Gaudiya Nritya
Encyclopedia
Gaudiya Nritya is a Bengali
school of Indian classical dance. Originating in Gaur, West Bengal
, the ancient capital of the region, it is an all-pervasive form which eventually gave rise to present-day Odissi
, Manipuri
and Kuchipudi
and contributed to the development of many classical dance forms.
, the Natyashastra of Bharata
, mentions the names of no classical dance form recognized today, but in its fourteenth chapter are the four Pravrittis: Dakshinatya, Audramagadhi, Avanti, and Punchali. During British colonial rule
, all these traditional forms declined. It was only around the middle of the 20th century that attention came to be drawn to these dance forms, and they were then gradually revived and re-established on the foundation of their traditional heritage.
Bharatanatyam
, Kuchipudi
and Mohiniattam were evolved from the Pravritti named Dakshinatya. The Audramagadhi represents the dance of Audramagadha- Anga, Banga, North part of Kalinga and Vatsa (Sloka is angabangautkalingavatsachaiva audramagadha). This was then a form that was extended over the eastern region. From this Odissi
in Orissa
, Satriya in Assam
and Gaudiya in Bengal. From the Gaudiya Vaishnava school of thought again, has evolved the classical Manipuri
i.e. Sankirtana & Raas form of dance. About the two other forms Avanti and Panchali, little is known. The age old Gaudiya Nritya again established with the help of not only the Natyashastra but also the Srihastamuktavali and the Sangeet
Damodara by Pandit Shubhankara. It has also found strong references to this dance form in Matanga
’s Brihaddeshi, Sangeet Ratnakar of Sarangadeva and regional text material like the Abhinayachandrika by Mahesvara Mahapatra. It has also strong evidences in the temple sculptures as early as the 4th century B.C. right down to as late as the18th century.Many references supporting the existence of dance forms in ancient Bengal are to be found also in literature. In the story on Behula, given in the Manasa Mangal Kavya, we come across an instance of a housewife of the soil of Bengal dancing in the court of Lord Indra, the king of the Gods. In Vijaya Gupta's Manasa Mangal there is a description of Ananda-Tandava dance of Shiva. And the Devadasi
tradition existed in Bengal from ancient time in temples, till now as the relic of the past we could see Vaishnavite Sevadasis and Nachnis of western part of bengal.
During the time of the Pala dynasty we could know from Ramcharita Kavya about the devadasi dancers of Gauda Banga. Padmavati, the wife of poet Jayadeva
, (12th century A.D.) is also said to have been a classical dancer.
The visual grandeur, which could not be captured in words, was immortalized by sculptures in metal, stone, wood and clay. The unabashed beauty of this glorious dance tradition is conveyed through several sculptural representations found in many of the temples and preserved in the museums of Bengal. However, the temple sculptures and literature have remained a mute, yet irrefutable proof of dance in this part of India, though clay and mud do not stand a test of time usually.
From above substances this dance form has been revived by Prof. Mahua Mukherjee, Head, Department of dance Rabindra Bharati University. Now one study centre of this dance form is running under Rabindra Bharati University
.
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
school of Indian classical dance. Originating in Gaur, West Bengal
Gaur, West Bengal
Gour, or Gaur , as it is spelt mostly in modern times, or Lakhnauti is a ruined city, in the Malda district of West Bengal, India, on the west bank of the Ganges river, 40 kilometers downstream from Rajmahal.-History:...
, the ancient capital of the region, it is an all-pervasive form which eventually gave rise to present-day Odissi
Odissi
Odissi, also spelled Orissi , is one of the eight classical dance forms of India. It originates from the state of Orissa, in eastern India. It is the oldest surviving dance form of India on the basis of archaeological evidences. The classic treatise of Indian dance, Natya Shastra, refers to it as...
, Manipuri
Manipuri dance
Manipuri dance is one of the major Indian classical dance forms. It originates from Manipur, a state in north-eastern India on the border with Myanmar . In Manipur, surrounded by mountains and geographically isolated at the meeting point of the orient and mainland India, the form developed its own...
and Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi is a Classical Indian dance form Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also popular all over South India. Kuchipudi is the name of a village in the Divi Taluka of Krishna district that borders the Bay of Bengal and with resident Brahmins practicing this traditional dance form, it acquired the...
and contributed to the development of many classical dance forms.
History
The classic text on Indian dramaturgyDramaturgy
Dramaturgy is the art of dramatic composition and the representation of the main elements of drama on the stage. Dramaturgy is a distinct practice separate from play writing and directing, although a single individual may perform any combination of the three. Some dramatists combine writing and...
, the Natyashastra of Bharata
Bharata Muni
Bharata was an ancient Indian musicologist who authored the Natya Shastra, a theoretical treatise on ancient Indian dramaturgy and histrionics, dated to between roughly 400 BC and 200 BC. Indian dance and music find their root in the Natyashastra...
, mentions the names of no classical dance form recognized today, but in its fourteenth chapter are the four Pravrittis: Dakshinatya, Audramagadhi, Avanti, and Punchali. During British colonial rule
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, all these traditional forms declined. It was only around the middle of the 20th century that attention came to be drawn to these dance forms, and they were then gradually revived and re-established on the foundation of their traditional heritage.
Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam
Bharata Natyam or Chadhir Attam, is a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. The dance is usually accompanied by classical Carnatic music...
, Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi is a Classical Indian dance form Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also popular all over South India. Kuchipudi is the name of a village in the Divi Taluka of Krishna district that borders the Bay of Bengal and with resident Brahmins practicing this traditional dance form, it acquired the...
and Mohiniattam were evolved from the Pravritti named Dakshinatya. The Audramagadhi represents the dance of Audramagadha- Anga, Banga, North part of Kalinga and Vatsa (Sloka is angabangautkalingavatsachaiva audramagadha). This was then a form that was extended over the eastern region. From this Odissi
Odissi
Odissi, also spelled Orissi , is one of the eight classical dance forms of India. It originates from the state of Orissa, in eastern India. It is the oldest surviving dance form of India on the basis of archaeological evidences. The classic treatise of Indian dance, Natya Shastra, refers to it as...
in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, Satriya in Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
and Gaudiya in Bengal. From the Gaudiya Vaishnava school of thought again, has evolved the classical Manipuri
Manipuri dance
Manipuri dance is one of the major Indian classical dance forms. It originates from Manipur, a state in north-eastern India on the border with Myanmar . In Manipur, surrounded by mountains and geographically isolated at the meeting point of the orient and mainland India, the form developed its own...
i.e. Sankirtana & Raas form of dance. About the two other forms Avanti and Panchali, little is known. The age old Gaudiya Nritya again established with the help of not only the Natyashastra but also the Srihastamuktavali and the Sangeet
Sangeet
The term sangeet is Sanskrit which may be translated into English as sung together, or singing with instrumental accompaniment and has several definitions - all of which are derived from its origins.-Classical music study:...
Damodara by Pandit Shubhankara. It has also found strong references to this dance form in Matanga
Matanga
Matanga may be:*the name of an elephant in Hindu mythology*the name of an Boddhisattva, protagonist of the Matanga Jataka*name of a Pratyekabuddha*name of the author of the Brihaddeshi, an early treatise on classical Indian music...
’s Brihaddeshi, Sangeet Ratnakar of Sarangadeva and regional text material like the Abhinayachandrika by Mahesvara Mahapatra. It has also strong evidences in the temple sculptures as early as the 4th century B.C. right down to as late as the18th century.Many references supporting the existence of dance forms in ancient Bengal are to be found also in literature. In the story on Behula, given in the Manasa Mangal Kavya, we come across an instance of a housewife of the soil of Bengal dancing in the court of Lord Indra, the king of the Gods. In Vijaya Gupta's Manasa Mangal there is a description of Ananda-Tandava dance of Shiva. And the Devadasi
Devadasi
In Hinduism, the devadasi tradition is a religious tradition in which girls are "married" and dedicated to a deity or to a temple and includes performance aspects such as those that take place in the temple as well as in the courtly and mujuvani [telegu] or home context. Dance and music were...
tradition existed in Bengal from ancient time in temples, till now as the relic of the past we could see Vaishnavite Sevadasis and Nachnis of western part of bengal.
During the time of the Pala dynasty we could know from Ramcharita Kavya about the devadasi dancers of Gauda Banga. Padmavati, the wife of poet Jayadeva
Jayadeva
Jayadeva was a Sanskrit poet circa 1200 AD. He is most known for his composition, the epic poem Gita Govinda, which depicts the divine love of Krishna-an avatar of Vishnu and his consort, Radha, and it is mentioned that Radha is greater than Hari, and is considered an important text in the...
, (12th century A.D.) is also said to have been a classical dancer.
The visual grandeur, which could not be captured in words, was immortalized by sculptures in metal, stone, wood and clay. The unabashed beauty of this glorious dance tradition is conveyed through several sculptural representations found in many of the temples and preserved in the museums of Bengal. However, the temple sculptures and literature have remained a mute, yet irrefutable proof of dance in this part of India, though clay and mud do not stand a test of time usually.
From above substances this dance form has been revived by Prof. Mahua Mukherjee, Head, Department of dance Rabindra Bharati University. Now one study centre of this dance form is running under Rabindra Bharati University
Rabindra Bharati University
Rabindra Bharati University is a university in Kolkata, India. It was founded on May 8, 1962, under the Rabindra Bharati Act of the Government of West Bengal in 1961, to mark the birth centenary of the poet Rabindranath Tagore...
.