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Indian Art and Culture

E-book for CSAT and IAS Mains

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• Puppet forms

• Painting Styles

• Dance forms

Classical

Folk

Tribal

• Theater forms

• Music

• Indian Architecture

• Indian Literature

• Religions

INDEX

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• Also known as Mithila painting.

• Originated in Madhubani village in Bihar.

• According to mythology, this tradition commenced when Janakraj, father of rani sita asked his painters to paint the moments of marriage ceremony of Sita with Lord Rama.

• Traditionally done by Madhubani‘s women on mud walls, later started on cloth, canvas and handmade papers.

• Also depict other Hindu devotional stories.

• Natural objects like moon, sun, tulsi etc is also found as theme.

• No empty space is left, gaps are filled by different geometrical motifs, floral, animals, and bird pictures.

• Are of three kinds : Brahmin style, Tatoo style and Kshatriya style.

• Done with twigs, brushes, fingers, matchsticks, and nib pens using natural dyes and colors.

• Eye-catching geometrical patters.

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Painting styles in India

Madhubani

Bharatanatyam

• Bhava (expression), Raga (music), Tala (rhythm) and Natya (classical theater).

• It originates in South India.

• It consists of multiple items:

Nritta– pure dance movements

Abhinaya– dramatic art of storytelling

Nritya– combination of nritta & abhinaya

• Performed on Carnatic music.

• Costume are made of silk saris with gold embroidery and has a lot of pleats.

• Necklace, Bangles and head ornaments are used as jewelry.

• Bells mounted on woven pads are worn on the feet.

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Classical Dance in India

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Bhangra, Punjab

• One of the most popular dances of India.

• Performed during Baisakhi usually by the men

in Punjab.

• It includes tricks and acrobatic feats.

• The songs include recitation of meaningless 'bolis', words, such as hoay, hoay.

• The drummer usually in the centre of the circle, is surrounded by men dressed in lungis and

turbans.

• The dance performed by the women folk of

Punjab is called the 'Gidha'.

• In the Gidha, at a time a woman or a pair of women dance while the others clap in rhythm. The dance is performed in the festival of Teeyan to welcome the rains.

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Folk Dance in India

Jatra • Born and nurtured in Bengal

• Performed at fairs in honour of gods, or religious rituals and

ceremonies

• Krishna Jatra became popular due to Chaitanya's influence. Later,

however, worldly love stories too, found a place in Jatra.

• The earlier form of Jatra has been musical. Dialogues were added at

later stage.

• The actors themselves describe the change of scene, the place of

action, etc

Nachya, Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha • Influenced by Ganda musicians and entertainment form Gammat

• Select a situations from life of agricultural community and improvise.

No written text is followed.

• Treatment is humourous and satirical

• Play begins with invocation of Ganesh and Saraswati.

• In one form of nachya, the Jokkad Pari, the performers dance with

flaming torches.

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Theatre forms in India

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Carnatic (South Indian) Music

Of more recent origin

Codified in medieval texts written by musicologists, the influential ones among whom studied in North India and thereafter returned to South India to fashion Carnatic music out of the prevalent regional musical forms to be found in South India

Composition based, mostly fixed

A fairly quick tempo from the start, so lacks the intensity, introspection, microtones and several ornaments found in Hindustani music

Notes are not held for long and are mostly quitted by a characteristic oscillation using indeterminate pitch

Constant and fairly fast tempo throughout

No convention of time or season

Percussion accompanist does not enunciate rhythmic cycle clearly, so a second percussionist and/or a timekeeper showing and/or clapping out beats (in which the audience joins) is necessary

Contrary to advocated argument, has Muslim influences

Hindustani (North Indian) Music

Continuity back to Vedic times (6,000 BC)

Codified in a large number of ancient and medieval music treatises

Developed independently of folk music, albeit occasionally importing folk or regional elements, metamorphosing them suitably

Raga based, mostly improvised

Capable of intense expression in very slow speeds

Vast range of ornaments, particularly during slow passages

Subtle use of microtones in slow passages

Steady, long-held notes, mostly approached and/or quitted by little ornamental phrases

Gradual building up of tempo from very slow to very fast

Convention of time and season

Clear enunciation of rhythmic cycle by percussion accompanist (in dominant present day forms like Khayal, Sadra, Thumri, Bhajan etc.)

True to Hindu traditions: so-called ―Persian influences‖ fully integrated within its essential and ancient grammatical format

Classical Music in India

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Music of India

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Indian Architecture

Mughal Architecture

Mughal gardens Mughal gardens are a group of gardens built by the Mughals in the Islamic

style of architecture. This style was influenced by Persian gardens and

Timurid gardens. Significant use of rectilinear layouts are made within the

walled enclosures. Some of the typical features include pools, fountains and

canals inside the gardens. The famous gardens are the Char Bagh gardens

at Taj Mahal, Shalimar Gardens of Lahore, Delhi and Kashmir as well as

Pinjore Garden in Haryana.

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Kalinga architecture style • The design which flourished in eastern Indian state of Odisha and

Northern Andhra Pradesh are called Kalinga style of architecture.

• The style consists of three distinct type of temples namely Rekha

Deula, Pidha Deula and Khakhara Deula.

• Deula means "temple" in the local language. The former two are

associated with Vishnu, Surya and Shiva temple while the third is

mainly with Chamunda and Durga temples.

• The Rekha deula and Khakhara deula houses the sanctum

sanctorum while the Pidha Deula constitutes outer dancing and

offering halls.

TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE OF INDIA

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Indian Architecture

Upanishads • The Upanishads are a continuation of the Vedic

philosophy, and were written between 800 and 400

B.C. They elaborate on how the soul (Atman) can be

united with the ultimate truth (Brahman) through

contemplation and mediation, as well as the doctrine

of Karma-- the cumulative effects of a persons' actions

• The word Upanishad consists of three parts:

Upa (near),

Ni (down), and

Shad (sit).

• 'sitting near a teacher and receiving the secret

teachings.'

• The Upanishads more clearly set forth the prime Vedic

doctrines like Self-realization, yoga and meditation,

karma and reincarnation, which were hidden or kept

veiled under the symbols of the older mystery religion.

• The Upanishads became prevalent some centuries

before the time of Krishna and Buddha

• Upanishad means Brahma-knowledge by which

ignorance is loosened or destroyed.

Vedanta

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Vedic Literature

• After the four Vedas, a number of works called the Brahmanas were developed.

• It gives detailed explanation of Vedic rituals and instructions and deal with the science of sacrifice.

• Aranyakas are the latter portions of the Brahmanas.

• The final parts of the Aranyakas are philosophic books named Upanishads.

• Each of the four Vedas have their own Brahmana books.

• Provides detailed information of the social, political and religious life of the people.

• The Arayankas deal with soul, birth and death and life beyond it.

• These were studied and taught by men in Vanprastha i.e. Munis and the inhabitants living inside the forests.

• All these works were in Sanskrit. Initially they were handed down orally and were put to writing much later.

VEDA ARANYAKA BRAHMANA

RIG Aitereya, Kousitaki Aiterya, Kousitaki

YAJUR Taittiriya, Brhad

Aranyaka, Maitr Ayania

Taittiriya, Kanva Satapatha, Madhyandin

Satpatha

SAMA TalvakAra, PancavimSa, VamSa, Arseya,

SadvimSa, ChAndoghya, Mantra, Daivata,

Jaiminiya, Samavidhana, Samhitopanishad

ATHARVA Gopatha 125

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Brahmanas and Aranyakas

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Religions in India

Buddhism

• By following the Eightfold Path, anyone could attain nirvana--

which was the release from all pain and suffering

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Religions in India

sikhism The Five K’s

(Unique Identity - Discipline & Spirituality)

Kesh (uncut hair): Sikhs do not cut hair or beards to demonstrate their Love and obedience to their faith. Kachera: undershot to represent modesty & fidelity Kanga: wooden comb to keep uncut hair neat and clean Kara: bracelet, made of steel worn on dominant hand, a reminder of noble actions, a symbol of eternity Kirpaan: ceremonial knife symbolizing freedom, liberty and justice

Never to be used as an offensive weapon

DON’Ts

• Shaving or cutting of Hair

• Eating Halal ( Kutta ) meat

• Adultery

• Use of tobacco or intoxicants (Smoking, Drugs, Alcohol etc)

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