Essay name: Arts in the Puranas (study)
Author:
Meena Devadatta Jeste
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute Pune
This essay studies the Arts in the Puranas by reconstructing the theory of six major fine arts鈥擬usic, Dance, Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, and Literature鈥攆rom the Major and Minor Puranas. This thesis shows how ancient sages studied these arts within the context of cultural traditions of ancient India.
Chapter 2 - Dance in the Puranas
33 (of 43)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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- 105 - - dance in a circle, interlocking their hands or clapping each other's hands rhythmically. It is also called a 'Pindibandha'. Circular dance formation, interlocking the hands or clapping and the singing seems the essential features of the Rasa dance. Soft speeches and gentle looks (br眉bhanga viksita) also contribute in the effect of the dance. Different types of circle formations are mentioned in the Puranas. The type of Rasa described in the Bhagavata Purana is not a circle of women around one man as mentioned in the Harivansa. But it is the mandala formed with one man and one woman (one Gopi and one Krsna.) It is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana that Krsna multiplies himself and stands between two women. This suggests the mandala of couples. Except the Harivalsa, the other Puranas describe the beauty of Nature as the background of this Rasa Dance. 40 The Bhagavata Purana describes the Rasa dance very
elaborately. "That night beautified by the autumnal moon, set
in. The almighty Lord having seen the night rendered delightful
with the blooming of autumnal jasmines, made up his mind to
hold sport as promised with the Gopis. In that moonlight Arsna
melodiously played songs on his flute to captivate the hearts
of the Gopls. Having heard that music capable of exciting
desire, they hastened to the place of Krsna. Every one of
those damsels considered herself the best of all women and was
thus elated with pride. Beholding that, Krsna instantly
disappeared from that place. The Gopis suffered the pangs of
