Editing Pūrvaraṅga (Prelude) in Bharatanāṭya (section)

== Rituals in prelude ==
''Pūrvaraṅga vidhi'' - meaning, ‘the preliminaries of a play’ of ''Nāṭyaśāstra'' narrates about the procedure of rituals to be followed before starting the play/performance on the stage. The rituals like ''Jarjara''<ref>Indra’s weapon</ref> ''Pūjā, Nāndī'' (Benediction) etc attribute to the success of the play, overcoming the ''Vighna-s'' (obstacles). Sage ''Bharata'' also refers to Actors paying obeisance to Brahma; worshipping ''Brahma'' (''Brahma maṇḍala'' - ''Brahma''’s circle) using flowers in the following ''śloka'':

'''''“puṣpāñjalyapravargasca kāryo brāhmōtha maṇḍale'''''

'''''raṅgapīṭhasya madhye tu svayam brahmā pratiṣṭitaḥ”'''''<ref>Śloka 71, chapter 5 </ref>

This translates to, ''“Then the Director should offer flowers in Brahmā’s Circle (Brāhma-maṇḍala) which is another name for the centre of the stage where the deity is supposed to be present.”''<ref>Pg.85, chapter 5</ref>

In the later stage of this ritualistic procedure called as ''Citra Pūrvaraṅga''<ref>''nṛtta'' sequence involving energetic, acrobatic movements with hand gestures and foot work</ref> meaning Mixed Prelimineries, ''Bharata'' says that the white flowers should be scattered all over the stage and the ''Aṅgahāra-s''<ref>Series of movements of the hands and the feet</ref> should be performed by the dancers.

'''''“siddhā kusumamālābhirvikireyuḥ samaṅtataḥ'''''

'''''aṅgahāraiśca devyastā upanṛtyeyuragrtaḥ”'''''<ref>Śloka 152, chapter 5</ref>

Dr Manmohan Ghosh translates this as, ''“And in the mixed Preliminaries thus begun] clusters of white flowers should be scattered all over [the stage], and the Aṅgahāras should be performed by [dancers dressed as] goddesses.”''<ref>Pg 96, chapter 5</ref>