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Learn the lingo
Photo: N. Sridharan
Longing for the beloved A nayika separated from her lover is wracked by painful memories, as exemplified by Alarmel Valli’s sorrowful expression here.
Dance
Virahotkanthita: One of the Ashta Nayikas (Learn The Lingo of September 14, 2007), the Virahotkanthita is the woman who is separated from her beloved and distressed by it. Literally, it translates as ‘she who has her neck upraised (utkanthita) in separation (viraha)’. This combination of words signifies her expectant looks, chin lifted up and eyes searching the distance, for signs of the return of her lover.
The Virahotkanthita nayika, also called Ukta, is sad and lonely. She confides in her friend, the sakhi, telling her of her sense of loss. In some songs she is portrayed as coaxing her friend to deliver a message to the beloved to come quickly.
Due to the pangs of separation, the nayika loses weight and has no interest in food, drink or recreation. All enjoyable experiences seem to her to be a punishment.
Characteristic poetic images include the nayika chiding the moon for scorching her with its rays, which she used to find beautiful and cooling, but which burn her now with their intensity. Also, she grows so thin that her bangles slip off her wrists. The murmuring sound of bees pierces her ears. Romantic pairs, like nesting birds, as also metaphors for love, like creepers with trees, the bee and the lotus, etc., intensify her pain at being away from her lover.
Music
Meend: A characteristic feature of ornamentation in Indian music. In stringed instruments, the technique of sliding down the string so that a number of notes emanate as a result of a single action of plucking. This makes the sound a smooth flow rather than a staccato set of several notes. Sometimes translated as glissando.
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
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