Amruka Shatakam (7-8Th CE) ranks as one of the finest lyrical poetry in the annals of Sanskrit literature. The 100+ verses bring forth emotions of love. For the first time, the verses of Amruka were presented in Kathak dance by Sunil Sunkara at Purusha Sukta – Kriti Akriti Festival 2025 At Veer Savarkar Auditorium, Shivaji Park organized by Manisha Jeet’s Manas Cultural Trust in Collaboration with National Centre For Performing Arts (NCPA) Mumbai Dance Season.
Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Utd. Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskaar Awardee as well as a Tagore Scholar, Sunil is the youngest dancer to have received this scholarship for his immense contribution to research in the field of Kathak. He has been working extensively on the temple traditions of Kathak with a focus on storytelling. He has received training in traditional Kathak from Pt Birju Maharaj’s Kalashram as well as Deeksha in the shastras from Dr Puru Dadheech and Dr Vibha Dadheech. In collaboration with Bangalore based Singer-Composer Kartik Raman, he has created a number of unique productions for Kathak. Shivaanurakti begins with a few lines penned by Sunil – Katha Kare Yeh Kathik Hriday Ki, Gyan Kartik Dhwani Ki.
Shivānurakti brings to fore the idea that the end is but a beginning in love as well as in life. Shiva, upon holding Sati’s burnt body in his hands, released uncontrolled fury in the world, as the loss of his love leads to his loss of centeredness. As he dances the dance of destruction, Vishnu with the Sudarshan chakra separates Satis body into many fragments that fall to the earth and become the Shakti Peethas. Shiva now experiences Sati in every direction, in every aspect of nature and within ever atom of soil in the earth. As he loses himself in his love for her, he has a vision that Sati will return as Ambika and closes his eyes in meditation , promising to Sati that he will open his eyes again only upon her return. Later Sati in the form of Parvati also does Tapasya for Shiva , and thus both Shiva and Shakti through Tapasya, find each other to become the embodiment of Purusha and Prakriti. The first shloka of Amruka that describes Parvati with a bow in hand has been used here.
The concept and research for this was by Bangalore based prodigious Sankrit scholar and author Arjun Bharadwaj. Shivānurakti was first presented in Chennai Music Season a few weeks back at the Natya Kala Conference curated by Nirupama Rajendra and TD Rajendra and this was its second staging.
