METAPHORS AND SIMILES PART III

Another aspect of Bharatha Natyam is the use of comparative devices that are not present in the lyrics. For example, in the following piece, the line smara sundaranguni seri evaro asks: “who is equal to my beautiful lord?” The word beautiful is available for any interpretation by the dancer: As beautiful as manmatha, eyes like the lotus, lips like coral, hair like the bees, brows like a bow, teeth like a string of pearls, skin the colour of tender mango leaves, chest as broad as a mountain, waist like a lion, gait like an elephant, etc. However, it is important not to lose the essence of the lyrics and choose comparisons that are completely unrelated to the poetry.

Similarly, in the javali marulu minchera, the words “parama sundara kara” translate as “oh the beautiful one”, but can be interpreted as the following:

            Oh my beautiful lord.

            Your lotus eyes are meant to look at me.

            Your coral lips are meant to kiss me.

            Your broad chest is my abode and I will adorn you like a creeper.

            Your long limbs are meant to embrace my beautiful body.

In the following number from Kumara Sambhavam, the lyrics do not provide any specific comparative description, and are thus:

            Paani peedana vidhdheranannintharam, shaila raja duhi duhir haram prati

            Bhava sadhva sa pari grihathu aa boothkama dhohatha sugam manoharam

            After the wedding of Shiva to Parvathi, the daughter of the mountain king, Shiva looks at his new bride, who is coy and full of love, and derives pleasure from observing her shyness. Here, the lyrics do not explicitly say anything about beauty, but I have interpreted them to show Shiva looking at Parvathi, and describing her beauty using his own accessories. Doing this immediately establishes the scene of Shiva and Parvathi in the bridal chamber.

When the situation of the poetry warrants, the dancer may employ relevant metaphors and similes to more creatively describe the scene.

 In the Kamas varnam of the Tanjore quarter, the line “avar samanya durai alladi sakhi” indicates a heroine telling her friend that Shiva, her lord, is not someone ordinary, but a great being. Greatness is here illustrated by incomparability:

The glowing sun is ashamed looking at Shiva’s glowing body, his

majestic walk puts an elephant’s majesty to shame, his small waist embarrasses the slender lion, the mountain bends its head looking at

Shiva’s broad chest. 

                                                                                                       TO BE CONTINUED..........