Karnataka'S Rich Heritage – Temple Sculptures Andamp; Dancing Apsaras : An Amalgam Of Hindu Mythology Natyasastra And Silpasastra

<p><i>Nataraja</i>the dancing Siva sculpture is perhaps the most well-known among all Hindusculptures and rightly so. It has evoked highly advanced discussions amongscientists philosophers performing artists art critics art collectorshistorians archaeologists and mythologists. The Nataraja sculpture alsooccupies a pride of a place at CERN the European Centre for Research inParticle Physics in Geneva. </p><p>Siva according toHindu Mythology was the very first dancer in the world. All dramaturgy anddance traditions emerge from Siva’s cosmic dance. Tandu Siva’s disciplenarrated the description of Siva’s dance to Bharata Muni and he is believed tohave compiled the <i>Natyasastra</i> theworld’s first treatise on dramaturgy dance and other performing arts. Scholarsbelieve that the <i>Natyasastra</i> waswritten over a long period of time between the 2nd century BCE and 2ndcentury CE with contributions from various sages with its foundation havingbeen laid by Bharata Muni. </p><p>Convergence betweenHindu mythology <i>Natyasastra</i> and <i>Silpasastra</i> was the natural outcome.Karnataka and its temple architecture tradition played a pioneering role ingiving an artistic form to this convergence in its temple sculptures. Thoughthis trend may have started earlier during 2nd and 3rdcentury CE It'started to take the center stage from the times of the BadamiChalukyas. Passing through various refinements between 5th and 10thcenturies it reached its peak with the Hoysala art. This book traces thehistory of temple sculpture evolution and development through the centuries byreferring to the existing sculptural forms and the canonical literature thatdeveloped over time.</p>