Temple dance

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

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References

  1. 1 2 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.