According to the Natyashastra, it may be understood as a combination of two words — abhi meaning “towards” and naya meaning “to carry.” An important concept within Indian aesthetics, it refers to the art of expression but may be understood more specifically as a way of leading the audience to the comprehension of an emotion, or bhava. Abhinaya can be of four kinds — angika, which uses body movements and postures, vacika, which involves the use of speech, including poems, lyrics and dialogue; aharya, which uses costumes, makeup, props and sets; and sattvika, that involves feelings from within.