Natya Shastra

The Natya Shastra is an ancient Indian treatise on performing arts, written by the sage Bharata Muni around 200 BCE to 200 CE. It covers various facets of theater, including dance, drama, and music, outlining techniques for storytelling, expression, and stagecraft. The text emphasizes the importance of emotion (rasa) and the connection between performers and their audience. Considered the foundational work of Indian classical arts, it has significantly influenced the development of various dance and theater forms across India, blending aesthetics, philosophy, and spiritual elements in performance.