In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (natya)

Niruttavakai or Niruttavakaimarapu refers to the “characteristics of different types of dancing” and represents the first part of the Niruttamarapu (“literary usage of dance”) which represents the third book of the Pañcamarapu (‘five-fold traditional usage’): an important piece of Tamil literature.—In the Niruttavakaimarapu, there are the seven kūttus, namely, tāṇḍavam (the vigorous dance), niruttam (dancing), nāṭyam (drama), kuṟavai (to dance in a circle), vari (a kind of masquerade dance), kōlam (a graceful dance)[88]and vakai (a division of dance). These seven kūttus are classified into three types of kūttu called cānti-kūttu (a kind of dance calculated to give peace of mind to the hero and other actors), vinōta-kūttu (dance performed in the presence of kings in celebration of their victories) and vakai-kūttu (a section of dance).

Besides these, sixteen akamārgaporul (exposition by gesture and dancing), the rhythm for tāṇḍava (dance with jumping/leaping movements), jathi (rhythmic syllables), kōrvai (garland of rhythmic syllables), sixteen tāṇḍava-cintu (metrical line of three feet) and other such musical forms are explained in detail.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Nirutta, Nirutta, Vakai.

Full-text: Niruttamarapu.

Relevant text

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