Which classical dance is mentioned in the 16th century text 'Vyavahara Mala'?

The correct answer is Mohiniyattam. The Vyavahara Mala is a 16th century text on law and legal procedure, written in Kerala by Mazhamangalam Narayanan Namboodiri. It contains one of the earliest known references to Mohiniyattam, which is why it is important for the history of the dance. The text mentions the payment to be made to a Mohiniyattam dancer, which shows that the dance existed and was performed professionally at that time.

Mohiniyattam, which means "the dance of the enchantress", is the classical dance of Kerala performed by women. It takes its name from Mohini, the beautiful female form taken by Lord Vishnu to enchant the demons during the churning of the ocean and to destroy the demon Bhasmasura. In the 19th century, Mohiniyattam received important support from Maharaja Swathi Thirunal of Travancore, who composed many songs for it, and from the Tanjore Quartet, especially Vadivelu, who worked at his court. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the dance declined, but it was revived in the 1930s by the poet Vallathol Narayana Menon through the Kerala Kalamandalam, with the help of dancers such as Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma, who is often called the "mother of Mohiniyattam".

Mohiniyattam is a lasya-style dance with soft, swaying movements. The dancers wear a white or off-white saree with a gold border, and the songs are in Manipravalam, set to the Sopana style of music, with the edakka as the main percussion instrument.

About the other options:

• Kathakali, also from Kerala, developed in the 17th century from Ramanattam and Krishnanattam, after the Vyavahara Mala was written.
• Bharatanatyam is the classical dance of Tamil Nadu, known in earlier times as Sadir.
• Kuchipudi is the classical dance of Andhra Pradesh.