Unit 1

Thala: The Basic Units of Time in Natya.

Meaning of thalam – Types of thalams – Aksharam -Matra – Saptha thalams – Pancha jaathis – Angas of thalam – Thala in Natya.

Unit 2

Basics of Indian Classical Music.

Introduction – Foundational Elements – Thala -Raga- Saptha Swaras – Arohana – Avarohana – Characteristices – Sruthi – Alankara – Types of Indian Classical Music.

Unit 3

Basics of Indian Calssical Dance.

Eight classical dance forms of India – two basic aspects -Thandava – Lasya – Three components – Nritha – Nrithya – Natya.

Unit 4

Fundamendatals of Indian Aesthetics in Natya.

Aestheticians of India – Theory of Rasa- Classifications of Bhava and Rasa.

Unit 5

Guidelines of Natya.

-Natyasastra by Sage Bharatha – Abhnayadarpana by Nandikeshwara

Course Objectives

• To understand the basic concepts of Indian classical art
• To learn technical terms, aspects and the contribution of Indian Aestheticians

Course Outcome

• Enhanced comprehension of Indian classical dance forms
• Ability to have an understanding of aesthetical studies.

• Acquaintance with the contents of the Abhinaya Darpana. (The chapters and the aspects of dance dealt within them).
• Peter LD (2013) The disclosure of Sakti in aesthetics: remarks on the relation of Abhinavagupta’s poetics and Nondual Kashmiri Śaivism republication, edited by Dwivedi RC and Togi NR (Eds.), Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi.
• Jeffrey L (2015) Dancing forth the divine beloved: a tantric semiotics of the bod as Rasain Classical Indian Dance. Sutra Journal 1(2): 1-11.
• South Indian Music – a multi-volume book series by Prof. P. Sambamurthy.
• Fundamentals of South Indian or Karnatic Music Author: E M Ramakrishnan; Publisher: Madras (1967).
• Historical Study of Indian Music. Author: Swami Prajnanananda. Publisher: Munshirm Manoharlal Pub Pvt Ltd; 2nd Rv&Enl edition (January 1, 2002). ISBN: 8121501776.
• South Indian music Author: P Sambamoorthy Publisher: Indian Music Pub. House; 7th ed., rev. and enl edition (1966).
• A dictionary of South Indian music and musicians Author: P Sambamoorthy.
• Nandikesvara’s Abhinayadarpanam by Prof. Manmohan Ghosh
• The Mirror of Gesture by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Gopala Kristnayya Duggirala
• The Evolution of Classical Indian Dance Literature: A Study of the Sanskritic Tradition by Dr. Mandakranta Bose
• Dance imagery in South Indian temples: study by Dr. Bindu S. Shankar
• An Introduction to Indian Aesthetics: History, Theory, and Theoreticians Hardcover – 18 February 2021 by Mini Chandran (Author), Sreenath V.S. (Author)
• A Modern Introduction to Indian Aesthetic Theory: The Development from Bharata to Jagannaatha Paperback – 30 March 2007 by S. S. Barlingay.