly derived from the Natyashastra. For centuries this amazing treatise served as a guiding text for playwrights and directors. Many of the great Indian epics, such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana, are the best examples of those plays and performances which are based on Bharat Muni’s guidelines. In fact, the insightful idea of integrating acting, music, and dance into a single performance piece finds its roots in the Natyashastra. The Natyashastra was inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register which is an initiative to preserve the world’s most significant documentary heritage. The Natyashastra not only affirms India’s rich cultural traditions but also acknowledges the universal importance of this text in the field of performing arts by being included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
This seminal work continues to be preserved for future generations and will influence the multiple art forms globally practiced. It is a great contribution to both Indian and world cultural heritage. The Natyashastra transcends geographical and cultural boundaries and its principles are relevant to artistic traditions worldwide. Indian knowledge System magically emphasizes the importance of preserving ancient texts, scriptures and other rare documents. Indian text offer wisdom not only for us but for the whole world with the emotional resonance of “Vasudhaiv kutumbkam”. In the contemporary world, the Natyashastra continues to be a light beacon for performing arts and scholars. Bharat Muni’s work, incorporate the needs of modern performing schools. In India, the theatre groups, classical dance troupes follow the principles guided by Natyashastra. The recognition of this work establishes the importance of cultural preservation and the continuing power of art to transcend irrespective of its time, place, and language. Through the Natyashastra, Bharat Muni’s provided great vision of the interconnectedness of Bhav, Mudra, Sangeet, Kala which reflect in performance and satisfy the thirst of an artist soul.
(The author is from Ministry of Culture Government of India)
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