Thursday, May 3, 2012
Saris
One of the most vivid visual pieces of ancient Indian, as well as present day culture, are the beautiful and intricately designed saris.
Saris have been prevalent in Indian history for at least 2000 years, perhaps even longer,as the practice of growing, and then weaving cotton into fabric has been around for over 5000 years. While the origins of the sari are a bit obscure due to lack of written records, but the first visual record of a sari is Northern Indian terra cotta from 100 b.c. of an Indian woman. While now the sari is an entirely female garment, originally it was worn by both men and women, although the method of winding them around the body differed for the genders.
The colors and motifs used in the saris all had deliberate significance, the designs woven into the saris stood for specific religious aspects, and could vary from village to village. More universal in meaning were the colors the saris were dyed. The colors white and black were avoided, as they were associated with Ill omens and death. White saris were only worn by widows mourning the passing of their husbands. Red was the color of the warrior class, and was associated with valor. But due to it's symbolizing luck and fertility members of all the castes wear red saris on their wedding days. The merchant class wore saris of green, although today the color is popular along the Muslim population of Indii.
The color blue was worn by artisans, farmers, weavers, and manual labourers. Both blue and green were avoided by the higher caste members as they were beneath their station, as well as the process of preparing the indigo dye was seen as impure. The Color yellow was the Color of religion and asceticism, yellow saris were traditionally worn by expectant mothers for seven days prior to the birth of the child.
In today's culture the sari is perhaps the most well known aspect of Indian art and culture, as well as being a timeless piece of practical artwork.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Bhajans
This is another bhajan, this one specifically for the god, Shiva. It is called a Shiv Bhajan.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Bollywood Dance
In most Bollywood movies, the actors randomly break out into song and dance. Its pretty amazing. Here are some examples of modern day Indian dance and music:
Pretty popular song from the movie Dostana:
Although not portraying India as it really is, this song is awesome, mostly because the lead male actor has two thumbs on his right hand.
Pretty popular song from the movie Dostana:
Although not portraying India as it really is, this song is awesome, mostly because the lead male actor has two thumbs on his right hand.
A song from 3 Idiots a very recent Bollywood movie:
Another song:
Sources:
Jaya Sharma
Youtube.com
(and Netflix from watching Bollywood movies)
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Henna designs
One of the most striking and well know parts of Indian culture is the henna designs inked most notably on the hands of brides. This ancient practice of temporarily tattooing designs has been around for centuries. One of the oldest practices is known as rangoli, a strictly female form of decoration. The art first evolved as a floor decoration in the home temples, where the women of the family would go to reflect and meditate on their lives. This role of decorator mostly fell to the elderly women of the villages who no longer had children and homes to keep up, and so the practice of rangoli soon became associated with the wise women of the area. In rangoli the area to be painted is filled with infinitesimally large geometric patterns sometimes with influences ranging from animals and gods, to the large mango leaf patterns which decorate paisley ties today. Over time the same good luck symbols painted on the floors began to appear on the body, used as decorations for festivals such as Diwali, portents of good fortune in the coming year.
Over the centuries Rangoli has evolved for use in many important rituals. Before a wedding a bride is painted with elaborate designs to bring good luck, and happy life and marriage, and of course children. During the eight month of pregnancy the expectant mother's belly is painted with designs to celebrate the child. This ancient practice is one of the most well known today, prevalent in Bollywood movies and in art and design, the ancient practice of henna designs is one of the first things to come to mind when thinking about Indian art.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Ancient Indian Music: History
Ancient Indian Music By Emma Williams
When one thinks of ancient Indian music, one might recall the sitar. However, the Indian sitar is a redesigned version of an instrument originally from the ancient Middle East known as the shetar. Also, some ancient Indian musical instruments, such as the laddishah and the ravan-hatti are now only available in museums. As the interest in them dwindled, so did their numbers, causing craftsmen to make less and less money off of them, so that people who knew how to make them became fewer and fewer. In other words, as classical Indian music dropped out of the public eye, classical Indian instruments became scarce.
Hindu religious songs were called bhajans. They originated from the Sama Veda, the fourth Veda. Bhajans are typically sung in groups, with one lead singer on melody. They are also very repetitive. This is one of the reasons that bhajans are sometimes used to relieve stresses of the moment. The repetition allows for freedom from thinking.
http://hinduism.about.com/od/audiomusic/a/bhajan.htm .
http://cnx.org/content/m12459/latest/
When one thinks of ancient Indian music, one might recall the sitar. However, the Indian sitar is a redesigned version of an instrument originally from the ancient Middle East known as the shetar. Also, some ancient Indian musical instruments, such as the laddishah and the ravan-hatti are now only available in museums. As the interest in them dwindled, so did their numbers, causing craftsmen to make less and less money off of them, so that people who knew how to make them became fewer and fewer. In other words, as classical Indian music dropped out of the public eye, classical Indian instruments became scarce.
Hindu religious songs were called bhajans. They originated from the Sama Veda, the fourth Veda. Bhajans are typically sung in groups, with one lead singer on melody. They are also very repetitive. This is one of the reasons that bhajans are sometimes used to relieve stresses of the moment. The repetition allows for freedom from thinking.
http://hinduism.about.com/od/audiomusic/a/bhajan.htm .
http://cnx.org/content/m12459/latest/
Technical Ancient Indian Music
Ancient Indian Music By Emma Williams
In western music, an octave has eight commonly used notes, in contrast to the twelve commonly used notes of the Indian octave. In music terms, an octave higher means that all the notes in the tune are twelve notes higher than the melody, but have the same relation to each other and follow the same pattern. An octave can also be twelve notes lower. There are two western scales, major and minor. In ancient Indian music, however, there are many scales, called thats. There are ten popular thats in Ancient Indian music. Many of the ascending Indian scales, called arohas, differ from the descending scales, called avarohas. However, this is not unique to Indian music, as the harmonic minor scale in western music follows this same pattern.
In western music, an octave has eight commonly used notes, in contrast to the twelve commonly used notes of the Indian octave. In music terms, an octave higher means that all the notes in the tune are twelve notes higher than the melody, but have the same relation to each other and follow the same pattern. An octave can also be twelve notes lower. There are two western scales, major and minor. In ancient Indian music, however, there are many scales, called thats. There are ten popular thats in Ancient Indian music. Many of the ascending Indian scales, called arohas, differ from the descending scales, called avarohas. However, this is not unique to Indian music, as the harmonic minor scale in western music follows this same pattern.
Ancient Indian Instruments and Songs
Ancient Indian Music By Emma Williams
Ancient Indians used music as their source of basic religious knowledge. When one thinks of ancient Indian music, one's mind often goes right to the sitar. However, the Indian sitar is a redesigned version of an instrument from the ancient Middle East known as the shetar. Some ancient Indian musical instruments, such as the laddishah and the ravan-hatti are now only available in museums. Their numbers dwindled because interest in them dwindled, causing craftsmen to make less and less money off of them, so craftsmen who knew how to make them became fewer and fewer. In other words, as classical Indian music dropped out of the public eye, classical Indian instruments became scarce. http://cnx.org/content/m12459/latest/ (music in religion) Hindu religions songs were called bhajans. They originate from Sama Veda, the fourth Veda. Bhajans are typically sung in groups, with one lead singer on melody. They are also very repetitive. This is one of the reasons that bhajans can relieve stresses of the moment. The repetition allows for freedom from thinking. http://hinduism.about.com/od/audiomusic/a/bhajan.htm .
Ancient Indians used music as their source of basic religious knowledge. When one thinks of ancient Indian music, one's mind often goes right to the sitar. However, the Indian sitar is a redesigned version of an instrument from the ancient Middle East known as the shetar. Some ancient Indian musical instruments, such as the laddishah and the ravan-hatti are now only available in museums. Their numbers dwindled because interest in them dwindled, causing craftsmen to make less and less money off of them, so craftsmen who knew how to make them became fewer and fewer. In other words, as classical Indian music dropped out of the public eye, classical Indian instruments became scarce. http://cnx.org/content/m12459/latest/ (music in religion) Hindu religions songs were called bhajans. They originate from Sama Veda, the fourth Veda. Bhajans are typically sung in groups, with one lead singer on melody. They are also very repetitive. This is one of the reasons that bhajans can relieve stresses of the moment. The repetition allows for freedom from thinking. http://hinduism.about.com/od/audiomusic/a/bhajan.htm .
The Invention of Dance Story
Here is the story of the invention of dance in Ancient India, as written from http://www.indiandance.ru/En/DanceHistory.htm:
"In Vishnu Dharmotarpuran 'Markandeye saint' told devotee Vajra about the invention of dance. Which is known as 'Nrittsutram' as a whole.
"In Vishnu Dharmotarpuran 'Markandeye saint' told devotee Vajra about the invention of dance. Which is known as 'Nrittsutram' as a whole.
Long-long ago when everything was destroyed after Pralya (day when life, earth and all cosmos merge back to the Brahmma's body). A lotus was produced from the navel of the Vishnu. On that lotus lord Brahma was sitting. Same time Devta and Daanav were also produced. Two Daanav Madhu and Kaitabh took the Vedas from Brahma and hide them somewhere so that no body can help Devta.
Brahma prays to Vishnu and pleased him. Vishnu asked him to have a wish. Brahma said that these four Vedas are my eyes, without them I can not foresee my creation. Kindly bring those to me. Vishnu stood up from the Sheh bed and start walking on the floor of the ocean.
Laxmi observed that it was not a simple walk but a well-oriented and beautifully arranged movement of the body and hand features. Vishnu turned into Ashwashir (man with the head of the horse) and went to the Paatal Lok (a mythological place supposed to be under seabed). Madhu and Kaitabh saw the Ashwashir and run to catch him. Ashwashir killed both of them and brought the Vedas back to lord Brahma. Laxmi asked 'O my lord' kindly tell me about the walk to performed on the seabed. I feel immense pleasure to watch those beautiful movements of yours. Kindly explain it to me. Vishnu said these are Anghaar and Karan and body movements are known as dance who ever will pray me through dance, he will achieve the Moksha (When Soul stops to and Fro to the earth and remain in the heaven). Lord Vishnu explained these Anghaar and Karan to Brahma and asked him to summarize them. Brahma taught these to Bharat Muni.
Lord Shiva, The cosmic dancer. According to Vedas he is the inventor of Dance. He dances on every evening. All the Devta took part in the dance recital by accompany it. Brahma gives Taal, Vishnu plays Mridang Goddess Saraswati plays Veena, Sun and Moon Plays flute, All the Apsara and Kinners (Dancers and Musician of the heaven) plays musical notes, Nandi plays Damru, Bhringi plays Maadal and Naarad sings.
The earth moves by the leg movements while the cosmos, planet, stars etc moves with his hand movements. That is why in Vedas that is said 'Nritymayam Jagat' means "Nature is full of dance".
Once Tripurasur a demon gave lot of problem to Devta and snatched all of their properties. All Devta were bound to live in jungle or caves. Even then he was not satisfied and gave lots of troubles. All Devta went to Brahma. Brahma along with them went to Vishnu. Vishnu told them that only Lord Shiva can kill him so all of them went to the lord Shiva and requested him to help them by killing the Tripurasur. Shiva agreed to help them. He stood up with anger and start searching the demon. He started dancing with anger and energy as he saw the demon he cut his head with his trishul. His dance which was full of energy, anger, enthusiast, he taught that dance to his dear student Tandu who was also known as Nandikeshwar.
As Tandu further spread this dance, it was named as Taandav. On the basis of dance of lord Vishnu, summarized by Brahma, he taught those dance to Bharat Muni and ask him to teach to his disciples. Bharat Muni prepared a drama named "Tripur Daah" and performed at Kailash at the front of Lord Shiva on Brahma's wish. Shiva was happy after seeing the performance and asked Tandu to teach Taandav to Bharat Muni so that his drama will be completed.
On the other hand Parvati, wife of lord Shiva danced an elegant, soft dance, which was full of love to please and calm lord Shiva. That dance was called Lasya. This dance she taught to Usha, the daughter of Vanasur (who was a great devotee of lord Shiva). Usha was married to Aniruddh, the grandson of lord Krishna. And through her, dance was spread on earth. Krishna also started Rasa, which is the base of Kathak Natwari Nritya.
Earlier dance was a media of rituals and Puja. devotional dances, which were usually performed on some spiritual event in or around the Temple by some selected people or Community who were considered holy and pure by the general people. These dances were performed to please the God, devotional dances based on some stories from Ramayan; Mahabharata or other holy books were taken. These dancers were known as Bharats, Nut, Kushilav, Chaaran, or Kathak.
Earlier musicians and dancers was good mathematician. They calculate and make different and difficult compositions for performance, which shows their superiority on others. All legendary devotees of ancient time were great dancers. In Hindu religion in major people are divided into three categories 1st "Shaiva" who believes in Lord Shiva 2nd "Vaishnava" who believes in lord Vishnu or in his incarnations 3rd "Shaakats" who believes in Shakti or incarnations of Goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva as Natraj, the cosmic dancer. Shri Krishna (incarnation of lord Vishnu) as Natnaager and Parvati herself as dance partner of Shiva are known to all."
Different Forms of Classical Indian Dance
The main forms of classical Indian dance are Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Orissi, Kathakali and Manipuri.
Bharatnatyam:
· Possibly one of the oldest
forms of classical dance in India.
· It is composed of the use of
the ekaharya lasyanga style in which one dancer-actor
plays many different roles
· After the 10th
century ad, it mainly stayed in Southern India.
Today, it is confined to the state of Tamil Nadu.
· It was usually a solo dance
Kathak:
· Its origins are not as clear
as with other forms of classical Indian dance because it evolved over many
centuries over a large area.
· It is hypothesized that it
developed during the Mughal Empire, and thus became mainly a court dance.
Odissi:
· This form of dance is also
debated to have been the oldest form of classical dance in India.
· Odissi dancers became vital
to the temple and ceremonies, as well as other social situations.
Kathakali:
· Kathakali is distinguished
by a powerful dramatic element, where the dancers play the role of supernatural
characters
· They used masks
instead of makeup
Manipuri:
· Its movements are less constrained
and more free and fluid.
· It was developed in the
modern day state of Manipur.
by Bethany
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Ancient India Dance Overview
Dance in India is at least 5000 year old. Dancing figures in
paintings, statues and temple walls show evidence for the popularity of dance
even in ancient times. The earliest evidence is a bronze statue of a dancing
girl dating from the Indus Valley Civilization(see below). Throughout the centuries,
Indian dance has been used as a means of worship, as well as the expression of
emotions. Temple dancers performed
sacred dances to please the gods. The dancing Lord Shiva, or Nataraja, is the
ultimate symbol of Indian dance. Aspects of dance are based on the ancient
stories and tales of India.
Dancing bronze girl - first evidence of dance in India
Sources:
by Bethany
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