Dhyana Shlokam (Dance Prayer) | Angikam Bhuvanam Yasya | Natyakriya Episode 03

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Today, I'm going to tell y'll about Dhyaana Shlokam (read: dhi-yaa-nuh sh-loh-kum). It is traditional to start a dance practice with a dhyaana shlokam. 'DhyAna' is a Sanskrit word that means meditation and 'Shlokam' means a prayer.

This is a popular shloka in praise of Lord Shiva, who is said to be the King of Dance. The dancing form of Lord Shiva is known as 'Nataraja' (read: Nuh-tuh-raa-jaa).We have hand gestures (mudraas) for this Shlokam too. But we'll deal with that later.

Here's the video -

The Lyrics -
Angikam Bhuvanam Yasya 
Vachikam Sarva Vangmayam 
Aaharyam Chandra Taradi
Tam Numah (or Vande) Saattvikam Shivam 

आंगिकम भुवनम यस्य
वाचिकं सर्व वाङ्ग्मयम
आहार्यं चन्द्र ताराधि
तं नुमः (वन्दे) सात्विकं शिवम् 

The prayer means ---
Whose bodily movement is the entire Universe
Whose speech is the language (of the Universe)
Whose ornaments are the moon and the stars
Him, we version the pure (serene) Lord Shiva!

source: the 'Shiva linga hand gesture'

I'll break it down for you - 

WORD	PRONOUNCIATION	MEANING
Angikam	Aa-ngi-cum	Body
Bhuvanam	Bhoo-vuh-num	World (or Universe)
Yasya	Yuh-sya	Whose
Vaachikam	Vaa-chi-kum	Speech
Sarva	Sur-vuh	All
Vaangmayam	Vaang-muh-yum	Languages
Aahaaryam	Aa-haar-yum	Ornaments
Chandra	Chun-dhra	Moon
Taaraadhi	Taa-raa-dhee	Stars
Tam	Thah-m	Him
Numah (or Vandé)	Numaha / Vuh-ndhey	Bow / pray
Saatvikam	Saath-vi-kum	Pure
Shivam	Shivum	Lord Shiva

This Shloka is especially important because it also gives us the four types of Abhinaya (expression)

• Aangikabhinaya
• Vaachikabhinaya
• Aahaaryabhinaya
• Saatvikabhinaya 

 Watch the youtube video for this shlokam here.