Question

'Natyashashtra', the earliest text dealing with performing arts (dances and music), was compiled by which sage?

• A. Sakya
• B. Valmiki
• C. Agastya
• D. Bharata

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Bharata

Sage Bharata Muni and the Natyashastra

• The Natyashastra, considered the foundational text for Indian performing arts, including dance, drama, and music, is attributed to the sage Bharata Muni.
• It is estimated to have been compiled between 200 BCE and 200 CE, making it one of the oldest surviving treatises on the arts in the world.
• The Natyashastra is a comprehensive work, detailing aspects such as dramatic composition, stagecraft, gesture, dance movements (known as mudras), musical modes (ragas), and even costume and makeup.
• It is often referred to as the 'fifth Veda' because it is believed to have been created by Brahma as a medium for instruction and entertainment for all classes of people, transcending the limitations of the other Vedas which were traditionally restricted to the priestly class.
• Sage Bharata Muni's contribution is pivotal in codifying and systematizing the performing arts, providing a theoretical framework that has influenced Indian classical traditions for centuries.
• The text is divided into 36 chapters and covers a vast range of topics related to theatrical performance and aesthetics.
• Understanding the Natyashastra is crucial for comprehending the historical development and theoretical underpinnings of various Indian classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, and Odissi.