SSC
The technique of Indian classical dance was first codified in the Natyashastra by:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option B — Bharata Muni
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Bharata Muni. The Natyashastra, the oldest surviving Indian text on the performing arts, is traditionally credited to the sage Bharata Muni. It is believed to have been compiled between about 200 BCE and 200 CE, although some exam sources give earlier dates. It codifies the techniques of dance, drama and music in great detail, including the movements of the body, hand gestures, postures, facial expressions, rhythm, stage design, costume and the theory of Rasa and Bhava.
According to legend, the god Brahma created the Natya Veda, a "fifth Veda" that could be understood by everyone, by taking words from the Rig Veda, music from the Sama Veda, gestures from the Yajur Veda and emotions from the Atharva Veda. He then taught it to Bharata Muni, who passed it on to his hundred sons and wrote it down as the Natyashastra. The text has 36 chapters (some versions have 37) and describes 108 karanas, the basic units of dance movement. Some of these karanas are carved on the gopurams of the Nataraja temple at Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu.
About the other options:
Nandikeshvara wrote the Abhinaya Darpana ("Mirror of Gesture"), a later text on gesture and expression that is important in Bharatanatyam training.
Abhinavagupta was a 10th and 11th century philosopher from Kashmir who wrote the Abhinavabharati, a famous commentary on the Natyashastra. He also developed the idea of Shanta as a ninth rasa.
Panini was an ancient grammarian who wrote the Ashtadhyayi, the foundational text of Sanskrit grammar. He is not linked with the codification of dance.
💡 Exam tip
The Natyashastra and Bharata Muni are the most frequently asked facts about the theory of Indian classical dance. Remember that the Natyashastra is often called the fifth Veda, and that Abhinavagupta wrote the most famous commentary on it.💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore Indian Dance Forms Questions
View all ›- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:
Indian Dance Forms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Indian Dance Forms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
Indian dance forms are one of the most frequently tested areas of static GK. This topic covers the eight classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Sattriya), the folk and tribal dances of every state, and related terms such as mudra, abhinaya, lasya and tandava. Most questions ask which state a dance belongs to, which community performs it, or which feature identifies a classical style. Learn the classical dances with their state and one signature feature each, such as the face make-up of Kathakali or the brass plate of Kuchipudi. For folk dances, group them state by state, since exams often list three or four dances and ask for the common state. Watch for dances shared by more than one state, such as Chhau, which has three styles. Practise the Indian dance forms questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.