The document explores the relationship between belly dances and classical Indian dances, emphasizing their connections to aesthetics, eroticism, and spirituality. Dr. Raju M. Mathew shares insights from his research and personal experiences, highlighting the cultural significance and artistic expression embodied in these dance forms. He argues for the appreciation of both dance styles as valuable art forms, advocating for deeper understanding and integration of their artistic elements.

1. BELLY DANCES &
CLASSICAL INDIAN DANCES –
EMBEDDING AESTHETICS, EROTICISM
AND SPIRITUALITY
DR. RAJU M. MATHEW

2. A PERSONAL NOTE
• Those who know me on the basis of my works on Knowledge Theories,
Knowmatics, Cybernetics of Knowledge and Knowledge Industry and also on the
Ancient Indian Wisdom, Education and Global Economic Crisis, Violent Revolutions
may be surprised on my present work on the Belly Dance and the Classical Indian
Dance.
• Both Belly Dance and the Classical Indian Dances are the energizing factor for me
to do the other theoretical, strategic, policy and applied works. The rhythmic and
dynamic movements of the dancers, the color of the light and costumes and
inspiring music help me formulate theories, strategies and propounding
Knowmatics and others.
• I am sharing my knowledge for the lovers of dances, rhythms and colors. This can
be considered as the part of my earlier works on : Ancient Indian Wisdom-
Sanadhana Dharma; Stay Young, Sexy and Happy; Enjoy Food, Sex and Sleep
Through Integration Techniques.
• This may be helpful for the artists, dancers, art lovers and critics to understand
more and conduct further studies or research. This is a matter of a 300 page book
and creation of a series of dance albums. Let the pictures tell more than my
written words!
• All these pictures are downloaded from the net. I express my sincere gratitude to
those artists, though I don’t know them personally. They are also sharing their
knowledge and expertise to enrich the life of the Humanity like the scientists,
thinkers and experts.
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

3. BELLY AND INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

4. ARTS- EXPRESSIONS OF THE SELF
• All forms of arts are the expression of the ‘Self’, especially Dance which
is inseparably linked with Music. Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality
that constitute creativity, are embedded in the Self. Love is an expression
of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality and therefore it is Divine.
• Dance, Belly Dance or the Classical Indian Dance , is a symbolic
expression of Love, Beauty, Creativity and Womanliness or Motherhood.
Male dancers have the supporting or catalytic role to charge the female
dancers, even if they play the lead roles.
• Dance is the earliest form of art, to induce vigor and masculinity in men
for fulfilling the creativity and motherhood of women- the trick of the
Nature.
• When ‘masculinity’ has been attributed to the God or the Cosmic
Energy, Dance and Music become a form of worship and inseparable
element of temples or places of worship.
• In the true form art or dance, there is nothing like vulgarity which is the
result of the corruption of the art or psychological disorder or hypocrisy
of the viewers or critics.
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

5. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

6. ANCIENT TEMPLE DANCERS
• Ancient temples all over the world, especially in India, Egypt, Rome, Greece, Babylonia
and etc. had maintained and supported temple dancers, mainly beautiful women. Even
the Temple of Jerusalem, built by the King Solomon, once had more than a hundred
dancers drawn mainly from beautiful women captives or slaves. In the old Arab
World, almost all rich and powerful men maintained harems to accommodate
beautiful captives and slave women to perform belly dances. The Moguls in India
inherited the ancient Arab or Person legacy and patronized Mujra Dance which is still
popular both in India and Pakistan.
• The Mythology of Parasurama in Kerala ,India was about the bloody prosecution of the
Buddhists and capturing of Kerala by the Hindus under the Prince Parasurama and
then the super imposition of the Brahmins over the entire Kerala society. A mass
conversion of the Buddhists towards Islam in the Northern Kerala and Christianity in
the Central Kerala had taken place. Both converted Muslims and Christians from
Buddhism called their place of worship as ‘Pally’ as had been called by the Buddhists.
Those inactive Buddhists later followed the Hinud practices with lower socio-economic
status and came to be known as Ezhavas or Thiyas.
• In Kerala, India, after the bloody prosecution of the Buddhists by the sixth century, the
Hindus converted the Buddhist temples as Hindu temples and the beautiful captive
Buddhist women were made as ‘Devadasis’ or temple dancers who developed
‘Mohinyattam’, ‘Thiruvathira’ and etc. Tantrics ,including tantric sex, had widely been
practiced in Kerala till the colonization of the British and the spread of the British
middle class morality in Kerala. Texts like ‘Kamasutra’,’Kuttinimatha’, ‘Sringaramangeri’
were popular in Kerala. Elements of eroticism can widely been seen in these dances.
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

7. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE-
MOHINIYATTAM
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

8. THE DIVINE DANCE
• In the highest plane, the Cosmic or the Divine Dance can be found in the
entire universe and thousands of solar systems and the unending flow of
energy as breeze, wind, waves, storm, earth quakes, volcanic eruptions
and frequent heavily explosions of stars or planets. All such divine dances
are taking place in our body, mind and soul also. The human body, mind
and soul are the symbolic expression of the universe.
• A detailed study of the evolution, methodology, form, expression and
philosophy of the systematic performance of the Belly Dances and the
Classical Indian Dances, helps us understand that there exists a striking
similarity and an expression of divinity in them. Their differences are
mainly in Style, Costume and Audience.
• It is ignorance that results in attributing scientific and divine elements only
to the Indian classical dances, branding the Belly Dance as something
vulgar or inferior. Both need talent, aptitude, devotion and systematic
training and practice. Beauty, Eroticism and Spirituality are embedded in
them . There are several Divine Indian Classical Dances and Divine Belly
Dances too.
• The following slides may help to understand more about them and attain
greater understanding and integration of different forms of arts or dances
and the humanity as a whole in the age of Globalization and emergence of
the New Global Social Order.
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

9. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE-
BHARATHNATIYAM
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

10. INDIAN DANCES- FOLK & CLASSICAL
• India is rich with a thousand forms of folk dances
representing the culture and celebrations of each
locality, especially harvesting, marriage and
worshipping of the local deity. They are also
embedded with eroticism, aesthetics and
spirituality.
• The major forms of the Indian classical dances are :
Carnatic or Bharatanatiyam, Odissi, Khathak,
Kuchipudi and Mohinyattam. Manipuri Dance can
also be included in this category. They demand
rigorous and systematic training and continuous
practices.
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

11. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

12. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE-CARNATIC
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

13. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE-KATHAK
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

14. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE-ODISSI
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

15. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE-KUCHIPUDI
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

16. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE- MANIPURI
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

17. INDIAN (KERALA) DANCE- THIRUVATHIRA
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

18. BELLY DANCES
• Belly dance was originated during the nomadic period even
before the origin of settlement based on agriculture. Belly
dance is the finest expression of feminine beauty embodied
in the legs, belly and breasts of a woman and their
rhythmic movements dynamically in tune with music. It
was also originated as a form of worship to please the
deity of creativity.
• Belly Dance is common in almost all parts of the world and
more popular in the Arab world, Brazil, Eastern Europe,
especially Russia. It demands rigorous and prolonged
training extending even more than ten years to attain in its
finest form, besides continuous training and maintaining
the form and beauty of the body and mind.
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

19. BELLY DANCE
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

20. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

21. BELLY DANCES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

22. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

23. BELLY DANCES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

24. INDIAN TEMPLE SCULPTURES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian
Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics,
Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M.

25. BELLY DANCES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian
Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics,
Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M.

26. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian
Dances - Embedding of
Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by

27. BELLY DANCES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

28. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

29. BELLY DANCES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

30. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian
Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics,
Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M.

31. BELLY DANCES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian
Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics,
Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M.

32. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

33. BELLY DANCES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

34. INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCES
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

35. SOME USEFUL LINKS ON THE INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCES
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzHoNSf9-ho•
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnH8gW20t1Q&list=PLDB59BF69D1C27DAB
•
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6SdcjkiSdc
•
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8muuolpzR4Q
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQLP4gpM-1w Bharthanatiyam
•
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbboaq1a0Rs Odissy dance
•
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6hslnn8b9Q Kathak
•
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MHo2kBIWAY kathak
•
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhgbPEmBSUQ Kuchipudi
•
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=31b85Lie6no Five Elements- Panchabootham.
•
•
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

36. SOME USEFUL LINKS ON THE INDIAN
CLASSICAL DANCES
•
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=odG0c6rvaG4 Bharathanaitiyam
•
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pny4uyigOjg Christian devotional dance Tamil
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX0COPkJy3o Arthanarieswara
•
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX0COPkJy3o Siva-Parvathy dance/arthnarieswara
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=797wg6aG_z4&list=TLhpGaWbPeUy5SZpHD8bNU6fLTmjSMyznQ
Mohinyattom
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyDYuNc85QI&list=TLhpGaWbPeUy5SZpHD8bNU6fLTmjSMyznQ
Mohinyattom
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cISsJOGIZo Mohinyattom
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MASXHBZJgfQ Thiruvathirakali
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHQsBenPsdc Thiruvathira
•
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew

37. SOME USEFUL LINKS ON BELLY DANCE
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfRRuBG8IDQ
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBYaDP_T84Y&list=PL5FBAC2
7DFED69371&shuffle=2328
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJqxHTq48y0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUEtX6aZ4oM
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyjoHFihUTU
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yQNGgghRBU
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaDJvGf_xZk
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akhI9ZXgj1k
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TMBEkLEpEg
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6wSd-ZQhrg
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ykl5F7jTT9o
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewia-xY1SzQ
Belly Dances and the Classical Indian Dances - Embedding of Aesthetics, Eroticism and Spirituality by Dr. Raju M. Mathew