Kaosikii nrtya

Kaosikii nrtya
Location in Sarkarverse

Kaośikii nrtya (or, simply, Kaośikii) is a dance invented on September 6, 1978 by the Indian philosopher and social reformer Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, aka Shrii Shrii Anandamurti (1921–1990).

Purpose

Sarkar states that he invented Kaośikii dance primarily with women in mind, as the Tandava dance given by Shiva tends to be unwholesome for them. However, Sarkar makes clear that Kaosikii is not just beneficial women but also for men.

According to Sarkar, Kaosikii has 22 benefits:

1. It exercises all the glands and limbs from head to foot.
2. It increases longevity.
3. It makes for easy delivery.
4. The spine will become flexible.
5. Arthritis of the spine, neck, waist and other joints will be removed.
6. Gout in the spine, neck, hands and waist will be lost.
7. The mind becomes strong and sharp.
8. Irregularities in menstruation will be cured.
9. Glandular secretions will become regulated.
10. Troubles in the bladder and urethra will be cured.
11. It gives control over the limbs.
12. It adds charm and shine to the face and skin.
13. It removes wrinkles.
14. It removes lethargy.
15. It cures insomnia.
16. It cures hysteria.
17. Fear complexes will be removed.
18. Hopelessness will be lost.
19. It helps in self-expression and develops one’s potentiality.
20. Spinal pain, piles, hernia, hydrocele in men, nervous pain, nervous disability will be cured.
21. It cures kidney and gall bladder troubles, gastric trouble, dyspepsia, acidity, dysentery, syphilis, gonorrhoea, obesity, thinness and liver diseases.
    
22. It increases the capacity to work until 75-80 years of age.

Performance

Kaosikii is performed in 18 steps that follow from the initial, ready position. In the ready position, the dancer's hands are together and raised over the head. To the rhythmic beat of "dhin, dhin,... ,tá, tá", which is later replaced by variations on the mantra "Baba Nam Kevalam", the dancer begins swaying the arms and torso as the feet move in place, respectively behind each other. First the forefoot of the right foot goes behind the heel of the left foot, and then vice versa. At the same time, the upper body sways to the right, (30, 60, and then 90 degrees down, followed by 45 and then 90 degrees up). The same thing is done with the upper body swaying to the left to the left. Then the upper body sways forward (90 and then 180 degrees down, followed by 180 degrees up), and finally backward (45 and then 90 degrees back, followed by 90% up). These light steps are all referred to as dhin. In the final two steps, the dancer stamps firmly on the ground (tá tá), first with the right foot and then with the left. Immediately thereafter, the next round of 18 steps begins. There is no limit to the number of rounds that a Kaoshikii dancer may perform. The dance ends where it began, in the ready position.

Ideation

Sarkar explains the ideation to be maintained while performing Kaosikii as follows:

The two hands upraised and folded together represent, "Now I am trying to establish a link with Parama Puruśa." Both hands bending to the right indicate, "I know the right way to request You." The bending of the body should be at a 45-degree angular projection. The leftward movement represents, "I know how to fulfill Your demands." The movement of bending in front suggests complete surrender. The backward bending represents, "I am ready to face all troubles that may come." The last tá, tá represents, "O Lord, I repeat Your rhythm."

See also

• Lalita mármika
• Táńd́ava