Three millenniums ago, Bharata wrote an exhaustive treatise on the three "plastic" arts of India: music, dance and drama. The "Natya Sastra" included a detailed section on every minute aspect of the art of dance. The art form Bharata Natyam, remains pure today because of Bharata’s instructions and its practitioner’s devotion. Bharata Natyam is a classical dance style of Southern India that combines artistic expression with a sense of spirituality. Highly trained dancers perform precise hand gestures, use intricate footwork, vivid facial expression, and fluid movement; dancers wear traditional costumes consisting of specially made saris, jewelry and hair ornaments, and specifically applied facial and body make-up. They dance to a traditional south Indian Carnatic orchestra consisting of voice, strings, percussion, and flute. Bharata Natyam uses three aspects or modes of kinetic expression that span the range of aesthetic possibilities: Nritta, Nritya, and Natya. Nritta is abstract or "pure" movement- is it pure dance devoid of emotional expression wherein dancers use body movements and pounding rhythmic footwork to create visual geometric patterns vibrating with dynamic energy. Nritya is lyrical dance that interprets poetry. Dancers use conventional hand gestures called mudras along with facial expressions and feelings to express the meanings or interpretations of the lyrics or text. Finally, Natya describes dance-drama that enacts a narrative or idea. In Natya, dancers use both pose and expressional aspects along with mime to create drama. Like fresco painting in Christian churches, the original purpose of Bharata Natyam was to educate the public about the scriptures. Today, Bharata Natyam remains a thriving art form, one that attempts to raise the level of spiritual consciousness of its viewers so they may achieve Rasa, the experience of joy or bliss. Bharata Natyam can also function as a catalyst for cohesion among cultures, using dance as a medium for exploration within and between communities. Performances involve a complete explanation of the movements and stories portrayed through the use of English voice-overs. Stories often illustrate myths of various cultures or religions, and themes enacted through the dance focus on non-violence and humanity’s striving toward world peace. Because of its intricacy and specificity, Bharata Natyam can be used to tell any story in any language.