Mudras in Bharatanatyam

Classified as one of the oldest among all the contemporary classical dance forms, Bharatanatyam holds a prominent place in our culture today. Over the centuries, innovations and creativity has molded it, without changing the original purpose and essence, in to a spiritual, divine, and a meaningful addition to our society. As much as there is room for improvisations and imaginative interpretations, Bharatanatyam or classical dance as such, is a science in itself. One has to follow the parampara, shastras, sampradaya and certain technical rules to keep its originality and purpose alive.

Bharatanatyam, along with the other classical art forms in India, has its origins in the manuscript called the Natya Shastra which was written by Sage Bharata around 4000 B.C. It was primarily conceived out of the urge to express one’s emotions and exuberance. When the world was in a state of turmoil and endless conflicts, and greed and desires prevailed, Brahma pooled all the resources from the four vedas to create a fifth veda called the Natya Veda. Thus, as a form of expression, often called a yoga, dance proved to be a medium through which the common man could find unity between the cosmos and its creator.