The Ashta-Nayika is a collective name for eight types of nayikas or heroines as classified by Bharata in his Sanskrit treatise on performing arts - Natya Shastra. The eight nayikas represent eight different states (avastha) in relationship to her hero or nayaka.[1] As archetypal states of the romantic heroine, it has been used as theme in Indian painting, literature, sculpture as well as Indian classical dance and music.
- ^ "Erotic Literature (Sanskrit)". The Encyclopaedia Of Indian Literature. Vol. 2. Sahitya Akademi. 2005. ISBN 81-260-1194-7.