The Natyasastra and Bharata-muni

Conclusion

The analysis challenges prevailing interpretations of the Natyasastra's authorship and historical context, arguing against attributing it to Bharata-muni as a singular, authoritative text. By questioning the chronology and orthodoxy's influence, it highlights the complexity of Indian dramatic traditions and their evolution. The critique of Sastri's translation and Trivedi's assumptions underscores the need for rigorous textual scrutiny, emphasizing that the Natyasastra's development reflects broader socio-political dynamics rather than a fixed doctrine. This perspective invites reconsideration of canonical narratives and scholarly approaches to ancient Indian performance theory.