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Bharata Natyam: |
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Origin – Mythological |
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A long time ago, the wise sages approached Bharata,
the master of dramatic art, during an intermission
in their studies. "O, Brahmin," they asked,
"How did the Natya Veda originate, similar
to the Vedas, which you have properly composed?"
Bharata then went on to narrate the origin of the
Natya Veda, devised by Lord Brahma. |
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In a time of desire and greed, anger and jealousy
-- when people were addicted to sensual pleasures
-- the Gods, led by the Great Lord Indra, approached
Brahma. "We want an object of diversion,"
they requested, "which must be audible as well
as visible. As the (existing) Vedas are not to be
listened in to by the those born as Sudras (untouchables),
be pleased to create another Veda which will belong
(equally) to all varnas (colours)." |
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Brahma then vowed to make a fifth Veda on the
Natya, compiling elements of the earlier four
From the Rig Veda, he took recitation or path, from
the Sama Veda, he took song, from the Yajur Veda,
he took histrionic representation or abhinaya, and
from the Atharva Veda, he took acting sentiments
- aesthetics or rasa. |
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Brahma then approached Indra, and asked the Gods
to enact the semi-historical tales. Indra modestly
refused, saying, "Gods are unable to receive
or maintain knowledge of the vedas... (and so) unfit
to do anything with the drama." The sages who
know the mystery of the Vedas and have fulfilled
their vows are alone capable of maintaining the
Natya Veda. |
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Brahma then summoned Bharata and his 100 sons
and asked them to study it and put it to use. The
sons were assigned different roles, and feeling
"this style cannot be practiced properly by
men without the help of women," they were granted
nymphs by Brahma to enhance their performance, along
with musical instruments and celestial musicians
(gandharva's). |
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The Natya Veda was first performed at the festival
of the banner, in celebration of Indra's victory
over the Asuras (demons). The performance, which
enacted a similar tussle between good and evil,
pleased the Gods who showered them with gifts. |
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Unfortunately, the enacted killing of the demons
offended the evil spirits, who avenged themselves
by paralysing the speech, movements as well as the
memory of the actors. Outraged at their audacity,
an angry Indra smashed his banner and destroyed
the evil spirits surrounding the stage. The Gods
rejoiced, and declared that the banner pole would
henceforth be used as a symbol of the divine protection
afforded to actors. |
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To prevent further mischief, Brahma requested
the heavenly architect Visvakarma to construct a
"playhouse" to ward off evil spirits.
He then assigned various Gods to the task of protecting
different parts of the structure, himself occupying
the middle of the stage. |
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Meanwhile, talks between Brahma and the evil spirits
ensued. "The knowledge of the dramatic arts
has put us in an unfavourable light," claimed
the Asuras. Said Brahma, "I have prepared this
Natya Veda which will determine the good as well
as ill luck of you and the Gods, and which will
take into account acts and ideas of you as well
as the Gods." |
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Brahma then asked the gods to perform a yagna
in the playhouse, and asked the actors to perform
a puja to the presiding deity of the stage. "He
who will offer this puja will attain wealth and,
in the end, go to heaven," he proclaimed. And
he who doesn't "will be reborn as an animal
of the lowest order." |
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"The drama I have devised is a mimicry of
actions and conducts of people, which is rich in
various emotions and which will relate to actions
of men good, bad and indifferent, and will give
courage, amusement and happiness as well as counsel
to them all." |
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"And so," said the wise sage Bharata,
"the theatre was born." |
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Adapted
from a translation of the Natyashastra by Dr Manmohan
Ghosh |
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