Mysore
Mysore (), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern part of the state of Karnataka, India. Mysore city is geographically located between 12° 18′ 26″ north latitude and 76° 38′ 59″ east longitude. It is located at an altitude of ...
is a city in the state of
Karnataka
Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...
, India. It is known as the cultural capital of Karnataka.
Mysore was the capital of the
Wodeyar
The Wadiyar dynasty (formerly spelt Wodeyer or Odeyer, also referred to as the Wadiyars of Mysore), is a late-medieval/ early-modern South Indian Hindu royal family of former kings of Mysore from the Urs clan originally based in Mysore city.
...
kings who ruled over the
Mysore Kingdom
The Kingdom of Mysore was a realm in southern India, traditionally believed to have been founded in 1399 in the vicinity of the modern city of Mysore. From 1799 until 1950, it was a princely state, until 1947 in a subsidiary alliance with Brit ...
for many centuries. Wodeyars were great patrons of art and music and have contributed significantly to make Mysore a cultural centre.
[Contribution of Wodeyar kings to the art and culture of Mysore city is discussed by ] Mysore is well known for its palaces, museums and art galleries and the festivities that take place here during the period of
Dasara attract a worldwide audience. Mysore has also lent its name to popular dishes like ''Mysore
Masala Dosa
Masala Dosa, also called Masale dosey ( ಮಸಾಲೆ ದೋಸೆ ), is a South Indian dish. It is a type of dosa and has its origin in Udupi cuisine of Karnataka. It is made from rice, lentils, Urad dal, Chana dal, fenugreek, puffed ric ...
'' and ''
Mysore Pak''. Mysore is also the origin of the popular silk
sari
A sari (sometimes also saree or shari)The name of the garment in various regional languages include:
* as, শাৰী, xārī, translit-std=ISO
* bn, শাড়ি, śāṛi, translit-std=ISO
* gu, સાડી, sāḍī, translit-std= ...
known as ''Mysore silk sari'' and has also given rise to a popular form of painting known as
Mysore painting
Mysore painting ( kn, ಮೈಸೂರು ಚಿತ್ರಕಲೆ) is an important form of classical South Indian painting style that originated in and around the town of Mysore in Karnataka encouraged and nurtured by the Mysore rulers. Painti ...
.
Festivals
Dasara
Dasara is the ''Nadahabba'' (state-festival) of the state of Karnataka. It is also known as ''Navaratri'' (''Nava-ratri'' = nine-nights) and is a 10-day festival with the last day being
Vijayadashami
Vijayadashami ( sa, विजयदशमी, Vijayadaśamī, translit-std=IAST), also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hind ...
, the most auspicious day of Dasara. Dasara usually falls in the month of September or October. According to a legend,
Vijayadashami
Vijayadashami ( sa, विजयदशमी, Vijayadaśamī, translit-std=IAST), also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hind ...
denotes the victory of truth over evil and was the day when the Hindu Goddess
Chamundeshwari killed the demon
Mahishasura
Mahishasura is a bovine asura in Hinduism. He is depicted in literature to be a deceitful demon who pursued his evil ways by shape-shifting. Mahishasura was the son of Mahisi (Buffalo) and the great-grandson of Brahmarshi Kashyapa. He was ultima ...
.
Mahishasura
Mahishasura is a bovine asura in Hinduism. He is depicted in literature to be a deceitful demon who pursued his evil ways by shape-shifting. Mahishasura was the son of Mahisi (Buffalo) and the great-grandson of Brahmarshi Kashyapa. He was ultima ...
is the demon from whose name Mysore has been derived.
The Dasara festivities were first started by the Wodeyar King, Raja Wodeyar I (1578–1617 CE) in 1610.
[Detailed account of the Dasara festival celebrated at Mysore is provided by ] The
Mysore Palace
The Mysore Palace, also known as Amba Vilas Palace, is a historical palace and a royal residence (house). It is located in Mysore, Karnataka. It used to be the official residence of the Wadiyar dynasty and the seat of the Kingdom of Mysore. Th ...
is lit up on all the 10 days of Dasara. The festivities begin with the Wodeyar royal couple performing a special
puja to Goddess
Chamundeshwari in the
Chamundi
Chamunda (Sanskrit: चामुण्डा, ISO-15919: Cāmuṇḍā), also known as Chamundeshwari, Chamundi or Charchika, is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu Divine Mother Shakti and is one of the seven Matrikas (mother goddesses).W ...
Temple located on the top of
Chamundi Hill
The Chamundi Hills are located 13 km east of Mysore, Karnataka, India. The name comes from the Chamundeshwari Temple at the peak. The average elevation is .
Attractions
The Chamundeshwari Temple is located atop the Chamundi Hills. Patro ...
at Mysore. This would be followed by a special ''durbar'' (royal assembly).Kings wore the traditional
Mysore Peta
The ''Mysuru peta'' (''peta'' is a Kannada word which means turban in English) is the classical royal Indian attire worn by the erstwhile Kings of Mysore. Wodeyars wore a richly bejeweled turban made of silk and jari (gold threaded lace) to mat ...
as headgear during the Durbar (court of Indian or princely state's kings) time or in a ceremonial procession during the Dasara celebrations. It was during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in 1805, when the king started the tradition of having a special ''durbar'' in the Mysore Palace during Dasara; which was attended by members of the royal family, special invitees, officials and the masses. The King and men attending King's court wore the conventional attire called the durbar dress which comprised a black long coat with white trousers and a compulsory
Mysore Peta
The ''Mysuru peta'' (''peta'' is a Kannada word which means turban in English) is the classical royal Indian attire worn by the erstwhile Kings of Mysore. Wodeyars wore a richly bejeweled turban made of silk and jari (gold threaded lace) to mat ...
. This tradition has been continued even now with the current scion of the Wodeyar family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wodeyar holding a private ''durbar'' during Dasara. The ninth day of Dasara known as ''Mahanavami'' is also an auspicious day on which the royal sword is worshipped and is taken on a procession involving elephants, camels and horses.
[Detailed account of the Mysore Dasara festival is provided by ]
On
Vijayadashami
Vijayadashami ( sa, विजयदशमी, Vijayadaśamī, translit-std=IAST), also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hind ...
, the traditional Dasara procession (locally known as ''Jumboo Savari'') is held on the streets of Mysore city. The main attraction of this procession is the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari which is placed on a golden
mantapa
A mandapa or mantapa () is a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture.
Mandapas are described as "open" or "closed" depending on whether they have walls. In temples, ...
on the top of a decorated elephant. This idol is worshipped by the royal couple and other invitees before it is taken around in the procession. Colourful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession which starts from the Mysore Palace and culminates at a place called ''Bannimantap'' where the ''banni'' tree (Prosopis spicigera) is worshipped. According to a legend of the
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
, ''banni'' tree was used by the
Pandava
The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) refers to the five legendary brothers— Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—who are the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. They are acknowledg ...
s to hide their arms during their one-year period of ''Agnatavasa'' (living life incognito). Before undertaking any warfare, the kings traditionally worshipped this tree to help them emerge victorious in the war.
The Dasara festivities would culminate on the night of
Vijayadashami
Vijayadashami ( sa, विजयदशमी, Vijayadaśamī, translit-std=IAST), also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hind ...
with an event held in the grounds at Bannimantap called as ''Panjina Kavayatthu'' (torch-light parade).
Another major attraction during Dasara is the Dasara exhibition which is held in the exhibition grounds opposite to the Mysore Palace. This exhibition starts during Dasara and goes on till December. Various stalls which sell items like clothes, plastic items, kitchenware, cosmetics and eatables are set up and they attract a significant number of people. A play area containing attractions like ferris-wheel is also present to provide entertainment to the people. Various Governmental agencies setup stalls to signify the achievements and projects that they have undertaken.
On all the 10 days of Dasara, various music and dance concerts are held in auditoriums around Mysore city. Musicians and dance groups from all over India are invited to perform on this occasion. Another attraction during Dasara is the ''Kusti Spardhe'' (wrestling-bout) which attracts wrestlers from all around India.
[Details regarding Dasara Wrestling competition held in Mysore is provided by ]
Palaces
Wodeyar kings of Mysore have built quite a few palaces in Mysore and this has earned the city the sobriquet of ''City of Palaces''. Following are the palaces present here:
Ambavilas Palace
![Myspalbang](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Myspalbang.jpg)
This is the main palace of Mysore and also termed as ''
Mysore Palace
The Mysore Palace, also known as Amba Vilas Palace, is a historical palace and a royal residence (house). It is located in Mysore, Karnataka. It used to be the official residence of the Wadiyar dynasty and the seat of the Kingdom of Mysore. Th ...
''. This palace was built in 1912 at a cost of Rs. 4,150,000 in the
Indo-Sarcenic
Indo-Saracenic architecture (also known as Indo-Gothic, Mughal-Gothic, Neo-Mughal, or Hindoo style) was a revivalist architectural style mostly used by British architects in India in the later 19th century, especially in public and government ...
style.
The earlier wooden palace that existed at this location got burnt in a fire during the wedding of Jayalakshammanni, the eldest daughter of Chamaraja Wodeyar, in February 1897.
[Detailed description of the palaces in Mysore is provided by ] The architect of this palace was Mr. Henry Irwin and the consulting engineer was Mr E W Fritchley.
The palace is a three storied structure with the tallest tower with a gilded dome rising to 145 feet above ground. In the first floor is the grand Durbar hall, where the kings used to hold their assembly. Some of the other important halls within the palace are Kalyana Mantap (the wedding hall), Gombe Thotti (hall of dolls) and Amba Vilasa (private hall). Lifelike paintings, murals, arms, trophies, stained glass windows and decorated domes enhance the architectural splendour of this palace.
This is the center of all festivities during the Dasara.
Jaganmohan Palace
Jaganmohan Palace was built in 1861 by Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in a predominantly Hindu style to serve as an alternate palace for the royal family. This palace housed the royal family when the older Mysore Palace was burnt down by a fire. The palace has three floors and has stained glass shutters and ventilators. It has housed the ''Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery'' since the year 1915. The collections exhibited here include paintings from the famed
Travancore
The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At ...
ruler,
Raja Ravi Varma
Raja Ravi Varma ( ml, രാജാ രവിവർമ്മ; 29 April 1848 – 2 October 1906) was an Indian painter and artist. He is considered among the greatest painters in the history of Indian art. His works are one of the best examples ...
, the Russian painter
Svetoslav Roerich and many paintings of the
Mysore painting
Mysore painting ( kn, ಮೈಸೂರು ಚಿತ್ರಕಲೆ) is an important form of classical South Indian painting style that originated in and around the town of Mysore in Karnataka encouraged and nurtured by the Mysore rulers. Painti ...
style.
[A brief description about Jaganmohana Palace is provided by ] The Durbar Hall here was the place where the early convocations of the
Mysore University
The University of Mysore is a public state university in Mysore, Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The university is recognised by the University Grants Commission ...
were held. The hall also serves as an auditorium for staging cultural programmes.
Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion
This palace was built in 1905 by
Chamaraja Wodeyar
Chamarajendra Wadiyar X (22 February 1863 – 28 December 1894) was the twenty-third Maharaja of Mysore between 1868 and 1894.
Adoption and accession
Chamarajendra Wadiyar X was born in the old palace in Mysore on 22 February 1863, as the thi ...
for his eldest daughter Jayalakshmi Devi. This mansion has three wings and contains a series of twin
Corinthian Corinthian or Corinthians may refer to:
*Several Pauline epistles, books of the New Testament of the Bible:
**First Epistle to the Corinthians
**Second Epistle to the Corinthians
**Third Epistle to the Corinthians (Orthodox)
*A demonym relating to ...
and
Ionic columns, regal
pediments
Pediments are gables, usually of a triangular shape.
Pediments are placed above the horizontal structure of the lintel, or entablature, if supported by columns. Pediments can contain an overdoor and are usually topped by hood moulds.
A pedime ...
and oval
ventilators
A ventilator is a piece of medical technology that provides mechanical ventilation by moving breathable air into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently. Ventilators ...
. The mansion was originally built with a cost of Rs. 700,000.
This mansion was acquired by the
Mysore University
The University of Mysore is a public state university in Mysore, Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The university is recognised by the University Grants Commission ...
to house its post-graduate campus. It was renovated in 2002 from funding provided by
Infosys
Infosys Limited is an Indian multinational information technology company that provides business consulting, information technology and outsourcing services. The company was founded in Pune and is headquartered in Bangalore. Infosys is the s ...
foundation.
[A description about Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion is provided by ] The main hall in this mansion is the ''Kalyana Mantapa'' which has an eight-petal shaped dome with stained glass windows with a gold-plated ''Kalasha''(tower) at the top. A new gallery called as ''Writer's Gallery'' has been created in the ''Kalyana Mantapa'' hall that will exhibit personal items, photographs, awards and writings of renowned writers of
Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
.
A special illumination system has also been added to this heritage structure. This mansion is said to be the first university museum complex in the country.
Lalitha Mahal
The architect of this palace was Mr E W Fritchley. The palace was built by
Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV
Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV (Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar; 4 June 1884 – 3 August 1940) was the twenty-fourth maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore, from 1902 until his death in 1940. He is popularly called ''Rajarshi'' ( sa, rājarṣi, li ...
in 1921 for the exclusive stay of the
Viceroy of India
The Governor-General of India (1773–1950, from 1858 to 1947 the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, commonly shortened to Viceroy of India) was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom and after Indian independence in 19 ...
. The palace is pure white in colour and is built in the style of Italian
palazzo
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which ...
with twin Ionic columns and domes. It also has a sprawling terrace and landscaped gardens.
[Profile of the Lalitha Mahal is provided by ] This palace has now been converted into a five-star hotel belonging to the Ashok Group of Hotels. The interior of this palace contains
venation
Venation may refer to:
* Venation (botany), the arrangement of veins in leaves
* Wing venation, the arrangement of veins in insect wings
See also
*
* Vernation
Vernation (from ''vernal'' meaning ''spring'', since that is when leaves spring fort ...
marble floors, rosewood furniture and a stately
balustrade
A baluster is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its con ...
staircase. The central hall in the palace contains life size portraits of the royalty,
lithographs
Lithography () is a planographic method of printing originally based on the immiscibility of oil and water. The printing is from a stone (lithographic limestone) or a metal plate with a smooth surface. It was invented in 1796 by the German a ...
,
motifs, a
Belgian
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...
glass dome and carved wood shutters. An ancient elevator, still in working condition, is also present.
Rajendra Vilas
This is a palace atop the
Chamundi Hill
The Chamundi Hills are located 13 km east of Mysore, Karnataka, India. The name comes from the Chamundeshwari Temple at the peak. The average elevation is .
Attractions
The Chamundeshwari Temple is located atop the Chamundi Hills. Patro ...
. This was conceived in the 1920s and completed in 1938–1939. This was built as a summer palace for the Wodeyar kings. This palace is currently owned by the current scion of the royal family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar. There are plans to convert this into a Heritage hotel.
[Restoration work at Rajendra Vilas Palace is discussed by ]
Cheluvamba Mansion
This mansion was built by
Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV
Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV (Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar; 4 June 1884 – 3 August 1940) was the twenty-fourth maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore, from 1902 until his death in 1940. He is popularly called ''Rajarshi'' ( sa, rājarṣi, li ...
for his third daughter, Cheluvarajammanni. It now houses the
CFTRI
The Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) is an Indian food research institute and laboratory headquartered in Mysore, India. It is a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
India is the wor ...
(Central Food and Technological Research Institute).
Painting
Mysore painting
![Mysore painting](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Mysore_Painting.jpg)
The traditional form of painting called as
Mysore painting
Mysore painting ( kn, ಮೈಸೂರು ಚಿತ್ರಕಲೆ) is an important form of classical South Indian painting style that originated in and around the town of Mysore in Karnataka encouraged and nurtured by the Mysore rulers. Painti ...
is an offshoot of the
Vijayanagar
The Vijayanagara Empire, also called the Karnata Kingdom, was a Hindu empire based in the region of South India, which consisted the modern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and some parts of Telangana and Maharas ...
school of Painting. With the fall of the
Vijayanagar empire
The Vijayanagara Empire, also called the Karnata Kingdom, was a Hindu empire based in the region of South India, which consisted the modern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and some parts of Telangana and ...
, the artists who were involved in the Vijayanagar Paintings were rendered jobless. The Wodeyar king, Raja Wodeyar (1578–1617 CE) rehabilitated these artists in
Srirangapatna
Srirangapatna is a town and headquarters of one of the seven Tehsil, Taluks of Mandya district, in the Indian States and territories of India, State of Karnataka. It gets its name from the Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna, Ranganthaswamy ...
and under his patronage, a new form of painting called as Mysore painting evolved.
[A detailed account of the traditional form of Mysore painting is provided in ] These artists employed by the king made use of locally available materials to do the paintings. Squirrel hair was used as a brush by tying the hair with a silken thread and inserting them into the narrow end of a quill. A cloth spread over a wooden plank formed the painting board. Properly burnt tamarind sticks were used as a sketching charcoal. The main attraction of these paintings was the ''gesso'' work in which gold foils were pasted on appropriate regions on the painting. Gesso was used for depicting intricate designs of clothes, jewellery and architectural details.
Stories from the
Ramayana
The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
,
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
,
Bhagavata Purana and Jain epics formed the basis of these paintings. Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar (Krishnaraja Wodeyar III) was instrumental in the growth of the Mysore painting form and is said to have commissioned more than 1000 portraits during his reign. Many of these paintings can still be seen on the walls of the Jaganmohan Palace at Mysore.
[A brief description the traditional Mysore Painting is provided by ]
Ganjifa Art
Ganjifa
Ganjifa, Ganjapa or Gânjaphâ, is a card game and type of playing cards that are most associated with Persia and India. After Ganjifa cards fell out of use in Iran before the twentieth century, India became the last country to produce them. The f ...
or ''Ganjeefa'' was a popular card game in ancient India. Played extensively in the
Mughal period, Ganjifa is now known more for the art work on the cards than the game itself. Cards made for royalty were inlaid with precious stones and were also made of
ivory
Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals is ...
,
mother-of-pearl
Nacre ( , ), also known as mother of pearl, is an organicinorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer; it is also the material of which pearls are composed. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent.
Nacre is ...
and wafers of
lac
Lac is the resinous secretion of a number of species of lac insects, of which the most commonly cultivated is ''Kerria lacca''.
Cultivation begins when a farmer gets a stick that contains eggs ready to hatch and ties it to the tree to be infes ...
. In Mysore, this game was known as "Chadd" (''God's play'').
[An account on Ganjifa is provided by ] One of the finest exponents of Ganjifa Art, Ganjifa Raghupathi Bhatta is a resident of Mysore and has set up an International Ganjifa Research Centre at Mysore. The cards are generally circular and sometimes rectangular in shape with lacquered backs with exquisite paintings on them.
Carpentry
Rosewood Inlay work
![Wood inlay Mysore](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Wood_inlay_Mysore.jpg)
British writers mention the existence of thousands of workers in Mysore involved in inlaying etched
ivory
Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals is ...
motifs into
rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues.
True rosewoods
All genuine rosewoods belong to the genus ''Dalbergia''. The pre-eminent rosewood appreciated ...
to create intricate wood work. Even now an estimated 4000 people in Mysore are involved in rosewood inlay work though other media like plastic have replaced
ivory
Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals is ...
.
[An article on Rosewood inlay work is provided by ] This intricate work involves many stages. The first step is to design and draw the images and patterns on the rosewood. Then the rosewood is cut into proper shape by
carpentry
Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. Carpenters tr ...
. The
motifs that have to be inlaid are then carefully handcut to shape. The areas where the motifs have to be inlaid on the rosewood, are carefully scooped out. Next the motifs are inlaid and fixed. The wood is then smoothened using
sandpaper
upright=1.35, Sheets of sandpaper with different grit sizes (40 (coarse), 80, 150, 240, 600 (fine)).
Sandpaper and glasspaper are names used for a type of coated abrasive that consists of sheets of paper or cloth with abrasive material glued to ...
and polished to give a bright look.
Fashion
Mysore silk saree
![Mysore Silk Saree](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Mysore_Silk_Saree.jpg)
Mysore is the home of the famous Indian feminine wear, the Mysore silk
saree
A sari (sometimes also saree or shari)The name of the garment in various regional languages include:
* as, শাৰী, xārī, translit-std=ISO
* bn, শাড়ি, śāṛi, translit-std=ISO
* gu, સાડી, sāḍī, translit-std= ...
. Mysore Silk is a trademark for the silk sarees produced by KSIC (Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation).
[Trademark for Mysore Silk is obtained by KSIC reports ] The distinguishing feature of this saree is the usage of pure silk and 100% pure gold
zari
''Zari'' (or ''jari'') is an even thread traditionally made of fine gold or silver used in traditional Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani garments, especially as brocade in saris etc. This thread is woven into fabrics, primarily silk, to make i ...
(a golden coloured thread containing 65% of silver and 0.65% of gold).
[Details regarding Mysore silk is provided by ] These sarees are manufactured in a silk factory located in Mysore city. This factory was started in 1912 by the
Maharaja
Mahārāja (; also spelled Maharajah, Maharaj) is a Sanskrit title for a "great ruler", "great king" or " high king".
A few ruled states informally called empires, including ruler raja Sri Gupta, founder of the ancient Indian Gupta Empire, an ...
of Mysore by importing 32 looms from Switzerland. In 1980, this factory was transferred to KSIC and now has around 159 looms.
Every saree produced here comes with an embroidered code number and a
hologram
Holography is a technique that enables a wavefront to be recorded and later re-constructed. Holography is best known as a method of generating real three-dimensional images, but it also has a wide range of other Holography#Applications, applic ...
to prevent misuse. Mysore silk sarees are also undergoing an innovating change with the use of
kasuti
Kasuti ( kn, ಕಸೂತಿ) is a traditional form of folk embroidery practised in the state of Karnataka, India. An exhibition of Kasuti work is reported by Kasuti work which is very intricate sometimes involves putting up to 5,000 stitches ...
embroidery, thickly woven ''pallu''s (the part of the saree worn over the shoulder), bandhini techniques and new colours like lilac, coffee-brown and elephant-grey.
[Innovation in Mysore silk saree is mentioned by ]
Cuisine
![Indian filter coffee in Dabarah](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Indian_filter_coffee_in_Dabarah.jpg)
The cuisine of Mysore resembles to a large extent the
Udupi cuisine
Udupi cuisine is a cuisine of South India. It forms an important part of Tuluva cuisine and takes its name from Udupi, a city on the southwest coast of India in the Tulunadu region. Udupi cuisine is strictly vegetarian and has its origin in th ...
. Rice is the staple food item used in cooking and various spices are also used. A breakfast mostly includes dishes made of rice of which
idli
Idli or idly () is a type of savoury rice cake, originating from the South India,popular as breakfast foods in Southern India and in Sri Lanka. The cakes are made by steaming a batter consisting of fermented black lentils (de-husked) and ric ...
and
dosa
Dosa may refer to:
People
* Bogoljub Mitić Đoša, Serbian actor
* Csaba Dosa (born 1951), Romanian athlete
* Dosa ben Harkinas
* Dosa ben Saadia (935 - 1018), Talmudic scholar and philosopher
* Dosa or Dossa Júnior
* Edward Dosa-Wea Neufville ...
are prevalent.
Vada is another popular breakfast item mostly prepared only in hotels. Other popular breakfast dishes include ''shavige bath'' (spicy dish made of
vermicelli
Vermicelli (; , , also , ) is a traditional type of pasta round in section similar to spaghetti. In English-speaking regions it is usually thinner than spaghetti, while in Italy it is typically thicker.
The term ''vermicelli'' is also used to ...
), ''
rava idli'', ''oggarane avalakki'' (seasoned beaten rice),
Pongal Pongal may refer to:
* Pongal (festival), an annual Tamil festival
* Pongal (dish)
Pongal, also known as pongali or huggi, is an Indian rice dish. In Tamil, "pongal" means "boil" or "bubbling up". The two varieties of pongal are ''chakarai pong ...
and
Poori. A lunch or dinner spread generally includes steamed rice,
chutney
A chutney is a spread in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. Chutneys are made in a wide variety of forms, such as a tomato relish, a ground peanut garnish, yogurt or curd, cucumber, spicy coconut, spicy onion or mint dipping sauce.
...
,
sambar,
pickle,
curry
A curry is a dish with a sauce seasoned with spices, mainly associated with South Asian cuisine. In southern India, leaves from the curry tree may be included.
There are many varieties of curry. The choice of spices for each dish in tradit ...
, ''gojju'' (a sweet curry),
rasam,
papad
A papad is an Indian deep fried dough of black gram bean flour, either fried or cooked with dry heat (flipped over an open flame) until crunchy. Other flours made from lentils, chickpeas, rice, tapioca, millet or potato are also used. ''Papad' ...
and
curds
Curd is obtained by coagulating milk in a sequential process called curdling. It can be a final dairy product or the first stage in cheesemaking. The coagulation can be caused by adding rennet or any edible acidic substance such as lemon ...
. Some of the rice based dishes that form a part of the lunch are ''
Bisi bele bath'' (a spicy rice preparation with vegetables), ''vangi baath'' (rice mixed with
brinjal
Eggplant ( US, Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world' ...
curry), ''chitranna'' (rice mixed with seasoning, turmeric and lemon juice or raw mango scrapes) and
Puliyogare
Pulihora, also known as puliyogare, puliyodarai, pulinchoru, kokum rice, or simply lemon or tamarind rice, is a very common and traditional rice preparation in the South Indian states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nad ...
.
Chapati
Chapati (alternatively spelled chapatti, chappati, chapathi, or chappathi; pronounced as IAST: ), also known as ''roti'', ''rotli'', ''safati'', ''shabaati'', ''phulka'', (in East Africa) ''chapo'', (in Marathi) ''poli'', and (in the Maldives) ...
is another lunch item preferred nowadays. In formal occasions like marriage, the food is served on a
plantain
Plantain may refer to:
Plants and fruits
* Cooking banana, banana cultivars in the genus ''Musa'' whose fruits are generally used in cooking
** True plantains, a group of cultivars of the genus ''Musa''
* ''Plantaginaceae'', a family of flowerin ...
leaf and would include additional items like sweets and
Kosambari apart from the ones mentioned above. Some of the popular sweet dishes are ''rave unde'' (sweet balls made of
semolina
Semolina is coarsely milled durum wheat mainly used in making couscous, and sweet puddings. The term semolina is also used to designate coarse millings of other varieties of wheat, and sometimes other grains (such as rice or corn) as well.
Etymo ...
and
coconut
The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family ( Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the ...
scrapes),
ladoo
''Laddu'' or ''laddoo'' (; ms, kuih laddu; id, kue laddu) is a spherical sweet originating from India and spread through the Indian subcontinent and the Malay world. Laddus are primarily made from flour, fat (ghee/butter/oil) and sugar or j ...
,
payasam
Kheer, also known as payasam, is a sweet dish and a type of wet pudding popular in the Indian subcontinent, usually made by boiling milk, sugar or jaggery, and rice, although rice may be substituted with one of the following: daals, bulgur w ...
,
Mysore Pak and
jalebi
''Jalebi'' (, , , Urdu: جلیبی, , , si, පැණි වළලු, ), is a popular sweet snack in south and west Asia, Africa, and Mauritius. It goes by many names, including ''jilapi'', ''zelepi'','' jilebi'', '' jilipi'', ''zulbia'', ...
. It is customary to eat ''adike'' (
arecanut) with
betel leaf after the lunch/dinner. Coffee (
Indian filter coffee
Indian filter coffee is a coffee drink made by mixing frothed and boiled milk with the infusion obtained by percolation brewing of finely ground coffee powder in a traditional Indian filter. Internationally, the drink is referred to as Madras ...
) is the preferred beverage in homes. Some of the snacks that are prevalent here are
chakkuli, ''khara mandakki'' (spicy puffed rice),
churmuri and ''kodubale'' (a
doughnut shaped spicy snack made of fried
semolina
Semolina is coarsely milled durum wheat mainly used in making couscous, and sweet puddings. The term semolina is also used to designate coarse millings of other varieties of wheat, and sometimes other grains (such as rice or corn) as well.
Etymo ...
). In the last few years,
chaat
Chaat, or chāt (IAST: ''cāṭ)'' () is a family of savoury snacks that originated in North India, typically served as an hors d'oeuvre or at roadside tracks from stalls or food carts across South Asia in North India, Pakistan, Nepal and B ...
,
pizza
Pizza (, ) is a dish of Italian origin consisting of a usually round, flat base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomatoes, cheese, and often various other ingredients (such as various types of sausage, anchovies, mushrooms, onions ...
s and items belonging to
Indian Chinese cuisine
Indian Chinese cuisine, Chinese Indian cuisine, Sino-Indian cuisine, Chindian cuisine, Hakka Chinese or Desi-Chinese cuisine is a distinct fusion culinary style that combines aspects of both Indian and Chinese foods and flavours. Though Asian ...
have become popular mostly with the younger generation. Mysore has also lent its name to the sweet-dish
Mysore Pak and the Mysore
Masala Dosa
Masala Dosa, also called Masale dosey ( ಮಸಾಲೆ ದೋಸೆ ), is a South Indian dish. It is a type of dosa and has its origin in Udupi cuisine of Karnataka. It is made from rice, lentils, Urad dal, Chana dal, fenugreek, puffed ric ...
.
Institutions
CAVA
Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts
Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts (CAVA) is a visual art school in Mysore, in the state of Karnataka in India. The academy is affiliated to the University of Mysore and offers courses in drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics, applied arts, p ...
(CAVA) is an arts academy located in Mysore and affiliated to the
University of Mysore
The University of Mysore is a public state university in Mysore, Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The university is recognised by the University Grants Commission ...
. It offers courses in drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics, applied arts, photography, photojournalism and art history. It awards the
Bachelor of Fine Arts
A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a standard undergraduate degree for students for pursuing a professional education in the visual, fine or performing arts. It is also called Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in some cases.
Background
The Bachelor ...
degree and also has a master's program leading into the
Master of Fine Arts. It was started in 1906 as ''Chamarajendra Technical Institute'' by the then King of Mysore,
Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar.
King George V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
Born during the reign of his grandmother Que ...
laid the foundation to this institute which was started in dedication to the king,
Chamarajendra Wodeyar. ''Chamarajendra Technical Institute'' was renamed as CAVA in 1981 by the Government of Karnataka and on the suggestions of the renowned Russian painter,
Svetoslav Roerich, CAVA was modelled on the lines of the famous
J.J. School of Arts in Mumbai.
Rangayana
Rangayana
Rangayana ( kn, ರಂಗಾಯಣ) is a theatre institute which operates from Mysore, Karnataka, India. It works as an autonomous cultural institute. The organization consists of a professional repertory company, a theatre-training institute ...
is a theatre institution located in the campus of Kalamandira auditorium in Mysore. It was started in 1989 as an autonomous cultural organisation by the
Government of Karnataka
The Government of Karnataka, abbreviated as, GoK, or simply Karnataka Government, is a democratically-elected state body with the governor as the ceremonial head to govern the Southwest Indian state of Karnataka. The governor who is appointed ...
. It has two divisions working under it, ''Bharatiya Ranga Shikshana Kendra'' which is a theatre training institute and ''Sriranga Ranga Mahiti and Samshodana Kendra'' which is a documentation and research centre. Having an ensemble of fifteen actors and actresses, Rangayana Repertory performs on week ends (Saturday & Sunday) at ''Bhoomigita Theater'' at Mysore. It also offers a 1-year diploma course for theatre enthusiasts.
[A brief profile of Rangayana is presented by ]
Dhvanyaloka
Dhvanyaloka is an institution dedicated to the advanced study and research in English literature. It was started in 1979 by Prof. C. D. Narasimhaiah (popularly known as CDN). This institution publishes a journal called as ''Literary Criterion'' which contains articles related to literature. Some of the other books published by this institution includes
Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British Raj, British India, which inspired much o ...
's India,
Bhakti
''Bhakti'' ( sa, भक्ति) literally means "attachment, participation, fondness for, homage, faith, love, devotion, worship, purity".See Monier-Williams, ''Sanskrit Dictionary'', 1899. It was originally used in Hinduism, referring to d ...
in Indian literature, Indian poetics in application, Western writers on India, the Vitality of West Indian Writing, Glimpses of New Zealand Literature,
T. S. Eliot and the Indian Literary Scene and Indian literature in English.
Akashavani (All India Radio)
Mysore hosts one of the oldest broadcasting stations of All India Radio. The term ''Akashavani'' was actually coined here by Prof. M. V. Gopalaswami in 1936.
It remains quite popular to this day and organizes various intellectual, educative and entertainment programs aiming to promote the local culture and traditions.
Museums
![Willington Museum, Irwin Road, Mysore](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Willington_Museum%2C_Irwin_Road%2C_Mysore.jpg)
The following museums exist in Mysore:
*
Regional Museum of Natural History: This museum is located on the banks of the
Karanji lake
Karanji Lake is a lake located in the city of Mysore in the state of Karnataka, India. The lake is surrounded by a nature park consisting of a butterfly park and a walk-through aviary. This aviary is the biggest 'walk-through aviary' in India. ...
in Mysore and has exhibits related to biological diversity, ecology and geology of Southern India.
[An overview of the Regional Museum of Natural History is provided by ]
*
Folk Lore Museum: This museum is located in the
University of Mysore
The University of Mysore is a public state university in Mysore, Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The university is recognised by the University Grants Commission ...
campus and exhibits over 6500 folk art and crafts from all over the state of Karnataka.
[An overview of the Folk Lore Museum is provided by ]
*
Rail Museum: This museum is located near the Mysore Railway station and is the second one of its kind established in India after the one at
Delhi
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders w ...
. This museum exhibits ancient locomotives and carriages some of which are still in working condition. Photographs and books related to railway are also present.
[An overview of the Rail Museum is provided by ]
*
Oriental Research Institute, formerly known as the Oriental Library, established in 1891 contains over 33000 palm leaf manuscripts
Personalities
Drama
* Hirannaiah: Mysore has given to the
Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
theatre world; one of its stalwarts in the form of Senior Hirannaiah, the father of the well known dramatist and comedian, Master Hirannaiah. Hirannaiah was born in Mysore in 1905. He has produced some of the famous Kannada dramas like ''Devadasi'', ''Sadaarame'' and ''Yechamma Nayaka''. His drama ''Sadaarame'' is said to have run at full house in the Town Hall at Mysore for a continuous 48 days. Also his drama ''Devadasi'' set a record run of being played for a continuous five months. He was also the founder member of the drama troupe called ''Mithra Mandali''. For his contribution to the field of drama, he received the title of ''Cultural Comedian'' from the Mysore king. He born on 21 March 1953. One of his famous quotes says, ''Drama is the best type of art and the worst type of profession''.
*
B. V. Karanth
Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth (Kannada: ಬಾಬುಕೋಡಿ ವೆಂಕಟರಮಣ ಕಾರಂತ) (19 September 1929 – 1 September 2002) widely known as B. V. Karanth was an Indian film director, playwright, actor, screenwriter, co ...
: B. V. Karanth is an alumnus of the
National School of Drama
National School of Drama (NSD) is a theatre training institute situated at New Delhi, India. It is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was set up in 1959 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and became an indepe ...
who also later became its director. He has directed many
Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
plays and movies. His movie
Chomana Dudi
Chomana Dudi ( kn, ಚೋಮನ ದುಡಿ, ''Choma's Drum'') is a feature film in the Kannada language. It is based on a novel of the same name, written by Shivaram Karanth. The film was released in the year 1975 and won the ''Swarna Kamal' ...
(Choma's drum) has won the National Award for the Best Film. His contribution has been recognised by the Government of India who awarded him the
Padma Shri
Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conf ...
award. His association with Mysore was from the year 1989–1995 when he was the director of Rangayana, the famous theatre institution at Mysore.
Literature
![Kukkarahally lake Mysore](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Kukkarahally_lake_Mysore.JPG)
*
Kuvempu: Kuvempu is a
Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
writer, poet of 20th century widely regarded as the greatest writer of Kannada language. He is one of the recipients of the
Jnanpith
The Jnanpith Award is the oldest and the highest Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an author for their "outstanding contribution towards literature". Instituted in 1961, the award is bestowed only on Indian w ...
award and has a long association with Mysore. He came to Mysore for his higher education and joined Maharaja College of Mysore where he graduated in 1929 majoring in Kannada. After his graduation, he continued as a lecturer of Kannada in Maharaja's college. After a brief stint in
Bangalore
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
, he rejoined Maharaja's college as a Kannada professor in 1946 and later went on to become its principal in 1955. In 1956, he was elected as the
Vice-Chancellor
A chancellor is a leader of a college or university, usually either the executive or ceremonial head of the university or of a university campus within a university system.
In most Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth and former Commonwealth n ...
of
Mysore University
The University of Mysore is a public state university in Mysore, Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The university is recognised by the University Grants Commission ...
where he served till retirement in 1960. Kuvempu is the one who christened the
Mysore University
The University of Mysore is a public state university in Mysore, Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The university is recognised by the University Grants Commission ...
campus as ''Manasagangotri''. It is said that Kuvempu used to frequently walk on the periphery of the
Kukkarahally Lake in Mysore; which was a source of inspiration for him.
[ Kukkarahally Lake was a source of inspiration for Kuvempu is mentioned by ] Kuvempu died in Mysore in 1994.
*
R.K. Narayan: R.K. Narayan is one of the best known English novelist from India. Most of his writings are based on a fictional Indian town called
Malgudi. Narayan spent most of his life in Mysore where his father was the headmaster of Maharaja's High School. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from
University of Mysore
The University of Mysore is a public state university in Mysore, Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The university is recognised by the University Grants Commission ...
. His first published novel was ''
Swami and Friends''. Though Narayan faced hurdles while publishing this novel, he was able to succeed in publishing it with the help of
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading English novelists of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquir ...
.
[A detailed article on R K Narayan has been written by ] Some of his other famous novels are
The Guide
''The Guide'' is a 1958 novel written in English by the Indian author R. K. Narayan. Like most of his works the novel is based on Malgudi, the fictional town in South India. The novel describes the transformation of the protagonist, Raju, fr ...
,
The Man-Eater of Malgudi
''The Man-Eater of Malgudi'' is a 1961 Indian novel, written by R. K. Narayan.
In this novel R.K. Narayan uses the historical reference of Bhasmasura.
Plot
The plot revolves around the life of an Indian printer named Nataraj, who lives in a hu ...
,
The English Teacher and
The World of Nagaraj.
The Guide
''The Guide'' is a 1958 novel written in English by the Indian author R. K. Narayan. Like most of his works the novel is based on Malgudi, the fictional town in South India. The novel describes the transformation of the protagonist, Raju, fr ...
was made into a very famous
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
film and this also earned him the National Award from
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of, the Indian government. Its of ...
. Most of his short stories related to
Malgudi have been made a part of a tele serial called as
Malgudi Days which was directed by
Shankar Nag
Shankar Nagarakatte (9 November 1954 – 30 September 1990) was an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, and producer known for his work in Kannada-language films and television. A popular cultural icon of Karnataka, Nag is often referred to as ...
. The Government of India has awarded him the
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan ("Lotus Decoration") is the second-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service" ...
for his contribution to the English Literature. Some of the characters in his novels, like Raju (in
The Guide
''The Guide'' is a 1958 novel written in English by the Indian author R. K. Narayan. Like most of his works the novel is based on Malgudi, the fictional town in South India. The novel describes the transformation of the protagonist, Raju, fr ...
), Sampath (in
Mr. Sampath - The Printer of Malgudi) and Margayya (in
The Financial Expert
''The Financial Expert'' is a 1952 novel by R. K. Narayan. It takes place, as do many other novels and short stories by this author, in the town of Malgudi. The central character in this book is the financial expert Margayya, who offers advice ...
) are said to be real life Mysoreans.
[That some of the characters in Narayan's novels were real life Mysoreans is mentioned by ] Naryan's younger brother
R. K. Laxman
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman ''Pg. 11 in the source says that Laxman & his brother Narayan were Tamil Iyer Brahmins.'' (24 October 1921 – 26 January 2015) was an Indian cartoonist, illustrator, and humorist. He is best known for his creation ...
is a well known cartoonist.
*
R. K. Laxman
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman ''Pg. 11 in the source says that Laxman & his brother Narayan were Tamil Iyer Brahmins.'' (24 October 1921 – 26 January 2015) was an Indian cartoonist, illustrator, and humorist. He is best known for his creation ...
: R. K. Laxman is the younger brother of
R. K. Narayan
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami (10 October 1906 – 13 May 2001) was an Indian writer known for his work set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. He was a leading author of early Indian literature in English along with Mul ...
and is a well known
cartoonist
A cartoonist is a visual artist who specializes in both drawing and writing cartoons (individual images) or comics (sequential images). Cartoonists differ from comics writers or comic book illustrators in that they produce both the literary and ...
. He was born in Mysore in 1924. His most famous cartoon creation is that of ''
The Common Man
The Common Man is a cartoon character created by Indian author and cartoonist R. K. Laxman. For over a half of a century, the Common Man has represented the hopes, aspirations, troubles and perhaps even foibles of the average Indian, through a ...
''. He graduated from the
University of Mysore
The University of Mysore is a public state university in Mysore, Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The university is recognised by the University Grants Commission ...
. He drew illustrations for his brother Narayan's stories in ''
The Hindu
''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It began as a weekly in 1878 and became a daily in 1889. It is one of the Indian newspapers of record and the secon ...
''. Later, he joined ''
The Times of India
''The Times of India'', also known by its abbreviation ''TOI'', is an Indian English-language daily newspaper and digital news media owned and managed by The Times Group. It is the third-largest newspaper in India by circulation and largest ...
''; an association that continued for over fifty years. Laxman is best known for his daily one panel comic "pocket cartoon" series published daily in ''The Times of India'' called ''You Said It''; which features ''
The Common Man
The Common Man is a cartoon character created by Indian author and cartoonist R. K. Laxman. For over a half of a century, the Common Man has represented the hopes, aspirations, troubles and perhaps even foibles of the average Indian, through a ...
''; and chronicles the state of Indian life. The Government of India has awarded him the
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan ("Lotus Decoration") is the second-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service" ...
award.
*
S. L. Bhyrappa: Being one of the most celebrated authors of India, S. L. Bhyrappa is known for his thought provoking novels that are widely discussed, debated in the literary circles. His writing on contemporary societal issues and challenges is unique in terms of its structure and characterization, making his novels influential and critically acclaimed. He has authored more than 25 novels spanning over 6 decades of writing, and many of them haven been successfully made into movies and television series, and have been translated into multiple languages. He has been honored with prestigious awards including
Saraswathi Samman and
Padma Shri
Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conf ...
.
*
Gopalakrishna Adiga
Mogeri Gopalakrishna Adiga (1918–1992) was a modern Kannada poet. He is known by some commentators as the "pioneer of New style" poetry. The Hindu - 26 September 2002
Biography
He was born in an orthodox brahmin family in coastal village of ...
: Gopalakrishna Adiga was one of the fathers of Modern Kannada poetry. He is known as the pioneer of the Kannada
New style
Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) indicate dating systems before and after a calendar change, respectively. Usually, this is the change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar as enacted in various European countries between 158 ...
form of poetry
Gopalakrishna Adiga
Mogeri Gopalakrishna Adiga (1918–1992) was a modern Kannada poet. He is known by some commentators as the "pioneer of New style" poetry. The Hindu - 26 September 2002
Biography
He was born in an orthodox brahmin family in coastal village of ...
was a pioneer of the Navya style of Kannada poetry is mentioned by and was part of a trinity of great modern Kannada poets along with
Kuvempu and
Shivaram Karanth
Kota Shivaram Karanth (10 October 1902 – 9 December 1997), also abbreviated as K. Shivaram Karanth, was an Indian polymath, who was a novelist in Kannada language, playwright and an ecological conservationist. Ramachandra Guha called him th ...
.
[Trinity of ]Gopalakrishna Adiga
Mogeri Gopalakrishna Adiga (1918–1992) was a modern Kannada poet. He is known by some commentators as the "pioneer of New style" poetry. The Hindu - 26 September 2002
Biography
He was born in an orthodox brahmin family in coastal village of ...
, Kuvempu and Shivaram Karanth
Kota Shivaram Karanth (10 October 1902 – 9 December 1997), also abbreviated as K. Shivaram Karanth, was an Indian polymath, who was a novelist in Kannada language, playwright and an ecological conservationist. Ramachandra Guha called him th ...
is mentioned by He did his higher education in Mysore where he earned his master's degree in English literature from
Mysore University
The University of Mysore is a public state university in Mysore, Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The university is recognised by the University Grants Commission ...
and was also a recipient of the BMS Gold Medal for Poetry awarded by that University. In the 1950s and 1960s, Adiga was a teacher of English literature in Mysore.
*
U R Ananthamurthy
Udupi Rajagopalacharya Ananthamurthy (21 December 1932 – 22 August 2014) was an Indian contemporary writer and critic in the Kannada language. He was born in Thirtahalli Taluk and is considered one of the pioneers of the Navya movement. In 199 ...
: Ananthamurthy is a leading contemporary writer, critic and philosopher in
Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
language. He is a recipient of the
Jnanpith
The Jnanpith Award is the oldest and the highest Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an author for their "outstanding contribution towards literature". Instituted in 1961, the award is bestowed only on Indian w ...
award. He has a
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
degree from the
Mysore University
The University of Mysore is a public state university in Mysore, Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The university is recognised by the University Grants Commission ...
and he also started his career as a professor and instructor of English in this university. Ananthamurthy made Mysore his home for a number of years before moving to
Bangalore
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
.
*
Triveni: Anasuya Shankar, who was known by her pen name as Triveni was one of the most prominent women writers whose novels reflected the emotions of women in the contemporary era. She was awarded the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award for her contribution to Kannada literature, which includes 20 novels and 3 short story collections. Her novels such as
Sharapanjara
''Sharapanjara'' ( en, Cage of Arrows) is a 1971 Indian Kannada language film directed by Puttanna Kanagal, based on a novel by Triveni of the same name, and starring Kalpana and Gangadhar in lead roles. This film is considered one of the bes ...
were adapted into successful movies by Puttanna Kanagal.
*
Vani
Vani ( ka, ვანი) is a town in Imereti region of a western Georgia, at the Sulori river (a tributary of the Rioni river), 41 km southwest from the regional capital Kutaisi. The town with the population of 3,744 (2014) is an administr ...
: Triveni's cousin Vani was also a notable writer whose novels on social issues such as ''
Shubhamangala
''Shubhamangala'' is a 1975 Indian Kannada language film directed by Puttanna Kanagal, based on a novel of the same name by Vani, starring Aarathi and Srinath. The supporting cast features Shivaram, Ambareesh, Musuri Krishnamurthy and K. S. ...
'', ''
Eradu Kanasu'' and ''
Hosabelaku'' were adapted into acclaimed movies.
Apart from the above-mentioned personalities, other eminent litterateurs who were educated and/or taught in Mysore (mostly at
Mysore University
The University of Mysore is a public state university in Mysore, Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The university is recognised by the University Grants Commission ...
) at some point of their career include statesman, philosopher and former president of India Dr.
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (; 5 September 1888 – 17 April 1975), natively Radhakrishnayya, was an Indian philosopher and statesman. He served as the 2nd President of India from 1962 to 1967. He also 1st Vice President of India from 1952 ...
, Sanskrit scholar
M. Hiriyanna, scholar and librarian
R. Shamasastry
Rudrapatna Shamasastry FRAS (1868–1944) was a Sanskrit scholar and librarian at the Oriental Research Institute Mysore. He re-discovered and published the ''Arthashastra'', an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and militar ...
, historian
S. Srikanta Sastri
Sondekoppa Srikanta Sastri (5 November 1904 – 10 May 1974) was an Indian historian, Indologist, and polyglot. He authored around 12 books, over two hundred articles, several monographs and book reviews over four decades in English, Kannada, ...
, author
B. M. Srikantaiah
Belluru Mylaraiah Srikantaiah (3 January 1884 – 5 January 1946), was an Indian author, writer and translator of Kannada literature.
Prominent Students
* V. Seetharamaiah
* K. V. Puttappa
Works
* ''Gadayuddha Natakam'' (ಗದಾಯುದ ...
, poet
T. N. Srikantaiah
Theerthapura Nanjundaiah Srikantaiah ( kn, ತೀರ್ಥಪುರ ನಂಜುಂಡಯ್ಯ ಶ್ರೀಕಂಠಯ್ಯ) (26 November 1906 – 7 September 1966) commonly known as 'Thee. Nam. Shree. (ತೀ. ನಂ. ಶ್ರೀ.), was a ...
, author and professor
M. V. Seetharamiah, writer
A. R. Krishnashastry
Ambale Ramakrishna Krishnashastry (1890–1968) was an Indian writer, researcher and translator in the Kannada language. Krishnashastry has remained popular four decades after his death through his work ''Vachana Bharata'', and his narration of ...
, author and educator
T.S. Venkannaiah, linguist and grammarian
D. L. Narasimhachar, music composer
Rallapalli Ananta Krishna Sharma
Sangita Kalanidhi Rallapalli Ananta Krishna Sharma () (23 January 1893 – 11 March 1979) was a noted composer of Carnatic music, singer as well as a writer. He was a noted scholar in several languages like Telugu, Samkrit, Kannada & Prakrit, and ...
, lexicographer
G. Venkatasubbiah
Ganjam Venkatasubbiah (23 August 1913 – 19 April 2021), also known as G. V., was a Kannada writer, grammarian, editor, lexicographer, and critic who compiled over eight dictionaries, authored four seminal works on dictionary science in Kanna ...
, poet
G. P. Rajarathnam, poet
K. S. Narasimhaswamy, playwright and poet
P. T. Narasimhachar, writer
V Sitaramiah, literary critic
C. D. Narasimhaiah, author
Aryamba Pattabhi
Aryamba Pattabhi (born 12 March 1936) is an Indian novelist and writer in Kannada language. She is the younger sister of Triveni, a popular Kannada novelist and the niece of B. M. Srikantaiah, a famous Kannada poet, writer and translator.
Her ...
, writer
G. S. Shivarudrappa, author
Poornachandra Tejaswi
Kuppali Puttappa Poornachandra Tejaswi (8 September 1938 – 5 April 2007) was a prominent Indian writer and novelist in Kannada. He also worked as a photographer, publisher, painter, naturalist, and environmentalist. He made a great impress ...
, journalist
P. Lankesh, writer
Chaduranga
Subramanyaraje Urs (1916 – 19 October 1998), known by his pseudonym Chaduranga, was an Indian writer in Kannada language. He wrote four novels—''Sarvamangala'', ''Uyyale'', ''Vaishakha'', and ''Hejjala''—and a few other short storie ...
, archaeologist
S.R. Rao, and so on. Thanks to Wodeyars and Diwans, Mysore in 19th and 20th century flourished as one of the main centers of learning and education in India. It still continues that legacy through its universities and research institutes. Many noted science writers such as Prof. G.T. Narayana Rao, Prof. J.R. Lakshmana Rao, etc. whose inspiring books and articles on astronomy, physics, chemistry and biographies of world renowned scientists also had successful career at the University of Mysore.
Journalism
Mysore is home to the only Sanskrit daily newspaper of India named
Sudharma
''Sudharma'' ( sa, सुधर्मा) is the daily newspaper printed in Sanskrit in India. The paper is published from the city of Mysore in the Indian state of Karnataka. Established in 1970, the paper is mainly distributed via mail, a met ...
. It was established by the eminent Sanskrit scholar Kalale Nadadur Varadaraja Iyengar in 1970. The newspaper has received many accolades since then for their efforts to promote the ancient language. It is currently managed by Varadaraja Iyengar's son Sri K.V.Sampathkumar and his wife Smt. Jayalakshmi KS. The e-paper is also available on their website.
Music
Carnatic music flourished under the patronage of the Wodeyar dynasty for many centuries in Mysore. Great composers of the erstwhile era including
Mysore Sadashiva Rao,
Mysore Vasudevachar
Mysore Vasudevacharya (28 May 1865 – 17 May 1961) was an Indian musician and composer of Carnatic music compositions who belonged to the direct line of Thyagaraja's disciples. Vasudevachar's compositions (numbering over 200) were mostly in Telu ...
ya,
Muthiah Bhagavathar
Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar (15 November 1877 – 30 June 1945), commonly known as Muthiah Bhagavatar, is one of Carnatic classical music's famous twentieth-century composers. He also created about 20 '' ragas''.
Early life
Muthiah was bo ...
, etc. were court musicians during the era of
Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV
Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV (Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar; 4 June 1884 – 3 August 1940) was the twenty-fourth maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore, from 1902 until his death in 1940. He is popularly called ''Rajarshi'' ( sa, rājarṣi, li ...
and Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar. Maharaja
Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar
Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar (18 July 1919 – 23 September 1974) was the 25th Maharaja of Mysore from 1940 to 1950, who later served as the governor of Mysore State, Mysore and Madras State, Madras states.
Early life
Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar w ...
was an excellent composer himself, and has contributed immensely to Carnatic music through his immortal compositions.
Mysore is renowned for its unique style of playing the
Veena
The ''veena'', also spelled ''vina'' ( sa, वीणा IAST: vīṇā), comprises various chordophone instruments from the Indian subcontinent. Ancient musical instruments evolved into many variations, such as lutes, zithers and arched harps.< ...
, known as Mysore Bani.
Veene Sheshanna
Veene Sheshanna ( kn, ವೀಣೆ ಶೇಷಣ್ಣ) (1852—1926) was an exponent of the Veena, an Indian string instrument, which he played in the classical Carnatic music style. He was a concert musician at the court of the princely state ...
, an eminent Vainika and a disciple of Mysore Sadashiva Rao was also a court musician during the early 20th century. Other great Vainikas of his era include his student
Veena Venkatagiriyappa
Veene Venkatagiriyappa (26 April 1887 – 1951) was a musician and music teacher from Heggadadevanakote in the Mysore district of India.
Venkatagiriyappa's initial musical training was under his uncle Chikka Subba Rao, and he later studied un ...
and Veene Shamanna who enriched the instrumental music tradition in the Mysore kingdom.
The
Mysore brothers
Mysore Brothers are Indian classical violinist duet—Mysore Nagaraj and Dr. Mysore Manjunath. They trained under their father Sri Mahadevappa, a violinist in the tradition of Sri Tyagaraja, composer of Carnatic classical music. They received t ...
,
Dr. Mysore Manjunath and
Mysore Nagaraj, are world-renowned violin maestros from the city of Mysore; sons of veteran musician Sangita Vidya Nidhi Vidwan Mahadevappa, the brothers' outstanding musicianship and astounding virtuosity made them some of the best violin players in the contemporary music world. They represent the
genre
Genre () is any form or type of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially-agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other for ...
of
Carnatic music
Carnatic music, known as or in the Dravidian languages, South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, an ...
and have collaborated with numerous world-class musicians in countless countries at major music festivals and conferences.
Mysore also boasts of one of the finest violin teachers of India H. K. Narasimhamurthy. He has trained a long line of students, who have gone onto make a mark in the world of Indian music. A highly regarded accompanist, H. K. N. Murthy has accompanied most of the leading Carnatic musicians in a career spanning more than 5 decades. His students, some of whom are acclaimed to be world class in India and the west, have gone on to play in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera house and Madras Music academy among other venues. Some of his leading disciples who are professional musicians include his son H. N. Bhaskar, Mysore Srikanth, Mysore Dayakar and H. M. Smitha.
Along with classical music, Mysore is also a center for learning of the light music genre, known as Sugama Sangeetha. Prominent singers of this genre include
Mysore Ananthaswamy
Mysore Ananthaswamy (ಮೈಸೂರು ಅನಂತಸ್ವಾಮಿ) was one of the pioneers of Kannada Bhavageethe in Karnataka. He was a very popular composer and singer of Kannada Sugama Sangeetha. He composed music for several poems and ...
who brought many poems of great Kannada poets back to life and his son
Raju Ananthaswamy
Raju Ananthaswamy (1973–2009) was a music composer and director. He worked on Sugama Sangeetha for more than 15 years. He was the son of vocalist Mysore Ananthaswamy. He died in 2009, at the age of 35 years.
Personal life
Raju Ananthaswamy ...
.
Mysore has to its credit many renowned musicians like
Raghu Dixit
Raghupati Dwarakanath Dixit (born 11 November 1974) is an Indian singer-composer, producer, and film score composer who is the frontman for the Raghu Dixit Project, a multilingual folk music band.
Dixit's music is an amalgamation of Indian et ...
and
Vijay Prakash
Vijay Prakash (born 21 February 1976) is an Indian Playback singer and also a Music Composer from Karnataka. He has given his voice for predominantly Kannada and Telugu language films. In addition, he has also sung in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam ...
to name a few. Mysore even witnessed a musical fight against corruption in January 2012 when a song called "Alarm – wake up guys" was released. The music for the song was composed by a young Mysorean named Phalgunn Maharishi and Kannada lyrics were written by Suraj Shankar, who also hails from Mysore. They are the grandsons of a noted novelist from Mysore, Mrs. Mangala Satyan. Their hard work was appreciated by many people when the song was premiered by TV9 Karnataka and many newspapers wrote about the two cousins and their work on Alarm.
See also
Official Mysore Tourism Web SiteOfficial Election Website of Mysore www.mysoreelections.com*
Musicians from Mysore
*
Musicians of the Kingdom of Mysore
The Kingdom of Mysore (1399–1950) was founded by Yaduraya in 1399 as a feudatory of the Vijayanagara Empire and became an independent kingdom in the early 17th century, after the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire. Many musicians and composers ...
*
List of Heritage Buildings in Mysore
This article lists heritage and monumental edifices built before the Indian Independence in and around Mysore City in the first section, and then tabulates modern buildings. The history of Mysore city, in particular, and of the Deccan Plateau ...
Notes
{{Topics_related_to_Culture_of_Mysore, left