Natyashastra, the fifth Veda, is one of the most essential texts of drama, dance, music, arts and fine arts in India and all over the world. It is certainly one of the most ancient ones. The Rasa theory given by Bharat Muni in Natyashastra is the basis on which many artistic disciplines have evolved over the course of Indian history.

This course introduces the student to the structure of Natyashastra in thirteen lucid chapters explaining the different aspects of the text, the tradition and the evolution of the dramatic tradition in India.

What You’ll Learn

The course discusses: the origin of Natyashastra, the performance of Natya, the contents of the various chapters of the Natyashastra, kinds of theatre, ancient Indian theatre, elements of play, the Natya Karanas described in the Natyashastra, the date of Natyashastra, the performance before the play, the most important concept of Rasa, the various Bhavas, and the commentary of various commentators, classical and modern.

• You will learn what is the text and the tradition of Natyashastra. What do the different chapters of the Natyshastra teach. When did the Natyshastra originate? What is its age? You will learn what are the different kinds of theatre and what was the theatre house in the ancient Indian theatre.
• You will get to know who is the Nata, the performer of Natya, and what is the purpose behind the performance of a Natya. You will learn the similarities and differences between the elements of the European play and the Indian play.
• You will learn about the 108 Karanas described for the first time in the Natyashastra and how the Natyashastra through its description of Karanas influenced many artistic disciplines in India like sculpture, painting, dance etc.
• You will learn about Poorvaranga, the performance before the play, its various steps and why after all there is a Poorvaranga. Most importantly, you will learn about the concept of Rasa, the single most important concept of arts and aesthetics in ancient India, the concept which defined the direction of various artistic disciplines.
• You will also get to learn what different commentators had to say about Natya and how artistic disciplines are seen in an India defined by dharmic values.