Natya Shastra

The Natya Shastra (Sanskrit: नाट्य शास्त्र, Nāṭyaśāstra) is an ancient Indian Culture. It is the Indian Tradition of performing arts, theatre, dance and music. Natya Shastra was written in the period between 200 BCE and 200 CE. It was classical India and is traditionally attributed to the Sage Bharata. Bhara muni was the one who introduced Natya Shastra. It is based on the Gandharva Veda. To influence music, dance and literature, Natya shashtra took place in Indian Culture.

Natya shastra is very important in the history of Indian classical music. It is the only text which gives such detail about the music, instruments of the period. The most understood commentary on the Natyashastra is the Abhinavabharati by Abhinavagupta. Natyashastra mainly concentrate on movement, voice, emotional expression, and the stylization of bodies with make-up and costumes as artistic elements in their own right.

It is referred as the fifth Veda. Natyashastra remained an important text in the fine arts for many centuries. The structures of music outlined in the Natya Shastra retain their influence even today, as seen in the seminal work Hindustani Sangeetha Padhathi by Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande from the early 20th century.