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Dance and Music in Jaina Literature With special Reference to Kannada literature
15
Choodamani NANDAGOPAL
Karnataka is fortunate to have writers of great merit and their detailed narration helps us to reconstruct Karnataka history and culture. Careful study of their literary works may bring out the techniques in the field of art and may help to differentiate the styles of those days from the present times in the art forms in particular dance and music. From early.Chalukya to Vijayanagar times in every field of fine arts a number of literary works have been produced. The Jaina poets have contributed for the enrichment of Kannada literature. To embellish their narrative content they have amply used music, dance and other visual and performing art forms sensibly. By studying Kannada literature we draw authentic references to dance and music traditions which prevailed in respective centuries. The Kannada poets of repute are Pampa, Ranna, Ponna, Janna, Nāgavarma I, Nēmicandra, Nāgacandra II, Pārsvanātha, and Ratnākaravarņi who contributed from 8th century to 17th century towards the development of Karnataka literature and arts. The works of Pampa, top the list of literary references of all art forms. Arikesari II was the patron of Pampa. Pampa, the eight century Kannada poet is known as Adikavi or the first poet of Kannada literature. He has written two major works namely, Adipurāna and Vikramārjuna Vijaya. He had a thorough knowledge both in Sanskrit Kāvya and Nātyaśāstra. He studied all the earlier works such as Rāmāyana, Mahābhārata, and the works of Kālidāsa, Bhāravi, Bāņa, Māgha, Bhavabhūti, Harsa and others. He was well versed in scriptures and art forms such as dance, music, painting and sculpture. It is a rare combination of all knowledge in a single person.' Pampa's style of writing is delightful. Wherever the dance situation comes, with great enthusiasm and effect he narrates the dance sequence with all the technical terms used in Nātyaśāstra.
With deep respect and gratitude I offer this research article to SVASTI: Festschrift to Prof. Nagarajayya Hampa, the distinguished scholar in Jaina studies. It is an honour for me to contribute in this prestigious volume dedicated to him. It is our sincere wishes that his service to Kannada literature in general and to Jaina literature and culture in particular is going to be cherished through
this publication. D.L. Narasimhachar, Karnāțaka Darśana. Mysore, 1904, p. 59.
| SR No. | 007006 |
| Book Title | Svasti |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Nalini Balbir |
| Publisher | K S Muddappa Smaraka Trust |
| Publication Year | 2010 |
| Total Pages | 446 |
| Language | English, Hindi |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 16 MB |