India - Religion

Question 1

Hinduism

Answer 1

• Religion of philosophical knowledge known as Sanatana Dharma (all inclusive religion)
• The Hindu Trinity (each god is vital to the theme of dance with regard to story, form, quality and purpose)

Question 2

Shiva

Answer 2

• Creator and Destroyer

- The dance of Nataraja/Shiva is masculine

Question 3

Brahma

Answer 3

• Creator, one creator of all
• Brahma gave the Natya Shastra as the sacred text of dance to Bharata.
• Bharata - wise old man
• Natya Shastra is called the fifth veda or bible
• The old sage Bharata was the receptor for the sacred text and one of the dance forms of India refers to his name.

Question 4

Vishnu

Answer 4

Sustainer, the protecting god

Question 5

Nataraja

Answer 5

• Nataraja is the name that refers to Shiva when appearing as the “Dancer”

Question 6

Parvati

Answer 6

Shiva’s (wife?) consort is Parvati, who is the incarnation of feminine dance

Question 7

Lakshmi

Answer 7

Lakshmi, Visnu’s consort, performer of the dance that distract demons

Question 8

Krishna

Answer 8

• Additional sacred dancer
• “the Blue god”, is represented as playing the flute
  concert flute & small flute (shepard’s flute)
  incarnation of vishnu

Question 9

Radha

Answer 9

• Krishna’s consort, or wife, is Radha
• The Ras dance was created in her honor
  
  • Usually done in the spring to symbolize rebirth