Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam by Rukmini Vijayakumar
Artist’s Byte :
“I see Radha as a representation of all humanity who has a limited perception of oneself, not knowing that Krishna is within. The emotions that she traverses of jealousy and anger, resentment, love, and possession as all feelings everyone experiences as human beings, when we associate with our bodies and our identities. When she is upset with Krishna, she is unaware that he exists within her, and comes to the awareness of this truth much later. The beautiful lines of the Ashtapadi poetically convey the emotion of hurt and anger when Radha feels betrayed by Krishna’s actions. I personally love the layering of emotions that this Ashtapadi has and have enjoyed dancing it for many years.”…Rukmini Vijaykumar (Bharatanatyam Exponent and Actor)
“I see Radha as a representation of all humanity who has a limited perception of oneself, not knowing that Krishna is within. The emotions that she traverses of jealousy and anger, resentment, love, and possession as all feelings everyone experiences as human beings, when we associate with our bodies and our identities. When she is upset with Krishna, she is unaware that he exists within her, and comes to the awareness of this truth much later. The beautiful lines of the Ashtapadi poetically convey the emotion of hurt and anger when Radha feels betrayed by Krishna’s actions. I personally love the layering of emotions that this Ashtapadi has and have enjoyed dancing it for many years.”…Rukmini Vijaykumar (Bharatanatyam Exponent and Actor)
- rajani-janita-guru-jagara-raga, kashayitamalasa-nivesham | vahatinayanam, anuragamivasphutam, udita-rasabhinivesham Krishna||1|| “Your reddish eyes are slowly closing from sleepless night of passion. Even now they express a powerful and increasing attachment for that beautiful Vraja-Gopis”
- yahimadhavayahikesava, ma vada kaitava vadam | tam anusarasarasiruha-lochana, yathava harati vishadam ||dhruvapada||||Go away Madhava! Go Keshava! Don’t plead your lies with me, go after that lotus eyed Gopi. She will ease your despair.
- kajjala-malina-vilocana-chumbana, virachita-nilima-rupam | dashana-vasanamarunam tava Krishna, tanotitanoranurupam Krishna ||2|| “Your beautiful red lips have become dark from kissing her collyrium-smeared eyes.”
- vapuranusarati, tava smarasangara, khara-nakhara-khata-rekham | marakata-shakala-kalita-kala dhauta-liperivaratijaya-lekham Krishna ||3|| “Your body is marked with scratches from the sharp nails of that Gopi. It appears as if a certificate of victory has been inscribed in golden letters upon an emerald wall.”
- bahirivamalina, taramtava Krishna, mano’pibhavishyatinunam | kathamathavañchayasejanam, anugatamasamashara-jvara-dunam Krishna ||6||“O Keshava, Your body is black, and so is Your heart. How could You deceive someone faithful to You, especially when She has been maimed by Cupid’s shafts?”
- bhamati bhavan abala-kavalaya, vaneshukimatravichitram | prathayatiputani, kaivavadhu-vadha, nirdaya-balacharitram Krishna ||7|| “You are roaming in the forest looking for innocent women. What is astonishing about this? By killing Putana while still in your infancy, you had already acquainted us with your cruel and merciless nature.”