What kind of myths are ancient Indian dances full of?

India is a country full of myths, and dance is no exception. Dance is regarded as God's creation in India, and the only purpose of dancers is to please God. Its original form may have originated from people's dance in ancient sacrificial ceremonies. On the one hand, it expresses piety to God, on the other hand, it expresses prayers to God, such as rain, bumper harvest, peace and so on. This is also a dynamic expression of people's happiness.

Shiva, the god of music and dance in India. In India, dance is both an entertainment art and a persuasion art. There is a myth about the emergence of dance. It is said that in ancient times, when the two eras alternated, mortals contracted various bad habits. So people prayed to Brahma to give the world a toy that could not only be seen but also heard, so as to arouse people's interest in bad habits. Brahma agreed, he closed his eyes and meditated, and finally decided to give the mortal the fifth Veda, which is "Dramatic Veda". This Veda contains all the moral essence in the world. Shiva, another great god, used her own dance art in this play, so she was honored as the "dance king".

When performing dance in India, a statue of Shiva, the four-handed "dancing king", is often placed in front of the stage. So far, this custom is still circulating. He holds a drum in the upper right, symbolizing creation, and some people say it symbolizes various sounds; His right hand symbolizes God's protection and blessing; He holds a burning flame at the top left, symbolizing that he can destroy everything he has created. Some people say that it symbolizes the fallacy that Shiva, the destructive dance god, stepped on the ignorant dwarf Asura. One hand above him is holding a small drum, beating the rhythm of creating the universe, while the other hand below is blessing his followers. This male torso is a typical dance ritual. Later generations drew a sketch of the dancer based on this. And spreading the truth; The left hand lifts its feet vertically like a tree trunk, symbolizing getting rid of all fetters; Step on a devil with your right foot. This demon is called Moyalaka, which symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. Raise your left foot, symbolizing transcendence and rising upward. The ring decoration around the dancing god symbolizes embracing human nature. The statue of the dancing king vividly inspired the purpose of Indian dance.

There are four schools of Indian dance, namely: balata dance, Katakali dance, Manipur dance and Katak dance. The most popular, oldest and most influential dance in India is the balata dance. This dance was originally performed in Hindu temples. At that time, there were some "dancing Darcy" in the temples, which meant "the maid of God". These people have been sent to temples since childhood and will never get married. Their only "sacred mission" is to dance for God and make him happy. Later, these dances gradually spread outside the temple.

Ancient Indian dance has a wide range of themes, including religion, myths and legends, court affairs and the daily life of working people. Religious themes are mostly taken from the Vedas. Religious ceremonies are usually accompanied by dancing. The actress who specializes in teaching dance skills in the temple is called "Dipadasi". Two well-known epics in India are often used as the themes of dance performances. Dancers praise heroes with graceful movements, showing justice and kindness will surely overcome evil thoughts.

Dance portrait