Bharatanatyam – History and background
The origin and creation of Bharat Natyam refer to the sacred texts of the Hindu religion. Once The king of Devas, Indra and his followers appeared before Lord Brahma, the creator. They requested Lord Brahma to conceive and create art that efficiently helped all classes of devas and humans to understand and practise Santana Dharma’s philosophy.
This is evident in the 113th verse of chapter 1 from Natya Shastra.
ಉತ್ತಮಾಧಮಮಧ್ಯಾನಾಂ ನರಾಣಾಂ ಕರ್ಮಸಂಶ್ರಯಂ .
ಹಿತೋಪದೇಶಜನನಂ ಧೃತಿಕ್ರೀಡಾಸುಖಾದಿಕೃತ್ .. 113..
Uttamādhamamadhyānāṁ narāṇāṁ karmasanśrayaṁ.
Hitōpadēśajananaṁ dhr̥tikrīḍāsukhādikr̥t.. 113..
Translation and meaning:
Natya shastra is meant for everyone from different paths of life. It is equally available for other classes of society. Here the ranks of society are not based on caste and religion. It is based on the work and lifestyle practised by induvial. It is available to Uttama, who involves themself in the intellectual life. It follows a spiritual lifestyle through auspicious tasks, for also the one who is Madhyama, an average kind, and even Adhama, an individual of the lowest division, based on his karmic activity.
ಸರ್ವಶಾತ್ರಾರ್ಥಸಂಪನ್ನಂ ಸರ್ವಶಿಲ್ಪಪ್ರವರ್ತಕಂ .
ನಾಟ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಂ ಪಂಚಮಂ ವೇದಂ ಸೇತಿಹಾಸಂ ಕರೋಮ್ಯಹಂ
ಏವಂ ಸಂಕಲ್ಪ್ಯ ಭಗವಾನ್ ಸರ್ವವೇದಾನನುಸ್ಮರನ್ .
ನಾಟ್ಯವೇದಂ ತತಶ್ಚಕ್ರೇ ಚತುರ್ವೇದಾಂಗಸಂಭವಂ ..
ಜಗ್ರಾಹ ಪಾಠ್ಯಮೃಗ್ವೇದಾತ್ಸಾಮಭ್ಯೋ ಗೀತಮೇವ ಚ .
ಯಜುರ್ವೇದಾದಭಿನಯಾನ್ ರಸಾನಾಥರ್ವಣಾದಪಿ ..
Sarvaśātrārthasampannaṁ sarvaśilpapravartakaṁ.
Nāṭyākhyaṁ pan̄camaṁ vēdaṁ sētihāsaṁ karōmyahaṁ
ēvaṁ saṅkalpya bhagavān sarvavēdānanusmaran.
Nāṭyavēdaṁ tataścakrē caturvēdāṅgasambhavaṁ..
Jagrāha pāṭhyamr̥gvēdātsāmabhyō gītamēva ca.
Yajurvēdādabhinayān rasānātharvaṇādapi..
Hence, Lord Brahma created art from the four Veda-s. The knowledge or the text of the Natya-Veda was extracted from the first Veda Rig. From the second Veda, Yajur, the melody; from the third Veda, Saama, music and from the fourth Veda, Atharvana, the art of Abhinaya, an emotional appeal was imported.
Lord Brahma educated Sage Bharatha Muni with divine knowledge and instructed him to put the fifth Veda, Natya – Veda, to practice.
(ಏತದ್ರಸೇಷು ಭಾವೇಷು ಸರ್ವಕರ್ಮಕ್ರಿಯಾಸ್ವಥ .
ಸರ್ವೋಪದೇಶಜನನಂ ನಾಟ್ಯಂ ಲೋಕೇ ಭವಿಷ್ಯತಿ .. )
(Ētadrasēṣu bhāvēṣu sarvakarmakriyāsvatha.
Sarvōpadēśajananaṁ nāṭyaṁ lōkē bhaviṣyati.. )
Bharat Natyam guides the people of all the classes stated above concerning the pursuit of their life at any point in time.
ದುಃಖಾರ್ತಾನಾಂ ಶ್ರಮಾರ್ತಾನಾಂ ಶೋಕಾರ್ತಾನಾಂ ತಪಸ್ವಿನಾಂ .
ವಿಶ್ರಾಂತಿಜನನಂ ಕಾಲೇ ನಾಟ್ಯಮೇತದ್ಭವಿಷ್ಯತಿ .. 114..
Duḥkhārtānāṁ śramārtānāṁ śōkārtānāṁ tapasvināṁ.
Viśrāntijananaṁ kālē nāṭyamētadbhaviṣyati.. 114..
Natya is not for those who are unhappy in life, those who are struggling in life, those who are suffering in the path of life, and those who are in pursuit of enlightenment; it is equally accessible for everyone in life.
ಧರ್ಮ್ಯಂ ಯಶಸ್ಯಮಾಯುಷ್ಯಂ ಹಿತಂ ಬುದ್ಧಿವಿವರ್ಧನಂ .
ಲೋಕೋಪದೇಶಜನನಂ ನಾಟ್ಯಮೇತದ್ಭವಿಷ್ಯತಿ .. 115
Dharmyaṁ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṁ hitaṁ bud’dhivivardhanaṁ.
Lōkōpadēśajananaṁ nāṭyamētadbhaviṣyati.. 115
The advantages of learning this art form are explained beautifully in this shloka, those who give their time, energy and dedication to this art, this art gives back, Dharma – ethical consciousness, Yashas – name and fame, Ayushyam – increased life span, Hitham –good behaviour or character that is advantageous all and Bhuddhi vivardham – an increased intellectual.