The Sītā Svayamvara Episode of Rāmāyaṇa – Its Creative Interpretation in Bharata Natyam.

Author(s)	Dr. Meenakshi Iyer Gangopadhyay
Country	India
Abstract	Kāvya plays a very significant role in the abhinaya aspect of Indian classical dance. In this context, the Rāmāyaṇa occupies a very significant place. The episodes from the Rāmāyaṇa are narrated in dance in the form of dṛśya kāvya (visual poetry). The dancer interprets and re-interprets these stories making the characters come alive through the choreographic presentations. Several translations and versions of the Rāmāyaṇa are found in India. This research paper will be focusing mainly on the Sītā Svayamvara episode portrayed in the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa and its interpretation in the Rāmāyaṇa of Kamban. This episode of the Rāmāyaṇa will be creatively interpreted in Bharata Natyam. The study will throw light on how, during the entire process of choreography, the dancer is also transformed into a poet. What is expressed in the Rāmāyaṇa through words, is manifested by the dancer- choreographer through mukhajābhinaya and śarīrābhinaya – thereby transforming poetry into ‘dṛśya kāvya’.
Keywords	abhinaya, sāhitya, dṛśya kāvya, choreography, mukhajābhinaya, śarīrābhinaya
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 4, July-August 2025
Published On	2025-07-07
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i04.46777
Short DOI	https://doi.org/g9s89g

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