One of the 2 Sanskrit great epic poems of ancient India (the other is the Ramayana); an important source on information on the development of Hinduism btwn 400 BCE-200BCE; regarded by Hindus as both a text about dharma (Hindu moral law) and a history.

This is where classical Sanskrit drama draws most of it's stories from. 

The shorter of the 2 great epic poems of India. Composed in Sanskrit, it depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like the ideal father, the ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife, and the ideal king. 

c. 200 BCE-200CE

A detailed handbook on all aspects of classical Sanskrit theatre; contains detailed instructions for performance of classical Indian concept of the drama ( including dance, music, poetics, and general aesthetics); justification of Indian drama as a vehicle of religious enlightenment.

Literally: emotions

The aesthetic pleasure of Hindu dance and theatre is determined by how successful the artist is in expressing a particular bhava and evoking the rasa. 

9 bhavas: pleasure/delight, laughter/humor, sorrow/pain, anger, heroism/courage, fear, disgust, and wonder

Literally: "taste" or "flavor". That exalted sentiment or mood that the spectator experiences after witnessing a performance. Critics did not generally concern themselves as much about plot or technical perfection as about the rasa of performance. 

9 rasas: the erotic, the comic, pathos/compassion, the furious, the heroic/valorous, the terrible, the odius, the marvelous

late 4th-early 5th CE

The Recognition of Shakuntala (apx. 5th century CE)

A classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language. Wrote 3 plays, 2 epic poems

A form of Sanskrit theater performed in Hindu temples. Lengthy, elaborate affairs (12-150 hrs) spread across several nights. A complete performance consists of 3 parts: 1.purappadu- a verse along w/the nritta dance.

2.nirvahanam- prologue telling what happened before

3.kuttiyattam- the play itself

A stylized classical Indian dance-drama noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion.