Smt. Swapna Krishnamohan
March 2023
Does Indian Classical Dance Enhance Cognitive skills?
If the title created any curiosity in you, I invite the readers to join me on this voyage of delving into the ancient text of Natya Shastra Chapter four on kaRaNas and the latest research on Neuroplasticity.
Karana with verse inscribed on the top, Photo courtesy: Narthaki.com
प्रायेण करणे कार्यो वामो वक्षःस्थितः करः चरणस्यानुगश्चापि दक्षिणस्तु भवेत्करः ॥ ५७॥
Meaning:
In the Karana the left hand should generally be held on (near) the Chest, and the right hand is to follow the [right] foot.
There are clear instructions on the performance of the ‘KaRaNas’ in the Natya Sastra Chapter four, backed by the sculptures and inscriptions on Brihadishwara, Chidambaram, Sarangapani temples as researched by Dr. Padma Subramanyam. I am sure if you are connoisseur of arts, or an Architect with interest in South Indian Temple sculptures, you must have surely seen a sculpture on the Brihadishwara Temple or Chidambaram temple that depict some of the poses (“frozen moments of the movements.” [1] Dancing Siva is portrayed in these reliefs with four arms- Dr. Padma subramayam)
For the novice, KaraNas are movements of feet called ‘Chari’, sthAnaka – postures of the body and, Nritta hastas -movements of the arms, as described by Bharata Muni in the Natya Sastra and described as
हस्तपादसमायोगो नृत्यस्य करणं भवेत् ॥ ३०॥
Meaning:
The combined [movement of] hands and feet in dance is called the Karana.
There are 108 KaraNas described in the Natya Sastra. They are generally used in performing Nritta or in portrayal of battle/war in dance. As I started learning more and more about the kaRaNas (the complexity of the movements including the Charis and Nritta hasta), I was reminded of the Brain exercises, thanks to my exposure to them as a facilitator of the Brighter minds program[2] offered to Children by the Heartfulness Institute[3].
Brighter Minds, Photo courtesy: Brighter minds
These are a set of exercises using hands and fingers, which help in firing and creating synaptic connections in the brain, supposedly help in developing one’s cognitive abilities like memory, focus etc., when practiced regularly. For example, one might be able to ‘read’ something on a piece of paper, blindfold, or be able to read a book, placed in another room. Though one might wonder if the Brain exercises is the only reason for this optimal usage of other sensory organs (beyond eyes)? Lately there is enough evidence captured towards proving this. If one wants to know more about this, do learn about the ‘neuroplasticity’[4] or ‘cortical remapping’ or sensory substitution[5].
Coming back to the KaRaNas of Natya Shastra, which are much more complex than the brain exercises as the kaRaNas also involve sthAnaka’s, postures of the body and Charis’ - movements of the legs, in addition to the hand movements, ofcourse ALL DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
Let’s take an example, the ‘Nikuttakam’ karana[6] (the 9th of the 108 KaraNas) is to be done using, one hand moving up in Shukathunda hasta[7] while the other hand moving in a wavy movement and in Vaishnava Sthaanaka[8], one leg in Udghattita[9]. Isn’t it fascinating? If you do find this fascinating, try a simple brain exercise where you move one hand in circular motion while the other, moving as if making a square. And then start walking while doing this. There is a great chance some new synaptic firings happening in one’s brain.
Now the question is, does learning the KaRaNas, make one cognitively smarter, creative? Drive clarity and make better decisions? Help ward off neurodegenerative diseases? Well, let’s leave that research to our readers and future researchers to discover. Till next time, try looking up a few more Karanas and brain exercises. Happy dancing!!
Glossary:
KaRaNa: “కరణ”; करण (Movements involving hands, legs and body postures)
NS: Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra
Cari: చారి , चारी (Movements of the legs)
SthAnaka : స్థానక, स्थानाका ( Body Postures)
Nritta: Pure dance, a presentation of rhythm through graceful movement of the body
[1] How karana sculptures in Big Temple were discovered - The Hindu
[3] Heartfulness: Meditation | Relaxation | Yoga | Spirituality
[4] Neuroplasticity - PubMed (nih.gov)
[5] Sensory substitution - Wikipedia
[6] (2) The 108 Karanas | Karana Prakaranam | Dr Padma Subrahmanyam - YouTube (3:18 to 3:21)
[7] (3) Araala Hasta & Shukatunda Hasta - YouTube
[8] (3) Bharatiya Natya Sastra : EP #02 - YouTube (watch at 14:49)
[9] (3) Lesson 4 | Paadabheda/Pada Bheda | Bharatanatyam | Ridhima - YouTube (watch at 3:05)