ANCIENT ENVIRONMENTALISM – PRESENTED IN MODERN ARTISTIC MODE

September 1, 2004

Yoganjali Natyalayam Presents Dance Drama

Homage to the Home Planet - Pancha Maha Bhutas

6:05 pm Saturday, September 4th, 2004

Kamban Kala Arangam, Pondicherry – 605 001,

The ancient Rishis of India were environmentalists extraordinaire. Brilliant psychologists, they realized that the human mind would automatically respect that which it held sacred. Thus, they invested the Five Elements – earth, air, fire, water and ether – with a sacred aura and taught the common man to revere them as Manifestations of the Great Being, Brahman. Beautiful, sensitive habits of collective living (cultural patterns) grew up which reflected that reverence for nature. Offering salutations each morning at dawn to the sun, in thanksgiving for its life-giving light; requesting the earth (as Bhumi Devi) to excuse one’s weight before stepping from the bed each morning; honouring Agni, fire, through Homas; Chanting Mantras to invoke the rain; worshipping Akash as the Medium through which Lord Shiva dances was part of day-to-day life in ancient

India. Living creatures – ranging from the lowly insects and reptiles like the cobra to the docile cow, to the birds and monkeys and deer – all found a place of honour in the Hindu pantheon of Gods as Vahanas (vehicles) or special beings. Even inanimate objects like mountains, rivers, oceans and valleys were viewed as holy and revered as such. Did not Karaikal Ammaiyar refuse to put her foot on the holy Kailash mountain of Lord Shiva, and instead, scaled its heights walking on her head? Trees, plants, flowers, all had their own special spiritual significance.

Materialistic, modern man has cynically discarded that sacred attitude, and instead views the earth planet and all things which dwell upon it as merely instruments of his consumption, a means of satisfying his greed for possessions, pleasure, comfort and prestige. As a result, more than 90 % of the earth’s resources have been “eaten up” and devoured by the planet’s burgeoning population in the last one hundred years. Now, five billion people demand, not just sustenance from the Mother Planet, but luxurious, wasteful, lavish, glamourous, extravagant lifestyles. No wonder Nature is “striking back,” with earthquakes, hurricanes, droughts, floods, global warming and extreme climatic change.

In an effort to re-create that “Reverence for Life” which is vital to the earth Planet’s survival, Yoganjali Natyalayam will present a specially chorographical ninety-minute Bharat Natyam Dance Drama – “Homage to the Home Planet – The Pancha Maha Bhuta” at 6:05 pm Saturday, September 4th, at the Kamban Kalai Arangam. The Dance Drama, which will include Bharat Natyam, Folk Dances, Acrobatic Natya Karanas and Yoga Asanas, will be presented by more than seventy dancers, Yoga Asanists and a team of ten musicians. The music and choreography is original to Yoganjali Natyalayam, composed under the direction of Puduvai Kalaimamani Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani. Director, and Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Chairman of Yoganjali Natyalayam. Each Pancha Maha Bhuta will be

represented with the Raga and Tala appropriate to its inherent qualities and the story of the Stalam (holy place and temple) associated with each Bhuta will be dramatized. The relationship between the human Chakras, vortexes of energy in the psychic body and the Pancha Maha Bhutas as well as Mantras associated with the relevant element will also be dramatized. The aim of the Production is to inculcate an awareness of the sacredness of the Earth Planet and the five elements of which it is composed. When that sense of sacredness and relationship is experienced, one will naturally care for one’s environment with reverence, respect and gratitude.

Eminent environmentalists and socially concerned persons will speak on the need to feel concern for the world we live in. They will address the gathering after the Dance Drama. “Homage to the Earth Planet – Pancha Maha Bhuta” is the Tenth Annual Full Length Original Dance Drama presented by Yoganjali Natyalayam since 1994. Each year the Institute undertakes this massive work as a community service to awaken the public to the grandeur of Indian culture. These dance dramas also are held to celebrate the Jayanthi of the Founder of Yoganjali Natyalayam – Guru Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj Madathiapathy of Sri Kambliswamy Madam who was a great patron of the Carnatic Arts.

ADMISSION IS FREE. Schools, Colleges, and Universities are especially encouraged to bring their students to see this production to stimulate them to a greater awareness of the need to appreciate and protect their environment. Families are encouraged to make this an occasion for an educative outing, which will not only entertain but also inform and educate their children. Organisations who wish to block a section of seats for their members may phone 2241561 (Yoganjali Natyalayam) for reservation.

Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani

Chairman : Yoganjali Natyalayam and ICYER

25,2nd Cross,Iyyanar Nagar, Pondicherry-605 013

Tel: 0413 - 2622902 / 0413 -2241561

Website: www.icyer.com

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