Shlokas in Bharatnatyam

Bharatnatyam is the perfect combination of music, song, rhythm and emotion. Shlokas are very important part of Bharatnatyam performance. 
Shloka/ Shlok/ Shlokam in sanskrit means a verse, hymn in praise of or a proverb.  They are usually two lined verses or a collection of such individual verses are then called as stotrams. Shlokam form a part of Hindu prayers.  They are the most common verses sung in every house hold in our country. Now, dance in our country is not only mere presentation. It is used as a process of self actualization. Dance is also involved with religion and prayer from beginning. Indians consider it as a form of prayer also. That is why shlokas are very important in the dance. Through the shlokas the dancers offer their prayer to God.  



 Some very common shlokas that are used in performances of Bharatnatyam are:

Saraswati Bandana:

Saraswati Namas thubyam
varade kama roopini
Vidya-rambham karishyami
Shiddhir bhavatumay sada

Ganesha Bandana:
Shuklam Bharadharam Vishnum,
Shashi varnam chatur bhujam,
prasanna vadanam dhyayet
sarva vighnopa shantayet,

Vishnu Bandana:
 Shantakaram Bhujagashayanam
Padmanabham suresham
vishvadharam gaganasadrasham
meghavarnam shubhangam
 lakshmi kantam kamala nayanam
yogi bhir gnyana gamyam
vande vishnum bhavabhaya haram
sarva lokaykanatham

Guru Bandana:
Gurur Brahma gurur vishnum
gurur devo maheshwaraha
guru sakshat parabrhma
tasmai shree gurave namaha




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