Theory Set 1

(2015)

Shlokas
1) Gajaananan bhoota ganadi sevitam
Kapittha Jambu phala Sara bhakshitam
Uma sutam shoka vinasha karanam
Namaami vigneswara paada pankajam
Meaning:
The elephant like faced God who is the protector of all people and bhut ganas (
attendees of God shiva and thet look scary and inhabit in another world called Bhuta
Loka or the elemental world).
He who has hand full of jamun fruit and tastes it juice.
Son of uma and destroyer of grief.
I bow to thee lotus feet oh vigneswara ( his another name)
2) Mooshika Vaahana Modaka hasta
Chamare karna vilambita sutra
Vaamana roopa maheswara putra
Vigna vinayaka pada Namaste
Meaning:
He who has the mouse as the vahana, He who always keeps Modhaham (a traditional
sweet made from coconut jaggery and rice that is rolled into a ball) He who has ears
that resemble a hand held fan. He who wears a chain-like ornament around his waist,
He who has short stature, He who is the son of Lord Parameshwara. O! Lord
Vinayaka who is all the above and he who always anulls all impediments, We worship
your Divine Feet
3) Namaste girija devi
Namas trailokyaa nayaki
Namaste sarva papagne
Swarna gauri namostute
Meaning:
Salutations to goddess parvati, she who is the goddess of three worlds
She who desteoys all our sins
She is the golden Gauri
Salutations to thee
4) Namastestu Maha maye sreepeethe sura pujithe
Shanka Chakra gadha Haste Mahalakshmi Namostute
Meaning:
(Salutations to Devi Mahalakshmi) Salutations to the Mahamaya (the Great
Enchantress), Who is Worshipped by theDevas in Sri Pitha (Her Abode).
Who has the Conch, Disc and Mace in Her Hands; Salutations to that Mahalakshmi.

5) Saraswati namastubhyam
Vara de kaama rupini
Vidya arambam karishyaami
Siddhir bhavatu me sada
Meaning:
O goddess saraswati , I bow to thee
Please give me blessings o embodiment of Kama ( the interest to do some work)
I am going to start learning
Let me be successful in it always.

6) Gurur brahma gurur Vishnu

Gurur Devo maheswaraha
Gurur saakshaad para brahma
Tasmai Shri gurave namaha
Meaning:
Teacher is like brahma ( the creator) who creates the interest in students to learn. A
teacher is like Vishnu( the protector) who makes sure their students and their learnings
are protected and also a teacher is like lord shiva( the destroyer of evil) who destroys
ignorance and evil from the minds of their students. A teacher is like the ultimate
Brahman ( ultimate truth of the universe) hence I bow to my teachers
Dhyana shlokas
7) aangikam bhuvanam yasya
Vaachikam sarva vaangmayam
Aaharyam Chandra taradi
Tvam numas saatvikam shivam
Meaning:
Whose body is the whole world
Whose language is the language of all the living beings in the world
Whose ornaments are the moon and the stars.
It is you the meditative lord shiva
8) Om Poornamada Poornamidam
Poornaath Poornamudachyathe
Poornasya Poorna madaaya
Poornameva Vashishyathe
Om shanty Shanti Shantihi
Meaning:
Om, That is complete, This is complete, From the completeness comes the
completeness

(Om=sound of creation, holy word; Poornam=Complete, Adah=that;

poornam=complete;poornamadah=that is complete; idam=this;poornamidam=this
is complete; poornaat=from completeness; udachyate=comes,
rises; poornamudachyate=comes completeness)
If completeness is taken away from completeness, Only completeness remains
(Poorna=complete; asya=from; Poornasya=From
completeness;poornamaadaaya=remove completeness; poornam=complete,
eva=only; vashishyate=remains; poornamevaavashishyate=Only completeness
remains)
Om, Peace peace peace
(Om=sound of creation, holy word; shaantih=Peace)
9) Thvameva Maatha cha Pitha thvameva
Thvameva Bandhuscha Sakha thvameva
Thvameva vidhya dravinam thvameva
Thvameva sarvam mama deva deva
Meaning:
You are my Mother, the Supreme One, Who nourishes me with Divine Love and
graces my life with Self-Respect (the perception of my-self as the Soul-Self, and not
just as a body, mind, intellect, or ego).
And you are my Father, the Supreme Being Who protects me by raising my
consciousness and transforming my mind into a receptacle of the divine; Who instills
in me the sterling qualities of Divine Consciousness.
You are my True Relative with Whom I am eternally related as Atman (Soul-self)
with Paramatman (the Supreme Self), and You are my Best Friend, my Eternal
Companion and Dearest Confident Who will never leave me.
You are the Divine Wisdom, the Essence of everything I know, everything I am
learning, and everything I do not know but seek to understand and realize (actualize).
You are the Highest Wealth (Laxmi) and the Bestower of all the best things in this life
and the next. You are the Source of everything good and the Bestower of all
Resources we require for our physical sustenance and spiritual enlightenment. You
are the Wealth of Wisdom and the Gift of Liberation (Moksha).
You are All-in-All; You are Everything to me, You are the core of my being, the
Heart of my heart, the Source of my Self, the Soul of my soul, the Ultimate Reality
devoid of duality and partiality; Indivisible, Immutable, Immaculate, the Ultimate
Knower and the Absolute Perfect Incomparable Supreme Being.

10) Asatoma Satgamaya

Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya
Mrutyorma amrutham gamaya
Om shanty Shanti Shantihi
Meaning:
Lead me from the asat(false) to the sat( truth)
Lead me from darkness to light.
Lead me from death to immortality.
Let peace prevail
11) Om Saha Nau-Avatu
Saha Nau Bhunaktu
Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai
Tejasvi Nau-Adhiitam-Astu Maa Vidvissaavahai
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih
Meaning:
Om, May God Protect us Both (the Teacher and the Student),
May God Nourish us Both,
May we Work Together with Energy and Vigour,
May our Study be Enlightening and not give rise to Hostility,
Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.

Natyaarambam shlokas
12) Pranamya shirasa devo
Pitaa maha maheswarau
Natya shastram pravakshyami
Brahmanaam yadudadhrutam
Meaning:
My Whole hearted Salutations to the Lord Shiva ( the king of dance)
Who has been a model for this beautiful art and also salutations to Lord
Brahma who had created this art.
13) Devathanaam Shirasthastu
Guru naamasya samasthithaha
Vakshasthalaschaiva vipranaam
Sheshetva Niyamo bhaveth
Meaning:
We salute Devas by keeping our hands with namaskaram hand gesture(anjali)
Above our head. To the gurus, by keeping our hands on our forehead. To
Brahmans and elders by keeping our hands near our chest. These are the basic
rules for all.

14) Vishnu Shakti Samutpanne

Chitra varne Maheetale
Aneka Rathna Sampanne
Bhoomi Devi Namostute
Meaning:
Lord Vishnu who had saved our motherland with his strength, who has a value
equal to many many diamonds. He painted the earth and gave it a new life. I
salute him with all respect for saving our land.
15) Samudhra vasane Devi
Parvathasthana Mandale
Natyam Karishya Bhoodevi
Paada ghaatha/sparsha kshamaswame
Meaning:
Oceans are her dress, mountains are her chest. Before dancing we would like to
salute the Goddess of earth and take permission from her for dancing on her
and we also apologise to her for causing her pain as we dance by stepping and
stamping on her.
16) Kaaragre vasate Lakshmi
Karmadhya Saraswati
Karmule tu govindah
Prabhaati kara darshanam
Meaning:
Goddess Lakshmi is the symbol of wealth and artha
Goddess Sarasvati is the symbol of knowledge and kama
Govinda is the god of power and strength and dharma
Hand is the symbol for Human effort and hard work which can lead to
salvation.
Thus placing the 3 divine powers on the top, middle and base of the hand, this
shloka suggests that all divinity lies in human effort and self confidence.
Pushpaanjali Shlokam

17) Vighnaanaam Naashanam Karthum

Bhoothaanaam rakshanaayacha
Devaanaam thushtaye chaapi
Prekshakaanaam vibhoothaye
Shreyase nayakasyaathra
Paathrasamrakshanaayacha
Aachaarya Siksha Siddhyartham
Pushpaanjalimathaarabheth

Meaning:
Please destroy all obstacles in my path
Protect all living beings
Let me be able to please the gods and the rasikas
Bring glory to the great leaders and protect me
Let my mentors teachings bear its fruits, I thus offer flowers to you.
Ranga stuti

18) Bharathakula bhaagya kalike

Bhaavarasa nanda parinathakare
Jagadeka mohana kale
Jaya jaya rangaaathi devathe devi
Meaning:
Oh Mentor of Bharathas, you are the joy resulting from Bhaavas
You are the one that charmsthe entire universe, victory to you Oh Ranga Devi(
Goddess of Stage platform)
Naatya Krama Shloka
19) Kanthena Aalambayeth geetam
Hasthena Artham Pradarshayeth
Chakshubhyaam darshayeth Bhaavam
Paadaabhyaam thaalam aachareth
Meaning:
A Dancer should be able to use her throat well and sing,
Should be able to use her hands to show meanings and narrations
Should be able to express the moods through her eyes
And should be able to use the feet to produce rhythm and rhythmic movements
20) Yatho hastha thatho drushtihi
Yatho drushtihi thatho manaha
Yatho manaha thatho bhaavam
Yatho bhaava thatho rasaha
Meaning:
Where the hand goes, should go the eyes
Where the eyes go, goes the attention /heart
Where there is heart, comes expression
Where you show expression , there is flavours /aesthetics of dance.

Shlokas from Abhinaya Darpana

Good Qualities of a dancer

Javaha Sthirathvam Rekhecha Brahmare
Drishtihi ashramaha medha shradhdha
Vaachau geetham paatra prana Dasaasmithaha
Meaning:
Speed, steadiness, Beautiful form, should make quick turns
Clear vision, tiredlessness, intelligence, dedicated towards the art
Good speech, singing ability, these are the good qualities of a dancer.
Appearance of a dancer
Thanvee roopavati shyame peenonatha payodhara
Pragalbha sarasa kanta kushalagraha mokshayoho
Vishaala lochana geetha vaadhya taala anuvardhini
Paragyabhoosha sampanne prasanna mukha pankaja
Yevam vida gunopetham narthakee samudrutham
Meaning:
Slender bodied, beautiful, copper colored with rounded breast
Having self confidence, charming with brightness, a dancer should know when
to start and when to finish.
Should have big eyes, should be able to perform in accompaniments like vocal
or instruments. Should also have strong knowledge of rhythms
Should be adorned with expensive and attractive jewels, and should have a
charming lotus like face. These are the good appearance of a dancer.

Questions and Answers

1) What do you mean by Bharatha natyam?
Answer: There are three ways to answer this question
A)
Bha means Bhaavam ( expressions)
Ra means Raaga ( melody)
The means Thaalam ( rhythms)
Natyam- Dance
A form of dance that encompasses these three is called Bharatha natyam.
This is a south Indian classical dance form. It used to be called Sadir
/bharatham by local people of Tamil Nadu.
B)Bharatha Muni ( sage) wrote the text book on Science of dance and
drama Called the Natya Shastra.

C) A dance performed in the khandam ( a region of the earth ) named

Bharatha
Where people are immersed in brahmam
Bha- represents the word Brahmam( the ultimate truth of the universe)
Ratha- to get immersed in its contemplations ( Nimagna or Ram jana in
hindi)
2) Why do we do Namaskaaram before starting to dance and while finishing
the dance?
Answer: Namaskaram means a humble gesture of salutation to gods, gurus,
elders, audience, musicians and mainly to the goddess of earth on whom we
dance.
3) What do you mean by adavus?
Answer: Rhythmic body movements with hand gestures are called adavus.
They are the basic steps on combination of which comes the beauty of
Bharatha natyam.
Adaivu in tamil means to reach
The basic building blocks learning which perfectly can lead to perfecting
bharathanatyam dance.
4) What do you mean by Ardha mandalam /aayatam/ arai mandi?
Answer: it is the posture of half sitting with legs spread as knees turned
sideways with a three finger distance between the two feet. The dancer
should sit to the extent that they go down to one third of their original
height. With spine erect. The arms are either extended out or placed firmly
on the waist.
The Natyashastra says that in Ardhamandala, the distance between the head
and the navel becomes equal to that between the earth and the navel.
5) What are the types of Adavus?
Answer:There are 13 main typed of adavus.
Thatta adavu
Naatu Adavu
Thatti Meetu adavu
Paraval/ mei /pakka adavu
Meetu/kutthu adavu
Paaidal adavu
Kuditthu meetu adavu
Korvai adavu
Mandi adavu
Sarukkal adavu
Karthari adavu
Theermaanam adavu
Samam adavu

Combinations of adavus make a jati

And in the end of jati we do
Mukthai adavu/ arudi
6) What do you mean by kaalams?
Answer:
Kaalam means time lapse.
The speed with which we dance is called kaalam
There are three main kaalams
Vilambita kaalam slow
Madhyama kaalam- medium
Durita kaalam- fast
7) What is adi taalam?
Answer:
It is a taalam which has 8 counts
Clap, pinky finger, ring finger, middle finger, clap, turn, clap ,turn
This is the way to show adi taalam.
8) What do you mean by sollu?
Answer: Sollu is the syllabic representation of rhythm of dance or taalam

9) After adavus what are the lessons that should be learnt before to be able to
perform on stage wearing anklets called salangai/nupuram/ ghunghroos?
Answer:
A student will be qualified to wear salangais only after learning the
following:Alarippu, pushpaanjali, Jatiswaram, Kautuvam, Mallari, shabdam, varnam,
keerthanam, padam, jaavalis, ahtapadi, tillanas, thodaya mangalam, or any
mangalam, folk dance, expertise in thaalam and sollu.
It is a ceremony which is done before arangetram called the salangai puja in
which the student is given the anklet by worshipping and offering the
salangai to god nataraja then blessed by guru and then only a student can
wear it with full bharatha natyam costume and can perform in front of big
audiences which is called an arangetram/ranga pravesam .By this time the
student should have gained stamina to be able to dance for 2- 3 hours.
10) Which is the right age to start learning this art form?
Answer: 7 and above

11) How many years it will take to learn the course to qualify for arangetram?
Answer: It differs from student to student. It may take 6- 15 years.

12) What do you mean by Mudras and hasthas?

Answer: Mudras are finger positions and hasthas are hand gestures made
using the mudras.
13) What is Nritta, Nritya, Natya, Abhinaya?
Answer:
Nritta: Pure dance whose constituents are, taal and laya - time measure and
rhythm. In nritta the emphasis is on pure dance movements, movements for their own
sake, creating patterns in space and time
Nritya: Combination of Rhythm with Expression.Conveys poetic meaning with the
help of expressions, rhythmic gaites and postures
Natya: Natya is a combination of nritta and nritya dramatisation of a theme. The
themes that are in the repertoire of Bharathanatyam generally are mythological stories,
which sing praises of the deeds of the various Hindu Gods. The themes also consist
the innumerable stories of the kings of different eras in whose praise many a great
poets have penned beautiful songs. Natya is thus the visual painting
Abhinaya: Abhinaya is one of the most important aspect of bharathanatyam, which
conjures up a fascinating world of imagination. A sanskrit term , abhinaya means to
educate, or convey to the audience.The Abhinayadarpana-a sanskrit text by
Nandikeswara-mentions that the actors educate the spectator by stimulating in him the
latent possibility of an aesthetic experience. eg. Varna, Shabda, Pada etc.

14) What are the different mudras and hastas?

Answer:
Hastas or Mudras - Hand Movements
o Asamyuta Hasta
o Samyuta Hasta
o Deva Hasta
o Dashavatara Hasta
o Navagraha Hasta
o Jaati Hasta
o Bandhu Hasta
o Nritta Hasta

15) What are the Nava rasas?

Answer:
There are nine main or primary emotions, Sthayibhavas. It is also termed as
Rasa(Mood).
- Love
- Mirth
- Heroism
- Anger
- Terror
- Disgust
- Wonder
runa - Compassion
- Tranquility
Vatsaya is qualified as the 10th rasa which means parental love.
16) Explain the posture of Nataraja
Answer:
In Lord Shiva's well-known pose of NATARAJA, his right hand holds the
drum of creation - symbolising a new awakening his left hand holds fire representing destruction of the old order his other right hand is raised in
blessing the other left hand points to his left foot, which has crushed demon
Muyalaka - representing ignorance.

Asamyukta hastas (Single hand Gestures)

Urna nabhaka

Meanings:
Pathaka-Flag, tripathaako-triangular flag, Ardhapathaakas-Half flag,
kartharimukhaha-Scissor head, mayuraasyo-peacock,
ardhachandrasya-half moon, Araala- a bend , shukathundakaha-parrots
head, mushtischa- fist, shikarakascha-peak, kapittha-wood apple,
katakaamukhaha(3 types)-head of bangle, soochi- needle point,
chandrakala-crescent moon, padmakosho-lotus bud, sarpashirasthathasnakes head, mrugasheersha- deers head, simhamukhaha- lions face,
kaangoolascha-jamun fruit, alapadmakaha- bloomed flower, chaturo- to
say 4, brahmaraschaiva-honey bee, hamsaasyo-swans beak,
hamsapakshakaha- swans wings, sandamsho- to repeat, mukulaschaivaflower bud, thaamrachooda-plume of a cock, trishoolakahatrinity/trident, urna naabhakaha-tigers paw/spider

Samyukta hasta(Double hand /combined hand gestures)

Meaning:
Namaskaram, dove, crab, swastika, A wing/relaxed hand posture, flower holder
basket, shoulders/lap/embrace, shivalinga, coronation, 2 scissor head in swastika,
demons teeth, conch, chakram/disc/wheel, box, A rope( enemy), links(affection),
fish, tortoise, boar, eagle, two snakes twisted, cot, bherunda bird, to hold things in
hand.
Thatta Adavu sollu
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

Thaiyya Thai,
Thaiyya Thai, Thaiyya Thai,
Thai Thai Tham , (coma represents pause for that beat)
Thaiyya Thaiyya Thaiyya Thai,
Thaiyya Thaiyya Thai Thai thaam ,
Thai Thai Thaam , Thai Thai Thaam ,
Thai Thai ThathThath Thai Thai Thaam ,
Thai Thai Thai thai dhi dhi thai ,

Tatta adavu (Tapping)

08

Tai Tai Tai Tai

dhi dhi Tai

7 taps alternating the

legs. First 4 taps are one
tap per beat and next 3
taps and a pause are
faster with 2 taps
perbeat speed

Aadi Taalam One avartana ( one full cycle ) has 8 counts

Clap Pinky Ring Middle | Clap Turn | Clap Turn ||
1

| 5

6|

8 ||

Sollu(bol) for Steps 1 and 2

Vilambita Kaalam (first speed/slow)
Taiya Tai, Taiya Tai, | Taiya Tai, | Taiya Tai, ||

Madhyama Kaalam( Second speed/medium)

TaiyaTai, Taiyatai, Taiyatai, Taiyatai, |

TaiyaTai, Taiyatai, | Taiyatai, Taiyatai, ||

Durita kaalam ( third speed / fast)

TaiyaTai,Taiyatai, TaiyaTai,Taiyatai, TaiyaTai,Taiyatai, TaiyaTai,Taiyatai, | TaiyaTai,Taiyatai, TaiyaTai,Taiyatai, | TaiyaTai,Taiyatai, TaiyaTai,Taiyatai,||

Sollu for step 3 and 6

V: Tai, Tai, Tam, ,, | Tai, Tai, | Tam, ,, ||
M: Tai,Tai, Tam,,, Tai,Tai, Tam,,, | Tai,Tai, Tam,,, | Tai,Tai, Tam,,, ||

D :Tai,Tai,Tam,,,Tai,Tai,Tam,,, Tai,Tai,Tam,,,Tai,Tai,Tam,,, Tai,Tai,Tam,,,Tai,Tai,Tam,,, Tai,Tai,Tam,,,Tai,Tai,Tam,,, |

Tai,Tai,Tam,,,Tai,Tai,Tam,,, Tai,Tai,Tam,,,Tai,Tai,Tam,,, | Tai,Tai,Tam,,,Tai,Tai,Tam,,, Tai,Tai,Tam,,,Tai,Tai,Tam,,, |

Sollu for step 4

V:Taiya Taiya Taiya Tai, | Taiya Taiya | Taiya Tai, ||

M: TaiyaTaiya Taiyatai, Taiyataiya Taiyatai, |
Taiyatai, ||

TaiyaTaiya Taiyatai, | Taiyataiya

D: TaiyaTaiyaTaiyatai, TaiyaTaiyaTaiyatai, TaiyaTaiyaTaiyatai, TaiyaTaiyaTaiyatai, | TaiyaTaiyaTaiyatai, TaiyaTaiyaTaiyatai, | TaiyaTaiyaTaiyatai,

TaiyaTaiyaTaiyatai, ||

Sollu for Step 5

V: Taiya Taiya Tai, Tai, Tam, ,, | Taiya Taiya | Tai, Tai, Tam, ,, ||
M: TaiyaTaiya TAi,Tai,Tam,,, TaiyaTaiya TAi,Tai,Tam,,, | TaiyaTaiya TAi,Tai,Tam,,, | TaiyaTaiya
TAi,Tai,Tam,,, ||
D: TaiyaTaiyaTai,Tai,Tam,,, TaiyaTaiyaTai,Tai,Tam,,,
TaiyaTaiyaTai,Tai,Tam,,,
TaiyaTaiyaTai,Tai,Tam,,, | TaiyaTaiyaTai,Tai,Tam,,,
TaiyaTaiyaTai,Tai,Tam,,,
TaiyaTaiyaTai,Tai,Tam,,,
TaiyaTaiyaTai,Tai,Tam,,,
||

Sollu for step 7

V: Tai, Tai, Tat, Tat,| Tai, Tai, | Tam, ,, ||
M: Tai,Tai, Tat,Tat, Tai,Tai, Tam, ,, | Tai,Tai, Tat,Tat, | Tai,Tai, Tam, ,,||
D: : Tai,Tai, Tat,Tat, Tai,Tai, Tam, ,, Tai,Tai, Tat,Tat, Tai,Tai, Tam, ,, Tai,Tai, Tat,Tat, Tai,Tai, Tam,
,, Tai,Tai, Tat,Tat, Tai,Tai, Tam, ,, | Tai,Tai, Tat,Tat, Tai,Tai, Tam, ,, Tai,Tai, Tat,Tat, Tai,Tai, Tam, ,,
| Tai,Tai, Tat,Tat, Tai,Tai, Tam, ,, Tai,Tai, Tat,Tat, Tai,Tai, Tam, ,, ||
Sollu for step 8
V: Tai, Tai, Tai, Tai, | Dhi, dhi, tai, ,, | Tai, Tai, || ( 4 times repetition only completes one cycle
completely)