The book examines the spiritual aspects of Indian classical dance and the role it plays in Hindu rituals. Topics discussed include the origin of the Karanas and their presence in temples, the repertoire of temple dancers and the dances of the...
gods, the teaching of the nine emotions (nava-rasa), and the classification of main heroines (ashta-nayika). Great attention is also given to ancient dance treatises and their authors, particularly Bharata's "Natyashastra" and Nandikeshwara's "Abhinaya-Darpana".
The book examines the spiritual aspects of Indian classical dance and the role it plays in Hindu rituals. Topics discussed include the origin of the Karanas and their presence in temples, the repertoire of temple dancers and the dances of the gods, the teaching of the nine emotions (nava-rasa), and the classification of main heroines (ashta-nayika). Great attention is also given to ancient dance treatises and their authors, particularly Bharata's "Natyashastra" and Nandikeshwara's "Abhinaya-Darpana".