Indian dancing

GLOSSARY

Raja, lord or king Rajadavis, women who perform before the flagstaffs in temples

Rajsik, heroic characters

Rakshas, demons

Rasa, a sentiment

emotional fervour

Rati, love

Rawdra, fury

Raudra rasa, mood of fury

Rechaka addiyams, movements of neck, hands, or other parts of the body

Rig Veda, Book of Hymns

Rishi, hermit

Sama Veda, Book of Melodies Samhara,Rudra destroying through Samhara Samyukia, double-hand gestures Sarangi, stringed instrument producing sounds not unlike those of the bagpipe Sattvika, of the mind virtuous characters Sattwik abbinaya, the interpretation of moods Shakha, hand movements Shama, peace Shamiana, improvised canopy Shanta, serenity Shanti, peace Sharira, the body Shristi and avirbhava, Brahma creating through the action termed shris#? or avirbhava Sloka, verse Soka, compassion Sringara, eroticism Shrshti, Vishnu preserving by means of sthtiti Sudras, menials Swadasis, those dancers whose services are reserved for special festive occasions Swamis, holy men Swara, scale Swarams, delicate nuances

Tabla, a pair of drums Tal, small cymbals Tala, timing; also refers to the tiny cymbals used in Bharata Natyam Tambura, four-stringed instrument Tamsik, destructive, diabolic characters Tandav, vigorous masculine dance movements Thekas, exptessions Thirmanams, combinations of dance movements of entire body Tika, a dot Tirobhava, Maheshwera conferring illusion by means of ¢/robhava Torahs, thythmic timing and footwork used in Kathak dancing Tukra, dance metre showing ‘a piece ot bit’

Upanga, minor portions [of the body] such as the lips, the mouth, the teeth, the tongue, the nose, the cheeks, and the eyes

Ustads, composer-teachers

Urasha, bravery

Uttplavana, leaping movements

Vachika, of the voice Vachik abhinaya, verbal expression such as dialogue in drama Vaishya, merchants Vandanaslokam and thodayam, prayer and dance music Veera, valout Veni, semi-circle of real or artificial flowers round the bun or plait of the hair Vibhatsa, disgust Vidhbyadharis, female celestial holders of wisdom Vidwans, scholars Vilubita, slow measures also madhija, medium-speed measures druta, tapid measutes Viniyoga, meaning Vir or bira rasa, heroic mood

Yagur Veda, Book of Sacrifices

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