3 Natya Sastra

Dr. Bhandaram Vani

Introduction:

It is very common that the various situations of life and emotions are expressed through the music, dance, drama and action. In Vedic literature one can find that during Vedic rituals and sacrifices song, dance, dialogue were mainly used. There are references of song, dance, dialogue and action in Vedas as they are mostly played during the rituals, celebrations and festivals etc. Thus the art of Music and Dance which was well developed during Vedic age itself has been systematized by Bharata in his Natyashastra. He condensed and codified necessary laws to govern music dance and drama. Not only these three but all that are essential to the authors and actors like the knowledge of grammar prosody rhetoric rasa bhava were also clearly mentioned in this work. His Natya Shastra with its 36 chapters includes the writing of drama and its production in any encyclopedic work on dramatic art. It is considered the fifth Veda the Natyaveda since the word or speech is extracted from Rig-Veda music, song is from Samaveda, the art of acting histrionic expressions from Yajurveda and the elements of Rasa from Athervaveda.

There were several authors like Parasara, Shilali, Krishashva, Kohala, Dantila, Thumbura, Narada Nandi, Shandilya wrote on the principles of dance much earlier to Bharata but unfortunately the original works are not available now. Bharata adopted altered, added dramatic rules and regulations and made a full-fledged work with minute details of dramatic art.

It is believed that this work is composed between 200 BC and 200 AD. The technical terms used in Natya Shastra are found in Ramayana, Mahabharata. Natyashastra is fully accredited to Bharatamuni by Kalidasa (Vikramorvashiya-II-7, Kumarasambhava 7-91) hence he can be placed before Kalidasa. Considering references in Panini’s Ashtadhyayi, Hathigumfa inscription of Kharavela Scholars are of the opinion that Bharata flourished before Christian era most probably during 2nd century B.C.

The commentary on the Natya Shastra is available to us now is of Abhinavagupata’s Natyaveda vivritti, known as Abhinava Bharati. There are some more commentaries earlier to Abhinavagupta are Bhattalollata, Udbhata, Shankuka, Bhattanayaka, Kirtidhara as mentioned in Sangita Rathnakara (1-19) but most of them are not available. There are number of works that derived their material from Natya Shastra like Danunjaya’s Dasarupaka, Sangaranandi’s Nataka Lakshana Ratnakosa, Ramachandra and Gunachandra’s Natyadarpana, Sharadatanaya’s Bhavaprakasha were written on dramaturgy following.

Bharata. These works contain dramaturgy with Rasa, Bhava, Abhinaya, Nayika Nayaka’s and construction and presentation of drama with its varieties.

Bharatas Natya Shastra is the foremost among the works on rhetorics which embodies the rules governing the composition of the play. An aspiring actor can get all the detailed instructions regarding all types of dramatic applications, the rules, styles of language, plots etc. to far as it is applied to the that of drama. He takes Gunas, Dosas, Almkaras to be subservient to the purpose of awakening Rasa, as Sanskrit drama relies mostly on awaking right sentiments. The purpose of dance or drama would be complete when the evoking sentiments are brought appropriate to the theme by grace, skill of language and gestures.

As said earlier, the 6000 slokas were divided into 36 chapters and Abhinava gupta divided 36th chapter into two, so according to him the number of chapters are 37. The detailed account of contents of Natyashastra is published in Gackwad’s oriental series, Barada…..

According to Natyashastra all the Gods requested Lord Brahma to produce something to play (Kirdaniyakam) (N.S.I 2) which could be seen, heard, enjoyable, instructive, a fifth Veda for the benefit of all the people. Bhrahma in his meditation extracted the essence from all four Vedas (NS I, 17) created this Natya Veda with full of stories from epics, and legends that led people towards the righteous path. He then asked Bharata to make this art known to mankind. The Natya represents the life of Gods, Demons, Kings, Householders and Great sages alike (NS I 107).

• The chapter I of Natya Shastra named as Natyotpatti the origin of drama contains 127 slokas. The questions of raised by Atreya and others about the circumstances leading to the creation of Natya, creation of Natyaveda, purpose of delicate mode of expression, the first play produced during the festival of Indradhvaja, disturbances of the play, pacification, benefits of drama were dealt. The five questions of sages are  How was the Natyaveda created?  For whom it was meant?  What are the parts of it?  What is its extent and How is it to be applied. But the answers of these questions do not go in a sequence, but has spread all over the text of Natyashastra. While explaining the nature and purpose of Natya, Brahma says that nothing is there that is not found in Natya, eithe knowledge learning, action device or craft. It includes all the sciences, art and craft and is an imitation of all the situations of three worlds. The theme of the play may be taken from narratives of history, Vedas and Shastras and presented in an enjoyable way. Thus Natya represents the pains and pleasures of the world through the medium of 4 types of abhinaya i.e. Angika – physical movements and gestures, Satvika emotional reaction Vachika – Voice & speech Aharya – Make-up and costume.

• Chapter II deals with Natya Mandapa (the theatre) in 105 slokas. Standards for theatre, constructions, of 3 varieties of Natyamandapa, namely Vikrishta – the long, Chaturasara the square, Tyasra – the triangle along with paintings of the walls sealing arrangements, entrances for king and others, the rear and front stage were described.
• Chapter III deals with Ranga Devata Puja, worship of the Gods in 102 slokas. It contains chants of Lord Siva, Brahma, Vishnu, Ganesha, Brihaspati for the benefit and uninterrupted presentation of the drama.
• Chapter IV describes the Tandava dance in 320 slokas. The two plays Amritha Mathana and Tripuradaha were presented in the presence of Lord Shiva. The description of 108 Karanas (postures) the basics of pure dance with detailed description and usage 32 Angaharas (movements of limbs) and Rechakas (gestures) were dealt.
• Chapter V contains Purva Ranga vidhana the details rituals to be presented before the actual presentation of dance in 174 slokas, Purva Ranga, Nandi, Druva, Prastavana etc. the preliminaries were explained.
• Chapter VI Bharata gives reply to the questions of Sages on how sentiments enacted by the actor attain special qualities, what are bhavas and how do they make us feel, what are the main terms like Sangraha, Karika and Nirukta? The Sangraha which consists of eleven aspects of drama were established.
• Chapter VII deals extensively with bhavas the emotions in 121 slokas with many prose passages. Characteristics Bhava – the emotion, Vibhava the determinant, Anubhava – the consequent and their inter-relationship, the importance of 8 sthayi bhava – the static emotion, 33 Sancharibhavas – transitory emotions and 8 satvika bhavas – responsive emotions in promoting Rasa in the heart of audience were dealt in detail.
• Chapter VIII holds a detailed description of fourfold Abhinaya namely Angika, Satvika, Vachika and Aaharya. The expression with head, glances, action with pupils, the eye-lids, the eyebrows, the nose and Nostrils, cheeks, lower lip, neck and colours of face were described.
• In chapter IX Angabhinaya expression through gestures and limbs were dealt, in 283 slokas, Pataka, Tripataka etc. 24 single hand gestures (Asamyutahastabhedas), Anjali, Svastika etc, 13 coupled hand gestures (Samyanuta hasta bhedas), 27 hand gestures of Tandava (pure) dance (Nritha hastas), Karanas of hand gestures, action with chest, sides, belly, waist, thigs, shanks and feet were explained.
• Chapter X was totally dedicated to varieties of foot work. Uses of 32 charis, (earthly and aerial), the sthanas, four Nyayas of using weapons, acts related to bow, healthy exercise were treated in 103 slokas.
• Chapter XI the Mandala movements both earthly and aerial were described in 70 slokas.
• Chapter XII the different gaits of men, women, the stout, the intoxicated, the Jester etc were found in 236 Slokas.
• Chapter XIII describes Vibhaga Kakshya- stage division as regards to musical instruments and four kinds of Pravritti (the regional identity), definitions Loka Dharmi and Natyadharmi.
• Chapter XIV treats with Vyakarana-the grammar and chandah-the prosody in 133 slokas.
• Chapter XV describes Vrittas – the Slokas. Metres of balanced slokas with examples, and meter with unbalanced slokas with examples. Aarya Vritta and Arya gita were dealt elaborately in 227 slokas.
• Chapter XVI is dealt with 36 Kavya Lakshana – embellishments, 4 Alankaras the figures of speech, 10 Gunas – the merits and 10 Doshas – demerits in 128 slokas.
• Chapter XVII deals with Kakusvara – the modulation in voice, Bhasha – the language, Sambhuddhi – the addressing, Name – the name, musical notes, orign of musical notes etc.
• Chapter XVIII gives full description of Dasarupakas – Nataka, Prahasana etc the ten forms of drama in 126 verses.
• Chapter XIX discusses the Sandhi Nirupana – Construction of Plot in 154 slokas. The division and nature of plot, 5 Karyavasathas – the five executive processes, 5 Arthaprakrittis – the five causation, 4 Pataka sthanatas – the four dramatic ironies, 5 Sandhis – the five divisions of plot, 64 Sandhyangas – intermediary divisions, 5 Asthopakshepakas – the five suggestive devices lasyangas, along with ideal drama and its properities were discussed.
• Chapter XX is of Vritti Vikalpanam – Modes of expression Bharati, Satvathi, Kaishiki and Arabhati Vrittis were described (in 77 Slokas) for the promotions of Rasa in the drama.
• Chapter XXI and XXII gives a detailed description of Aharyabhinaya – Makeup and costume, Samanyabhinaya – general histrionic expression in 227 and 332 slokas respectively. Ornaments of men, women, making up the face and other limbs with grease paints etc, details of Natural, derives and subsidiary colours false hair, manufacturing of masks etc were described in Aharayabhinaya. Physical, natural, involuntary graces in women, men, twelve forms of voice expression, 8 varieties of heroines in love (Astavidha Nayikas), general exclusions on the stage were treated.
• Chapter XXIII deals with Bahyopachara – the courtesans and the vaishika in 80 slokas.
• Chapter XXIV is dealt with the Prakriti – the men and women charcter in 89 slokas. The three types of characters in men and women, four types of heroes, four types of heroines with their assistants and details thereof.
• Chapter XXV deals with Chitrabhinaya – the particular expression for indicating morning, sunset etc. Seasons, birds, animals, demons, celestials, expression in Soliloquies, aside etc in 125 slokas.
• Chapter XXVI deals with vikriti Vikalpa – that is creating moulds of animals and birds and set design in 38 slokas.
• Chapter XXVII deals with Natya Siddhi – Success of Production of play in 104 verses. The Daivi Siddhi,Manushi Siddhi (success due to divine blessings and success due to human effort), four types of interruption in a play, qualifications of judges, audience, right time of the day when plays are to be produced and are not to be produced the success were discussed.
• Chapter XVIII deals with Jaativikalpanam – the properties of music both Instrumental and Vocal in 142 Slokas. The four types of musical instruments, their nature and variations, saptaswaras, gramas, moorchanas etc were detailed in this chapter.
• Chapter XXIX is continuation of 28th chapter, which deals with stringed instruments – the Tala Atodya. Use of melodies according to Rasa, suitability of particular musical note to the instrument and Rasa, playing the tunes in the preliminary rituals, the four varnas etc were dealt in 119 slokas.
• Chapter XXX deals with Sushira Atodya – the wind instruments played in combinations with Vina, Venu and Vocal in 125 slokas.
• Chapter XXXI is Tala Adhyaya where time, various units of time, laya, qualities of singer and instrumentalists, rhythem, tempo etc along with delicate dance (lasya) its division and presentation were discussed in 378 slokas.
• Chapter XXXII is dealt with Dhruva Vidhana – types of songs, five situations in which the song is used, content and metre of the song, its relation with character, emotion, and rasa in 436 slokas. Suggestions and purpose of song in drama is also discussed.
• Chapter XXXIII deals with qualification of vocalists and instrumentalists in 23 slokas.
• Chapter XXXIV deals with Pushkarvaadyas – percussion instruments in 304 slokas include some prose passages. Major and minor instruments, various aspects of playing the three types of percussion instruments, various tastes of audience etc were discussed.
• Chapter XXXV deals with Bhumika Vikalpa – the distribution of roles to sutradhara, actors and actresses in 41 slokas.
• Chapter XXXVI deals with Natya Shapa – the curse on drama in 50 slokas. Sages initiated Bharata regarding the drama dropped down to the earth from the heaven, Bharata’s explanation, importance of preliminaries, arrogant sons of Bharata being cursed by the sages, representation of celestials, compromise by Bharata were discussed.
• Chapter XXXVII, Guhyatatvakathana (The Mythical account the drama decending on the earth) is dealt in 31 slokas. Nahusha invited the sons of Bharata to bring the drama to the earth, the greatness of Natyaveda and benefits were explained.

Thus the 6000 slokas in Bharata Natyashastra have been distributed in 37 chapters.

In Chapter VI-10 Bharata states that the eleven aspects are very important to define the picture of drama in so far as the author and the actor are concerned. They are eight types of

Rasas, the ninth Santa Rasa is added on, eight sthayi bhavas, thirty three Sanchari bhavas, eight satvika bhavas, thus total number of  Bhavas emotions are 49,  Abhinaya histrionic expression is of 4 types (Satvika) Vachika, Angika and Vachika  Dharmi school of acting is of two types Lokadharmi and Natya Dharmi,  Vritti – mode of express and  Pravrithi regional identity are of four types each, Bharati, Satvati, Kaishiki and Arabhati, Avanti,Dakshinatya, Odri Maghidhi, and Panchala Madhyama respectively,  Siddhi the success is of two types Daivi and Manushi.  Svara is of seven notes Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, Ni,  Aatodhya i.e. instrument is four types Tala, Avanaddha, Ghana, Sushira.  Gana the song is of five varieties Praveshaka, Akshepa, Nishkrama Prasadika and Antara.  Ranga the theatre is three forms Chaturasra, Vikrishta and Tyasra. This is the essence of Natya Shastra.

Sanskrit drama avoids the representation of death and insists on a happy conclusion as a rule which is strictly adhered; so much so that Bhavabhuti in Uttararamacharita had to bring about the reunion of Sita and Rama in the end. Although there is no tragedy at the end, yet there is enough of it in the beginning and in the middle even in the works of great dramatists in the form of pathos and the portrayal of the pangs of love. In the Abhijnana-Shakuntalam of Kalidasa and in the Mricchakatikam of Sudraka we find it in the middle, and in the Uttararacaritam we find it throughout; especially so in the beginning.

Different characters speak different languages according to their social status. As a rule the heroes, the kings, the men of high rank and the ascetic ladies speak Sanskrit. Vidusaka speaks Prakrit. The high-class women, children and the better class of servants usually speak Sauraseni in prose and Maharastri in verse. The other varieties of Prakrit like Abhiri, Paisaci and Avanthi etc – are used by cowherds, robbers, swindlers, gamblers and the like. The Apabhramasa is used by the most despised people and the barbarians.

The entry of a new character to the stage is made by the announcement to that effect by a character already present on that stage. To denote the urgency of the entry, sometimes a character enters by a toss of the curtain. Certain other devices are also adopted to further the progression of the plot, such as the writing of love letters, painting the figures of lovers, dance, a play within a play, and so on. Interchange of the male and female roles is also allowed as in the drama Malatimadhava of Bhavabhuti. Introduction of the supernatural element is recognized to bring about a happy ending as in the Sakuntala, Vikramorvasiya of Kalidasa , Nagananda of Sriharsha and others. In some dramas, semi-divine beings play their part to make the play a happy ending. Every drama ends with the Bharatavakya which is the benediction uttered by the hero or any eminent character who takes part in the drama.

The main purpose of drama is imitation of a condition or state of life but not action. Hence horse riding, watering plants, hunting etc have to be imagined. With the pictures and nature painted on the curtain, one has to visualize where the play is taking place. This is called as Natyadharmi. The actions which are same in the world and Drama are called Lokadharmi

The chief aim of the Sanskrit dramatist is to arouse a particular sentiment in the minds of the audience. The sentiment may be Sringara (erotic), Vira (heroic), Karuna (pathos) or any other. The plot, the characterization, and everything else are subordinated to this end. As no emphasis has been laid upon action in the Sanskrit plays, most of them, judge by modern standards, have come to be regarded as dramatic poems, rather than as plays proper.

The Natyasastra speaks of ten different kinds of Rupakas (visual representaion) depending on their text and treatment. They are Nataka, Prakarana, Samavakara, Ihamriga, Dima, Vyayoga, Anka, Prahasana, Bhana and Vithi.

1.   NATAKA : It has as its theme a well-known story (drawn from Epics or Puranas). It should be a story of a celebrated king or divine character. Sringara or Veera are the predominant Rasas apart from the various Rasas, emotions, pleasures and pain should be represented. The plot should be developed appropriately through five stages like Prarambha, Prayatna, Praaptyasha, Niyatapi and Phalagama.

A Nataka should have five to ten acts. The act should not be too long and at the end of it all characters leave the stage. An act should cover the incidents of a single day. If the incidents cannot be finished in one single day, they can be presented in an interlude (praveshaka) after closing that act. In praveshaka the conversation of the attendants should be in Prakrit. The battle, loss of kingdom, death, seizure of a city should be presented through interlude and not by direct representation. In a Nataka the action must be like the tip of cow’s tail i.e. significant and high emotions in the beginning and slowly they should come to an end at last. The Rasa of the play with all its various emotions should merge at the conclusion of the play. Sakuntalam, Uttraramacharita etc are best examples of Nataka.

2.   PRAKARANA : Prakarana is that in which the plot and the hero should be the original creation of the poet. It is similar to Nataka, but the various deeds of a Brahmin, a trader, a purohit, a minister, a merchant should be taken as the subject matter. Thus the king is not a hero. No noble hero, no divine or super – human actions no love story of a king are described.

Courtesan being the main character and mostly the heroine, a very ordinary and common – life is described. Except for the insistence on plot being original; all other details regarding Rasa, development of the plot are the same as in Nataka. If the play requires, Vishkambhaka-supporting scene in Sanskrit, with middle characters similar to Praveshaka-introductory scene can be incorporated. In- between two acts Praveshaka should also be used.

Prakarana   should   have   five   to   ten  acts   –   Sringara   is   the   main   Rasa   in   Prakarana. Mricchakatikam, Malati Madhavam are examples for Prakarana type of drama.

The Natika having the features of both of Nataka and Prakarana needs a special mention here. Natika has king as its hero but the plot is in poet’s imagination. Heroine is either belongs to Royal Palace or is a Courtesan. It should have mostly female characters and graceful gestures. It is four acts play. Kings favors, anger, hypocrisy and royal etiquette should be presented profusely in the Natika, Ratnavali of Harsha is the best example of Natika.

3.SAMAVAKARA :Samavakara deals with well known Gods and Demons as its heroes with a popular story. It has three acts, three kapatas (three kinds of deceits),Three Vidravas (three kinds of calamities) and three types of love. It has the duration of eighteen nadikas (one nadika is of 24 min) It should have twelve magnanimous heroes. But there are two views regarding the number of heroes. According to one the number of heroes in each act should be twelve while the other view states that the hero, his rival, and their two associates, four in each act make a total twelve in three acts.

Each act contains one deceit; one calamity one aspect of love. The first act should be of twelve nadikas duration containing laughter, calamity, deceit and vithi. The second act is similar in nature but has four nadikas only. The third act should have two nadikas bringing the play to an end. Each act should have different incidents having a very loose connection. The three deceits which lead to joy or sorrow are 1. Course of planning, 2. Luck, fate or accident 3. Strategy of an enemy. The three kinds of calamities are 1. Battle and flood 2. Storm, fire and fight with a big elephant 3. Capture of city. Three kinds of love are 1. For duty (dhrama) 2. For material gain (artha) 3. For passion (kama).Thus Samavakara is based on joy and sorrow. Vira rasa supported by Sringara is the main sentiment of the drama. Samudramanthanam and Pancharatram of Bhasa are the examples of Samavakara variety of drama.

4.    IHAMRGA : Ihamrga consists of four acts. The characters are divine. It has a well knitted plot. The divine hero wages war on account of a divine woman. The story is developed on her anger. Male characters are bold. There should be commotion, excitement and violent conflicts. The main Rasa is Sringara. The theme is based on fights for women, their adduction and dissuading them with painful experiences forcible abduction is to be described avoiding actual fighting. Rukminiharana of Vatsaraja is this type of drama.

5.   DIMA :Dima has a popular story with dignified and magnanimous heroes. It consists of four acts and six sentiments except Sringara and Hasya. It has sixteen heroes like Gods, Demons, Nagas, Yakshas etc. The plot consists of earthquake, eclipse, battles, and angry conflicts, plenty of deceit, and jugglery, usage of dreadful weapons. The story is grand and incorporates various emotions. Tripuravijaya of Vatsaraja serves as an example for this type of drama.

6.  VYAYOGA : The duration of play is of one day with a very few female characters and a well known hero with an exalted genealogy but not a celestial. He may be a king or a royal sage. As in Samavaraka, many male characters take part but all in one act only. There should be battles, fights, personal combats and conflict. The main Rasa is heroic sentiment . Madhayama vyayoga of Bhasa. Sougandhika Harana of Viswanatha are very good examples for this variety of drama.

7.   ANKA : Anka should consists of a well known story with a male character other than celestial hero that had happened in one day. Kruna Rasa is the main Rasa and is one act play. Though the there are no battles or fights, but all the characters are vanquished and the injured in war so the lamentation of women after the fight is described. Unmatta Raghava is an example of this type of drama.

8.   PRAHASANA : Prahasana, one act play, mainly divided into two kinds Suddha (pure) and Samkirna (mixed). Humour is the main sentiment. The Suddha Variety is a satire on gurus,Bhagavats, ascetics and monks, Brahmin etc by ridiculing them. The language, dress, everything should be very natural giving consistency to the plot. The Samkirna variety has courtesans, menial servants, eunuchs, rogues, vitas as its main characters. They appear in crude way of dressing and offensive in their movements and behaviour. Scandal, deceit, vanity or hypocrisy is the subject matters of Prahasana. Mattavilasa Prahasana of Mahendravarma is an example of this type of drama.

9.    BHANA : A single-character play in which he narrates his own or other’s experiences. Other characters are made to speak through him only, after conveyed by Akashabhasita. The character himself repeats the other’s part of the dialogue with suitable gestures. It should have one act and should include many movements expressive of various episodes of rogue or vita. SringaraRasa supported by the sthayi bhava-permanent emotion, surprise is the main sentiment of this one act play. Music, dance and other features of this type of drama are purely in the form of a monologue. The Srinagarbhusana Bhana of Vamanabhatta is an example of this type of drama.

10.   VITHI : Vithi is a one act play with one or two characters containing all the sentiments. The characters are three types of a superior, middle or inferior status. All the sentiments may be incorporated in the play. It has thirteen distinguishing features. They are Udgatyaka, Avagalita, Avaspandita, Nalika, Arthapralapa, Vakkeli, Prapanca, Mrudava, Adhibala, Chala, Trigata, Vyahara and Ganda. Premabhirama of Ravipati is an example to this type of drama.

These are ten main Rupakas, described by Bharata in his Natya Sastra. Dima, Samakakara, Vyayoga and Ihamriga are the plays where the characters and Gods, Royal Sages, demons etc, larger number of men and fewer women participate. The remaining Nataka, Prakarana, Bhana, Vithi, Anka, Prahasa are the delicate type, characters are human beings, and there is no restriction on the number of female characters.

Among the Dasarupakas, Nataka and Prakarana are considered as superior and elaborate.

The Uparupakas are of 18 types in which Natika, Sattaka, Trotaka, Prekshanaka, and Prakaranika are wellknown. Ratnavali of Sri Harsha is a Natika, Karpuramajari of Rajeshakara is a Sattaka, Vikramorvashiyam of Kalidasa is a Trotaka. The Rupaka and Uparupakas should have evolved from the popular dramatic compositions available at the time.

The chief aim of any of these forms of play is to arouse a particular sentiment in the minds of audience. Drishya Kavya which is enacted on the stage and seen by audience is more effective to give the desired aesthetic pleasure. The plot, the characterization and everything is subordinate in promoting Rasa.

As Drama is a composite art, Bharata’s treatment towards all related subjects such as Architecture, Preliminaries, Postures, movements of limbs, songs, dance, speech, dress, musical instruments etc gave importance and greatness to Natyashastra.