Vanishing Temple Arts

Contents Chapter One The Leading Schools of music In Kerala 13 Introduction 14 Part I Folk Music 20 Part II Karnaatak Classical Music 21 Part III Music of The Sangeeta Naatakas 21 Part IV Light Music 22 Part V Music of Harikatha Kaalakshepam 22 Part VI Malayalam Cinema 22 Part VII Leading Vaaggeyakaaras 23 Part VIII Some of the Treatise on music and allied arts by unknown and known authors of Kerala 23 Chapter Two Sopaana Music of Kerala 26 Part I Karnaatak Classical and Sopaana Music 27 Part II Distinction between Sopaana and the Karnaatak Classical Music 27 Part III Songs of Sopaana 31 Part VI Raagas of Sopaana 31 Table I Distribution of Raagam Geetam, Taalam and Nritham for monthly services as indicated by the Aagama Grantha Amsumaan 32 Table II Raagas Presented for Nitya Bolidaana for Navasandhi Offering 32 Table III Raagas of Navasandhi as per another Saivaagama followed at certain leadning Siva temples in the Kanyaakumari dist. Tamil Nadu Indicating the Deities pans Raagas Taalas Vaadyas Dances etc 33 Table IV Raagas in the ritual Bali Daana performed during Mahotsavas 33 Table V Raagas of Geeta Govindam 35 Table VI Raagas of Koothu and Koodiyaattam 36 Table VII Classification of Sopaana Ragas as per sentiments recorded in Churuls 38 Table VIII List of Raagas Employed in the Kottippadi Seva of the leading temples of Kerala 39 Table IX Raagas of Thullal 40 Table X Raagas of Kathakali 40 Table XI Raagas of Thyaanis 41 Analysis of the Taalas of Sopaana 43 Table I Prastaara Symbols 45 Table II Names and description of Bhaaratee Taalas 46 Table III The old Taalas of Taala Samudram in comparison with seven Soolaadi Taalas of the modern times 49 Table IV Another list of old Taalas of Taala Samudram in comparison with seven Soolaadi Taalas of the modern times 50 Table V List of Khanda Taalas 51 Taalas described in the Taala Vaadya Vidhyaanam 53 Taalas of the Aarya kshetras 56 Secular Taalas in Rituals 59 Sevaangam Taalas of Kottippaadi Seva 59 Taalas of Thullal 61 Some Additional details of the Taalas of the Kerala stage 61 1. Kundanaacchi 61 2. Lakshmi Taala 61 3. Kaarika Taala 62 4. Kumbha Taala 62 5. Marma Taala 62 6. Kummi Taala 62 Chapter Three The Musical Instruments of Kerala 63 Classification of musical instruments of Kerala 67 I Avanaddham (Membrophonic) drums 67 II. Ghanam (Idiophonic) metallic 67 III. Sushiram (Aerophonic) wind 67 IV. Taalam (Chordophonic), Stringed 67 V. Katta or Maram (Castanets) Wooden 67 Miscellaneous 67 Brief description of some of the leading instruments 69 I. Taalam (Stringed) 69 II. Sushiram (wind) 76 III. Katta or Maram (Castanets) 81 IV. Ghanam (Metals) Idiophones 82 V. Avandham (Deums) percussion 84 VI. Some rare and unknown instruments 93 VII. Short notes on the leading ensembles of the temples 95 Paani 95 Edaikkaa Pradakshinam Ritualistic (Kriyaangam) 96 Vilakkaachaaram Ritualistic (Kriyaangam) 96 Taayambaka Kriyaangam and Sevaangam (festive) 96 Chenda Melam Festive (Sevaangam) 96 Kuzalpattu Festive (Sevaangam) 97 Pancha Vaadyan (Kriyaangam and Sevaangam) 97 Panchari Sevaangam (Festive) 98 Paandi Melam (Sevaangam) 99 Some Rare Melams 99 Dhruvam Shatkaari vanam Kalpan Layan, Champa Anchadantha Adantha Keli 99 Chapter Four The Thalinankas ( The ancient female temple dancers) of Kerala 100 Thali and Nankas 103 Utthamothana or Devaangana 105 Madhyamaa The Sevaangi 109 Adhamaa the Daas yaangi 111 Chapter Five Solo Female dances and compositions of Kerala 113 Source and Authenticity of the collection 116 Areas of temples where dances were presented 116 Procedure 117 Dance compositions of the Sanctum 117 Sthree Nrithyams of the Ranga Mandapam and their Rachanas 124 Uparropaka Janya Rachanas 126 Chapter Six Sthree Nrithyams and their Rachanas Pre-Svaathi Period 130 Svaathi Period 133 Post-Svaathi Period 134