Mohiniyattam (Mohiniattam) is a traditional dance type of Kerala in South India. The beginning and notoriety of this dance structure is firmly labeled to the incomparable Tamil dance ace Vadivelu, one of the Thanjavur groups of four. One among the eight Indian traditional dance structures, Mohiniyattam is an agile dance to watch and is an independent presentation by ladies. The term Mohiniyattam comes from the words mohini meaning a lady who captivates spectators and aattam meaning effortless and arousing body developments. Subsequently, the word Mohiniyattam in a real sense implies - dance of the conjurer.
Mohiniyattam has a legend joined to it according to the Hindu folklore. It says that, after the expanse of milk was agitated mutually by the divine beings and the evil spirits to extricate the remedy of life, the devils took the heavenly brew forcibly. Following the episode, Lord Vishnu acted the hero of the divine beings. He appealed the evil presences by appearing as a lady with extraordinary excellence called Mohini and took the mixture of life from them and gave it to the divine beings. The captivating demonstrations of Mohini are reflected in the dance type of Mohiniyattam. Whenever the Devadasi custom was common in many pieces of south India, Mohiniyattam used to be performed by Devadasis (sanctuary artists) in sanctuaries, during the standard of the Chera lords from 9 to 12 C.E.
This dance structure additionally has components of other performing artistic expressions of Kerala viz. Koothu and Kutiyattam in it. Furthermore, Mohiniyattam likewise went under the impact of two other south Indian dance structures - Bharatanatyam and Kathakali. Mohiniyattam in its initial days went through highs and lows, which at last got steadied during the rule of King Swathi Thirunal of the recent Travancore realm.
Aside from King Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma, Mohiniyattam got convenient mediations which helped in getting its portion of consideration and fame from the incomparable Malayalam writer Vallathol Narayana Menon who is likewise the originator of Kerala Kalamandalam and the prominent Mohiniyattam educator, Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma.
The dance structure Mohiniyattam has love and dedication to God as its significant topics, with normally Lord Vishnu or his manifestation Lord Krishna as the lead character. Mohiniyattam involves around 40 distinct essential developments called adavukal and its exhibition style is set apart by the swinging of hips and the delicate developments with straight body act from side-to-side. This dance like numerous other traditional dance types of India follows the communication via gestures (mudra) as portrayed in the antiquated composition on Hastha Lakshanadeepika to convey the story. These mudras are communicated through fingers and palms of the hands.
The melodic backup of Mohiniyattam dance includes what is known as chollu. The verses are in Manipravalam, which is a combination of Sanskrit and Malayalam.
Basic, yet exquisite outfit is one of the angles that give Mohiniyattam an extraordinary character among old style dance types of India. The clothing for Mohiniyattam comprises of white sari, lined with wide brilliant brocade (called kasavu in Malayalam).
In Kerala, there are focuses that deal preparing in Mohiniyattam. The Kerala Kalamandalam, which is a considered college is the chief place in Kerala for learning old style fine arts, where one can go through preparing in Mohiniyattam.