Earn upto Rs. 9,000 pm checking Emails. Join now!

MUSIC IN TAMILNADU, INDIA

MUSIC IN TAMILNADU, INDIA

The music and dance of Tamil Nadu had their beginnings in the temples. From early times, different groups of people were appointed to sing divine songs in the temple. Officers called Thevara Nayakams or leaders of the world of music, arranged the private worship of kings and group singing. Odhuvars, Sthanikars, or Kattalaiyars offer short musical programmes in the temples by singing the devotional Thevaram songs. Musicians had total reliance on divine grace. They lead the chorus in the temple congregational prayers to the accompaniment of the Sarangi. Sarangi was in use in the temples of Tamil Nadu till the end of the nineteenth century. The temples at Madurai, Tirunelveli, Sucindram, and Alwar Tirunagiri have musical pillars. Such pillars are found in the Artha Mandapam where the singing of Thevaram was accompanied by the music from the stone-pillars. CARNATIC MUSIC What is Carnatic Music? : It is the classical music of Southern India. The basic form is a monophonic song with improvised variations. There are 72 basic scales on the octave, and a rich variety of melodic motion. Both melodic and rhythmic structures are varied and compelling. This is one of the world's oldest & richest musical traditions. Why Carnatic Music? "...I [Todd M. McComb] value Carnatic music first for the effectiveness with which it can build positive mental discipline. It helps me to focus and organize my thoughts, and it helps to eliminate negative mental habits..." Indian classical music is categorized under two genres. These are Hindustani and Carnatic. Broadly speaking, Hindustani developed in the northern regions of the country, while Carnatic music is indigenous to the south. Carnatic music is considered one of the oldest systems of music in the world. Imbued withemotion and the spirit of improvisation, it also contains a scientific approach. This is mainly due to the contributions of such inspired artists as Purandara Dasa, known as the Father of Carnatic Music, and other scholars who codified the system and gave it a clear format as a medium of teaching, performing, prayer and therapy. The basis of Carnatic music is the system of ragas (melodic scales) and talas (rhythmic cycles). There are seven rhythmic cycles and 72 fundamental ragas. All other ragas are considered to have stemmed from these. An elaborate scheme exists for identifying these scales, known as the 72 Melakarta Ragas. Carnatic music abounds in structured compositions in the different ragas. These are songs composed by great artists and handed down through generations of disciples. While the improvised elaboration of a raga varies from musician to musician, the structured portion is set. These compositions are extremely popular, with a strong accent on rhythm and lively melodic patterns. Three saint composers of the nineteenth century, Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Shastri, have composed thousands of songs that remain favourites among musicians and audiences. An important element of Carnatic music is its devotional content. The lyrics of the traditional compositions, whether mythological or social in nature, are set entirely against a devotional or philosophical background. The Nineteen Forties were a rather turbulent period for Carnatic Music in Tamil Nadu because of the Tamizh Isai controversy. More than a controversy, it was a move by some well meaning people to increase the number of Tamil songs being sung in concerts in Tamil Nadu. Started by Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar and spurred on by individuals like Sir R.K.Shanmugham Chettiar and journalist Kalki Krishnamurthy, it tried to create a lot of awareness among musicians and rasikas that language had a role in music. Today after so many decades, without the existence of a formal movement, we do find musicians and rasikas enjoying Tamil songs in Tamil Nadu, Kannada songs in Karnataka and so on. Listeners do make fervent appeals to musicians about singing songs in the language they are familiar with and musicians oblige them without much ado. Intricacies of Folk Music Tamil folk music is remarkable for the tala intricacies. Very ancient classical ragas or melodies like Manji, Sama, Navaroz, Kalyani, Karaharapriya, Thodi, and Nadanam-k-kria are used in the folk-songs. Many instruments are used in folk music. Musical Notation Of Tribes The hill-tribes have a natural fondness for music and they are known for the preservation of ancient culture. The Pulayar tribe describe their melodies as talams. According to them, their melodies are derived from the cooing of birds such as kanamayil, Kanakkozhi. Talam and melodies are named after their deities. Karaganachi talam, Mangalanada talam, Kundhanada talam, etc. are all specific melodies. The chaya of classical ragas like Sudhasaveri, Saraswathi, Sankarabharanam, Andolika, Brindavanasaranga are to be seen in these beautiful melodies. Their orchestra is known as Singaram (literally meaning beauty), consisting of two small sized Nadhaswarams or Sathathakkuzhal, two drums or melam and a pair of cymbals or Kaimani, Veelikuzhal (flute) and Maththali (a long drum) are played by them to invoke the gods. They sing while they dance. Some of their music is rudimentary only serving as a background for dance. Melody of the Kulavai The Kulavai sound is made by the women engaged in agricultural work with a turn of the tongue which they move swiftly side ward. The Kulavai song is sung in beautiful melody, particularly in Thanjavur where agricultural prosperity and music tradition alike have been kept up. Women stand in knee-deep slush, planting the seedlings and they raise the Kulavai sound to expedite work and to honour visitors. Anyone passing between paddy fields has to make token payments or tips to these women, if they greet him in chorus. Nayyandi Melam Nayyandi Melam or Chinna Melam is a rustic imitation of the classical melam or Nadaswaram and is intended purely as an accompaniment to folk-dance-drama to cater to the tastes of the unlettered audience. This orchestra consists of two Nadaswarams, two tavels, a Pambai, a Thammukku, and a pair of cymbals. The peculiarity of Nayyandi melam is that the instrumentalists also dance while playing the instrument. The troupe is in demand as an accompaniment to Karagam, Kavadi, Dummy-horse show, and gypsy-dance, popularly known as the dance of the Kuravan and Kurathi.

Temples of Tamilnadu

Tamil Nadu is home to more than 30,000 temples and is aptly called "the land of temples". The rulers of various dynasties constructed these temples over centuries. Tamilnadu is the land where Dravidian style of temple architecture manifested itself in a grand and magnificent way. Vimanas (storeys) andGopurams (towering gateways to the temple complex) best characterize the temples of Tamilnadu. You will be amazed to see that most of these temples bear a superficial architectural resemblance with each other as they share the similar physical features- Gopurams (the imposing tower over the entrance, from all four directions) and the Vimana (the tower over the sanctum). It is interesting to note that the temples of South India were not merely a place of worship but a large part of social and cultural life of the people revolved around them.

Temple Architecture
The temple architecture in Tamilnadu grew with innovation and experiments. The rule of the Pallavas, Pandyas, Cholas, Vijayanagar rulers and the Nayakas saw the construction of a number of magnificent temples. Thousands of temples, with rising towers that touch the skyline of Tamil Nadu, were constructed during the reign of the above-mentioned empires. These temples demonstrate that the Tamils have been the most innovative temple builders. This fact is very well evident in the temples from the pre Christian era as well as those from the 20th century. The spectacular architecture of these temples inspires awe and amazes the onlookers.

Most of the ancient temples of Tamilnadu were constructed in brick and mortar. However, by the 7th century AD a unique style of temple construction emerged when temples were hewn out of caves. The rule of the Pallavas saw (up to 900 AD) building of temples of stone. The Cholas (900 -1250 AD) were great temple builders and they have a number of magnificent and spectacular to their credit. The Brihadeeswarar temple in Thanjavur, built by Raj Raja I, is a tribute to the Chola rulers. The Chola rulers added many ornate mandpams (halls) to temples and built large gopurams (towers). Subsequently, the Pandya Style (Up to 1350 AD) saw the emergence of the temple architecture with huge towers, high wall enclosures and massive gateways. The Vijayanagar rulers also made significant contribution to the temple architecture. They are known more for the intricacy and decorated monolithic pillars.

As you travel across the state of Tamilnadu, you will be awestruck and amazed to see the intricately carved designs and the splendid architecture of the temples spread over the length and breadth of the Tamil land.

Airavatheeswara Temple
The temple architecture reached its zenith during the rule of the Chola rulers. Thanjavur, being the capital of the Chola rulers, witnessed most of the architectural activities.

Brihadeswara Temple
The Brihadeswara temple is one of the most ancient and the most celebrated Hindu temple in the world. The temple is located in the city of Thanjavur that is also known as Tanjore, in the Indian province of Tamilnadu.

Kailasanath Temple
Kanchipuram is a pilgrimage city. A former Pallava capital (7th - 9th century), Kanchipuram is filled with temples dating from the 8th - 17th centuries.

Kanyakumari Temple
Kanyakumari forms the southern most end of mainland India. It is also the place where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean merge.

Mahabalipuram Rathas
Mahabalipuram is a temple town that is situated along the Coromandel Coast 55 kilometers off Chennai, the capital of Tamilnadu. The place is famous for its Ratha temples that are a part of the famous shore temple complex.

Meenakshi Temple
The Meenakshi temple complex is one of the largest in India. The presiding deity at the Meenakshi temple at Madurai, the Athens of South India, is Goddess Meenakshi. The nucleus of the temple is older than the Madurai city.

Murugan Temple
The Murugan temple at Tirupporur is one of the major temples dedicated to Lord Muruga in Tamilnadu. The Murugan temple is situated at a distance of about 45 Km from Chennai.

Rameshwaram Temple
The Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the most sacred shrines of the Hindus in India. The Jyotirlingam at the Ramanathaswamy temple is the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingams of India.

Music and Dance of Tamil Nadu

Tamilnadu is deeply rooted in a great tradition of folk arts and crafts, which display the traditions and skills that have come down from generations. The folk music and dances of Tamil Nadu represent the ethos, aesthetic values and melody of the region. Traditionally, folk dances and music are conducted during festivals and community functions. The following paragraphs dwell in length about music and dance of Tamil Nadu.

Karagaattam
Karagaattam is a popular folk dance of Tamil Nadu, which involves balancing a pot on the head with musical accompaniment. The pots are decorated with a cone of flower arrangements, topped by a paper parrot. The parrot swings as the dancer swings along. Villagers perform this dance in praise of the rain goddess Mari Amman and river goddess, Gangai Amman. Karagaattam has two divisions- Aatta Karagam and Sakthi Karagam. This form of dance is very popular all over Tamilnadu. Both male and female performers participate in this dance. Acrobatics such as dancing on a rolling block of wood, moving up and down a ladder, threading a needle while bending backwards form a part of this dance.

Kaavadi Aatam
When the ancient Tamils went on pilgrimage, they used to carry offerings to the gods tied on either end of a long stick, balanced on their shoulders. To lessen the boredom of the long travel they used to sing and dance in praise of the gods. Kavadi Aattam traces its origin to this practice. This led to composition of special songs for carrying the Kavadi. The Kavadi is made of bamboo strips and a light pole.

Poikkal Kudirai Aattam (Dummy Horse Dance)
Poikkal Kudirai Aattam is a Dummy Horse dance in which the dancer puts on the dummy figure of a horse on his/her hips. This folk dance needs a lot of training and skill. The dummy is made of lightweight materials and the cloth at the sides of the dummy swings to and fro covering the legs of the dancer. The dancer has to don wooden legs so that the legs look like the hooves of the horse. While performing the dance, the dancer brandishes either a sword or a whip.

Bommalaattam or Puppetry
Bommalaattam or Puppetry dance shows are held in rural areas of Tamil Nadu during festivals and fairs. Skilled puppeteers manipulate the puppets through strings or wires. They stand behind a screen and the puppets are held in front. The puppetry shows depict stories mainly from the puranas, epics and folklore.

Therukoothu
Therukoothu is usually conducted during village festivals in the months of Panguni and Aadi. Therukoothu is performed on the streets and in open air. In this dance form, make-up and costumes are considered vary important. It is an all male dance as the males play the female roles as well. The performance involves story telling, songs, dance and dialogue rendering. The performances are based on stories from Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata and the local folklore.

Silambaattam
It is a martial art form, practiced from the days of the Tamil Kings. It has metamorphosed into a non-violent form of folk dance, adding stepping styles into the dance following the measure of time. This martial art form also teaches the performer the methods of self-defense in modern day world.

Villu Paattu
Villu Paattu is a popular folk art form, which appeals the rural and the urban communities alike. In this folk art a chorus, musical instrument and a main instrument (Villu or Bow, fixed with bells) accompany the main singer. The Villu is struck rhythmically when the bells jingle in tune. The main singer narrates a tale, accompanied by some lively songs.

Snake Dance
The snake dance is yet another popular dance of Tamil Nadu. It arises mainly from the popularity of the snake as a protecting divinity that safeguards the health and happiness of the rural folk. Young girls, dressed in a tight- fitting snakeskin like costume, usually perform the snake dance. Here, the dancer stimulates the movements of snake, writhing and creeping and making quick biting movements.

Tamilnadu Wildlife

Tamil Nadu has a varied and diverse topography, which supports a variety of flora and fauna. About 18 percent of the total geographical area of the state is under forests. These forests stretch over the plain and the mountains. Dry-deciduous forests, scrubs, thorn forests and mangroves are spread over dry lands while the Western Ghats and other cooler regions support moist deciduous, wet evergreen forests, grasslands and Sholas (Sholas are a form of montane wet temperate forests, which occur predominantly in sheltered pockets of the Nilgiris and Upper Palni areas of Tamil Nadu).

The mixed deciduous forests of the Western Ghats region are home to a majority of plant species found in Tamil Nadu. These hills are an ideal refuge for elephants, bisons, tigers, deer and monkeys. The Nilgiri hills have a number of medicinal plants and a variety of flowers. Cinchona and eucalyptus are some of the examples. Medicinal herbs are also found in the Palani hills and Courtallam. Tirunelveli district is known for the Palmyra tree, whose products are used as raw materials for several cottage industries. Rubber is the main plantation crop in Kanyakumari while sandalwood grows in the Javadi hills of Vellore district.

The animal life in Tamil Nadu is also varied. Several wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks have been set up to preserve the animal life in the state. Wildlife sanctuaries like Madumalai and Annamalai are situated in the Western Ghats. These hills provide ideal conditions for a variety of animal and plant life. In all, there are five National Parks and seventeen wildlife sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu. Some of the important wildlife sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu are the Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalakadu Wildlife Sanctuary, Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, Kunthakulam Bird Sanctuary, Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, the Viralimalai Sanctuary and the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. The Marine National Park and the Guindy National Park are one of the most visited places.

Anna Zoological Park
Situated at Vandalur, in the outskirts of Chennai, the Anna zoological park is one of the modern zoos of India and the biggest in South East Asia. The zoological Park spreads over an area of about 510 hectares of dry evergreen forests.

Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Anamalai wildlife sanctuary is one of the most attractive preserves of nature in Tamil Nadu. It is also called the India Gandhi national Park and located in the Western Ghats near Pollachi, about 90 km from Coimbatore. The wildlife sanctuary is spread over an area of about 958-sq-kms.

Crocodile Bank
The Chennai Crocodile Bank is located about 44 Km from the Chennai city. This crocodile bank houses several species of Indian and African crocodiles and alligators. Here, the crocodiles are kept in their natural environment in open pools and can be viewed from safe proximity.

Guindy National Park
The Guindy National Park forms one of the main attractions for people coming to Chennai for vacations. The National Park is an amazing picnic spot for you, your family and friends. Spending a day out in the lap of nature and wildlife is an amazing experience. To add to its natural beauty, the National Park has a snake park and a children's park.

Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park
The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park is a unique marine biosphere reserve, located in the Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamilnadu. Rich in marine life, the Gulf of Mannar is spread over an area of about 10,500-sq-kms with 21 islands and continuous stretches of coral reef.

Mudumalai Bird Sanctuary
The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is located amidst the beautiful Nilgiri Hills. This is the point where the Western Ghats merge with the Eastern Ghats. The relief of the sanctuary is an interesting mix of plain, swamp, undulating parkland, open grassland, valleys and streams. There is a National Park measuring 103 sq km inside the sanctuary.

Mukkurthi National Park
The Mukkurthi National Park is located in the Nilgiri Hills and forms a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere reserves. It is interspersed with sholas and woodland. Situated about 40 Km from Udhagamandalam, Mukkurthi National Park is home to a variety of animal and bird life.

Point Calimere Sanctuary
In Tamilnadu, there is no end to your wildlife adventure and exploration as we take you to yet another wildlife sanctuary- the Point Calimere Sanctuary. Spread over an area of about 17.26 sq km and surrounded by sea and shore, Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Nagapattinam district of Tamilnadu.

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
Vedanthangal, the oldest bird sanctuary in India is one place, which can't easily fade off from one's memories. The sanctuary is an amazing place to be in, especially during the Sunset, as you can spot thousands of birds returning to their nests and dotting trees. You can spot several species of birds of which most are migratory.

Economy of Tamilnadu

India is predominantly an agricultural country and the same applies to Tamil Nadu as well. Agriculture is the primary occupation of about seventy percent of the rural population of Tamil Nadu. Around 34% of the state's population resides in urban areas while the remaining population resides in the rural areas. With change in science and technology, agricultural practices have undergone radical improvement since independence. The change is visible not only in agricultural practices but also in the type of crop grown. In the recent few years secondary and tertiary sectors have also grown in great proportion, thanks to the New Economic Policy of the Indian government.

The main food crops that are grown in Tamilnadu are Rice, pulses and oil seeds while the important commercial crops of the state include sugarcane, tea, rubber, cotton, cashew and coconut. Multiple cropping, use of new and better varieties of rice, sugar, cotton, and millet coupled with the use of chemical fertilizers have tremendously increased the agricultural output of the state. Tamil Nadu has a 1000 km long coastline with equatorial climate, permitting year round fishery and farming. Fishing is also an important economic activity in Tamil Nadu. Opportunities in shrimp farming and processing, Crab culture, Seaweed culture, etc. are on the upswing in the state.

At present, Tamil Nadu is one of the most industrialized states in India. Many factors have combined together to make Tamil Nadu a leading industrial state. The state has a well-developed network of roads, rail, air and major ports at Chennai and Tuticorin. Cotton ginning, spinning and weaving are the traditional industries of Tamil Nadu. Other important and heavy industries of the state are automobiles, diesel engines, motorcycles, sugar, fertilizers, cement, agricultural implements, iron and steel, chemicals, transformers and paper. Everything from railway coaches, automobiles, tractors, battle-tanks, motorbikes and heavy vehicles are manufactured in Tamil Nadu. The rail coach factory at Perambur is one of the largest in Asia while the heavy vehicles factory, which produces tanks, is located at Avadi. The Chennai seaport is one of the most important ports in India. Tamil Nadu is rich in metals and minerals like limestone, gypsum, bauxite, salt, Mica, quartz, magnetite, lignite and iron ore.

Many heavy engineering and manufacturing-based industries are located in and around Chennai, which is nicknamed as the "The Detroit of Asia". Global auto giants like Hyundai, Ford, BMW, Caterpillar and Mitsubishi as well as domestic heavyweights like MRF, Ashok Leyland, TI cycles of India, Mahindra & Mahindra, Royal Enfield, TVS and TAFE Tractors have their manufacturing units around Chennai.

The traditional handicrafts industry also flourishes in Tamil Nadu. Notable among them are handloom silk, leatherwork, metal icons, kalamkari (hand-painted fabric, using natural dyes), brass, copper wares, bronze, palm leaf, carved wood and cane articles. Tamil Nadu is an important exporter of coffee, spices, yarn, tea, tobacco, handicrafts, engineering goods and granite.

History of Tamilnadu

The history of Tamil Nadu is very old and goes back to thousands of years back. It is believed that the Dravidians of Tamil country were once a part of the early Indus Valley settlers and moved south after the advent of the Aryans around 1500 BC. However, the recorded history of human civilization in Tamil Nadu goes back only to the 4th century BC. The Sangam literature has several references to the social, economic and cultural life of people in this part. The close proximity to the Sea put the Tamil Country on the maritime map of the world even before the dawn of Christian era. Over a period of time, the Tamils developed trade links with ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome.

Due to its geographical and strategic location, Tamilnadu remained a bone of contention for political supremacy among different empires. Prior to the Christian era, the Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas ruled the Tamil Country. The domains of these three dynasties changed many times over the centuries. Later, other dynasties like the Pallavas and the Chalukyas came into power. All these dynasties remained engaged in political skirmishes to retain supremacy over the land. The most remarkable aspect of these rulers was their patronage to literature, architecture, art and crafts. Most of these rulers gave their steady patronage to various arts that expedited the expansion of the Dravidian culture. The rich tradition of literature, music and dance, which were so ably supported by the Tamil rulers, continue to flourish to this day.

The early Cholas between 1st and 4th centuries ruled Tamil Nadu. The Cholas ruled the present Thanjavur and Tiruchirapalli districts. At the peak of their glory, the Chola kings expanded their influence as far as Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in the south and hundreds of kilometers across the northern region. Almost all the Chola Kings were magnificent temple builders. Brahadeswarer's Temple in Tanjore is a classical example of the magnificent architecture of the Chola kingdom. During the later half of 4th century, the Pallavas came into prominence and dominated the south for another 400 years. They ruled a large portion of Tamil Nadu with Kanchipuram as their base. The Dravidian architecture reached its epitome during the Pallava rule.

The Cholas again rose as a notable power in 9th century under Rajaraja Chola and his son Rajendra Chola. The Chola Empire extended to the central Indian states like Orissa and parts of West Bengal. Rajendra Chola went beyond, occupying the islands of Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Java, Sumatra, Malaya and the islands of Pegu with his fleet of ships. The Chola power declined in the last quarter of the thirteenth century and the Pandyas re emerged as a mighty power, in the early 14th century. But the emergence of Pallava was short lived as Alauddin Khilji subdued them in the beginning of the 14th century. The city of Madurai was plundered and completely destroyed. The invasion destroyed the Chola and Pandya dynasties and later led to the establishment of Bahmani Kingdom in the northern Deccan.

Tamil Nadu was also a witness to the struggle between the colonial powers in which the British came out victorious. The British fought with various European powers, driving the Dutch away and reducing the French dominions in India to Pondicherry. The British also fought four wars with Hyder Ali and later his son Tipu Sultan, which led to their eventual domination of India's south. The British consolidated south India into the Madras Presidency.

The Nationalist movement in Tamil Nadu started in the late eighteenth century. The anti-colonial feeling in Tamil Nadu started as early as 1806 at Vellore. After independence in 1947, the Madras Presidency became Madras State, comprising of present day Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Northern Kerala, and the southwest coast of Karnataka. The state was later divided on linguistic lines. In 1968 the state of Madras was renamed Tamil Nadu.