Bharathanatyam Adavus

 "The Adavus of Bharathanatyam"

The number of Adavus varies according to the Guru, each one may have their own style of teaching.

Classification of Adavus:

1. Thattadavu (8 steps)

Thaalam - Thai ya thai

Hasthas - Pathakam

2. Naatadavu (8 steps)

Thaalam - Thaiyum thattha thaiyum thaha

Hasthas - Tripathaka, Katakamukha, Alapadma.

3. Kuditta Mettu Adavu (5 Steps)

Thaalam - Thai ha thai hi

Hasthas - Katakamukham, Alapadmam.

4. Sarukkal Adavu(8 Steps)

Thaalam - Thai ha Thai hi

Hasthas - Pathakam, Katakamukham, Alapadmam, Mrigashrisham.

5. Thirmana Adavu(5 Steps)

Thaalam- Thith thith thai, Thai thith thith thai, thai thai thith thith thai, Thai Thai Thai thith thith thai

Hasthas - Tripathakam

6. Paithal Adavu(11 Steps)

Thaalam - Tha thai tha thaa thith thai tha thaa

Hasthas - Katakamukham, Alapadmam, Shikaram

7. Ettadavu(5 Steps)

Thaalam - Tha thai thai thaam thith thai thai thaam

Hasthas - Tripathakam

8. Mandi Adavu(5 Steps)

Thaalam - Thankita tha tha thina

Hasthas - Tripathakam, Katakamukham

9. Thatti Mettu Adavu(5 Steps)

• Tisram(3 beats) - Tha kitta
• Chatusram(4 beats) - Thakka Thimi
• Khandam(5 beats) - Thakka Tha kitta
• Misram(7 beats) - Tha kitta thakka thimi
• Sankirnam(9 beats)- Thakka thimi thakka tha kitta

10. Mardita / Visharu / Paraval Adavu(6 Steps)

Thaalam - Tha thai thai thaam thith thai thai thaam

Hasthas - Ktakamukham, pathakam, alapadmam, Tripathakam, Dhola

11. Korvai Adavu(6 Steps)

Thaalam - Tha thai thaam thith thai thaam

Hasthas - Pthaka, Tripathaka, Shikhara, Alapadma, Katakhamukham

12. Utsanga Adavu

The number of steps and adavus may change accoring to the Guru according to their way or style of teaching.

Bharathanatyam Mudras - Part 1