![FullPagadeYakshagana](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/FullPagadeYakshagana.jpg)
The southern state of
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
,
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 ...
, has a distinct
art
Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas.
There is no generally agreed definition of wha ...
and
culture
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tyl ...
informed by a long history of diverse linguistic and religious ethnicity. Apart from
Kannadiga
The Kannada people or Kannadigaru IAST">nowiki/>IAST:_Kannadadavaru_or_Kannadigas_(English_term).html" ;"title="IAST.html" ;"title="nowiki/>IAST">nowiki/>IAST: Kannadadavaru or Kannadigas (English term)">IAST.html" ;"title="nowiki/>IAST">nowik ...
s, Karnataka is home to
Tuluva
The Tulu people or Tuluvas are an ethno-linguistic group from Southern India. They are native speakers of the Tulu language and the region they traditionally inhabit is known as Tulu Nadu. This region comprises the districts of Dakshina Kannada ...
s, who also consider themselves as Kannadigas. Minor populations of
Tibetan Buddhists
Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
and
Siddhi
In Indian religions, (Sanskrit: '; fulfillment, accomplishment) are material, paranormal, supernatural, or otherwise magical powers, abilities, and attainments that are the products of yogic advancement through sādhanās such as meditation ...
tribes plus a few other ethnic groups also live in.
The
traditional folk arts are major theatrical forms of coastal Karnataka. Contemporary theatre culture in Karnataka is one of the most vibrant in India with organizations like
Ninasam
Ninasam (Kannada: ನೀನಾಸಂ) is a cultural organisation located in the village of Heggodu in Sagara, India, Sagar Taluk of the Shivamogga district in the state of Karnataka, India. Ninasam (also spelt as Neenasam) is the short form of S ...
,
Ranga Shankara
''Ranga Shankara'' is one of Bangalore's well known theatres. It is located in the south Bangalore area of J.P Nagar and is run by the Sanket Trust. The auditorium, which opened in 2004, was envisioned by Arundathi Nag, in remembrance of her la ...
and
Rang on foundations laid down by the
Gubbi Veeranna Nataka Company.
Veeragase,
Kamsale
Kamsale ( kn, ಕಂಸಾಳೆ) is a unique folk art performed by the devotees of God Mahadeshwara. Kamsale is a brass made musical instrument. Its origin is traced to the Mythological period.
Instrument and group
Kamsale is a rhythm instru ...
and
Dollu Kunitha
Dollu Kunitha (Kannada:ಡೊಳ್ಳು ಕುಣಿತ), is a major popular drum dance of Karnataka.
Background
In all temples of Beereshwara, the major instrument Dollu is hung by means of a thick thread tied to hooks in the ceiling. Every ...
are popular dance forms.
Bharatanatya also enjoys wide patronage in Karnataka.
Music
Karnataka is the only Indian state where both Hindustani and Carnatic singers flourish. North Karnataka is predominantly famous for Hindustani music and South Karnataka is well known for Carnatic music.
Carnatic music
With the rise of
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism ( sa, वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. It is also called Vishnuism since it considers Vishnu as the ...
and the
Haridasa
The Haridasa Bhakti Sahitya devotional movement (sampradaya) originated in Karnataka, India, after Madhvacharya, and spread to eastern states such as Bengal and Assam of medieval India. Over a span of nearly six centuries, several saints and ...
movement came Karnataka composers like
Purandaradasa
Purandara Dasa ( IAST: Purandara dāsa) ( 1470 – 1565) was a Haridasa philosopher and a follower of Madhwacharya 's Dwaitha philosophy -saint from present-day Karnataka, India. He was a composer, singer and one of the chief founding-pro ...
, whose Kannada language works were lucid, devotional and cultural and hence appealing to the masses. Other haridasas of medieval times were
Kanakadasa
Kanaka Dasa (1509–1609) was a Haridasa saint and philosopher, popularly called Daasashreshta Kanakadasa (ದಾಸಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಕನಕದಾಸ). He was a renowned composer of Carnatic music, poet, reformer and musician. He is kn ...
,
Vyasatirtha
Vyāsatīrtha (. 1460 – 1539), also called ''Vyasaraja'' or ''Chandrikacharya'', was a Hindu philosopher, scholar, polemicist, commentator and poet belonging to the Madhwacharya's Dvaita order of Vedanta. As the patron saint of the Vijay ...
,
Jayatirtha
Sri Jayatirtha (), ''also known as'' Teekacharya () (1345 - 1388), was a Hindu philosopher, dialectician, polemicist and the sixth pontiff of Madhvacharya Peetha from (1365 – 1388). He is considered to be one of the most important seers in ...
,
Sripadaraya
Sripadaraja ( sa, श्रीपादराज; ) or Sripadaraya, also known by his pontifical name Lakshminarayana Tirtha (1422 - 1480), was a Hindu Dvaita philosopher, scholar and composer and the pontiff of the Madhvacharya mutt at Mulb ...
,
Vadirajatirtha
Sri Vadiraja Teertharu (1480 – 1600) was a Dvaita philosopher, poet, traveller and mystic. A polymath of his time, he authored many works, often polemical, on Madhva theology and metaphysics. Additionally, he composed numerous poems and as ...
etc., who composed several ''devara nama''. One of the earliest and prominent composers in South India was the saint, and wandering bard of yore
Purandara Dasa
Purandara Dasa (IAST: Purandara dāsa) ( 1470 – 1565) was a Haridasa philosopher and a follower of Madhwacharya 's Dwaitha philosophy -saint from present-day Karnataka, India. He was a composer, singer and one of the chief founding-prop ...
. Though historians claim Purandara Dasa composed 75,000 - 475,000 songs in
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
and
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 ...
,
only a few hundred of them are known today.
He was a source of inspiration to the later composers like
Tyagaraja
Thyagaraja (Telugu: త్యాగరాజ) (4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as Thyāgayya and in full as Kakarla Thyagabrahmam, was a composer and vocalist of Carnatic music, a form of Indian classical music. Tyagaraja and his ...
.
Owing to his contribution to the Carnatic Music he is referred to as the ''Father of Carnatic Music'' (''Karnataka Sangeeta Pitamaha'').
[Owing to his contributions to carnatic music, Purandaradasa is known as ''Karnataka Sangita Pitamaha'']
Purandaradasa codified and consolidated the teaching of Carnatic music by evolving several steps like ''sarali'', ''jantai(Janti)'', ''thattu varisai (Thattu Varise)'', ''alankara'' and ''geetham (geethe)'' and laid down a framework for imparting formal training in this art form.
[Iyer (2006), p93] Later in the 17th and 18th centuries, the haridasa movement would once again contribute to music in Karnataka in the form of haridasas such as
Vijaya Dasa
Vijaya Dasa ( kn, ವಿಜಯದಾಸ) (c. 1682– c. 1755) was a prominent saint from the Haridasa tradition of Karnataka, India in the 18th century, and a scholar of the Dvaita philosophical tradition. Along with contemporary haridasa saint ...
, Gopaladasa, Jagannathadasa who are just a few among a vast galaxy of devotional saints.
Hindustani music
Karnataka has achieved a prominent place in the world of Hindustani music as well. Several of Karnataka's Hindustani musicians won the Kalidas Sanman,
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...
and
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" ...
awards. Some famous performers are
Gangubai Hangal
Gangubai Hangal (5 March 1913 – 21 July 2009) was an Indian singer of the ''khayal'' genre of Hindustani classical music from Karnataka, who was known for her deep and powerful voice. Hangal belonged to the Kirana gharana.
Early life
G ...
,
Puttaraj Gawai,
Pt. Bhimsen Joshi,
Pt. Mallikarjun Mansur,
Basavaraj Rajguru
Pandit Basavraj Rajguru (24 August 1920 – 1991) was a leading Indian classical vocalist in the Kirana gharana (singing style).
Early life and training
Basavraj was born into a family of scholars, astrologers and musicians in Yaliwal, a ...
,
Sawai Gandharva
Ramachandra Kundgolkar Saunshi, popularly known as Pandit Sawai Gandharva (19 January 1886 – 12 September 1952), was a popular Hindustani classical music, Hindustani Classical vocalist from Karnataka. He was a master in the genre of Kirana G ...
and
Kumar Gandharva
Pandit Kumar Gandharva (pronunciation:, Kn: ಕುಮಾರ್ ಗಂಧರ್ವ; 8 April 1924 – 12 January 1992), originally known as Shivaputra Siddharamayya Komkalimath was an Indian classical singer, well known for his unique vocal style ...
.
Folk music
Folk music is popular in Karnataka. Many singers have recorded numerous folk songs in Kannada including
B. K. Sumitra,
Bangalore Latha
B. R. Latha, popularly known as Bangalore Latha ( kn, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಲತಾ), was an Indian singer who worked in south Indian film industry, mainly in Kannada and Telugu.
Career
Latha entered films through the 1962 Kannada languag ...
,
B. R. Chaya and many. Folk songs including ''
Bhagyada balegara'', ''Nimbiya Banada'', ''Ghallu Ghallenuta'', ''Munjaneddu Kumbaranna'', ''Mayadantha Male Bantanna'', ''Maralladyane'' and many, are popular, recreated and reused in films as well.
Dance
Yakshagana
Yakshagana a form of dance drama is one of the major theatrical forms in coastal Karnataka. A ''fusion of
folk
Folk or Folks may refer to:
Sociology
*Nation
*People
* Folklore
** Folk art
** Folk dance
** Folk hero
** Folk music
*** Folk metal
*** Folk punk
*** Folk rock
** Folk religion
* Folk taxonomy
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Folk Plus or Fol ...
'' and classical tradition makes Yakshagana a unique form of art which includes colourful costumes, music, dance, singing, and most importantly dialogs composed on the fly. Award-winning performers include
Shambhu Hegde,
Chittani Ramachandra Hegde
Chittani Ramachandra Hegde (1 January 1933 – 3 October 2017) was a Yakshagana artist from Honnavara, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka. He was the first Yakshagana artist to be awarded the Padma Shri Award by the Government of India.
About
Chit ...
. Yakshagana and
Dollu Kunitha
Dollu Kunitha (Kannada:ಡೊಳ್ಳು ಕುಣಿತ), is a major popular drum dance of Karnataka.
Background
In all temples of Beereshwara, the major instrument Dollu is hung by means of a thick thread tied to hooks in the ceiling. Every ...
are two of the popular dance forms of Karnataka.
Gamaka is a unique music form based on Karnataka Sangeetha.
Pilivesha
Pilivesha a dance form popularly displayed on the streets and temples around the coastal Karnataka. The speciality of this dance form is that it requires the dancer to paint his body with the picture of a tiger
Painting
The Bengal renaissance, along with the general influence of Ravi Varma school of painting, influenced the Mysore school of painting. King Krishnaraja Wodeyar III patronised famous painters including
Sundarayya,
Tanjavur Kondayya and Alasinrayya. King Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV patronised K. Venkatappa, Keshavayya, Y. Nagaraju,
Y. Subramanya Raju
Y. Subramanya Raju (1907 – 1995) was an Indian artist who patronized the Mysore style of traditional art. He was born into a family of court painters in the princely state of Mysore. The Mysore Dasara Procession paintings which adorn the walls ...
, Paavanje, and Kamadolli. The Chamarajendra Technological Institute (CTI—currently modified into Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts—CAVA), Jaganmohan Art Gallery and Venkatappa Art Gallery are reminders of this heyday.
[Kamath (2001), p283] Chitrakala Parishat
Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath ( kn, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಚಿತ್ರಕಲಾ ಪರಿಷತ್) is a visual art complex located in Bangalore. The complex has 18 galleries. 13 of these galleries carry a permanent collection of paintings ...
is an organisation in Karnataka dedicated to promote visual arts, particularly the folk and traditional art.
Utsav Rock Garden
Utsav Rock Garden is an Indoor and Outdoor Sculpture Museum located at Gotagodi, Shiggaon Taluk at Haveri district in Karnataka, India. The
Garden consists of live-sculptures depicting the North Karnataka culture. Various murals, all which ar ...
which is located in Gotagodi Village, Shiggaon Taluk, Haveri District, Karnataka. It includes innumerable sculptures depicting the rural life of Karnataka and also a wide array of creative and modern paintings.
See also
*
List of people from Karnataka
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby union ...
References
{{reflist
*
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