Concept of Ashta Nayika
Art & Culture › Dance Forms · Topic 5.2
Ashta Nayika means the eight heroines, a classification of women characters in love, described in Chapter 22 of the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni and developed in later texts such as the Rasamanjari of Bhanudatta. The eight types are Vasakasajja, Virahotkanthita, Svadhinabhartruka, Kalahantarita, Khandita, Vipralabdha, Proshitabhartruka and Abhisarika. Each shows a state of the heroine in shringara rasa (love), mostly in relation to her lover. The theme is used in Odissi, Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, and in Rajput and Pahari miniature paintings of Rasamanjari and Gita Govinda.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Dance Forms
At a Glance
- Meaning Eight types of heroine
- Source Natya Shastra, Chapter 22
- Rasa Shringara (love)
- Used in Dance, drama, painting, poetry
- Later text Rasamanjari of Bhanudatta
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Dance Forms
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows the general concept of dance and prepares for the theory of rasa and bhava, since the nayika types are all expressions of the shringara rasa. Previous topic: Concept of Dance in India (Natya Shastra, Margi/Desi). Next topic: Rasa and Bhava Theory.
What Are the Eight Nayikas?
| Nayika | Alternate name or spelling | State of the heroine |
|---|---|---|
| Vasakasajja | Vasaka Sajja | Dressed and decorated, waiting joyfully for the lover |
| Virahotkanthita | Virahotkhandita | Sad with separation because the lover has not come |
| Svadhinabhartruka | Svadhinapatika | Proud heroine whose lover is under her control and stays with her |
| Kalahantarita | Kalahantarita | Quarrelled with the lover, sent him away, and now repents |
| Khandita | Khandita | Angry because the lover has spent the night with another and returned with signs of it |
| Vipralabdha | Vipralabdha | Cheated and hurt when the lover did not keep the promise to meet |
| Proshitabhartruka | Proshitapatika | Longing for the husband who is away from home |
| Abhisarika | Abhisarika | Goes out boldly to meet the lover, often at night |
Where Does Ashta Nayika Appear in Art?
| Art form | Use of the theme | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Odissi | Abhinaya items based on Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda show nayikas such as Abhisarika and Khandita | Odisha, Kelucharan Mohapatra is a noted exponent |
| Bharatanatyam | Padams and javalis show the states of the heroine | Tamil Nadu |
| Kathak | Thumri and bhava items depict nayikas | Uttar Pradesh |
| Kuchipudi | Dance dramas such as Bhamakalapam show a Svadhinabhartruka heroine in Satyabhama | Andhra Pradesh |
| Pahari and Rajput painting | Rasamanjari and Ragamala series depict the types of heroines | Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan |
| Poetry and music | Riti-period Hindi poetry and Carnatic padams list the nayikas | Keshavdas wrote Rasikapriya |
What Else Should You Remember?
- Nayaka: the hero in the classification system, with four types in the Natya Shastra: dhirodatta, dhiralalita, dhirashanta and dhiroddhata
- Nayika by nature: heroines are also classified as Svakiya (own wife), Parakiya (another’s wife) and Samanya (courtesan)
- Nayika by age: Mugdha is a young innocent heroine, Madhya is middle and Pragalbha is mature and bold
- Rasamanjari: written by Bhanudatta in the 14th century, it describes types of heroines and was widely illustrated in Pahari paintings of Basohli and Kangra
- Rasikapriya: a Hindi text of the Riti period written by Keshavdas in 1591
- Gita Govinda: the Sanskrit poem of Jayadeva of the 12th century in Odisha, in which Radha appears in varied nayika states
- Radha as nayika: in Vaishnava art Radha is shown in the roles of Abhisarika and Khandita, and Krishna as the lover
- Eight is not fixed: later writers described more types and subtypes, but the eight are the standard set asked in exams
- Bhava link: all nayika states belong to shringara rasa, whose sthayi bhava is rati, the feeling of love, as in Rasa and Bhava Theory
- Modern interpretation: dancers such as Sonal Mansingh and Madhavi Mudgal have staged Ashta Nayika as solo shows
- Spelling variants: Svadhinabhartruka is also written Swadhinapatika, Virahotkanthita as Virahotkhandita, and Proshitabhartruka as Proshitapatika, so match meanings and not spellings in exams
- Dance practice: in Odissi the nayika is built over a full song, with a slow entry, a statement of the mood, and a final line that shows the lover arriving or leaving
- Painting practice: in miniatures the nayika is shown with signs such as a lamp, a bed of flowers, a storm or a messenger, each hinting at her state
- Cultural spread: the idea also appears in Tamil Sangam poetry in its own tinai scheme and in Telugu padams of Kshetrayya
- Gender view: scholars note that the scheme describes women mostly in relation to male lovers, so modern performers reinterpret it
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Names: all eight nayikas and one-line meanings
- Matching: Abhisarika with going to meet the lover, Khandita with anger, Proshitabhartruka with husband away
- Source: Natya Shastra and shringara rasa
- Art link: Pahari miniatures and Odissi
- Common errors: confusing Vipralabdha with Khandita, or Svadhinabhartruka with Proshitabhartruka
As an analytical point, Ashta Nayika shows how classical art turned human feeling into a codified system. It also lets modern artists ask whether such classification reflects a male view of women.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Names Eight names asked
- Meanings Match the state
- Painting Pahari link
What Came Next?
The next topic is Rasa and Bhava Theory. Next topic: Rasa and Bhava Theory.
Key People and Terms
- Nayika Heroine
- Nayaka Hero
- Shringara Love rasa
- Abhisarika One who goes to meet
- Proshita Away
- Khandita Wronged and angry
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Source: Natya Shastra, Chapter 22.
- Rasa: shringara.
- Goes to meet lover: Abhisarika.
- Husband away: Proshitabhartruka.
- Quarrel and regret: Kalahantarita.
Do Not Confuse With
- Khandita and Vipralabdha Lover found unfaithful versus lover did not come
- Virahotkanthita and Proshitabhartruka Lover delayed versus husband away
- Vasakasajja and Svadhinabhartruka Waiting dressed versus lover under control
Memory Hook
Dressed she waits, pines, rules, quarrels, rages, is cheated, longs, and sets out.
Mains Angle
Questions are rare in Mains, but themes of women in art help in essay and culture answers. These points give a frame.
- Cultural link Dance, poetry, painting
- Women image Agency versus stereotype
- Reinterpretation Modern artists
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Examine how classical themes like Ashta Nayika link dance, painting and literature in Indian culture.”
How to Answer
- Source Natya Shastra.
- Spread Dance, miniatures, poetry.
- Critique Women shown through lovers.
- Way Creative reinterpretation.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ashta Nayika?
Ashta Nayika means the eight heroines of Indian classical dance, drama and poetry. They are eight types of women in love described in the Natya Shastra, each showing a different state of mind in relation to her lover. The theme belongs to shringara rasa, the sentiment of love.
What are the names of the eight nayikas?
The eight nayikas are Vasakasajja, Virahotkanthita, Svadhinabhartruka, Kalahantarita, Khandita, Vipralabdha, Proshitabhartruka and Abhisarika. Each represents a state: waiting, longing, confident, repenting after a quarrel, angry, cheated, missing a husband who is away, and going out to meet a lover.
What does Abhisarika mean?
Abhisarika is the heroine who goes out secretly or boldly to meet her lover, often at night through a dark and dangerous path. She is one of the eight nayikas of the Natya Shastra and is a favourite subject of Odissi dance and Pahari painting.
What is the difference between Khandita and Vipralabdha?
Khandita is the heroine who is angry because her lover spent the night with another woman and returned in the morning. Vipralabdha is the heroine who is disappointed and hurt because the lover failed to keep an appointment to meet her. Both show pain, but the cause differs.
Which texts describe the Ashta Nayika?
The Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni first describes the eight types of heroine, and later works such as the Rasamanjari of Bhanudatta and the Hindi Rasikapriya of Keshavdas explain them in detail. Pahari miniature paintings of Basohli and Kangra often illustrate Rasamanjari.
Why is Ashta Nayika important for UPSC?
It matters because Prelims may ask for the names and meanings of the nayikas or their source text, and Mains may link them to dance, painting and literature. It also forms the base for understanding shringara rasa and abhinaya in classical dance.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Ashta Nayika refers to eight types of heroines.
Described in the Natya Shastra.
2 Abhisarika is the heroine whose husband is away.
That is Proshitabhartruka. Abhisarika goes to meet the lover.
3 Ashta Nayika belongs to the shringara rasa.
The shringara rasa is love.
4 Rasamanjari was written by Jayadeva.
It was written by Bhanudatta. Jayadeva wrote the Gita Govinda.
Related Topics
Browse the full Art & Culture index