Echoes of the Body and Soul

Excerpts from Dr.Kapila Vatsyayan and Dr.Kana Rele's  book Indian Classical Dance.

The history of Indian dance extends from the earliest levels of civilization to the present day..  India's prehistory and proto-history also provide sufficient ecidence of this fact. For example, there is a broken torso of a dancing girl from Mohenjodaro, and beautiful metaphors and similes in the 'Vedas' based on the art of dance. Dance as a profession and as a social activity has been associated witht all significant moments of the life cyle. 

Human body is always taken as the perfect vehicle by the artist, and all the other intenesely human activities were interpreted on the analogy of the human body. It is worth examining the principles of this art. The first principle insisted upon is the influence of enviornment upon the mood of the artist

secondly, the inward look or imagination of the artist by which these thought forms are given shape and develop the actual creative powers.

Thirdly the necessity for the artist to identify his body absolutely with the subject or to merge his own consciousness in aspect of nature which he wishes to interprete. With these processes, the art became less pursuit of beauty than an attempt to realise LIFE which is within us- Life in all its fullness and mystery..thus emerged the doctrine of Body and Soul.. Brahman ( the One divine being hidden in all beings)and Atman (soul). 

This realisation of the one and unique Brahman(God) all pervading which frees us from shakles and we realise that Reality as Sat(being) Cit( consciousness) and Ananda(delight bliss)- Saccidannanda

( Sanskrit term for eternal bliss) This apporach of using body to become one with the Brahman differes from individual to individual.

This approach to the supreme may be attained either through Jnana(Knowledge) or karma( work) or Bhakti( devotion). 

There is deep relation between Human body and the structure of Hindu temple as temples are built on the analogy of human body the basic idea is the BREATH!!!

Eventually, creating a wok of art is a ritual..A workof art is the physicial form within which the Formless Brahman isto be sought  and that would lead to the Ultiate Release - Moksha.(intangible bliss)