Final answer:
In Kerala Indian temples, dance serves as a devotional act and storytelling method, with the kavadi aattam being a notable endurance practice during the Thaipusam festival. These dances vary from symbolic depictions of spiritual teachings to transformative experiences that connect participants with divinity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dances in Kerala Indian Temples
In the temples of Kerala and across India, dance is used as a form of devotion and storytelling. The most intense form of temple dance is the kavadi aattam, a form of sacrificial offering and endurance test observed by devotees of the Indian god Murugan, particularly during the Thaipusam festival. This dance forms one aspect of the diverse religious expression witnessed in Hinduism, which sees a variety of deities and spiritual traditions contributing to its rich tapestry.
Thaipusam and the Burden Dance
During Thaipusam, the 'burden dance' becomes an extraordinary demonstration of faith and physical endurance. Devotees may carry pots of milk or suspend them from hooks pierced through their skin as they proceed to the temple, symbolizing their devotion and the carrying of burdens. This intense practice is accompanied by fasting, chanting, and sometimes trance-induced states, all performed in the pursuit of spiritual merit and as homage to the deity Murugan.
Temple Dance and Spirituality
Dancing in temples is not just a form of worship but also a way to depict stories and convey teachings. It ranges from the ornate and symbolic, such as those based on the teachings of the Kama Sutra at the Khajuraho temples, to other forms that involve elaborate dress, rhythmic music, and a connection to divinity that can transform the performer's state of consciousness.
Historically and cross-culturally, trance dancing and the changing states of awareness it induces have been an integral part of religious practices. Whether through the spinning of the Whirling Dervishes or the vigorous 'shout' dances, moving in rhythm can produce euphoric, transformative experiences, fostering a deeper spiritual connection.