What is meant by Mohiniyattam?
mohini attam, (Malayalam: “dance of the enchantress”) also spelled mohiniattam or mohiniyattam, semiclassical dance form from the state of Kerala, southwestern India. The dance is performed by women in honour of the Hindu god Vishnu in his incarnation as the enchantress Mohini.
What is the history of Mohiniyattam?
Mohiniyattam is a classical Indian dance, which by definition traces its repertoire to the foundational text Natya Shastra. The Natya Shastra text is attributed to the ancient scholar Bharata Muni. Its first complete compilation is dated to between 200 BCE and 200 CE, but estimates vary between 500 BCE and 500 CE.
How is Mohiniyattam?
It is named after Mohini, the Hindu mythological beauty. Known for its depiction of feminine love in many forms such as divine, maternal, and carnal, it was originally practiced by Devadasis (temple dancers) in Kerala. It is a solo dance performed by a woman and closely resembles Bharatanatyam.
Who is famous for Mohiniyattam?
| Smitha Rajan | |
|---|---|
| Smitha Rajan in a Mohiniyattam posture | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1969 (age 53) Kerala, India |
| Genres | Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi |
What is the importance of Mohiniyattam?
Following the incident, Lord Vishnu came to the rescue of the gods. He allured the demons by taking the form of a woman with outstanding beauty called Mohini and stole the elixir of life from them and handed it to the gods. The enticing acts of Mohini are reflected in the dance form of Mohiniyattam.
Which music is used in Mohiniyattam?
Mohiniyattam MusicThe style of vocal music for Mohiniattam has generally been seen as classical Carnatic. The lyrics are in Manipravala (a mixture of Sanskrit and Malayalam). The main musical instrument used in Mohiniattam is Edakka.
Why is Mohiniyattam important?
Mohiniyattam has a legend attached to it as per the Hindu mythology. It says that, after the ocean of milk was churned jointly by the gods and the demons to extract the elixir of life, the demons took the divine brew by force. Following the incident, Lord Vishnu came to the rescue of the gods.
Is Mohiniyattam a folk art?
Some of the folk dances like Kathakali and Mohiniyattam are recognized as classical dances. Padayani, Kaikottikali and Thirayattam are also the most popular folk dances of Kerala.
Who started Mohiniyattam?
This dance form of Kerala was structured into the present day classical format by the Travancore Kings, Maharaja KartikaTirunal and his successor Maharaja Swati Tirunal (18th -19th century C.E.). Mohiniyattam as seen today has evolved through a long process of evolution. It traces its origin to the temples of Kerala.
What do Mohiniyattam dancers wear?
The Mohiniyattam Dance Dress is an off-white plain saree, embellished with a gold-laced or bright golden-colored brocade, embroidered on the borders. A matching blouse finishes the adornment. The front part of the saree has a pleated cloth, having saffron or golden colored bands, starting from the waist.
Is Mohiniyattam a folk dance?
There are more than fifty well-known folk dances in Kerala. Some of the folk dances like Kathakali and Mohiniyattam are recognized as classical dances. Padayani, Kaikottikali and Thirayattam are also the most popular folk dances of Kerala.
What does Mohiniyattam mean?
Definition – What does Mohiniyattam mean? Mohiniyattam also named Mohiniattam is a classical Indian dance said to have started as early as 16 th century C.E. in the city of Kerala as a dance meant for the temples.
What is the difference between Kathakali and Mohiniyattam?
Mohiniyattam is a classical Indian dance from Kerala. Mohiniyattam, ( Malayalam: മോഹിനിയാട്ടം ), is an Indian classical dance form that developed and remained popular in the state of Kerala. Kathakali is another classical dance form of Kerala.
What is Mohiniattam dance?
Mohiniattam is one of the two classical dances of India that developed in the state of Kerala. Let’s take a look at its history, repertoire, costumes, steps and exponents.
How is Mohiniyattam structured?
Vadivelu structured Mohiniyattam with a proper repertoire that included Chollukettu (the first invocatory item in Mohiniyattam), Jatiswaram, Padavarnam, Padam and Tillana. The dance was then performed by the Devadasi Sugandhavalli.