Connection to Hamlet! (Navarasa)

The Navarasa, or 9 emotions, in Bharatanatyam are the basis of all abhinaya, or expression in the dance form. Expression is a crucial part of Bharatanatyam, and it is what gives the dance form the fluidness and ease of story-telling that it is known for. Navarasa can be seen as dramatic elements that can be applied to a play, novel, or other literary work. As such, we can easily relate Bharatanatyam to Hamlet through pinpointing and extracting the Navarasas throughout the play.

·         Shringara (Love): Shringara represents love in the sense of beauty, that which evokes beauty and happiness in the mind of the beholder. It encompasses all varieties of love, such as love between a mother and child, love between friends, and love between a man and a woman. Shringara is expressed in Hamlet between the King and Queen, and is shown with much intensity in this situation, as the Queen’s Shringara for the King is so strong that she is blinded and is unable to see the maltreatment and immorality of her husband’s reign. Shringara is described as a passion so intense that it makes one sensitive to all around them, even a mundane mountain breeze, and this tenet is obviated through the profound “pain” the Queen feels each time Hamlet, her own son, insults the king.

·         Hasya (Mirth): Hasya is described as free-will, joy, and laughter which brings the soul peace and comfort. It ranges from simple teasing to stomach-spiltting laughter. Hasya is observed each time Hamlet interacts with his friends, as he is constantly poking fun and taking part in horseplay. Hasya represents the childish side of any being, and in Hamlet, the juvenile aspect of each man’s personality is brought out when with acquaintances.

·         Bhibatsya(Disgust): Bhibatsya is the abhinaya encompassing feelings of repluse, sickness, and revolt. Obvious disgust and distaste is observed in Hamlet as Hamlet comments on the immoral, lustful actions of his mom (as she married her dead husband’s brother). Hamlet is so disgusted by these actions that he begins to look down upon the whole of womankind, calling it weak. Hamlet allows us to observe a very strong facet of Bhibatsya, extreme personal disgust.

·         Raudra (anger): Raudra is anything that causes one to feel rancor and vile against another body. Raudra is seen in a very intense manner in Hamlet’s feelings against the King. This Raudra is so strong that Hamlet is led to feign craziness, to kill others in his plight to kill the king himself. Raudra is thought to be the onslaught of all things inharmonious in the world, which is exactly how events in the castle seem to be progressing as Hamlet’s madness towards the Kind increases.

·         Shanta (peace): Shanta is the complete lack of all other rasas. It is the repose and calm and quiet which can only be obtained in the lack of all raucous. Because the play Hamlet enters on Hamlet’s life when it is in a state of melancholy and worry, there are very few instances of true Shanta. The only moment at which any Shanta, or peace can be seen, is when Hamlet makes peace with Laertes, and blames his own madness for the death of Polonius.

·         Veera(heroism): Veera is the trait of bravery, ambition, and sensibility. Veera is reflected in those who take actions not only for themselves, but who also take the lives and wishes of others into mind. Hamlet portrays and reflects strong aspects of Veera when he takes on his father’s request and sets off to kill the King. Not only is Hamlet avenging the life of a loved one, he is also doing what is in best favor of the entire of country of Denmark, which depends wholly on his actions.

·         Bhaya(fear): Bhaya is the emotion which encompasses anxiety and restlessness caused by the onslaught of the unknown, the presence of evil. Ophelia portrays aspects of Bhaya as she reacts to the apparent lunacy of Hamlet. The sudden switch of one who she thought was loving and kind to one who was hostile and insane brought about a feeling of evil in her, one which cause Bhaya, or fear.

·         Karuna (Greif and Compassion): Karuna is the feeling of tragedy and despair for those around one, a true care for ones surroundings. Karuna is expressed by Laertes when he encounters his sister, driven insane by the madness of Hamelt and the recent death of her father. He expresses his complete desire for her betterment, and seems to feel sorrow of a similar magnitude to that of hers, although he has not experienced quite as much greif. This shows true Karuna, or utmost care for a loved one.

·         Adbutha(Surprise): Adhbutha is the wonder and speechlessness one feels when one comes across something divine, something so awesome and powerful that it had never before been imagined. Hamlet expressed utter bewilderment and shock when his father’s ghost appears directly in front of him. This appearance of the divine, the sudden onslaught of something that had long been deemed fleeting, causes Hamlet to stutter in utter shock.