Perini Sivatandavam

2025-05-09T09:05:31Z

2406:B400:B5:2C2:B503:C559:74E4:3B05: minor update

{{Short description|Folk dance from Telangana}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}{{Use Indian English|date = August 2019}}
{{Expand Telugu|date=August 2019}}[[File:పేరిణీ శివతాండవం .png|thumb|Tandavam Scene]]
'''Perini Shivathandavam''' ('''Perini Śivatāṇḍavam''') or '''Perini Thandavam''' is an ancient dance form from [[Telangana]] which has been revived in recent time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/16/stories/2010101653780700.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020152919/http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/16/stories/2010101653780700.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-10-20|title=Andhra Natyam, Perini dance in temples across State|date=2010-10-16|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> It prospered during the [[Kakatiya dynasty]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=P. |first=Surya Rao |date=10 November 2006 |title=Blast from the past |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2006/11/10/stories/2006111000010200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111192416/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2006/11/10/stories/2006111000010200.htm |archive-date=11 November 2007 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Perini is performed in honour of Lord [[Shiva]], the Hindu God and it is believed that in ancient times this was performed before the soldiers set to war. [[Nataraja Ramakrishna]] revived the art form by studying old manuscripts and sculptures at [[Ramappa Temple]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Roxanne Kamayani |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DVsoDwAAQBAJ&dq=Perini+dance&pg=PT38 |title=A Yoga of Indian Classical Dance: The Yogini's Mirror |date=2000-03-01 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-59477-527-7 |language=en}}</ref>

==The dance==
[[File: Perini Dance Performance on Lord Srirama's Life at Mahathi Auditorium in Gajwel 15.jpg|thumb|Perini dance performance during the cultural celebrations organized by Department of Language and Culture, Government of Telangana on December 15, 2019, during the inauguration of Mahathi Auditorium, Gajwel.]]Perini Shivathandavam (Perini Śivatāṇḍavam) or Perini Thandavam is an ancient dance form from Telangana. It is a dance form usually performed by males. It is called 'Dance of Warriors'. Warriors before leaving to the battlefield enact this dance before the idol of [[Śiva|Lord Shiva]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Ponvannan |first=Gayathri |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6VXEAAAQBAJ&dq=Perini+dance&pg=PT140 |title=100 Great Chronicles of Indian History: From Cave Paintings to the Constitution |date=2022-01-25 |publisher=Hachette India |isbn=978-93-91028-77-0 |language=en}}</ref> The dance form, Perini, reached its pinnacle during the rule of the Kakatiyas who established their dynasty at [[Warangal]] and ruled for almost two centuries. The dance form is mentioned in the Sanskrit text ''Nrttya Ratnavali'' of [[Jayapa Senani]].<ref name=":2" /> Based on its complex parts and myths, it is believed that the dance form developed for a long time before it.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Morgenroth |first=Wolfgang |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HnTsDwAAQBAJ&dq=Perini&pg=PA93 |title=Sanskrit and World Culture: Proceedings of the Fourth World Sanskrit Conference of the International Association of Sanskrit Studies, Weimar, May 23–30, 1979 |date=2020-05-18 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG |isbn=978-3-11-232094-5 |pages=93 |language=en}}</ref>

It is believed that this dance form invokes 'Prerana' (inspiration) and is dedicated to the supreme dancer, Lord [[Shiva]]. One can find evidence of this dance in the sculptures near Garbha Gudi (Sanctum Sanctorum) of the [[Ramappa Temple]] at Warangal.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-27 |title=Telangana's Perini dance, 'Naatu Naatu' by Korean embassy get PM Minister Narendra Modi thumbs-up {{!}} |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/ts-perini-dance-naatu-naatu-by-korean-embassy-get-pm-thumbs-up-/articleshow/98259107.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-03-30 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Poet [[Srinatha]] mentioned in his [[Bhimeswara Puranam]] that ''Prerani'' as one of the dances being offered as Ragabhoga to the Lord Bhimeswara of [[Draksharama]].

Perini is a vigorous dance done to the resounding beats of drums. Dancers drive themselves to a state of mental abstraction where they feel the power of Shiva in their bodies. While dancing they invoke Shiva to come into him and dance through him. The dance was also performed on special platforms in front of temples.<ref name=":3" /> Perini dance form almost disappeared after the decline of the Kakatiya dynasty but [[Nataraja Ramakrishna|Dr. Nataraja Ramakrishna]] brought a renaissance in Perini dance. He revived the art form by studying old manuscripts and sculptures at Ramappa Temple<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-06-07 |title=Kuchipudi legend Nataraja Ramakrishna passes away |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/kuchipudi-legend-nataraja-ramakrishna-passes-away/article2084870.ece |access-date=2023-03-30 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

==See also==
* [[Tandava]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027175137/http://in.geocities.com/sirisha_andhranatyam/nrk.html Dr. Nataraja Ramakrishna]

[[Category:Dances of India]]
[[Category:Classical dance genres of India]]
[[Category:Culture of Telangana]]

{{India-dance-stub}}{{Dance in India}}

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Perini Sivatandavam