Thread by @Shrikantha5

Busting a myth promoted by #Catholic missionaries about Bharatnatyam.
British seized the temples and called Bharat Natyam dancers as "temple prostitutes".
A small thread today busting the secular, catholic and colonial narrative.

In 1910 British Government banned the performance of Bharat Natyam in the temples as an assault on the indigenous culture and push for mass conversions into Christianity.

The supposed reason for banning was the effort of a missionary organization which started anti dance movement in 1892. As per the petition made by the missionaries, Bharatnatyam is " debased erotic culture of slavery to idols and priests."

When India protested, the historians came in and clarified that Bharath Natyam is not that old but only formed in 17th century after India got introduced to Mughal perversion.

Even today, NCERT textbooks and IAS exam syllabus regurgitate the falsehood that Bharath Natyam was formed in 16th/17th century.

After India got independence when Brihadeeswara temple was being cleaned by ASI they found 81 Karanas of Bharath Natyam sculpted there. This happened in 1956 but @INCIndia as usual batted for the colonial masters and tried to bury this find.

As you know Brihadeeshwara temple was built thousands of years ago. So, the NCERT claim that Bharatnatyam was invented in 17th century falls flat. Textbooks regurgitate same falsehood against the indigenous culture to push for colonialism.

The problem with Brihadeeshwara temple is that these Karanas are sculpted on the sealing on Garbha Gruha and one cannot gain access unless Brihadeeshwara himself grants us entry. So, we cannot verify. But ASI can at least publish high resolution images for the world to know.

So less fortunate of us can visit East Gopuram of Shiva Nataraja Temple of Chidambaram and can see following Karanas of Bharath Natyam depicted. This temple is built in 13th century as per ASI.

Ohio State University's doctoral dissertation by Bindu Sankar has studied dance imagery in south Indian temples and documented Karana sculptures various temples. All much earlier than 16th/17th century!
Even stretching back to 8th century!

So, myth that Bharat Natyam is temple prostitute's dance if false.
Bharatnatyam is created in 16th century too is false.
Hopefully Indian Universities start retiring the @INCIndia stooges who still push colonial narrative.

Image replicated using fair use provisions from dissertation of Bindu Sankar.
Bharath Natyam images are creative commons licensed from wikimedia commons.

The foundation which was instrumental in 1956 discovery of 81 Karanas in Brihadeeshwara temples sanctum sanctorum organized a massive Bharath Natyam with 1000 dancers on the millennial celebration of Brihadeeshwara.
It is our apology to Lord Shiva.

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