ITEMS OF A MARGAM - SHABDAM

3. SHABDAM: SHABDAM IS AN INTRODUCTION TO ABHINAYA. THIS IS THE THIRD ITEM IN BHARATANTYAM MARGAM. THROUGH THIS DANCE, THE DANCER BRINGS OUT THE NRITYA ASPECT OF BHARATANTYAM. IN SHABDAM THE DANCER ACCORDING TO THE WORDS OF THE SONG SHOWS SPECIFIC MUDRAS WITH FACIAL EXPRESSIONS. DIFFERENT MOODS OR NAVARASAS ARE USED IN THIS DANCE LIKE SRINGARA, VEERA, KARUNA, ADBHUTA, BHAYANAKA, HASYA, BIBHATSA, RAUDRA AND SHANTA. SHABDAM IS DEDICATED TO GODS, GODDESSES, KINGS OR ANY POPULAR PERSONALITY.  'SHABDAM' MEANS THE SONG OF PRAISE. IN SANSKRIT, IT IS KNOWN AS 'KIRTIGANA'. THE POPULAR RAGA USED IN SHABDAM IS KAMBOJI AND TALA IS MISHRACHAPU. IT IS MOSTLY DIVIDED INTO FOUR PARTS. AFTER EACH PART , SANCHARI BHAVA IS USED. IT BEGINS WITH SHOLKATTU. THIS FIRST PART IS KNOWN AS PALLAVI, THE SECOND AS ANUPALLAVI,  THE THIRD PART AS CHARANAM AND THE FOURTH AS ANUCHARANAM. THE RASA IS MOSTLY SRINGARA BUT ENDING IS ALWAYS WITH BHAKTI. IT ALWAYS ENDS WITH  SALAMURA OT NAMASTHUTE . MOST OF THE SHABDAMS ARE IN TELEGU OF TAMIL BUT NOW OTHER LANGUAGES ARE ALSO TAKING ITS PLACE.