Namaskaram (namaskiriya)
This is the first learning lesson in bharathanatyam. Namaskaram is to express our greetings Lord Nataraja and pancha maha bootha including the mother earth and then the guru and last but not the least, audience. the namaskaram is a traditional and first and foremost way to start every dance sessions.
The sloga of namaskar is….
“Angikam Bhuvanam yasya
Vaachikam Sarva Vaangmayam
Aaharyam Chandra Taradi
Tam Namah Saatvikam Shivam”
It’s always better to learn the sloga in a poetry form.
Angikam – Body
Bhuvanam – Universe (body is as huge and powerful as the universe)
Yasya – what
Vaachikam – Speech
Sarva – Everyone
Vaangmayam – Understandable language
Aaharyam – Attire
Chandra – Moon
Taradi – Stars (adored with moon and stars)
Tam namah – We bow
Saatvikam – Pure
Shivam – Lord shiva (we bow to the almighty lord shiva )
For doing namaskaram you have to do katagamugam with both hand in front the chest. First we have to step right leg, then left leg and do sigaram (rotating both hands around your shoulder). strech your hand back mudhra towards the side and bring both hands forward with your eyes following the right hand.then sit on your toes touch the floor do chathuram then touch your eyes with chathuram then namaskaram overhead and then at fore head then namaskaram in front of your chest.
This the starting position for bharathanatyam. please make sure that your fingers are not bent . stretch out line straight, as a beginner if you are doing this mudhra right you should feel a little discomfort in the area between the small finger and middle finger and between the ring finger and middle finger .the elbows are firm up like this. Make sure your elbows are always stretched away from your body.
While you reach the ground pay your respect to mother earth.
This namaskaram is indicates the respect paid to lord Nataraja
This namaskaram will be forehead level. Indicates the respect paid to the guru
This the chest level indicates the respect paid to the audience
And finally finish with the namaskaram get back up, join your feet together. Finish in a samapaatham position.