RE: [catholicpriests] whether it is right for Catholics to be doing Indian
antony_avemaria
<scribbletouch@...> wrote:
Dear Sister Jyotsana,
In the strictest of senses and relevance, the answer to your
question is a big NO!! The principal reason for this is that
Bharathanatyam is a form of classical dance which, as you rightly
said, is performed in praise of a Hindu deity – chiefly, Lord Shiva,
who is supposedly the founder and mentor of this form of dance.
Hence, Christians who practice this form of dance can just never get
away with the alibi of saying that this is merely for exercise, body
toning and so on. The dancer HAS TO CONSCIENTIOUSLY PAY OBEISANCE TO
SHIVE BEFORE HE OR SHE CAN COMMENCE A PARTICULAR TRAIT OF DANCE, A
MUDRA OR AN ALARIPPU.
How can one ward this off by saying this is just dancing like tap or
bolero or ballet or disco?? The picture is very clear!!!
Your brother in the Peace of our Risen Lord.
Barnabas Rex
---------------------------------
From: catholi...@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:catholi...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jyotsna
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 8:46 PM
To: Cath Priests
Subject: [catholicpriests] whether it is right for Catholics to be
doing Indian classical dances?
Would anyone like to comment on whether it is right for Catholics to
be doing Indian classical dances. A whole lot of catholic girls
perform Bharatanatyam and Kathak. There used to be a priest in Mumbai
who was a Bharatanatyam dancer. Most Indian classical dances sing
praises of Hindu Gods but it does not seem to bother anyone.
--
"Now we exhort you, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be
patient with all."
1 Thessalonians 5:14
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Jyotsna
feels the same as I do. But I have seen an Orthodox bishop and some
Catholic priests encouraging these arts in their parishes. And it is
not out of any lack of knowledge ...
Some justify Catholics learning these dances by saying that if we have
to "purify" the idolatrous Indian culture, we have to learn these art
forms and then turn them into dances that speak of Christ. That is a
very noble thought indeed, but one which usually never happens.
Actually, even Karnatic music has numerous references of and praises
to various Hindu Gods. But, I suppose, we cannot tell our young people
to just stop practising every Indian art form and adopt only western
dance and music. :-(
I am really concerned about this issue since I constantly meet
youngsters in Catholic schools and colleges who are studying Indian
art forms. At a time when a lot of Westerners are turning to the East
and are specially attracted to our dance and music, it is really
challenging to tell our youth to stay away from all this.
Do let me know if any of you are dealing with similar issues and how
do you tackle them.
Blessings!
Jyotsna Paul
On Nov 17, 11:27 am, "antony_avemaria" <antony_avema...@yahoo.co.in>
wrote:
> --- In catholicprie...@yahoogroups.com, Barnabas Rex
> <scribbletouch@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Sister Jyotsana,
>
> In the strictest of senses and relevance, the answer to your
> question is a big NO!! The principal reason for this is that
> Bharathanatyam is a form of classical dance which, as you rightly
>
> Hence, Christians who practice this form of dance can just never get
> away with the alibi of saying that this is merely for exercise, body
> toning and so on. The dancer HAS TO CONSCIENTIOUSLY PAY OBEISANCE TO
> SHIVE BEFORE HE OR SHE CAN COMMENCE A PARTICULAR TRAIT OF DANCE, A
> MUDRA OR AN ALARIPPU.
>
> How can one ward this off by saying this is just dancing like tap or
> bolero or ballet or disco?? The picture is very clear!!!
>
> Your brother in the Peace of our Risen Lord.
>
> Barnabas Rex
>
> ---------------------------------
>