Bharanrtyam Karana Viniyoga Malika
An Exposition by
Smt.Sundari Santhanam & Sathavadhani Dr.R.Ganesh

Sthanaka v Cari-s v Nrtta Hastas v Karana & Karna Viniyoga v Angaharam v Mandalam v Pindibandha

Karana Viniyoga Malika - a garland of Karana-s, in practice, is a unique project. No theory of art will be complete or rather meaningful without proper application. Therefore practical utility essentially focusing on Rasa is of paramount importance. This has an even greater bearing in the performing arts. Therefore Karana Viniyoga ( Karana-s in action with reference to thematic dance) becomes very relevant.

Though Bharata has not specifically mentioned any viniyoga to Karana-s, Abhinavagupta in his famed gloss Abhinava Bharati has given many practical applications. All the 108 Karana-s are applied to different poetic compositions penned specially for this purpose. A few are chosen from Abhinava Bharati, Abhijnanasakuntala, Mrcchakatika and Ratnavali. A wide variety of themes starting from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, Mythological works like Bhagavata, Sivapurana , Halasyapurana and Devibhagavata to imaginary situations from rural, nomadic, and romantic lives involving both the human and animal motifs are incorporated in the verses. Every verse are tuned to suitable and evocating Raga. Though all the Karanas are i n sequence. a few of them are clubbed together to suit the theme, while the rest are isolated and independent.

To have a proper background and logical totality, starting from the Sthanakas, Cari-s, Nrttahastas up to the Angaharas, Mandalas and Pindibandhas, illustrations are provided. This will no doubt help a serious student to understand and appreciate the Karana system in all respects, and a visual delight for Rasikas.

Smt.Sundari Santhanam, who conceived, choreographed and performed dance for this project is the senior most disciple of Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam and is in this field for more than forty years. She is the Director, Bharata Nrtyasala, Bangalore, established in 1989. She is a senior fellowship awardee for a research project on Desi Karana-s from Department of Culture, HRD, Government of India.

Sathavadhani Dr.R.Ganesh who wrote the Lysics for this project is an Avadhani, a multi-lingual poet and the receipt of President's Certificate Merit Honor. His interests are very varied and starts from Mechanical Engineering to all the allied aspects of Indian Art, Cultural and Philosophy.