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:
- Talapuspaputam
- Vartitam
- Valitorukam
- Apaviddham
- Samanakham
- Linam
- Swastikarechitam
- Mandalaswastikam
- Nikuttakam
- Ardhanikuttakam
- Katicchinnam
- Ardharechitakam
- Vaksahswastikam
- Unmattam
- Swastikam
- Prsthaswastikam
- Dikswastikam
- Alaatakam
- Katisamam
- Aksiptarecitam
- Viksiptaksiptakam
- Ardhaswastikam
- Anchitam
- Bhujangatrasitam
- Urdhvajanu
- Nikuncitam
- Mattalli
- Ardha Mattalli
- Recita Nikuttitam
- Padapaviddhakam
- Valitam
- Ghurnitam
- Lalitam
- Dandapaksam
- Bhujangatrastarecitam
- Nupuram
- Vaisakharecitam
- Bhramarakam
- Caturam
- Bhujangancitakam
- Dandakarecitam
- Vrscikarecitam
- Katibhrantam
- Latavrscikam
- Chinnam
- Vrscikarecitam
- Vrscikam
- Vyamsitam
- Parsvanikuttakam
- Lalatatilakam
- Krantam
- Kuncitam
- Cakramandalam
- Uromandalam
- Aksiptam
- Talavilasitam
- Argalam
- Viksiptam
- Aavartam
- Dolapadam
- Vivrttam
- Vinivrttam
- Parsvakrantam
- Nistambitam
- Vidyudbhrantam
- Atikrantam
- Vivartitakam
- Gajakriditakam
- Talasamsphotitam
- Garudaplutakam
- Gandasuci
- Parivrttam
- Parsvajanu
- Grdhravalinakam
- Sannatam
- Suci
- Ardhasuci
- Sucividdham
- Apakrantam
- Mayuralalitam
- Sarpitam
- Dandapadam
- Harinaplutam
- Prenkholitam
- Nitambam
- Skhalitam
- Karihastam
- Prasarpitakam
- Simhavikriditakam
- Simhakarsitam
- Udvrttam
- Upasratakam
- Talasanghattitam
- Janitam
- Avahitthakam
- Nivesam
- Elakakriditam
- Urudvrttam
- Madaskhalitam
- Visnukrantam
- Sambhrantam
- Viskambham
- Udghattitam
- Vrsabhakriditam
- Lolitam
- Nagapasarpitam
- Sakatasyam
- Gangavataranam