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| Home > Indian Literature > Sanskrit Plays > Bharat
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| | Bharat`s Natyashastra
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The Natyashastra (scripture of dance) is a keystone work in Sanskrit literature on the subject of stagecraft. Its author Bharata is largely unknown to us. It was written between 500 B.C and 300 B.C .The Natyashastra describes in detail the art of staging a Sanskrit drama. It addresses numerous topics, including the proprer occasion for staging a drama, the props to be used, the kind of people qualified to be drama critics and specially instructons for actors and playwrights.
Natyashastra deals primarily with stagecraft however its influence is visible even on music, dance, literature as well. It canthus be called the foundation of fine arts in India.The most important concept in Natyashastra, is the experience of rasa (emotion or sentiment). Rasa is the emotionalstate inspired in the audience who watches the Sanskrit drama being stage. Each rasa has a corresponding Bhav. For example for the audience to experience Srungara (the erotic rasa ) the actors and musicians together portray the bhav rati (The Natyashastra identifies eight rasa and their corresponding bhav .
RASA --------------------------------------- BHAV
Adbhuta (Marvellous) ----------------- Vismaya (Astonishment)
Hasya(Comic) ---------------------- Hasya(Mirth)
Srugara(Erotic) -------------------- Rati(Love)
Bibhatsa(Odious)--------------------- Jugupsa(Disgust)
Vira(Heroic) -------------------------- Utsaha(Energy)
Karuna(Pity) --------------------------- Soka(Sorrow)
Bhayanak(Terrible) --------------------- Bhaya(Terror)
Raudra(Furious) ------------------------- Kroadh(Anger)
The ninth rasa shanta (Peace) was extrapolated from the 8 identified in the Natyashastra.
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