Mohiniattam 6 - A Nritya Yoga Comments

Mam you have described mohiniattam in these 6 poems so beautifully that whoever reads them will fall in love with this dance

Beautiful conclusion to an absolutely stunning anthology of Mohiniattam..

This is worth thinking about for a long time...dance as prayer and meditation. A prayer doesn't have to be in words.. It can be attunement or self-offering to the source of Creation. When restraint and free movement are balanced, the soul seems to be riding a wave-crest.

(cont.) To me, these lines are the most captivating of the first 5 Dance poems: “The slow, ethereal motion of the body That seems easy, flowing, charming Is but a misconceived notion! The dance is all about restraint, A concentrated effort to elevate the mind, A meditative journey towards perfection! A dance with Yogic discipline” Bri (:

“CHARMING FLOW OF THE BODY” AND “STUNNING POSTURES” could lure me to the subcontinent! ! ! ! to MyPoemList. (cont.)

Part 2 Dance, especially Mohiniyattam, is the expression of both body and soul. To the viewer, dance may seem free movement of the body. But the movements are, I believe, pre-defined, set to standards, and very restrictive. So, Mohiniyattam May well be defined as Nitya Yoga.

Hi Geeta, As you have indicated, Mohiniyattam can be translated as “the dance of the enchantress”. This dance form combines dance with Abhinaya (acting) too, which makes it immensely enjoyable. The defined “mudras” expressions are essential part of the dance. That is, is not just the musical and rhythmic movement of the body. The lyrical and musical background plays a very important role too. You have presented the dance form in most apt words poetically. Loved it.

You have aptly equated Mohiniattam with Nritya Yoga through which the performer has to focus 'on the dance as a prayer to the Almighty'. The poem takes us a step closer to understanding the intricacies of this dance form. It reflects the ethos of ancient Indian arts and philosophy. Thank you, Geeta ji, for this profound work. To overcome all the afflictions of the body, To control the fluctuations of the mind,

A soft, lyrical style instructs the dancers, To dance with stylish gaits, To bend the body into stunning postures, To perform effortlessly with ease, To overcome all the afflictions of the body, To control the fluctuations of the mind....I find the expression lively! Magnificently expressed, neatly articulated! This elegant piece of work is quite informative and useful....10

It may not be wrong, in my opinion, to conclude that Mohiniattam, or for that matter in any type of classical dance, is a tender, sophisticated and refined form of Hatyoga. Both the schools of yoga are ladders for achieving concentration and focus on spiritual elevation of the practitioner with the ultimate aim of salvation.10++.

In dance series you have nicely captured the different styles of dance and here you have painted ' Mohiniattam ' so attractively.....it may be cited....To dance with stylish gaits, To bend the body into stunning postures, ......Magnificent sentiment of love and beauty. A beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing.