 Navasandhi Kavuthuvam
T hirunangai Selvi Narthaki Nataraj, disciple of (late) Natya Kalanidhi K P Kittappa Pillai (direct descendant of the famed 17th century Tanjore Quartet), staged an impressive 'Navasandhi Kavuthuvam' under the aegis of the Natya Rangam of the Narada Gana Sabha at their mini hall, recently.
One of the many forgotten forms of Bharatanatyam, this Navasandhi Nrithyam used to be performed ages ago in the temples during the annual festivals, as a fervent and dedicated salutation to the presiding deities.
 Temple tradition enjoins that the deities ruling the different
'Sandhis - directions' (Brahma, Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirudhi, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera and
Isaana) must be propitiated before the commencement of temple festivals for their successful conduct and completion.
Those propitiatory nine-directional dances (centre, east, south-east, south, south-west, west, north-west, north, north-east) for the concerned deities are composed in rare 'thalas', based on specific combinations and nritta hastas. Relevant jathis and sahityas seek the blessings of the respective deities. These poses and mudras are specific and are not in vogue in today's dances.
Narthaki's one-hour-long 'Navasandhi' dances featured the especial attributes of the nine deities with the stipulated delineations. The word Kavuthuvam comprising letters KA-VU-THA are pertinent pointers to the three goddesses Saraswathi, Mahalakshmi and Parvathi, respectively.
 The ragas and talas chosen are, Madhyamavathi-tisra ekam: Gurjari, Misra Chaapu: Nattai, Chatusra Jampai: Desaadhi, Chatusra Ekam: Kuntalam, Roopakam: Varaali, Chatusra Ekam: Makuraraamagiri, Roopakam: Malavasri, Tisra Ekam and Malahari, Kanda Ekam which serve to propitiate the particular deity.
Narthaki presented this traditional style of dance, philosophy and approach in a highly commendable manner. The related Svarasthanam, Thalam, Pann and Nritta techniques were offered by the danseuse in a manner that enabled the rasikas appreciate the significance and importance of Navasandhi Kavuthuvam in proper perspectives.
Narthaki has faced all along special challenges, severe hardships, social indifference and ridicule in her steady climb upwards in her Bharatanatyam pilgrimage. If, today, she has achieved a remarkable degree of success in her chosen art, it is only because of unflinching determination, unflagging hard work and unwavering self-confidence. She is the recipient of the Sangita Natya Akademi Fellowship Award (2003-05) which she utilises to propogate traditional art forms and has won global renown deservedly.
The supportive accompaniments were Chitrambari Krishnakumar - vocal, Neela Sukanya - nattuvangam, Karthik - mridangam, Nagarajulu - violin and Sashi Bhaskar - make-up. Revathy Sankaran compered the programme in her inimitable style.
R Srinivasan
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