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Raslila: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Dance of Radha Krishna with gopis}} | |||
{{About||the 1975 film|Rasaleela (1975 film)|the 2012 film|Rasaleela (2012 film)}} | {{About||the 1975 film|Rasaleela (1975 film)|the 2012 film|Rasaleela (2012 film)}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} | ||
The '''Raslila''' ([[IAST]] ''{{IAST|rāsa-līlā}}'') ({{lang-hi|रास लीला}}) or '''Ras dance''' or '''Krishna Tandava''', is part of the traditional story of [[Krishna]] described in Hindu scriptures such as the [[Bhagavata Purana]] and literature such as the [[Gita Govinda]], where he dances with [[Radha]] and her [[Gopi|sakhis]] (Gopis). The [[Indian classical dance]] of [[Kathak]] evolved from the 'Raslila of [[Braj]] and ''[[Manipuri Raas Leela]] Classical Dance'' ([[Vrindavan]]a) also known as ''Natwari Nritya'', which was revived in 1960s by the Kathak dancer, [[Uma Sharma]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Indian theatre: traditions of performance|last=Richmond |first=Farley P. |author2=Darius L. Swann|author3=Phillip B. Zarrilli|year=1993 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=81-208-0981-5|page=197 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3HIh7oPkvAMC&q=Uma+Sharma&pg=PA198 }}</ref> | |||
[[File:Krishna and Radha dancing the Rasalila, Jaipur, 19th century.jpg|thumb|[[Krishna]] and [[Radha]] dancing the Rasalila, a 19th-century painting, Rajasthan]] | [[File:Krishna and Radha dancing the Rasalila, Jaipur, 19th century.jpg|thumb|[[Krishna]] and [[Radha]] dancing the Rasalila, a 19th-century painting, Rajasthan]] | ||
The term, ''[[Rasa (aesthetics)|rasa]]'' meaning "aesthetics" and ''[[lila (Hinduism)|lila]]'' meaning "act," "play" or "dance" is a concept from [[Hinduism]], which roughly translates to "play (lila) of aesthetics (rasa)," or more broadly as "Dance of Divine Love".<ref>{{cite book | author = Schweig, G.M. | year = 2005 | title = Dance of divine love: The Rasa Lila of Krishna from the Bhagavata Purana, India's classic sacred love story | publisher = Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ; Oxford | isbn = 0-691-11446-3s}}</ref> | The term, ''[[Rasa (aesthetics)|rasa]]'' meaning "aesthetics" and ''[[lila (Hinduism)|lila]]'' meaning "act," "play" or "dance" is a concept from [[Hinduism]], which roughly translates to "play (lila) of aesthetics (rasa)," or more broadly as "Dance of Divine Love".<ref>{{cite book | author = Schweig, G.M. | year = 2005 | title = Dance of divine love: The Rasa Lila of Krishna from the Bhagavata Purana, India's classic sacred love story | publisher = Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ; Oxford | isbn = 0-691-11446-3s}}</ref> | ||
The | The Rasa lila takes place one night when the [[Gopi]]s of [[Vrindavan]]a, upon hearing the sound of Krishna's [[Bansuri|flute]], sneak away from their households and families to the forest to dance with Krishna throughout the night, which Krishna supernaturally stretches to the length of one [[Kalpa (aeon)|kalpa]], a [[Hindu units of time|Hindu unit of time]] lasting approximately 4.32 billion years. In the Krishna [[Bhakti]] traditions, the rasa-lila is considered to be one most beautiful depiction of soulful love... In these traditions, romantic love between human beings in the [[Maya (illusion)#Maya in Hindu philosophy|material world]] is seen as a reflection of the soul's original, ecstatic spiritual love of Krishna, God, in the [[goloka|spiritual world]]. | ||
In the Bhagavata Purana it is stated that whoever faithfully hears or describes the Rasa lila attains Krishna's ''pure loving devotion'' ([[Suddha-bhakti]]).<ref>[http://vedabase.net/sb/10/33/39/en2 Bhag-P 10.33.39] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618004341/http://vedabase.net/sb/10/33/39/en2 |date=2008-06-18 }}</ref> | In the Bhagavata Purana it is stated that whoever faithfully hears or describes the Rasa lila attains Krishna's ''pure loving devotion'' ([[Suddha-bhakti]]).<ref>[http://vedabase.net/sb/10/33/39/en2 Bhag-P 10.33.39] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618004341/http://vedabase.net/sb/10/33/39/en2 |date=2008-06-18 }}</ref> | ||
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==Performance== | ==Performance== | ||
Rasa lila has been a popular theme in [[Kathak]], [[Bharatanatyam]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Performing Arts|first=Ahalya|date=22 December 2016|title=Rasa Lila / Rasakreeda Bharata Natyam Performance|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsQroDxqrCk|access-date=29 June 2020|website=Ahalya Performing Arts}}</ref> [[Odissi]], [[Bishnupriya Manipuri people|Manipuri]], and [[Kuchipudi]] items. Rasa Lila is a popular form of folk theatre in the regions of [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]], [[Vrindavan]]a in [[Uttar Pradesh]], | Rasa lila has been a popular theme in [[Kathak]], [[Bharatanatyam]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Performing Arts|first=Ahalya|date=22 December 2016|title=Rasa Lila / Rasakreeda Bharata Natyam Performance|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsQroDxqrCk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/qsQroDxqrCk |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=29 June 2020|website=Ahalya Performing Arts}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Odissi]], [[Bishnupriya Manipuri people|Manipuri]], and [[Kuchipudi]] items. Rasa Lila is a popular form of folk theatre in the regions of [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]], [[Vrindavan]]a in [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Nathdwara]] amongst various followers of [[pushtimarg]] or the [[vallabh sect]] and other sects in the regions of India. It is also seen in [[gaudiya vaishnavism]] in [[Nadia]] a district of West Bengal which is also known for Raas Utsava. Vanga Raas of Santipur is the main festival of this town, [[Nabadwip]] also has Shakta Raas. | ||
Raas Leela (Raas Mahotsav) is also observed as one of the State Festivals of [[Assam]] which usually is celebrated during Late November or Early December. During Raas Mahotsava, several thousand devotees visit the holy temples and [[Satra (Ekasarana Dharma)|Xatra]]s of Assam every year. The Raas Mahotsav of Majuli, Nalbari and Of Howly deserve a special mention in this regard. | Raas Leela (Raas Mahotsav) is also observed as one of the State Festivals of [[Assam]] which usually is celebrated during Late November or Early December. During Raas Mahotsava, several thousand devotees visit the holy temples and [[Satra (Ekasarana Dharma)|Xatra]]s of Assam every year. The Raas Mahotsav of Majuli, Nalbari and Of Howly deserve a special mention in this regard. | ||
[[File:Rasa Lila in Manipuri dance style.jpg|thumb|left|''Raas Leela'' in Manipuri classical Indian dance style]] | [[File:Rasa Lila in Manipuri dance style.jpg|thumb|left|''Raas Leela'' in Manipuri classical Indian dance style]] | ||
In the tradition of [[Vaishnavism of Manipur]] ''Raas Leela'' is depicted within [[Manipuri dance|Manipuri classical Indian dance]] | In the tradition of [[Vaishnavism of Manipur]] ''Raas Leela'' is depicted within [[Manipuri dance|Manipuri classical Indian dance]] and revolves around the story of love between Krishna and [[Radha]], his divine beloved. This form of dance was started by [[Bhagya Chandra]] in 1779 and in some parts of India is still performed every year on [[Krishna Janmashtami]] (the festival to celebrate Krishna's ''birthday''). According to different traditions, the rasa-lila is performed either by boys and girls, or by girls only. The dance is performed holding ''dandi'' (sticks) and is often accompanied with folk songs and [[Bhajan|devotional music]]. | ||
The Traditional Rasa Lila performances in Vrindavan are famous throughout the Vaisnava world as an experience of the spiritual world. Rasa Lila performance was started by Swami Sri Uddhavaghamanda Devacharya in the early 15th Century CE at Vamshivata in Vrindavan, [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]]. He was a prominent saint of the [[Nimbarka Sampradaya]], and disciple of the world-renowned Swami Sri Harivyasa Devacarya. The Vani literature of Vraja is the transcription of the songs that were heard by Swami Harivyasa Devacarya and his Guru, Swami Shri Shribhatta as they meditated on the Nitya Lila of Shri [[Radha]] [[Krishna]]. These songs describe the eternal spiritual abode of Shri [[Radha]] [[Krishna]], the Sakhis and Nitya Vrindavana Dham - or Nikunja Dham. | The Traditional Rasa Lila performances in Vrindavan are famous throughout the Vaisnava world as an experience of the spiritual world. Rasa Lila performance was started by Swami Sri Uddhavaghamanda Devacharya in the early 15th Century CE at Vamshivata in Vrindavan, [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]]. He was a prominent saint of the [[Nimbarka Sampradaya]], and disciple of the world-renowned Swami Sri Harivyasa Devacarya. The Vani literature of Vraja is the transcription of the songs that were heard by Swami Harivyasa Devacarya and his Guru, Swami Shri Shribhatta as they meditated on the Nitya Lila of Shri [[Radha]] [[Krishna]]. These songs describe the eternal spiritual abode of Shri [[Radha]] [[Krishna]], the Sakhis and Nitya Vrindavana Dham - or Nikunja Dham. It became more prominent utsava in 16th and 17th century, when Mahaprabhu Shri [[Vallabhacharya]] and [[Vitthalanatha]] gusaiji made it more popular. Their [[Granthas]] in sanskrit and the kiratans of [[ashtachap]] in [[vrajbhasha]] described this Lila in a very pleasant, interesting and a realistic manner. | ||
As many new devotees of that time could not understand the Vraja language, Swami Uddavaghamanda Devacarya trained his [[Brahmacharya|Brahmachari]] students to play the parts that appeared in the songs in order to get a visual representation of the Lila that was being described. Many were sceptical of this, and attempted to thwart the first enactment. However, at the conclusion of the first Rasa Lila, tradition has it, the Lord Himself appeared and gave the actors his own Crown, and decreed that whenever a qualified actor was to take the part of the Lord, from the moment he put on the crown on his head, it should be understood that he represents the Lila potency of God, and treated with due respect. Shri Radha and Krsna shall be known as Shri Radha Rasavihari. | As many new devotees of that time could not understand the Vraja language, Swami Uddavaghamanda Devacarya trained his [[Brahmacharya|Brahmachari]] students to play the parts that appeared in the songs in order to get a visual representation of the Lila that was being described. Many were sceptical of this, and attempted to thwart the first enactment. However, at the conclusion of the first Rasa Lila, tradition has it, the Lord Himself appeared and gave the actors his own Crown, and decreed that whenever a qualified actor was to take the part of the Lord, from the moment he put on the crown on his head, it should be understood that he represents the Lila potency of God, and treated with due respect. Shri Radha and Krsna shall be known as Shri Radha Rasavihari. | ||