Abhinaya in Bharatanatyam
The Bharatnatyam techniques of communicating a verbal message are Abinaya (story-telling in mime), which uses facial expressions (Mikha abhinaya) and gestures.
Some authentic styles, such a Melattur style, emphasise a highly expressive, spontaneous and elevated mode of abhinaya.
The Abinaya of is comprised of
Angikabhinaya: communicating the meaning of the songs using the body, i.e. head, hands, legs, etc.
Vachikabhinaya: vocal communications (this element is absent in the present-day Bharatanatyam, except for the such element as mouthing of words)
Aharyabhinaya: use of costumes, jewellry, make-up etc.
Satvikabhinaya: expressions of Bhava and Rasas (emotional states).
There are 8 main or primary emotions, Sthayibhavas, also termed as Rasas (Moods):
Shringara - Love
Hasya - Mirth
Veera - Heroism
Roudra - Anger
Bhayanaka - Terror
Bheebatsa - Disgust
Adbhuta - Wonder
Karuna - Compassion
Shanta - Tranquility - was added by Abhinava gupta.
Sringara means love, but is not confined to rati sringara. There is bhakti sringara and vatsalya (parental love) sringara besides rati sringara. Famous Bharata natyam dancer Balasaraswati has said: "sringara brings out the great beauties of this dance can be portrayed with all the purity of the spirit. The flesh, which is considered to be an enemy of the spirit and the greatest obstacle to spiritual realization, has itself been made a vehicle of the divine in the discipline of the dance. Sringara thus is an instrument for uniting the dancer with Divinity.
