Karana, a Sanskrit word which meaning ‘doing’ is basically transitions in the classical Indian dances. It is described in the Natyashastra as “hastapaada samaayogaah nrttsya karanam bhavet”. It is a combination of three elements, namely nritta hasta (dance movement of the hands), sthaana (a dance posture for the body) and a chaari (a dance movement of the leg). The karanas form the basis of the adavus. Therefore, each karana was practised as a movement and not as a mere posture, as often misunderstood. The karanas are said to be numerous, however 108 have been codified in the Natyashastra. They are found depicted in the stone carvings on the passage walls in the gopurams of the Nataraj temples of Chidambaram, as Lord Shiva is said to be the originator of the Karanas. They have found to have influenced all the classical and folk dances of India, as well as bear resemblance to Egyptian, Thai and Indonesian dances.
The 108 Karanas are as follows:

1. Talapuspaputam
2. Vartitam
3. Valitorukam
4. Apaviddham
5. Samanakham
6. Linam
7. Swastikarechitam
8. Mandalaswastikam
9. Nikuttakam
10. Ardhanikuttakam
11. Katicchinnam
12. Ardharechitakam
13. Vaksahswastikam
14. Unmattam
15. Swastikam
16. Prsthaswastikam
17. Dikswastikam
18. Alaatakam
19. Katisamam
20. Aksiptarecitam
21. Viksiptaksiptakam
22. Ardhaswastikam
23. Anchitam
24. Bhujangatrasitam
25. Urdhvajanu
26. Nikuncitam
27. Mattalli
28. Ardha Mattalli
29. Recita Nikuttitam
30. Padapaviddhakam
31. Valitam
32. Ghurnitam
33. Lalitam
34. Dandapaksam
35. Bhujangatrastarecitam
36. Nupuram
37. Vaisakharecitam
38. Bhramarakam
39. Caturam
40. Bhujangancitakam
41. Dandakarecitam
42. Vrscikarecitam
43. Katibhrantam
44. Latavrscikam
45. Chinnam
46. Vrscikarecitam
47. Vrscikam
48. Vyamsitam
49. Parsvanikuttakam
50. Lalatatilakam
51. Krantam
52. Kuncitam
53. Cakramandalam
54. Uromandalam
55. Aksiptam
56. Talavilasitam
57. Argalam
58. Viksiptam
59. Aavartam
60. Dolapadam
61. Vivrttam
62. Vinivrttam
63. Parsvakrantam
64. Nistambitam
65. Vidyudbhrantam
66. Atikrantam
67. Vivartitakam
68. Gajakriditakam
69. Talasamsphotitam
70. Garudaplutakam
71. Gandasuci
72. Parivrttam
73. Parsvajanu
74. Grdhravalinakam
75. Sannatam
76. Suci
77. Ardhasuci
78. Sucividdham
79. Apakrantam
80. Mayuralalitam
81. Sarpitam
82. Dandapadam
83. Harinaplutam
84. Prenkholitam
85. Nitambam
86. Skhalitam
87. Karihastam
88. Prasarpitakam
89. Simhavikriditakam
90. Simhakarsitam
91. Udvrttam
92. Upasratakam
93. Talasanghattitam
94. Janitam
95. Avahitthakam
96. Nivesam
97. Elakakriditam
98. Urudvrttam
99. Madaskhalitam
100. Visnukrantam
101. Sambhrantam
102. Viskambham
103. Udghattitam
104. Vrsabhakriditam
105. Lolitam
106. Nagapasarpitam
107. Sakatasyam
108. Gangavataranam