The Ashtanayika are not just aesthetic categories — they map the complete feminine journey from longing to spiritual liberation. This panel discussion marks the launch of a book decoding the eight heroines of Sanskrit aesthetics through Natya Shastra, classical dance, miniature painting, and Bhakti poetry.

Scholars unpack the intricate relationship between Rasa and Bhava, how ragas and raginis receive human form in Rajput and Pahari painting traditions, and why Parvati demanded Lord Shiva complete his Tandava to include the feminine dimension. The eight Nayikas — from the waiting lover to the one united with her beloved — encode a complete spiritual arc. The book is described as uniquely accessible: to understand even one aspect of Natya Shastra, one must know music, dance, sculpture, and poetry simultaneously — a challenge this work meets with rare depth. The research, the authors note, began with aesthetics and sensual imagery but ultimately led toward spirituality — the true heart of the Ashtanayika tradition.

About the Speakers:
Manorama Choudhury is a U.S.-based multilingual author, poet, songwriter, blogger, and mixed-media artist. She is the author of Ashtanayika: Tatwa O Kabita (Odia) and was named India New England’s Outstanding Woman of the Year 2023 in Art and Literature. A passionate social entrepreneur, she supports rural initiatives in education, health, wellness, and indigenous handloom.

Dr. Jayakrushna Choudhury is a retired NCERT teacher, a prolific Odia poet, fiction writer, and essayist. He mentored Manorama Choudhury in writing Ashtanayika: Tatwa O Kabita, and is currently authoring a pioneering book on feminism in Odia. His acclaimed Odia translation of Alberto Moravia’s The Empty Canvas, titled Shunya Chitrapata, reflects his literary excellence.

Dr. Seema Bhalla is an accomplished art historian, curator, and artist specializing in Indian miniature painting. She has written extensively on Indian art and culture, curated important exhibitions, and edited a recognized scholarly book.

Sharon Lowen is a globally respected exponent of Odissi, Manipuri, and Mayurbhanj and Seraikella Chhau, renowned for her grace, stylistic perfection, and abhinaya. A Fulbright Scholar and the first woman soloist of Mayurbhanj Chhau, Sharon has received numerous honours. Founder of the NGO Manasa – Art Without Frontiers, she continues to curate festivals, train artists, and foster cross-cultural dialogue.

Gauranga Das, an IIT Bombay graduate, is a meditation teacher, sustainability advocate, and social leader. A member of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission, Director of Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV) and is Administrative Director of the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre. A TEDx speaker and corporate mentor to organizations, he is the author of three national bestsellers and leads initiatives like Govardhan Annakshetra, providing free sanctified meals to pilgrims and villagers.