The Sanskrit word Sangeetha for Music is defined
as "a confluence of Song, Lyrics & Dance". ( Geetham Vadyam Thadha Nritham Trayam Sangeetham
Uchyathe ) !
Art is defined as that which generates happiness (
Kal Ahladatha iti Kala ).
Kathakali is one of the best art forms of Kerala
and is played in almost all temples. The word " Temple" is derived from the Latin word
Tempulum , a
place where Law and Justice can be administered.
Kerala culture is rich with Arts. There are other
forms of Art, like
Ottam Thullam, Theyyam, Kalari Payattu, Mohini Attam, Chakyar Koothu,
Nangiar Koothu, Velakali, Thiruvathira Kali etc. The videos of all these arts we
have
uploaded at Kerala Heritages. It gives the Supreme Point where Truth, Art and Music meet, which is only
discernible to the divinely intoxicated mind.
Art is divine, said Michelangelo. Art is
grandchild of Deity, said Dante. Now this confluence of Song, Lyrics and Dance can take man to the
altaltissimo, the highest Blissful Summit or Spiritual Zenith, which is only
accessible to the divinely-intoxicated mind !
Dance is divine, said Bharata Muni, the Master of
classical Dance.
Bhavananubhavathvam Bharathathvam.
"The Cosmic Dance" , says Fritjof
Capra in his book "The Tao of Physics" " is the dance of sub
atomic matter".
The ancient mystics discovered that Man is a
miniature Universe. The physicist Fritjof Capra defined the dance of atoms and sub-atomic particles,
the galaxies and the constellations as the dance of Lord Shiva. "
The
Cosmic
Dance", he said, " is the dance of sub-atomic matter" !
All Indian arts manifest the Law of
Correspondences. Between Microcosm and Macrocosm, between Man and the Universe. The beauty of the eternal Universe
is celebrated in the beauty of the human body. The rhythmic movements of the
dancer symbolise the dance of the Universe, by the Lord of Dancers, the Lord
Shiva Himself. " The Dancing Shiva is the dancing Universe" declared
Capra !
The Dance of Bliss of Lord Shiva, called Ananda
Tandavam, is the
manifestation of the Cosmic Energy in five activities
Srushti - Creation, unfolding, pouring forth
Sthithi - Preservation, maintenance
Samhara - Destruction or taking back
Tirobhava - Concealing and hiding the Transcendent Reality
Anugraha - Bestowing Grace
It is He that is immanent in the Play - Himself
the Play, Himself the Player, Himself the Playground ! We find that behind that play is a Truth-
Rhythm and an Ethos. We may regard it as Lila ( Cosmic Play ) of the Divine,
the joy of the Artist's., the Geometer's, the Architect's, creating and
recreating Himself in Himself for the sheer bliss of that self-creation. It
is He who is expanding, it is He who is contracting, it is He who is concealing His Essence and it is He who is conferring Grace. Himself the
Play, Himself the Player, Himself the Playground !
The Universal principle resides in us
He is playing hide and seek with His own Force
Divine, he wears the garb of animal and Man
Eternal, He assents to Fate and Chance
He whose transcendence rules the pregnant Vasts
Lay prescient in our subliminal depths
A luminous individual power alone !
