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The Dance of Divine LoveBy Ranjan S. Karippai
Mohiniyattam is a classical, female dance form of Kerala (India), with attractive performance. The dress, costumes, theme and steps... everything takes our mind to an eternal world of fascination. The main sentiment reflected in this dance is sensual love and the themes are contextual to that, but devotional. The expressions are symbolic. Only a trained skilful artist can perform this dance on stage.
The history says that this dance might have originated as a temple dance performed by Devadasis (Women in service of god). Earlier, it was being performed in temples and royal courts only. In 18th century, the contributions of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal (erstwhile King of Travancore) helped it to gain the status of a classical dance form. After his period, it again had a downfall and degenerated into eroticism to satisfy the epicurean life of some provincial satraps and feudal lords for a long time. Later, in first half of 20th century, with the efforts of some eminent persons like the great Malayalam poet Vallathol, it could regain the status of a classical and renowned performing art of the state. He included this in the syllabus to make it a modern performing art in Kerala Kalamandalam, the pioneer institute of performing arts of Kerala, which he founded in 1930.
The make-up and dressing of Mohiniyattam is simple and very attractive. The dancer's face is made up of yellow and pink-paste. She wears sandal colored, gold bordered Kasavu saree and jacket. Jasmine flowers adorn her tied up hair. She decorates her eyes with Kajal and the lips are reddened. The invocation of Mohiniyattam is known as Cholkettu. The dancer's rhythmic virtuosity unfolds to the viewers unknowingly, leading our mind to a world of trance. The accompaniments are Veena, flute, Mridangam, Violin and Edakka, lending excellent support to the vocal music and to the visual rhythm of Mohiniyattam. Mohini means a maiden who exerts desire or steals the heart of the onlooker. It relates to the Hindu mythology of Lord Vishnu taking on the guise of a divine enchantress Mohini to enthrall people in connection with episodes of churning the milk ocean to extract the elixir of life and immortality (Amruth) and also in the slaying of Bhasmasura (demon). The theme of Mohiniyattam is love and devotion to god. Lord Vishnu or Krishna is often the hero in the songs. The spectator would feel the presence of the hero when the heroine or her maid details dreams and desire through the circular body movements, delicate footsteps and subtle expressions. The dancer in the slow and medium tempos is able to find adequate space for improvisations and suggestive expressions with hand and finger movements, eye gazes and facial expressions. Wide swinging steps and swinging movements of the torso from side to side is a unique attraction telling the emotions. This is a dance of enchantment, purpose being overtly sensual. It is visibly erotic and the eyes being the center of attraction with obvious coquetry. Mohiniyattam is focused essentially on feminine moods and sensual emotions. Usually performed as solo, it is staged occasionally in group as well. The musician sings in offstage, narrating the theme of divine love, the danseuse demonstrates everything with her skilled steps, hand, fingers, gestures, eyes and facial expressions. The dance style is marked with its grace, fluidity and rhythmic rotating movements in a soft, smooth and sensual way. This is the season of temple festivals in Kerala, and it goes up to May. Mohiniyattom dancers have a busy time now, with open stage performances. Needless to say, it is the golden time too for us to enjoy the taste of this divine art. |
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TM
The divine enchantress holds on our mind for a while by
her magnificent looks and movements on the stage, leaving deep sense of
rejoice and satisfaction. Globally renowned dance Mohiniyattam makes the
feast of enjoyment to the soul of thousands in Kerala now in open stages of
temples and other festivals. 
This dance is believed to have a tradition of about four centuries. We wont
feel passing time when we immerse into the transcendental world of this
dance performance, which may last for 2-3 hours.
This development was an attempt to secularize a temple
dance, infuse lyricism and add individuality with a theatrical tradition.