Learning and Mastering Basics.

How important is it to learn the basics? In school we start with the alphabets. In music, with the seven notes, ‘SA, RI, GA, MA, PA, DA, NI’. In dance, with the Adavus or Steps. Learning is not just memorizing. Learning is mastering every detail, so that you become ready for application, for creating quality outputs. Everything has to be done step by step to achieve what you want.

Why did I talk about step by step learning? Let me explain. In my last post I said I will be talking about the 108 Karanas one by one. But then I realized, for that we need to first deal with the movements of each part of the body separately. Not just the movements, but also the usages of every movement of different parts of the body are clearly given in our Natya Shastra.

Parts of the body are divided into ‘The Principal limbs (Angas) and The Subsidiary limbs (Prathyangas). The principal limbs are 6 in number. 1. The head, 2. The hands, 3. The chest, 4. The sides, 5. The hip and 6. The feet. The subsidiary limbs are also 6 in number. 1. The neck, 2. The arms, 3. The back, 4. The belly, 5. The thighs and 6. The knees.

The limbs are again divided into ‘Parts of the limbs’. The head is divided into 12 parts.  They are 1. Sight, 2. Eye-brows, 3. Eye-lashes, 4. The pupils, 5. The cheeks, 6. The nose, 7. The breadth, 8, The lips, 9. The teeth, 10. The tongue, 11. The chin and 12. The face. The other ‘Parts of limbs’ mentioned are, 1. The heels, 2. ankles, 3. The toes, 4. The fingers, 5. The palms and 6. The soles. We will start the details in our next post.

How do we measure success or achievements? Is it the money or the fame or self satisfaction?  I think, each one measures it in a different way. All the above three are very important. I think it is more than the above three. Thirst to learn more! Michael Angelo, the greatest Italian Artist (Painter and Sculptor), at his age of 90 said that he never attained the perfection he wanted! Also we should remember, everything else is success except quitting. Every time you fail, make sure you fail better. Then, you are on the right path towards success.