How Various Hindu Gods are depicted Indian Classical Dance Kathak, Bharatnatyam,
Kuchipudi, Odissi
Hindu gods and goddesses like Vishnu and Lakshmi, Rama and Sita, Krishna and Radha are all depicted in classical
Indian dances. This article will show you how these Gods and Goddesses are portrayed in the classical dance.
Dance, music and theatre are an enduring part of the Indian cultural milieu. In India all forms of art have a
sacred origin and the inner experience of the soul finds its highest expression in music and dance. The Hindu
attitude towards art as an expression of the Inner beauty or Divine in man brought it into close connection with
religion. Using the body as a medium of communication, the expression of dance is perhaps the most intricate and
developed, yet easily understood art form.
Indian dance is a blend of nritta - the rhythmic elements, nritya - the combination of rhythm with expression and
natya - the dramatic element. Nritta is the rhythmic movement of the body in dance, pure dance. It does not express
any emotion. Nritya is usually expressed through the eyes, hands and facial movements. Nritya combined with nritta
makes up the usual dance program. Nritya comprises abhinaya, depicting rasa (sentiment) and bhava (mood). To
appreciate natya or dance drama, one has to understand and appreciate Indian legends. Most Indian dances take their
themes from India's rich mythology and folk legends. Hindu gods and goddesses like Vishnu and Lakshmi, Rama and
Sita, Krishna and Radha are all depicted in classical Indian dances. Each dance form also draws inspiration from
stories depicting the life, ethics and beliefs of the Indian people.
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Picture of God/Goddess |
Depiction in Kathak |
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Ganapati/Ganesh/Gajanan
Ganesha, the Hindu deity in a human form but with the head of an elephant - represents the power
of the Supreme Being that removes obstacles and ensures success in human endeavors. Hindu religious
texts recommend the worshipping of Ganesha before the beginning of any religious, spiritual or
worldly activity.
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Ram
Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, is regarded as the Marayada Purushottam, or the most
ideal human being. Also referred to as Ramachandra and honorifically as Sri Rama, this son of King
Dasharatha and Ruler of Ayodhya, is one of the main anchors of the Hindu religion. Rama is a very
popular figure in Southeast Asia as well. Rama is revered as a King who really lived on Earth and
annihilated evil powers from the earth during His age
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Shankar
Lord Shankar or Shiva (Shiv) is the destroyer of the world, following Brahma (who is creator)
and Vishnu (Preserver). Shiva is responsible for change both in the form of death and destruction
and in the positive sense of the shedding of old habits.
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Vishnu
Vishnu is the lord of preservation and is known as the All-Provider. He performs the cosmic
function of cohesion. The constructive nature of his cosmic function stands out in contrast against
the destructive dispersive power of Shiva. Vishnu's function is to ensure the sustenance of the
universe that Brahma has created. He represents the cosmic cause of existence and the symbolization
of eternal life which keeps the universe as one.
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Krishna
Krishna is the eight incarnation of lord Vishnu. Krishna is the embodiment of love and divine
joy, that destroys all pain and sin. Krishna is the protector of sacred utterances and cows.
Krishna is a trickster and lover, an instigator of all forms of knowledge and born to establish the
religion of love.
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Budha
Buddha can refer to the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, or to anyone who has attained the
same depth and quality of enlightenment (awakened to the truth, or Dharma) and has experienced
Nirvana. He realized four nobel truths (All life is suffering, Suffering is caused by desire, To
eliminate suffering, eliminate desire, To eliminate desire follow the Eightfold Path). The
eightfold paths are Right view, Right intention, Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood,
Right effort, Right mindfulness, Right concentration.
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Saraswati
Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music and all the creative arts. Saraswati is
called the Mother of the Veda's and the repository of Brahma's creative intelligence. Saraswati is
also the goddess of speech, the power through which knowledge expresses itself in action. In the
Vedas Saraswati is primarily a river but in the hymns she is celebrated both as a river and a
deity.
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Durga
Durga - the goddess of power and strength, is perhaps the most important goddess of the Hindus.
She is a multi-dimensional Goddess, with many names, many personas, and many facets. As
Mahishasuramardini or Shakti, she is the destroyer of evil - with her ten mighty arms carrying
lethal weapons she triumphantly slays the demon Mahishasura. Durga, through all her forms,
encompasses the essence of salvation and sacrifice.
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Sita
Sita is considered as the ideal daughter, ideal wife, and ideal mother. Sita is one of the
principal characters in The Ramayana, the great epic of India. Her entire life constitutes an
example of idealism, loyalty and morality. Sita is regarded as the role model of wifely love and
adherence to duty. Sita is a brave woman of extraordinary brilliance. She has got all the values
that people believe, a woman must have in her character. Sita is a woman of virtue and of
immeasurable patience.
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Parvati
Goddess Parvati symbolizes noble virtues admired by the Hindu religion. Parvati is the better
half of Lord Shiva, the most innocent and the fiercest god in Hindu tradition. The couple together
symbolizes both power of renunciation and asceticism and the blessings of marital felicity.
Fertility, marital felicity, devotion to the spouse, asceticism and power are different virtues
symbolized by Parvati.
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Radha
Radha's passion for Krishna symbolizes the soul's intense longing and willingness for the
ultimate unification with God. Shri Krishna is the soul of Radha and Radha is definitely the soul
of Shri Krishna. She is the undivided form of Shri Krishna. She will remain a mystery unless one
can know her inexpressible divine elements. She is worshipper as well as his deity to be
worshipped. She being a beloved of Shri Krishna is known as "Radhika".
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