Parikrama Ballet : Details & Synopsis

Parikrama : The Atman seeks communion with the body. It perforates rarified ether, wind, fire, water—finally descending upon the placid earth and entering the human body. Birth thus takes place with the union of body and soul.
The human body is charged with energy. Initially the Atman is in harmony with the five senses of sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. Soon, the senses take control and the Atman becomes subservient to them. Discord and conflict set in between the two. The fettered Atman is fatigued and without hope. Just as a well is drained of water, so also the Atman is drained of its own being.
A desire for liberation gradually awakens in the Atman. It begins its arduous, formidable journey towards its goal of emancipation from the senses. It pierces through five sheaths in descending order of density. It survives earthquakes, tumultuous waters, raging fires, stormy winds and polluted ether to realize the eternal truth that —
Beyond the objects is the mind
Beyond the mind are the senses
Beyond the senses is the intellect
Beyond the intellect is its own identity
Beyond its own identity is the non-manifest
Beyond the non-manifest is the spirit
Beyond the spirit there is nothing
And where there is nothing
There is absolute blissful consciousness.
— Katha Upanishad
The Atman thus makes a full Parikrama of the cylce of birth and death achieving Moksha by merging into the supreme light of consciousness.

Synopsis :
1. Hiranyagarbh — a state where nothing was and everything is.
2. Atman emerges from the Hiranyagarbh.
3. Atman penetrates the five elements — ether, air, fire, water and earth.
4. Atman enters the body and thus human birth takes place.
5. Each of the five senses of sight, touch, sound, taste and smell reveal their entity to the Atman.
6. The Atman rejoices with the senses in its new discovery.
7. The senses take over and the Atman is exhausted.
8. The fettered Atman seeks liberation.
9. Rid of the body and senses, Atman penetrates the five elements in its journey towards Moksha – liberation.
10. The Atman re-enters the Hiranyagarbh – thus merging into blissful consciousness.

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