ARCHITECTURAL AND RITUALISTIC ASPECTS OF TRADITIONAL INDIAN PLAYHOUSES: A STUDY OF NĀṬYAŚĀSTRA

The Nāṭyashāstra, attributed to Bharata Muni, is an ancient Indian treatise on dramaturgy and performance arts. It provides exhaustive guidelines for the construction, consecration, and use of a playhouse (nāṭyamaṁḍapa), emphasizing the importance of spatial and architectural elements in theatrical productions. This paper explores the architectural specifications, ceremonial practices, and cultural significance of the playhouse as outlined in the Nāṭyashāstra. Using textual analysis and interpretive methodology, it explores how these prescriptions reflect the broader cultural, religious, and aesthetic values of ancient Indian society. Additionally, this study introduces Bharata Muni and the Nāṭyashāstra, providing a historical and cultural context for the treatise.