Technical Vocabulary and Grammar: Adavus, Mudras, Karanas, Stances, Tala and Laya
What the exam tests
This domain checks command of the working grammar of the prescribed form: basic units, hand gestures, stances, rhythmic cycles and counting. Answers must use correct terms and show counting logic.
Core vocabulary
- Adavus: fundamental Bharatanatyam movement units, including tatta, natta, kutta, kuditta mettu and sarukkal adavus; taught in sequences and combined into korvais.
- Mudras: asamyukta (single-hand) and samyukta (both-hand) hastas. Abhinaya Darpana-based syllabi commonly teach 28 asamyukta and 24 samyukta hastas, though counts vary by text.
- Karanas: 108 codified dance units described in Natyashastra chapter 4, combining stance, movement and gesture; they are not the same as adavus.
- Stances: aramandi (half-sit), muzhumandi (full sit), samapada (feet together); Kathak uses different stance and chakkars.
- Tala: rhythmic cycle. Adi tala has 8 aksharas (4+2+2); Rupaka 6; Misra Chapu 7 (3+4); Khanda Chapu 5 (2+3).
- Laya: tempo - vilambit, madhya, drut; laya is speed, tala is cycle.
- Notation: solkattu or patakshara syllables in Bharatanatyam; padhant in Kathak.
Worked example
A korvai is set in Adi tala and repeats four avartanas. Adi tala has 8 aksharas per avartana, so the korvai spans 32 aksharas. If the last phrase uses 8 aksharas, it fills one avartana; if it uses 4, it half-fills one. The reasoning: first identify the tala and its akshara count, then multiply by avartanas, then place the phrase.
Traps that cost marks
Confusing tala with laya; calling karanas adavus; assuming one fixed mudra count across all texts; forgetting that Adi tala is not 6 beats; counting without naming the tala.