Why Karnataka in Karnataka Shaastriya Sangeeta

Raghunath · Post by **Raghunath** » 10 Dec 2006, 19:54

This short article about â€œKarnataka Shaastriya Sangeetaâ€

Raghunath · Post by **Raghunath** » 10 Dec 2006, 19:56

Let us consider the historical perspective to understand the facts: In earlier times, sangeeta shaastra followed the â€œGuru-Shishyaâ€

Raghunath · Post by **Raghunath** » 10 Dec 2006, 19:56

They were followed by Shivayogis (1500) and Purandara daasa (1550) (who is also known Pitamaha of Karnataka shaastriya sangeeta) and other daasas. All of them were from Karnataka. After them, around 1650AD South Indian classical music got a new lease of life from Govinda Deekshit. Even Govinda Deekshit was from Karnataka. He was a minister in the court of King Achyuta Nayaka of Tanjavore. He wrote a Grantha â€œSangeeta Sudhaâ€

Raghunath · Post by **Raghunath** » 10 Dec 2006, 19:57

Point to Ponder: If we can divide people in the field of classical music into: Shaastra (theory) Kartaas, Lakshya (aesthetics) Kartaas, Prayoga (experiment) Kartaas, artists from Karnataka, Andhra and TamiL-naadu will occupy those positions, respectively. It is also interesting to know that only â€œprayoga kartaasâ€

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 10 Dec 2006, 20:23

Please refer to http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=1337&p=5, Post 119 regarding origin of the word 'karnATaka'.

Raghunath · Post by **Raghunath** » 10 Dec 2006, 21:55

vgvindan,

That post which you have given has explained the reasons usage of 'C' carnatic/KarnatiK in English.But i did not find it explaining anything regarding the origin.

And i feel that this carnatic/Karnatik spealling confusion was only with Britishers and not with any composers.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 11 Dec 2006, 03:56

May not have anything to do with the erstwhile Mysore state at all.

karna = ear
ataka = haunting
karnataka = haunting to the ear, i.e. melodious

For a reference, read: http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/01/05/st ... 280900.htm

Raghunath · Post by **Raghunath** » 11 Dec 2006, 11:26

KarnaTaka.. This word has many many explanations

1) KarNa(ear) + aTa(roam/wander) = karNaTa and then karNaTaka.
KarNaTa means where ever the ears wander one hears the name of the this region. This is the Sanskrit Scholars explaination. But this has been challenges and not agreed upon by many KannaDa scoloars.

2) KannaDa, itself is the name of the region. Old scriptures in Tamil and old kannada call the land as KannaDa itself. In the oldest KannaDa work available "Kaviraja Marga", its author king NRpatunga says that the "KannaDa"(naaDu, region) was from Godavari till Kaveri.

3)Kar + NaaT = NaaT or NaaD means land
Kar has many many meaning
a)Karu = calf. Hence land of cows
b)Kar = black, hence land of black soil
c)kar = height/elivated/great, hence Elivated land . Some equate Elivated to unnata hence call great land.
d)kimmittu naaDu = kimmittu sandal smell, land of sandal smell
etc

Earliest know usage of the word 'Karnataka'

source - http://www.ourkarnataka.com/states/hist ... ataka6.htm

The Birur plates of Kadamba Vishnuvarman call Shantivarman " the master of the entire Karnataka region". The Rashtrakuta inscriptions refer to the armies of Chalukyas of Badami as 'Karnatakabala'. These facts go to prove that Karnataka had achieved its definite identity long back in history.

Rashtrakuta's ruled karnataka from 8th to 10th century.

When the word karnataka was so popular why would anyone try to associate a music with such word.

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 11 Dec 2006, 11:49

raghunath,
will you kindly spell out the purport or central theme of your write up?

Raghunath · Post by **Raghunath** » 11 Dec 2006, 12:09

vgvindan,

why was the region from the current day karnataka and some regions of Andhra were called as 'Karnataka' in past(around 10th century)?(refer my previous post)

These words 'haunting to the ear' makes sense when you naming it for music but not for a particular region.

The first work where we come across the names of two main traditions of Indian Music - Hindustani and Carnatic is Haripala Deva's Sangita Sudhakara (1309-1312 AD).

So going by that assumption word 'carnatic' wouldn't have been associated to music not before 12th century.

So by no means the muscians would have used a name for music which was already popular as a name of a region without any solid reason.