'Natyashashtra', the earliest text dealing with performing arts (dances and music), was compiled by which sage?
ASakya
BValmiki
CAgastya
DBharata
Answer:
D. Bharata
Read Explanation:
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.