4th chapter - Tandavam

Both the Devas and Asuras wanted to get the ‘Amrta’ or the divine nectar which gave immortality who drank it. With mount Meru as the churner, snake Vasuki as the rope Devas and Asuras churned the ‘Par Kadal’ or the ocean of milk. Mount Meru started sinking. Vishnu took the form of tortoise (Kurma Avtar), and lifted mount meru to the surface of the ocean for the churning to continue.

Lot of Divine objects came out of the ocean. Goddess Lakshmi also came out during the churning. She married Lord Vishnu. At the end ‘Danvantri’, came with the pot of Nectar. Lord Vishnu dressed as ‘Mohini’ (beautiful woman), shared the nectar only to the Devas who became immortal. The Asuras didn’t get any. A war followed between the Devas and Asuras which obviously the Devas won.

The above story is the one which Brahma asked Bharatha to choreograph and later on performed before the almighty Lord Siva. The 4th chapter of Natya Shastra starts with this. Real details of grammar of Natya begin in this chapter. Simultaneous movements of hands and legs are named ‘Karanas’. They are 108 in number. Collection of few Karanas is called ‘Angaharas’. The Angaharas are taught to Bharatha by ‘Tandu’ on the instruction of Lord Siva.

The ‘Samvakara’ (Dance drama), mentioned in the 1^st paragraph is named ‘Amrthamanthana’. We will see all the 108 Karanas and all the Angaharas in detail one by one. Since Tandu taught the details to Bharatha the dance with masculine nature came to be known as ‘Tandavam’.

The first performance presented, according to Natya Shastra is a dance drama, not a solo. But today, lot of individual performances are performed compared to group presentations. This trend is becoming dragging and boring. Also, good music and dance teachers are needed in smaller towns, now available only in big cities. This will create a better opportunity, not only for the music and dance students living in smaller towns but also for the art form to have a better reach all over the country.