- The 108 Karanas are nothing but the yoga poses of Lord Shiva. In Yoga only 36 Karanas are being used while in Cosmic dance a dancer is free to try all 108 poses based on his/her physical, mental, and spiritual capabilities. These are excellent for developing leg strength, and a dancer is advised to practice them with diligence. While helping with leg strength, also help achieve an excellent sense of balance and ability to focus on a single point.
- Karanas are a holistic interconnection of mental, physical, and spiritual realms. In Bharatanatyam each Karana is practiced as a movement and not as a mere posture. A series of Karanas (subtle hand and feet movements in a spiral fashion) is called as Angahara. Anga = limb, hara = charming, garland that is spiral in fashion,delightful.
- Angahara (series of Karanas) is spiral and it dates from the Vedic period that our DNA itself is spiral.The two spiral strands that contain our genetic information are known as the double helix , this shows that our "TRUE NATURE LIES IN THE DNA“. So Angahara (series of Karanas) helps you move closer to your “True Nature” that is "your DNA"
- This universe is spiral, plants don’t grow in linear fashion - they grow spirally , even planets in the galaxy orbit spirally around each other. Universal consciousness is Spiral in shape and Karanas will help you move in the way universe is moving.
- Moving in a spiral fashion will increase your Energy and this is the foundation of Natyashastra.
- Bharathanatyam is a divine dance form that helps to improve not just body postures, helps to bring focus in life. Both yoga and Bharathanatyam goes way back and are intertwined to one another.
- One need to realize that Bharathanatyam is not just a dance or decorative performing art and Yoga is not just an exercise. They both are divine and well-disciplined manifestations that help in the union of body and mind.
- According to Yogamaharishi DR SWAMI GITANANDA GIRI GURU MAHARAJ, the Mudra or gesture in Bharatanatyam or Yoga can act like a Kriya increasing or impeding circulation of the blood or lymph into various vital organs. Mudra can control every organ and function of the body and mind. The Mudra extracts energy and substances from the nerves and vital bodies producing the various enzymes and hormones needed for vibrant health. The Mudra arouses and controls the Kundalini Shakti. Kundalini arousal without Mudra is madness.
