.

ts
ar
iti
rm

rg
ni

.o
://

ts
ttp

ar
|h

iti
PRAVESHIKA PURNA – 3RD EXAM

rm
om

rg
ni

.o
l.c

://

ts
ttp
ai

ar
gm

|h

iti
rm
Definitions of

rg
ni
iti

co

.o
://
irm

l.

ts
ttp
ai

ar
.n

gm
1. What is an adavu?

|h

iti
rts

rm
@

m
|a

rg
ni
iti

co

.o
Adavu is the basic unit of Bharatanatyam involving the whole body. Adavus forms the ABC’s of
9

://
irm

l.

rts
85

ttp
ai
pure dancing(Nritta) in bharatanatyam. Adavus are combined to form a dance sequence in
.n

a
92

gm

|h

iti
rts
84

rm
Bharatanatyam.

m
|a

rg
44

ni
iti

co

.o
9

://
irm
-9

l.

ts
85

An Adavu is the combination of:

ttp
ai
91

ar
.n
92

gm

|h
|+

iti
rts
84

rm
@
Position of the legs (Sthanakam)

om
|a
ha

44

ni
iti

.o
at

l.c
59

://
irm
-9

rts
an

ttp
ai
91

28

Posture of our standing (Mandalam) .n

a
gm
sw

|h
|+

iti
49

rts

rm
Vi

@
48

om
|a
ha

Walking movement (Chari)

ni
iti
4
at

l.c
59

://
irm
-9
an

ttp
ai
91

28

.n
Hand gestures (hastas)

gm
sw

|h
|+

49

rts
Vi

@
48

om
|a
ha

iti
All the four done in synchronization with Rhythm or Tala is ADAVU. Every Adavu will have
a

n
4
at

l.c
59
ith

://
irm
-9
an

ttp
ai
certain Shollukattu or syllable like “Tai Ya- Tai Hi”.
ar

91

28

.n

gm
w
w

|h
|+

49

rts
s
D

Vi

@
48

om
|a
ha

Adavus are generally practised in 3 speeds to enable the dancer to be perfect in her rendition.
r.

iti
a

4
at

l.c
59
ith

irm
-9
an

ai
ar

91

28

2. What is Korvai?
.n

gm
w
w

|+

49

rts
s
D

Vi

@
48

|a
ha
r.

The word Korvai means to compile, join or thread together. Korvais are adavus aesthetically set

iti

o
a
|D

4
at

l.c
9
ith

irm
-9

85
an

to a particular Talam (Rhythm) and Kalam (speed) and usually concludes with a Theermana

ai
iti

ar

91

.n
92
irm

gm
w
w

|+

rts
adavu repeated 1/3/6/9 times. Dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai says “If we consider ‘Adavus’ as beads,
s
D

84
Vi
N

@
|a
ha
r.

44

‘ Talam’ is the thread and ‘ Theermanam’ is the final knot we tie to finish the garland.”

iti
a
|D

at

59
ith

irm
-9
an

Generally for performances, the korvais are set to a musical peice. Jatiswaram and Tillana are
iti

ar

91

28

.n
irm

sw
w

|+

49

rts
pure dance pieces, where many such korvais are joined together.
D

Vi
N

48

|a
ha
r.
©

a
|D

it
4
at

9
ith

irm
-9

3. What is Sollukattu?
85
an
iti

ar

91

.n
92
irm

sw
w

|+

rts
D

84

sollukattu literally means a bundle of words. These are rhythemic syllablles borrowed from the
Vi
N

|a
ha
r.

44
©

a
|D

mridangam. Each family of adavu has its unique Sollukattu. Apart from this, sollus (words) are
at

9
ith

-9

85
an
iti

ar

91

aesthetically woven together in intricate talam to create a jathi.

92
irm

sw
w

|+
D

84
Vi
N

ha
r.

44
©

a
|D

at
ith

-9
an
iti

ar

91
irm

4. What is a Jathi?
sw
w

|+
D

Vi
N

ha
r.
©

a
|D

at
ith

an
iti

ar
irm

sw
w
D

Vi
N

r.
©

a
|D

ith
iti

ar
irm

w
 .
ts
ar
iti
rm

rg
ni

.o
://

ts
ttp

ar
|h

iti
Sets of aduvus make up a jathi. When the typical bharatanatya sollukattu is replaced by more

rm
om

rg
ni
complex mridangam sollukattu in a korvai, then it is called a jathi. unlike korvais, jathi is not

.o
l.c

://

ts
ttp
ai
danced to musical patters. Jathis stay as it is and most often are danced in beteween musical

ar
gm

|h

iti
passages. Among the bharatanatyam repertoire, Varnam is the item which has mandatory jatis.

rm
@

rg
ni
iti

co
The first jathi of a varnam is called a trikla jati.

.o
://
irm

l.

ts
ttp
ai

ar
.n

gm

|h
5. What is a theermanam?

iti
rts

rm
@

m
|a

rg
ni
iti

co

.o
Theermanam are the set of adavus used as a finale in korvais or jathis. They are rendered once or
9

://
irm

l.

rts
85

ttp
ai
repeated in multiples of 3. There are 2 commonly used theermana adavus – ta din gin a tom and
.n

a
92

gm

|h

iti
rts
84

rm
kitataka tari kit a tom.

m
|a

rg
44

ni
iti

co

.o
9

://
irm
-9

l.

ts
85

ttp
6. What is talam?

ai
91

ar
.n
92

gm

|h
|+

iti
rts
84

rm
@

om
|a

Thaalam can be defined as a tool for measuring the tempo and also to some extent the structure
ha

44

ni
iti

.o
at

l.c
59

://
irm
-9

of the song. Thaalam helps us in maintaining the rhythm or the beats of a song constant.

rts
an

ttp
ai
91

28

.n

a
gm
sw

|h
|+

iti
49

rts

rm
7. How many talams are there?
Vi

@
48

om
|a
ha

ni
iti
4
at

l.c
59

://
irm
-9

There are many types of talams. But the commonly used talams for bharatanatyam are the
an

ttp
ai
91

28

.n

gm
sw

|h
|+

49

rts
“Suladi sapta talams”. They are
Vi

@
48

om
|a
ha

iti
a

n
4
at

l.c
59
ith

://
irm
a. Druva talam 1011
-9
an

ttp
ai
ar

91

28

.n
b. matya talam 101

gm
w
w

|h
|+

49

rts
s
D

Vi

@
48

c. rupaka talam 01

om
|a
ha
r.

iti
a

4
at

l.c
59
ith

irm
d. jampa talam 1U0
-9
an

ai
ar

91

28

.n

gm
e. Triputa talam 100
w
w

|+

49

rts
s
D

Vi

@
48

f. Ata talam 1100

|a
ha
r.

iti

o
a
|D

4
at

l.c
9
ith

irm
g. eka talam 1
-9

85
an

ai
iti

ar

91

.n
92
irm

gm
w
w

|+

rts
s
D

84

When these seven talams are multiplied by the pancha jaatis the 35 talams arise.
Vi
N

@
|a
ha
r.

44

iti
a
|D

at

59
ith

irm
-9

8. What is an anga of a tala?

an
iti

ar

91

28

.n
irm

sw
w

|+

49

rts
D

Vi
N

The word anga literally means Limb. The parts of the talas are called the angas or vibhaagas.
48

|a
ha
r.
©

a
|D

it
4
at

9
ith

Though they are popularly known as “shadangas” (6 angas), The most popular among them are-
irm
-9

85
an
iti

ar

91

.n
92
irm

sw
w

|+

rts

a. Laghu – 1
D

84
Vi
N

|a
ha
r.

44
©

b. drutam - 0
a
|D

at

9
ith

-9

85
an
iti

c. Anu dhrutam – U
ar

91

92
irm

sw
w

|+

d. The other three are guru, plutham and kaakapaadham.

D

84
Vi
N

ha
r.

44
©

a
|D

at
ith

-9

Dhrutham and anu dhrutham are constants (they do not change), but laghu changes according to
an
iti

ar

91
irm

sw
w

the jaati of the thalam.

|+
D

Vi
N

ha
r.
©

a
|D

at
ith

an
iti

ar
irm

sw
w
D

Vi
N

r.
©

a
|D

ith
iti

ar
irm

w
 .
ts
ar
iti
rm

rg
ni

.o
://

ts
ttp

ar
|h

iti
9. what is jaati?

rm
om

rg
ni

.o
l.c

://
The word jaati typically menas type or kind. Carnatic music, on which bharatanatyam is based,

ts
ttp
ai

ar
gm

|h
recognizes 5 jaatis or 5 time measurements. they are popularly known as pancha jaati.

iti
rm
@

rg
ni
iti

co

.o
They are:

://
irm

l.

ts
ttp
ai

ar
.n

gm

|h

iti
rts
a. Chatushra jaati – Time measurements of 4

rm
@

m
|a

rg
b. Tishra jaati – Time measurements of 3

ni
iti

co

.o
9

://
irm

l.

rts
85

c. Khanda jaati - Time measurements of 5

ttp
ai
.n

a
92

gm

|h

iti
rts
d. Misra jaati - Time measurements of 7
84

rm
@

m
|a

rg
44

e. Sankeerna Jaati - Time measurements of 9

ni
iti

co

.o
9

://
irm
-9

l.

ts
85

ttp
ai
91

ar
.n
92

gm

|h
|+

iti
rts
84

rm
@

om
|a
ha

44

ni
iti

.o
10. Name the three speeds or the tri kaala-
at

l.c
59

://
irm
-9

rts
an

ttp
ai
91

28

.n

a
gm
sw

|h
|+

iti
49

rts
Vilamba kaala – slow

rm
Vi

@
48

om
|a
ha

ni
iti
4
at

l.c
59

://
irm
madhyama kaala – medium speed
-9
an

ttp
ai
91

28

.n

gm
sw

|h
|+

49

rts

durita kaala – fast speed

Vi

@
48

om
|a
ha

iti
a

n
4
at

l.c
59
ith

://
irm
-9

11. What Is Laya?

an

ttp
ai
ar

91

28

.n

gm
w
w

|h
|+

49

rts
s
D

Vi

@
Laya is rhythm. It is the heart beat of carnatic music. The importance of laya is known from the
48

om
|a
ha
r.

iti
a

4
at

l.c
Sanskrit shloka which says “Shruti mata, laya pita” Laya refers to the inherent rhythm in
59
ith

irm
-9
an

ai
ar

91

28

.n
anything. Irrespective of whether it is demonstrated or not, it is always present Expression of

gm
w
w

|+

49

rts
s
D

Vi

@
laya in an organised fashion through fixed time cycles is known as Tala.
48

|a
ha
r.

iti

o
a
|D

4
at

l.c
9
ith

irm
-9

85
an

ai
iti

12. What is Avartana?

ar

91

.n
92
irm

gm
w
w

|+

rts
s
D

84
Vi
N

@
|a
ha

The cyclic rendition of the Angas of the tala in the prescribed order is called avartana. Each cycle
r.

44

iti
a
|D

at

59
ith

irm
-9

is an avartana.
an
iti

ar

91

28

.n
irm

sw
w

|+

49

rts
D

13. What is sama?

Vi
N

48

|a
ha
r.
©

a
|D

it
4
at

9
ith

irm
-9

85
an

The first beat of the tala is called sama / sam. Sama also means going along with the tala.
iti

ar

91

.n
92
irm

sw
w

|+

rts
D

84
Vi
N

|a

14. What is usi?

ha
r.

44
©

a
|D

at

9
ith

-9

85
an
iti

ar

91

Usi is off – beat. When the bol is said not in sama -that is not to tala or not according to the laya
92
irm

sw
w

|+
D

84

and anga of the tala, then it is said to be in usi.

Vi
N

ha
r.

44
©

a
|D

at
ith

-9

15. What is aksharas?

an
iti

ar

91
irm

sw
w

|+
D

Vi
N

ha
r.
©

a
|D

at
ith

an
iti

ar
irm

sw
w
D

Vi
N

r.
©

a
|D

ith
iti

ar
irm

w
 .
ts
ar
iti
rm

rg
ni

.o
://

ts
ttp

ar
|h

iti
The total number of Aksharams of a tala are the total number of beats in a tala. Aksharams are

rm
om

rg
ni
the beats present in every anga of a tala. Aksharas change based on the jaati of the tala.

.o
l.c

://

ts
ttp
ai

ar
gm

|h
16. What is matra?

iti
rm
@

rg
ni
iti

co

.o
The number of counts between 2 aksharas are called the matras. Matras change base on the gati

://
irm

l.

ts
ttp
ai

ar
of the talam.
.n

gm

|h

iti
rts

rm
@

m
|a

rg
ni
17. What is sthaanaka?

iti

co

.o
9

://
irm

l.

rts
85

ttp
ai
.n

a
92

gm
Sthaanakas are standing postures. They are the starting posture of any adavu. They are 5 in

|h

iti
rts
84

rm
@

m
|a

number.

rg
44

ni
iti

co

.o
9

://
irm
-9

l.

ts
85

ttp
ai
91

ar
18. What are mandala? .n
92

gm

|h
|+

iti
rts
84

rm
@

om
|a
ha

44

Mandalas are postures with knee bent. They are the most important posture in an adavu. They are

ni
iti

.o
at

l.c
59

://
irm
-9

rts
10 in number.
an

ttp
ai
91

28

.n

a
gm
sw

|h
|+

iti
49

rts

rm
Vi

@
48

19. What are chaaris?

om
|a
ha

ni
iti
4
at

l.c
59

://
irm
-9
an

ttp
ai
91

28

Chaaris are movements. The various hand and leg movements which are essential for dance are
.n

gm
sw

|h
|+

49

rts

called charis. They are 8 in number according to Abhinayadarpana.

Vi

@
48

om
|a
ha

iti
a

n
4
at

l.c
59
ith

://
irm
-9

20. What are brahmari?

an

ttp
ai
ar

91

28

.n

gm
w
w

|h
|+

49

rts
s
D

Vi

@
Brhamaris are rotatory movements. They are the turnings found in dance. They are 7 in number.
48

om
|a
ha
r.

iti
a

4
at

l.c
59
ith

irm
-9
an

ai
21. What are utplavanas?
ar

91

28

.n

gm
w
w

|+

49

rts
s
D

Vi

@
48

|a
ha

Utplavanas are jumping movements found in Dance. They are 5 in number according to
r.

iti

o
a
|D

4
at

l.c
9
ith

irm
-9

abhinayadarpana.
85
an

ai
iti

ar

91

.n
92
irm

gm
w
w

|+

rts
s
D

84
Vi
N

@
|a
ha
r.

44

iti
a
|D

at

59
ith

irm
-9
an
iti

ar

91

28

.n
irm

sw
w

|+

49

rts
D

Vi
N

48

|a
ha
r.
©

a
|D

it
4
at

9
ith

irm
-9

85
an
iti

ar

91

.n
92
irm

sw
w

|+

rts
D

84
Vi
N

|a
ha
r.

44
©

a
|D

at

9
ith

-9

85
an
iti

ar

91

92
irm

sw
w

|+
D

84
Vi
N

ha
r.

44
©

a
|D

at
ith

-9
an
iti

ar

91
irm

sw
w

|+
D

Vi
N

ha
r.
©

a
|D

at
ith

an
iti

ar
irm

sw
w
D

Vi
N

r.
©

a
|D

ith
iti

ar
irm