Bharatanatyam has various rules laid down in a book called the Natya Shastra, written by Bharata Muni. These rules include the different ways to hold the hands, eyes, head, neck, legs while dancing. There are three shlokas which pertain to the different movements of each part of the body. Dhrishti Bheda Shiro Bheda Greeva Bheda Dhristi Bheda (eye movements) Drishthi in sanskrit means “vision”. Drishti Bedha's help us classify different movements as how we move our eyeballs. We use each of these different movements in our daily life, but they also have their own identification. In Drishti Bheda, there are a total of nine types of eye movements. 1. Samam: Eye straight forward without any movement. 2. Aalokitham: Roll eye balls in a circular pattern. 3. Saachi: Eye balls side to side to the corner of the eyes. 4. Praalokitha: Right to Left eye movement. 5. Nimeelithe: eyes half closed. 6. Ullokitha: eyeballs looking up. 7. Anuvritte: Rapid movement of eye balls up and down. 8. Thathaachaiva: Looking upwards. 9. Avalokita: Looking down. Shloka (saying) : Samam Allokitham Saachi Praalokitha Nimeelithe Ullokitha-anuvritte cha thathaa chaiva-avalokitha. Shiro Bheda (head movements) Shira in sanskrit means ” head”. Head movements are called Shiro bheda's. Shiro Bheda's help us classify different movements of how we move our head. While doing different head positions, bhava is also expressed. In Shiro Bheda, there are a total of nine types of head movements. 1. Samam: Head straight forward without any movement. 2. Udvaahitham: Head upwards. 3. Adhomukham: Head downwards. 4. Alolitham: Roll in circular pattern. 5. Dhutam: Right to Left head movement. 6. Kampitam: Up and down head movement. 7. Paravrittam: Sharp turn of head either right or left. 8. Ukshiptam: Head raised. 9. Parivahittam: Slight head shake right and left. Shloka (saying) : Samam Udhvaahitham Aalokitham Adhomukha-lolitam Dhutam Kampitham cha Paraavrittam Ukshiptam Parivaahitham. Greeva Bheda (neck movements) Greeva in sanskrit means "neck". Neck movements are called Greeva bheda's. These Bedha's increase the quality and enhance the manner of abhinaya. Neck movements are essential for grace and nritta. In Greeva Bheda's, there are a total of four typed of neck movements. 1. Sundari: Neck side to side, also called attami. 2. Tirashchina: Upward side to side, v-shape. 3. Prarivartita: Neck in semicircle motion. 4. Prakampita: Neck moved in and out like a duck. Shloka (saying) : Sundareecha thirashcheena thathaiva parivarthitha Prakampithaacha bhaavagner neya greeva chaturvidha. | |