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Concept of Naayaka in Bharata's Natyasastra - Parimal Phadke, Pune e-mail: parimalphadke@hotmail.com November 6, 2004 |
| Bharata has categorized
male and female characters into three types on the basis
of their nature
(Prakriti). The nature of a person could itself be divided
into several
categories.
Bharata talks about the Naayaka in his chapter on Prakriti. The chapter is on Prakriti or the Nature of human beings or characters/paatra-s. He begins by laying them into three main categories. 1) Uttama 2) Madhyama 3) Adhama A comparative study is being made by the following table, which will give a clear and a distinctive sketch of the three prakriti-s. As this chapter only talks about Naayaka, I am only taking into consideration the prakriti (nature) of the male/purusa patraa-s/ characters. The attributes, which cannot be compared, have been laid down separately and those, which can be compared, have been listed in the same line. Before beginning with the grouping, I would like to highlight Abhinavagupta's concept of Guna-s which he decides into Sahaja and Aahara . Abhinavagupta states that the Guna-s, which one is born with are Sahaja Guna-s, and one which he acquires through experience as Aahara Guna-s.
It is interesting to note that Bharata gives vichakshana for uttama characters and visharada for madhyama characters. So the uttama characters are supposed to be skilled to the extent that they have knowledge about it and the madhyama characters are supposed to be proficient enough to make professional use of it. Dr. Manmohan Ghosh also makes the same observation in his edited version of the Natyasastra . The adhama characters possess qualities contradictory to the uttama character in its entirety. Thus he neither possesses sahaja as well as aahara guna-s. In the characters of uttama variety, the sahaja guna-s score over the aahara guna-s, in the characters of madhyama variety the aahara guna-s exceed the sahaja guna-s. Similar is the classification of the female characters. A significant point, which I observed was that nowhere in the list of qualities of the superior female character, we find presence of - intellect, skillful, proficient in arts etc. This itself highlights their importance from the point of view of the plot of the Sanskrit play. Then Bharata talks about characters of mixed nature. Bharata does not include the main (hero or the heroine) under this section. He includes maidservants, hermaphrodites (who has been specifically identified as a character of inferior kind) sakara and vita (attendants of the hero). Bharata does not include the characters of uttama or madhyama variety. It seems he wants the uttama and madhyama characters to be well defined and not of ambiguous nature. Then Bharata goes on to talk about Naayaka. The word Naayaka in rhetoric means the hero of a poetic composition (play or drama). In the Natyasastra, Naayaka has been defined as, “One who relieves himself from any contingency and triumphs over all hurdles and appears to be the protagonist amongst all the other male characters of the play.” Then Bharata goes on to mention the four types of Naayaka. All the four naayaka types have been identified amongst the uttama and madhyama variety. They have been divided into the following - 1) Dhirodhata - Brave and haughty 2) Dhiralalita - Brave and sportive 3) Dhirodata - Brave and magnanimous 4) Dhiraprashaanta - Brave and calm One wonders as to what the word “dhira” could mean. It could mean brave, courageous, firm, resolute etc. Whatever the word “Dhira” means, it is to identify the naayaka and highlight him in the play. Thus it is obvious from the definition that he does possess some special qualities and therefore the word dhira has been used to justify his uniqueness. Indirectly Bharata has laid down the four primal positions in the order of social rankings. Bharata lays down that the Gods are Dhirodhatta, Kings are Dhiralalita, ministers are Dhirodatta and Brahmins and men of the business class are Dhiraprashaanta. Bharata and Abhinavagupta do not talk about the attributes of these naayaka-s. Bharata talks about the nature of the characters in accordance of their status. Thus he lists the qualities of the king, leader of the army, chaplains and ministers, secretaries, judges, wardens of princes and courtiers etc. But the qualities stated have no particular relation with the four types of Naayaka. The qualities laid down seem to be in relation to their status and the duties required to be performed for that particular post. To cite an example - If a General is a Naayaka, he would be Dhirodatta. The guna-s mentioned are -- Good character, truthful, energetic, polite, is aware of the enemy's activities, weaknesses and the proper time to march against him, has sufficient knowledge about the economics of a country's wealth, loyal to one's king, honoured in his own clan etc. These do not justify as to why Bharata has thought that they should be of Dhirodatta type. Thus there seems to be no detailed explanation about the four naayaka types. Probably plays already existed which had a clear character sketch about the four naayaka types. Bharata talks in detail about the various types of naayaka on the basis of vaisikopacaara. The term “vaisik” means a person who associates oneself with the harlots (ganika-s). Bharata also means the same with an addition that he is also well versed in various arts. But Abhinavagupta makes more sense as he says that a man who is a skilled lover and knows the minute details about lovemaking is a vaisika. Thus Bharata elaborates on all such qualities needed for a man to entice a woman, to keep a harmonious relationship with his partners etc. Bharata concentrates a lot on the appearance and behavioural aspect of a vaisika. He divides the qualities into three sections -1) Physical 2) Acquired 3) Psychological.
Bharata enumerates the superior, middling and inferior quality of women according to their behaviour with their lover/husband. After this Bharata talks about the four stages where he explicitly states the reaction of the woman to her co-wives, which means it is presumed that the Naayaka is a polygamist or indulges in women out of wedlock. I feel Bharata expects the Naayaka to know all these details relating to a woman's psyche and physique to term him as vaisika. Then comes the most significant division of the vaisika. He has been categorized into 1) Catura 2) Uttama 3) Madhyama 4) Adhama Each of these given above reacts in a different manner when his wife /lover, angry due to some reason and insults him.
Glimpses of the Naayaka types identified by post -Bharata authors in the chapter on Samanya Abhinaya of Natyasastra. In the chapter of Samanya Abhinaya, Bharata mentions the behaviour of a satha naayaka under the examples of four types of jealousy. Vyalik - When the naayaka continues to visit his paramour despite the naayika's resistance and criticism, it is Vyalik. This particular naayaka is a drshtha naayaka because he is least bothered about the naayika's feelings and continues to be selfish and uncaring. Then Bharat mentions the vyalik bhava in the naayika when the naayaka pleads and says,” I am your servant”, “You are beloved.” A satha naayaka would obviously do that since he realizes his mistake thus overcome by guilt asks for the naayika's forgiveness. Bharata then gives each and every minute detail for various possibilities of interaction between a khandita naayika and the naayaka (who would be a satha or dhrshtha). One can even differentiate between the way in which a satha and a dhrshtha naayaka would interact with the naayika. Bharata then mentions the various terms with which the naayika would address the naayaka on the basis of his character. It is here that we find Bharata may have identified the anukula, satha and drshtha naayaka-s. The anukula nayaka identified by the post-Bharata authors seems to be “Priya”. Bharata says he who does nothing undesirable, speaks nothing improper and always conducts himself uprightly, is addressed by the Nayika as “Priya”. Bharata uses the word “Dhrstha” for defining the term “dusila”. If we closely observe the terms we find those qualities mentioned for “Dusila”, “Duraacara”, “Vaama”, “Virupa”, “Nirlajja” , “Nisthur” are but different shades of “Dhrshtha” naayaka mentioned by the post Bharata authors. Bharata also mentions “Satha” as a term, which would be addressed by the Naayika when the Naayaka for his own purpose speaks sweet words and indulges in all misdoings behind her back. Therefore Bharata has not identified them as specific naayaka-s but he has definitely recognized their behaviour and thus accommodated under a different section. Parimal is a Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and teacher from Pune. His remarkable contribution is the interpretation of the concept of Nayaka in the Bharatanatyam Margam. More info on him at parimal.xp.com |
