Sentiments in Natya Shastra

 NATYA-SHASTRA

                                    Shiva as the Lord of Dance

What is Natya shastra?  

• Natya-shastra is a Sanskrit text on performing arts such as Dance, Music, Drama which are performed for an audience.
• It is an ancient encyclopedia of arts. 
• The book deals with the all aspects of  Classical Sanskrit theater. 
• Written by Bharata Muni around 200 BCE, text also know as Bharata Natya shastra
• Text consists 36 chapters with total 6000 poetic verse.
• The subject covered- the structure of play, construction of stage, genre of acting, body movement , makeup, costume, role and goal of art , music instrument and so on. 
• It is also known as the fifth Veda as it has been evolved by taking words from the Rigveda, music from the Samaveda, gestures from the Yajurveda and emotions from the Atharvaveda.

Chapter 6 - Sentiments

Sentiment or emotion is evoked in each member of the audience by the art.

 The text outline eight sentiments.

 

• Erotic (śṛṅgāra)
•  Comic (hāsya)
• Pathetic (karuṇa)
• Furious (raudra) 
• Heroic (vīra)
• Terrible (bhayānaka) 
• Odious (bībhatsa) 
•  Marvellous (adbhuta)

Eight Sentiments from four original ones

Sentiments are the four [original] Sentiments e.g. Erotic, Furious, Heroic and Odious.

The Comic [Sentiment] arises from the Erotic, the Pathetic from the Furious, the Marvellous from the Heroic, and the Terrible from the Odious.

    A mimicry of the Erotic [Sentiment] is called the Comic, and the result of the Furious Sentiment is the Pathetic, the result of the Heroic Sentiment is called the Marvellous, and that which is Odious to see, results in the Terrible.

• Erotic is light green (śyāma) - Romantic love , beauty, attractive.
• Comic  white  humour or comedy.
• Pathetic grey (kapota) sorrow, pain, sadness and bitterness
• Furious  red permanent mood of krodha or anger.
• Heroic  yellowish/ light yelllow (gaura)     the passion and eagerness evoked in the heart while the person engages in fighting for good over evil, protecting a just cause and safeguarding the interests of the helpless and have-nots.   
• Terrible black -  depicts fear and worries that are evoked while facing something that is more powerful than oneself.
•  Odious blue -  offensive, impure, harmful things or seeing and discussing them
•  Marvellous  yellow. - mystery, astonishment and curiosity.