Laasya School of Dance & Music

Bhedas

Bharatanatyam is governed by various rules laid down in the Natya Shastra a book written by Bharata Muni. These rules include the different ways to hold the hands, eyes, head, neck, legs and so on.

Below i give the shlokas pertaining to the various movements of each part of the body as i learnt in Kalakshetra.

Shiro Bheda
Greeva Bheda
Dhrishti Bheda

Shiro Bheda (head movements)
Samam udhvaahitham aalokitham dhutam
Kampithamcha paraavrittam utkshiptam parivaahitham.
samam :straight udhvaahitham:head with eyes facing up aalolitham:rotating the head dhutam:shake head from side to side kampitham:shaking head up and down paraavritham:looking to one side utkshiptham:semi circle from one side to the other parivaahitham:shaking the head swiftly from one side to the other.

Greeva Bheda (head movements)
Sundareecha thirashcheena thathaiva parivarthitha
Prakampithaacha bhaavagner neya greeva chaturvidha
sundareecha:atami thirashcheenaa:paravritham with atami thathaiva parivarthitha:move head in a semi circle from side to side prakampitam:moving neck in and out like a duck

Dhristi Bheda (eye movements)
Samam aalokitham sakchi praalokitha nimeelithe
Ullokithaanuvriththecha thathaachaivaavalokitham.
samam:straight aalokitham:round sakchi:look oblique praalokitha:both sides nimeelithe:eyes half closed ullokitha:look up anuvriththecha:up and down avalokitham:down