The Natya Shastra is the ancient Sanskrit treatise that lays down the theory and practice of Indian drama, dance, and music. Attributed to the sage Bharata Muni and composed roughly two thousand years ago, it is the foundational text of Indian performing arts and the source of the rasa theory of aesthetics.
Key takeaways
- The Natya Shastra is the foundational treatise of Indian performing arts.
- It is attributed to the sage Bharata Muni.
- It was composed roughly two thousand years ago.
- It introduces the influential theory of rasa.
What does the Natya Shastra cover?
The text is encyclopaedic. Across its chapters it addresses playwriting, stagecraft, acting, gesture, music, dance, costume, and even theatre architecture. It treats performance as a complete art with its own detailed grammar.
Who wrote it and when?
Tradition attributes the Natya Shastra to Bharata Muni. Scholars date its composition to somewhere between 200 BCE and 200 CE, making it one of the oldest surviving works on dramatic theory in the world.
Why does it still matter?
Its ideas, above all the theory of rasa, still underpin Indian classical dance, music, and theatre. Performers and scholars return to it as the origin point of Indian aesthetics.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote the Natya Shastra?
It is attributed to the sage Bharata Muni.
What is the Natya Shastra about?
The theory and practice of drama, dance, and music, including the rasa theory.
How old is the Natya Shastra?
Roughly two thousand years old.