The Natyashastra

15.12.2025

The Natyashastra

Context

During the 20th Session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in New Delhi, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) held a scholarly event focused on the principles of the Natyashastra.

About Natyashastra

What it is?

The Natyashastra is the foundational Sanskrit scholarly work detailing the science of dramatic presentation (natya), expressive movement (nritya and nritta), musical composition (sangita), aesthetic theory, and all aspects of stagecraft within the Indian tradition. It is highly revered as the Natya Veda (The Fifth Veda), designed to impart moral, artistic, and social values to all societal segments through the medium of performance.

Authored by: Bharata Muni.

Language: The text is composed in Classical Sanskrit, predominantly in the śloka (couplet) form, with some sections of prose added in later versions.

History and Composition:

• Dating: Its composition is generally placed within the period of c. 200 BCE – 200 CE, according to scholarly agreement.
• Evolution: The text represents the final written compilation of a much older oral tradition of performance.
• Commentary: The most significant and authoritative classical interpretation is the Abhinavabharati by Abhinavagupta (c. 10th–11th century CE).
• The original text is believed to have contained 36,000 shlokas and was later condensed to the current 6,000 shlokas.
• It arose from a request by the gods to Lord Brahma to create an accessible form of knowledge and entertainment for all people.

Key Features of the Text

• Structure: The entire volume is organized into 36 main chapters (with some versions specifying 37 chapters).
• Scope: It functions as an exhaustive manual, encompassing the full production cycle of any theatrical presentation.
• Rasa Theory (Central Principle): It details the concept of aesthetic flavor (Rasa) achieved through the corresponding emotional state (Bhava). The core rasas are Shringara, Hasya, Karuna, Raudra, Veera, Bhayanaka, Bibhatsa, Adbhuta (with Shanta later included).
• Four-Fold Acting Tools (Abhinaya): It defines four essential methods of dramatic communication: Angika (physical expression), Vachika (vocal delivery), Aharya (external aids like costume/props), and Sattvika (psychological/inner emotion).
• Dramaturgy & Stagecraft: It covers narrative structure, performer roles, different dramatic styles, the architecture of the theatre space, make-up, and directorial notes, serving as a complete technical guide.
• Dance & Gesture Codification: The text meticulously outlines standardized gestures (mudras/hastas), postures, facial and eye movements, and foundational movements called karanas, which are essential for formalized training.
• Integration of Arts: It views performance as a comprehensive synthesis of rhythm, music, movement, and emotional portrayal, making artistic theory and practical application inherently linked.
• It defines the theatre space (Natya Mandapa) in three architectural styles: Vikrista (oblong), Caturasra (square), and Tryasra (triangular).
• It outlines the concept of the "Model Spectator" (Rasika), describing the sensitive and cultivated person necessary to fully receive and appreciate the aesthetic experience (Rasa).

Significance

• Civilisational Foundation: This treatise provides the fundamental aesthetic and theoretical structure for the entire Indian classical performing arts tradition, including dance, theatrical practice, music education, and art theory.
• Cultural Continuity: It acts as a bridge, enabling artists to re-interpret and refresh traditional forms for modern consumption and training while preserving the core tenets of the art form.
• Its influence extended far beyond India, significantly impacting the cultural traditions and performance arts of Southeast Asian nations like Thailand, particularly in the use of mudras and epic storytelling.
• The text is considered a philosophical work, aiming not merely at entertainment but at the spiritual elevation of the audience into a higher, transcendent state of experience.

Conclusion

The Natyashastra remains the definitive text for Indian classical arts, providing a holistic framework of aesthetics, drama, and movement. Its Rasa theory and Abhinaya principles ensure the cultural and spiritual continuity of performance traditions across generations.