Arudhi and Theermanam

[sou2]

Hi,

How do we explain arudhi and what is the difference between arudhi and theermanam? I am not able to find a proper answer in the net.

Can somebody pls. explain to me.

thanks.

[mohan]

Try http://onlinebharatanatyam.com/2009/07/ ... eermanams/

[vasanthakokilam]

Is it just me or the above article requires some editing effort? What they describe is quite confusing. It showed some promise when they tried to talk about the aesthetics of it but in-cohesive in describing the basic terminology. But I do appreciate them taking the time writing on this topic.

BTW, is the word Arudhi in this context different from what we use in the Pallavi of an RTP to denote the mid point..( the purvangam-uttarangam split point )?

[vidya raja]

Yes, Arudhi is the word usually used to indicate the long pause between the Uttarangama and Purvangam of an RTP's pallavi.
The Arudhi also creates a punch while rendering a pallavi and falls on the beat after the laghu in any talam of pallavi.

The theermanam is otherwise also called korvai, which is a set pattern of swaras or mridangam beats which is used towards the end of a long sarva lagu swara, to give it a crowning glory.

[vasanthakokilam]

Thanks Vidya Raja. That is my understanding of Arudhi as well. The article above talks of Arudhi by relating it to theermanam. That is why I was wondering if there is another meaning for arudhi in percussion or dance circles.

[ksl]

Afaik

1. Korvai is various adavus strung together. Korvai is usually used in the context of a paragraph of tillana or jathiswaram being danced to. SO korvai is any string of adavus accompanied to music/singing by the vocalist. Please see my earlier post about tillana for example videos of a korvai.

2. Jathis are performed to the accompaniment of shollkattus. Jathi is technically a korvai of adavus but we dont call it korvai if it is accompanied to the shollus. It starts with a "dhanangu takadimi takatadin ginathom" or equivalent and is conducted and shollus said by the nattuvanar.

3. Jathis which are really long/elaborate are callled teermanams for eg. in varnams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6XSuWR0-AE
from 0.58-2.05: This is a trikala jathi- also the first teermanam of the varnam. Gurus ask you to do the first teermanam of a varnam.
THey are not usually called jathis. Jathis which are very small are called jathis. Like in the starting of a jathiswaram.
eg. of a jathi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhSODo46jVQ 1.07-1.22


Note: Teermanam adavus are the adavus which are used to truncate a jathi or a korvai. Hence they usually come in triplets. Jathis end with teermanam adavus. That is also probably why sometime they are just referred to as teermanams.
l

4. Arudhi is a short spacer used at the end of a teermanam in a varnam or a korvai in a tillana. It symbolises the returning to the pallavi of the tillana and sahityam of a varnam.
Example of arudhi in a varnam:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6XSuWR0-AE from 2.05-2.08. You will see this arudhi come up after the conclusion of every teermanam. eg. 6.15-6.20 of the same video
Example of a arudhi in tillana:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI94wPhTORc
7.45-7.50
eg. of a more elaborate arudhi in a tillana:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNUY5Dj0 ... ,4.23-4.30
Note:. A good way to identify arudhi in a tillana is that it is preceded by a teermanam adavu signifying the end of a korvai and is followed by the dancer walking back as it is the end of one korvai (here valli is stamping her way back with arms streched). It is not mandatory to ahve arudhis in tillanas but in varnams i have always seen arudhis.