Hi,
How do we know when to use the Sthayee bhava, when to use the sanchaari bhava and when to use the Saatvika bhava.
thanks.
when to use the different bhavas
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soumya
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 17 Dec 2011, 19:38
Re: when to use the different bhavas
There is no particular state to say when to use which bhava, but I can give you examples so you can relate them.
Bhava basically means emotion.
Sthayi bhava is the permanent emotion. So, a particular item, say for example, the naatakurinji varnam on lord nataraja, "swami naan undan adimai". the basic underlying bhava is bhakti. so, here the sthayi bhava is bhakti. the navarasas come under sthayi bhavas.
now, each line in the varnam is going to give rise to other emotions that are connected to the sthayi bhava, which is bhakti, in this case. these emotions are called sanchari bhavas. like, in the anupallavi "thamadam seiyaadhu van darul" it is despair, or anxiety, in the wait for the Lord. that is a sanchari bhava.
An example for sanchari bhava: consider the varnam in dhanyasi ragam, "nee intha maayam". the sthayi bhava is shringaram - love for the lord. But the lines "maaran ambinaal" denote that the nayika is missing the lord and fatigued because of the pangs of love. now the fatigue is a sanchari bhava. similarly the sadness arising from the separation is also a sanchaari bhava.
Sattvika bhava is the one that is from the conscience. it is not really "acted" out to say exactly. so, when you are completely involved in the bhava, in the dance, certain emotional experiences arise involuntarily from within. if you are steeply involved in a bhakti piece, you might end up in tears arising out of the bhakti. sattvika bhava is not easily "performed" because it cannot be performed. it is experienced, and comes as a result of years of sincere practice or saadhagam. it is literally the journey to the core of the soul, which is the Paramatma itself. So, sattvika bhava appears when you completely are immersed in the artform and become one with the artform and the very awareness of the stage, or audience completely disappears..
I hope this makes it easier to understand the difference and the application of the bhavas.
BTW, there are 5 bhavas, according to natyashastra.
Bhava basically means emotion.
Sthayi bhava is the permanent emotion. So, a particular item, say for example, the naatakurinji varnam on lord nataraja, "swami naan undan adimai". the basic underlying bhava is bhakti. so, here the sthayi bhava is bhakti. the navarasas come under sthayi bhavas.
now, each line in the varnam is going to give rise to other emotions that are connected to the sthayi bhava, which is bhakti, in this case. these emotions are called sanchari bhavas. like, in the anupallavi "thamadam seiyaadhu van darul" it is despair, or anxiety, in the wait for the Lord. that is a sanchari bhava.
An example for sanchari bhava: consider the varnam in dhanyasi ragam, "nee intha maayam". the sthayi bhava is shringaram - love for the lord. But the lines "maaran ambinaal" denote that the nayika is missing the lord and fatigued because of the pangs of love. now the fatigue is a sanchari bhava. similarly the sadness arising from the separation is also a sanchaari bhava.
Sattvika bhava is the one that is from the conscience. it is not really "acted" out to say exactly. so, when you are completely involved in the bhava, in the dance, certain emotional experiences arise involuntarily from within. if you are steeply involved in a bhakti piece, you might end up in tears arising out of the bhakti. sattvika bhava is not easily "performed" because it cannot be performed. it is experienced, and comes as a result of years of sincere practice or saadhagam. it is literally the journey to the core of the soul, which is the Paramatma itself. So, sattvika bhava appears when you completely are immersed in the artform and become one with the artform and the very awareness of the stage, or audience completely disappears..
I hope this makes it easier to understand the difference and the application of the bhavas.
BTW, there are 5 bhavas, according to natyashastra.
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laya2
- Posts: 315
- Joined: 05 Dec 2009, 03:39
Re: when to use the different bhavas
Thanks very much Soumya for patiently explaining it. Very kind of you.
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soumya
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 17 Dec 2011, 19:38
Re: when to use the different bhavas
Oh, not at all a problem, Laya!! 
Anytime!
Anytime!-
vasanthakokilam
- Posts: 10958
- Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:01
Re: when to use the different bhavas
That is an excellent description, Soumya. Your description of sattvika bhava captures the concept of 'stillness in motion'. That may be a contradiction in terms when viewed superficially but definitely not so in this context. Stillness is usually associated with meditation which is zero external motion, but here what you describe as 'becoming one with the artform' is another form of stillness. And that artform is dance which has everything to do with motion. Excellent.