Temple dance

A bas relief at the 12th-century temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia showing apsara temple dancers.

Temple dance denotes a religious performance held in the temples, such as sadir, prescribed by Agamas (scriptures that codified temple rituals, etc.).^[1][2] Traces of these ancient temple dances of India are seen in Bharatanatyam and Odissi.^[3]

The sacred Hindu temple dance used to be performed by devadasis and Mahari Dance, who were supposed to manifest in the material body the heavenly dance of apsaras.^[1]

References

1. Younger, Paul; Younger, Professor of Religious Studies Paul (1995). The Home of Dancing Śivan̲: The Traditions of the Hindu Temple in Citamparam. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-509532-6.
2. Subramuniyaswami, Satguru Sivaya (2003). Dancing with Siva: Hinduism's Contemporary Catechism. Himalayan Academy Publications. ISBN 978-0-945497-89-9.
3. Narayan, Shovana (30 December 2011). The Sterling Book of INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-207-9078-0.

External links

• Media related to Hindu temple dance at Wikimedia Commons