Mahalaya

‘Maha Alayam’ means great temple. According to the philosophy Sanatana Dharma, the human body is considered a temple within which the ‘Jiva’ or soul resides. Within this body the five sheaths or Panchakosha is encapsulated. The Panchakosha is a philosophy in yoga that refers to the five layers of awareness through which all human experience is processed. This performance aims at exploring the corporeality of the Panchakoshas through the narrative of the ‘Kurukshetra war’, a segment from the epic Mahabharatha. Also known as the Bhagavad Gita we will focus on Arjun Viṣhād Yoga and Sānkhya Yoga. Upon further investigation, this ‘war’ is seen as a metaphor for man’s inner struggles to realise his/her nature. In having to find one’s true purpose, self awareness is a first step. The philosophy of the Panchakoshas is a linear knowledge system that supports the practice of self awareness. The five sheaths will unravel through the context of these two chapters led by the archetypes Arjuna and Sri Krishna. The movement and poetry re- territorialize a 6th century tamil poetic work ‘Thirumanthiram’ which expounds on the theory for the nurturing and preservation of the body. Keeping Bharathanatyam as the base, the choreography incorporates elements of physical theatre through the use of ‘Mei- Padam’, an ancient form of body conditioning practiced by Tamil Warriors.