Nāṭyaśāstra

The Nāṭyaśāstra, attributed to Bharata Muni, is the foundational text on Indian performing arts, encompassing drama, dance, music, and stagecraft.

Content

The text, consisting of 36 chapters with about 6,000 verses, addresses the theory of rasa (aesthetic flavor), bhāva (emotional states), stage construction, acting techniques, music, dance forms, and the ritual origins of drama.

Significance

It defines the theoretical framework for classical Indian dance and theatre traditions and has shaped aesthetic philosophy across South and Southeast Asia.

Verification

Composition likely between 200 BCE and 200 CE (estimates vary between 500 BCE and 500 CE); extensively commented upon, most notably by Abhinavagupta’s 10th-century Abhinavabhāratī. In April 2025 a manuscript of the Nāṭyaśāstra was added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.

• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).