Published Paper Details:

The Hindu philosophy prescribes numerous paths for a seeker in his/her journey towards spiritual awakening. One may embark on anyone or multiple paths such as Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Kundalini Yoga in the journey towards spiritual awakening. The Vedas and Upanishads are the foundational texts that lay down the practises and rituals to be followed in the spiritual journey. The process of spiritual awakening leads to a deeper insight into the nature of self and reality. The ultimate goal is to transcend the ego through self-enquiry, self-improvement and self-mastery and in the process experience oneness with the divine. This paper explores art with specific reference to Indian Classical Dance and Dancers as a path towards the journey of spiritual awakening. The Natyashastra (NS) written by Bharat Muni and referred to as the fifth Veda is the foundation text for Natya. It is the sacred guidebook that stands as a preamble to the Indian classical dance fraternity for generations. One of the purposes of the Natyashastra is to enhance the spiritual enrichment of the dancer in his/her understanding of the aesthetics, ethics and the human experience. This research paper is a phenomenological inquiry that probes into the existential and spiritual metamorphoses undergone by practitioners of Indian classical dance. It elucidates the dancer's capacity to catalyse profound spiritual awakenings. The researcher, through an in-depth examination of the lived experiences of classical dancers, seeks to illuminate the mechanisms by which dance facilitates introspection, personal growth, and self-actualization. A qualitative research design has been adopted comprising in-depth interviews, narrative surveys, and observational methods. This paper probes the dialectical relationships between espoused theories, practical applications, and interpersonal dynamics within the dance community. The emergent findings underscore the transformative potential of dance to reconfigure belief systems, practices, perceptual frameworks, and relational dynamics, thereby cultivating heightened self-awareness and spiritual consciousness among dancers.