Namaskaram

laya2 · Post by **laya2** » 10 Dec 2009, 05:54

Hi

This may sound too elementary but I haven't asked my teacher this question. I don't know why.

The question is Is there any Solkattu for Namaskaram or we tap just like that.

Another question which I think I have to be very clear when I am questioned is, Why do we wear a cloth around our waist when we dance(generally we wear a dupatta around our waist when we wear our salwar during our dance class)

Why do we do this?

Please clarify.

Nia Rmohan · Post by **Nia Rmohan** » 11 Dec 2009, 07:06

I am not quite sure what you mean by the first question.
But as for the cloth, my teacher has told me it really helps dancers know where to bend. Where that cloth sits is what you bend, so if you feel it cutting into your side then you are bending right. Ofcourse, that may not be the right reason...

Umesh · Post by **Umesh** » 11 Dec 2009, 07:54

The cloth around the waist serves the same purpose in practice as the oddiyanam (belt) in performance. They are worn to keep the spine in line and the body erect. They also help in sucking in that stomach!

sreevin25 · Post by **sreevin25** » 17 Dec 2009, 07:38

Hi

If I am not wrong , the sollukattu for namaskaram goes like this -

talaangu taka diku taka tadiginatom
taka dhimi taka jhanu (3) - tap right and left leg , muzhumandi and touching mother earth and eyes
taka dhina taam (3) - for the 3 anjalis - above head, on forehead, near chest

Please correct me or post the correct one.

Regards
Sree

Nia Rmohan · Post by **Nia Rmohan** » 21 Dec 2009, 04:25

Hi sreevin25,
I highly doubt you are wrong if you guru taught it to you that way. But namskaram changes with style and with teacher. Some teachers have different namaskarams for arangetram and performances than they do in class.

Umesh · Post by **Umesh** » 22 Dec 2009, 10:56

The namaskaram varies slightly from school to school, but I have only heard Kalakshetrans recite a sollukattu while peforming the namaskaram. I'm not sure if this practice began with Smt. Rukmini Devi or if it has earlier origins.

bharat27 · Post by **bharat27** » 22 Dec 2009, 19:32

Hi

even my teacher just taps the thathukazhi and does not recite any solkattu. but i do not know in what count she taps.

how is it in kalashetra? in what count do they tap?

ardhanariswar · Post by **ardhanariswar** » 22 Dec 2009, 22:27

My teacher just taps the thathukazhi or claps slowly for 8 counts. Sometimes she says the number of counts (in English) as we do it, sometimes not.
Like so:

1st and 2nd counts are for looking down at your right and left katakamukhas at your chest respectively
3 holding shikaras above the shoulder and slowly going down to murumandi
4 continue descending to the murumandi slowly and bringing the shikarams togethar with thumbs pointing outward
5 touching the floor
6 touching your eyes
7 anjali at the chest
8 back to standing position

Hope this makes sense. Just for clarification, the style I dance is somewhat similar to Kalakshetra and they do a simplified version of the namaskaram. They don't bring their arms above their head in anjali like other styles. So that might take more counts.

I don't know if people normally do the 'Dhalanku thakudhiku thakathadhin ginathom' to prepare everyone. My teacher just says 'Lets do namaskaram now' and starts immediately.

bharat27 · Post by **bharat27** » 23 Dec 2009, 00:54

Hi

I think almost everybody does namaskaram like this. I wanted to check what is the count in which she taps? i know there is no solkattu for this but she must be tapping like sreevin25 had said:

taka dhimi taka jhanu
taka dhina taam

is it something like this when she taps? do clarify pls.

Hey Laya2, the reason my teacher always tells for wearing a cloth around the waist is that it is for respect apart from keeping your tummy tucked in and the waist to be in shape for a dancer.

sreevin25 · Post by **sreevin25** » 27 Dec 2009, 10:45

Hi All

My elaboration would be like this :

Talaangu takadhiku Taka Tadiginatom - counting from 1 to 8 numbers for rythm - joining hands above head in anjali (for tanjore style) Or katakamukha hands stretched out in front of chest (kalakshetra style, I guess)

Taka dhimi Taka jhanu - counting from 1 to 4 - tap right and left leg in samapadam

Taka dhimi taka jhanu - counting from 1 to 4 - hands on shoulder in shikara (for 1 to 2 counts) and hands in pataka stretched out looking at right side (from 3 to 4 counts)

Taka dhimi taka jhanu - counting from 1 to 4 - muzhumandi , touch floor and touch eyes

Taka dhina taam - ta ki ta rythm- get up in samapadam and anjali above head

Taka dhina taam - ta ki ta rythm- anjali at forehead

Taka dhina taam - ta ki ta rythm- anjali at chest and end in natyarambham