Bhava Sadanga: The Six Limbs of Art


Indian art has a rich history and is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of the country. The art is not only aesthetically pleasing but also has a deeper philosophical and spiritual significance. In order to understand the various aspects of Indian art, six limbs of Indian art or ‘Sadanga‘ were developed. One of these six limbs is ‘Bhava Sadanga‘, which refers to the emotional or psychological aspect of Indian art.

Bhava‘ is the emotional or psychological state that an artist conveys through their art. It refers to the inner feelings and emotions of the artist and their ability to express it through their work. In Indian art, ‘Bhava’ is an important aspect as it helps in connecting the viewer with the artwork and evokes a range of emotions.

The ‘Bhava Sadanga’ has three components – Vibhava, Anubhava, and Vyabhicaribhava. Vibhava refers to the cause or the stimulus that evokes an emotion in the artist. Anubhava refers to the emotions that are conveyed through the artwork. Vyabhicaribhava refers to the various transitory emotions that arise in the artist or the viewer in response to the artwork.

One of the important aspects of Bhava Sadanga is the ‘rasa’, which is the essence or the aesthetic experience that an artwork evokes in the viewer. There are nine rasas in Indian art – Shringara (love), Hasya (humour), Karuna (compassion), Raudra (anger), Veera (valour), Bhayanaka (fear), Bibhatsa (disgust), Adbhuta (wonder), and Shanta (peace).

An artist creates Bhava in their art through various techniques such as the use of facial expressions, body language, colors, and composition. In classical dance forms such as Bharatanatyam and Kathakali, the use of mudras or hand gestures, abhinaya or facial expressions, and the use of costume and makeup help in conveying the Bhava.

In Indian paintings, the Bhava is conveyed through the use of color, form, and composition. For example, the use of warm colors such as red and orange in a painting can evoke a feeling of passion or love, while the use of cool colors such as blue and green can evoke a feeling of peace or tranquility.

Key Learnings
  • Bhava Sadanga is an important aspect of Indian art that helps in conveying the emotional and psychological aspects of an artwork.
  • The use of Bhava in Indian art not only makes the artwork aesthetically pleasing but also helps in connecting the viewer with the artwork on a deeper level.
  • Through the use of various techniques, an artist can evoke a range of emotions in the viewer and create a unique and powerful aesthetic experience.

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