The ordinary meaning of Veeranatyam is dance of the brave. This dance is accompanied with a lot of vigor and enthusiasm. The sole aim of the Veeranatyam is to pay homage to the divine God Shiva who is believed to be the oldest Vedic God. People also worship the Goddess Veerabhadra by performing this dance drama. Actually performance of Veeranatyam occurs in almost every Shiva Temples of Andhra Pradesh and it involves skillful steps and dexterous hand movements. This dance is presently performed in the marriage functions and vow fulfillment ceremonies. The themes of the Veeranatyam mainly revolve around Dakshayagna. During the Dakshayagna, a flame is lit and the bodies of the dancers are pierced with trident and spears. Since this needs skill and practice, the dancers require practicing their skills throughout the year. At the end of the ceremony the tridents are lit and Lord Shiva is offered homage by these flaming tridents. The Veeranatyam involves celebrations like Virabhadra Pallem in which the dancers use a big plate made of palm;the dance continues until the flame extinguishes completely. Throughout the entire dance performance, ritual chant by the pujaris continues. Another form of Veeranatyam involves dancing with a large bamboo pole which is smeared with vibhuti. All these dances are mostly devotional and involves vigorous ritual practices and is owes its origin to the Veeramusti community. The people of this community claim direct descent from Lord Shiva. The Veeranatyam dance involves Thambaru, Dolu, Thasha and Veeranam. The colorful dress worn by the dancers and their cheerful cries invigorates the entire atmosphere. Their worship finds expression through their nimble dance and their vibrant attires.
