Hindu Mythology Research Paper Example

Hindu Mythology Research Paper Example Hindu Mythology Paper Hindu Mythology Paper In Hindu mythology, dance is believed to have been conceived by Brahma. Brahma inspired the sage Bharata Muni to write the Natya Shastra, a treatise on performing arts, from which a codified practice of dance and drama emerged. [3] He used pathya (words) from the Rigveda, abhinaya (gestures) from the Yajurveda, geet (music) from the Samaveda and rasa (emotions) from the Atharvaveda to form the Natyaveda (body of knowledge about dance). [4]The best-known of Hindu deities- Shiva, Kali and Krishna- are typically represented dancing. 5] Shivas cosmic dance, tandava, Kalis dance of creation and destruction and Krishnas dance with the gopikas (cow-herd girls)- Rasa Lila- are popular motifs in Hindu mythology. [6] In ancient India, there were no dedicated auditorium halls or theaters, and dance was usually a functional activity dedicated to worship, entertainment or leisure. Dancers usually performed in temples, on festive occasions and seasonal harvests. Dance was performed on a regular basis before deities as a form of worship. 7] Even in modern India, deities are invoked through religious folk dance forms from ancient times. [8] Classical dance forms such asBharata Natyam use mudras or hand gestures also to retell episodes of mythological tales such as the slaying of Kaliya by Krishna. [9] Gradually dancers, particularly from South India, moved from temples to houses of royal families where they performed exclusively for royalty. [10] India offers a number of classical Indian dance forms, each of which can be traced to different parts of the country. Classical and folk dance forms also emerged from Indian traditions, epics and mythology. [11] There are many Indian folk dances such as Bhangra, Bihu, Ghumura Dance, Sambalpuri,Chhau and Garba and special dances observed in regional festivals such as Lohri[12] and Navratri. [13][14] The presentation of Indian dance styles in film, Hindi Cinema, has exposed the range of dance in India to a global audience. [1 Once Gods called a council and were surprised to find out that they had nothing to do. There was absolutely nothing to occupy their minds with or draw their attention to. They realized that they must put an end to such situation and after taking council with each other they decided to retell stories with the help of gestures and motions. So the art of dance and drama came into being. All this happened approximately in the era which is called the Golden Age or Krita Yuga in Indian mythology. No one heard anything about the art of neither dance nor drama then. The Golden Age lasted for hundreds of thousands of years and then according to cosmic laws Krita Yuga was replaced by Treta Yuga and everything in the world underwent great changes. Ideals, morals, ethics were distorted. People were unsatisfied and bored. And then Indra, after calling the council of Gods suggested that they made a request to Brahma to create such an art that would be pleasant for both eyes and ears like the most beautiful things in the world, the art for the highest castes and at the same time available even to the lowest castes which were forbidden to study Vedas. The Lord Brahma heeded their request and went into the state of meditation. In his mind he called for the four sacred Vedas, the embodiment of the eternal truths in Hinduism, and took the very essence from each of the four.