Bharatanatyam

The dance that the temples gave birth to

Bharatanatyam is the classical dance form of Tamil Nadu — born in the temples where devadasis danced for the deity, codified over centuries, nearly suppressed in the 20th century, and revived by the cultural renaissance of the 1930s. It is one of the oldest continuously performed classical arts in the world.

The 108 karanas — the foundational poses — are carved on the south gopuram of the Brihadeeswarar temple in Thanjavur, placed there by Rajaraja Chola I in 1010 CE. A living dancer performs the same poses today. The continuity is real, not symbolic.