This is the first Shloka of Natya Shastra taught to Indian Classical Dancers that means –
“Yato hasta stato drishti”…”Where the hand gestures are, the eyes follow”
“Yato drishti stato manaha”…”Where the eyes go, the mind follows”
“Yato manaha stato bhava”…”Where the mind is, there is the feeling evolves”
“Yato bhava stato rasa”…”Where the feeling evolves, the Rasa flows”
यतो हस्त स्ततो दृष्टि
यतो दृष्टि स्ततो मनः
यतो मनः स्ततो भाव:
यतो भाव स्ततो रस:
Mudra holds a special place in the Indian Classical Dance and It has been well described in the Shloka of Natya Shastra (A Performing Art Treatise).
When an artist express feelings with different hand gestures instead of using words is known as Mudra.
The expression is Rasa, When emotions arise in the heart by looking at something and those expressions were expressed from the face and started appearing in the eyes and it brings a smile on lips, it is called the expulsion of emotions i.e. Rasa
The ultimate goal of Performing Art is to bring expulsion of emotions in the heart of the audience and the Hand gestures or Mudra are the foremost way to express emotions.
About the Author: – Neha Khunteta
She is a Kathak Artist and has been associated with it for more than 10 years and the founder of Kathak By Neha the best Kathak dance academy in Jaipur.
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