Gestures in Bharata Natyam
Abhinaya is a Sanskrit term meaning
(abhi -'towards'; ni-'to carry'). Thus it means reaching a performance
to the audience. The main aspect of dance, the four-fold abhinayas
are Angika (Expression through body), Vachika (Expression through speech),
Aharya (Expression through ornaments) and Satvika (the refinement of the
soul).
Angika Abinaya
is the use of gestures. There are
slight variations in the numbers of gestures mentioned in the Natyasastra
& Abhinayadarpana, but most of them have common names & definitions.
Head
Natyasastra
mentions thirteen gestures
Abhinayadarpana
mentions nine gestures
Eyes
(No common names in the 2 works)
Natyasastra
mentions three main classes gestures (The first two classes are further
divided into eight varieties each & the the third class has twenty
varieties.)
Abhinayadarpana
mentions 8 gestures
Neck
(No common names in the 2 works)
Natyasastra
mentions four gestures
Abhinayadarpana
mentions nine gestures
Hands
(Both works mention 3 classes. There are several gestures
with common names, but the no. of gestures in each class varies)
Single-hand
gestures: twenty-two gestures with common names
Natyasastra
Single-hand
gestures: twenty-four
Combined-hand
gestures: thirteen
Nrtta-hastas:
twenty-seven
Abhinayadarpana
Single-hand
gestures: twenty-eight
Combined-hand
gestures: twenty-three
Nrtta-hastas:
thirteen
Total number
of hand gestures in Natyasastra - sixty-four
Total number
of hand gestures in Abhinayadarpana
- fifty-one
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