Chatur Slokam --- BharatNatyam for Kids

The Four Slokas relate to the 4 deities – Ganesha, Saraswati, Lakshmi & Shiva. The verses of these Slokas with their meanings are as follows :

Mushika Vahana Modaka Hasta Shamala Karna Bilambita Sutra
Bamana Rupa Maheshwara Putra Bigna Vinayaka pada Namahaste

One who rides on Mouse, with Modak in his hand, ears that of an elephant, the one who wears thread or Janeyu, who has the body structure as that of a drawf, who is the son of Masheswara or Shiva, the one who end all the Vigna , I humbly bow at his feet.

Saraswati Namahastubham Varade kama rupini
Vidhya rambham Kariswami siddhir Bahvatu Me Sada

I humbly bow Goddess Saraswati whose showers her blessings in her Kama Rupa, with her blessing we start our journey in the path of knowledge to achieve Mokhsha, May her blessings be bestowed on us all.

Namahstestu Mahamaye Srirupe Surapujite
Sankha Chakra Gada haste Maha Lakshmi Namahstute

I humbly bow to the great mother, who is the most beautiful and is prayed to in that form by the Devas, the one who carries Cornshell, Chakra(weapon) and Gada (weapon), I bow at her feet.

Angikam Bhuvanam Yasya Vachikam Sarvavamayam Aharyam
Chandra Tara Adi tam Namaaha Satvikam Shivam

The one whose body is as powerful as the universe has yasya as music, who wears the moon and the stars as his ornaments, to that all powerfull Soulfull,
Higher energy I surrender.

Pose of Vishnu & Lakshmi

Shiva Pose

Author's Note : While writing this blog we have received few queries regarding the initial stages of teaching a student. With the change of time the demands and expectations from teachers have changed. Even 50 to 60 years ago, a student of dance would actually spend about a couple of years on Adavus and Anga Suddhi and then move on to the next stage of learning (that is learning the Margam). However now a days there is a constant pressure from the parents to teach a particular item to the students so that they can participate in different competitions and programs. It becomes extremely difficult for the teachers to manage this situation. I have always believed that an ordinary human being blooms into an extraordinary Dancer with the help of a 3 legged chair. One leg is that of the Guru, the other one is the Student herself/himself and the third leg is that of the Parents.
The united cooperation of these three is essential. The parent's wish cannot be terminated at any stage while the basics of teaching the postures and adavus are also important.

Pose of Saraswathi

I remember my mother (at that time I was an assistant teacher working under the guidance of Mrs. Mira Dasgupta ) telling me to teach Chatur Sloka to one of the new joiners to deal with one such situation. These slokams are very simple and can be choreographed with simple figures to suite the need of the situation. While determining the syllabus I have put this in the 1st Course. I will be uploading the video of this next month (we are yet to record the same). There are few items that are simple and can easily be taught to the students who are still in the adavus stage. Chatur Sloka is one of my favorite (as I performed it in my Arangetram).

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