The culture of Karnataka is revered for its storehouse of music and dance forms. Especially Karnataka is august for its wealth of Indian classical music. Both Carnatic and Hindustani music proliferated in this region. The `Haridasa` movement of 16th century has bestowed the status of performing art style to Carnatic music. Purandara Dasa, the famous `Haridasas`, is acknowledged as the `Karnataka Sangeeta Pitamaha`. There are famous musicians also belonging to the genre of Hindustani musicians. Another musical genre of Carnatic school , namely Gamaka is practiced in various regions of Karnataka. It is popular and well appreciated by the music lovers from all over the world for its unique technique of story telling. Here a person hums a verse of a poem, employing worthy ragas full of melodious tunes. There is another person who goes on explaining the entailing of the stanza with anecdotes and instances.
Karnataka music and dance feature a wide variety of classical and folk forms. Music and dance from Karnataka are meant not only for entertainment but also for the spiritual betterment of the performers and the beholders. Influences have filtered in from every corner of southern and even northern India and have enriched the world of Karnataka's music and dance.
Carnatic classical music lies at the very center of Karnataka music and dance traditions. From ancient times, Karnataka has contributed largely in ascertaining its structure and form. It has also presented the world with some of its major composers and performers. The veena along with violin and mridangam form the chief musical instruments. Unlike most states of southern India, the contribution of Karnataka to the world of North Indian Classical music has also been noteworthy. Kuchipudi is the original dance form with its origin in Karnataka. However, other classical dance forms like the Bharatanatyam also form important parts within the tradition of music and dance of Karnataka.
Folk performance are very significant parts of Karnataka music and dance. They beautifully blend music, dance and theatrical performances. Most of these folk forms still continue in their primary ritualistic mode. Kunithas are traditional dance dramas that employ a great deal of music and dance. Some of the major forms of these kunithas are dollu kunithas, pata kunithas, dorava kunithas. The highly spectacular yashagana is a major folk musical performance. Krishna Parijatha and Bhoot Aradhane are some of the other major folk forms of Karnataka music and dance.
14 May 2009
Beliefs-The truth
I'm curious "how" and "why" we believe in the superstitions that we do.Just trying to explore the unknown and trust me its fun.Everything has a scientific explanation but until we find it out lets believe in the superstitions have we got to lose anything??
Why do we consider black cats bad luck? Why do we throw salt over our shoulder? Why is opening an umbrella in the house bad luck? These are fascinating questions to which I wanted to know the answers. I suspect you do too. I intend to explore some of our most popular beliefs, where they came from, and what they mean.
The word abracadabra when a magician is doing one of his disappearing tricks. I wonder, where that word, along with hocus pocus, and presto, came from. The story is actually quite interesting.
Abracadabra is the oldest of the three words, but that is where agreement about its origin ends. Some believe that is was once used as a protective word on amulets and charms. Early Christians believed that it had the power to ward off evil spirits.
Others believe that it came from a combination of Hebrew words including ab, which means father; ben, which means son; and rauch acadosch, which means holy spirit. Still more think is the derivative of the name of the Gnostic leader, Abraxas, which means God.
What is known, however, is that during the Middle Ages, people often wore the word on parchment around their neck to assure they that didn't contract illnesses and were not attacked by evil spirits. The word was written in its entirety on the first line and then with each subsequent line, the last letter of the word was dropped until nothing remained but the "A" at the beginning; forming an upside down pyramid.
It was believed that this "charm" could cure the plague, fever, toothache, and a variety of other ailments. The word abracadabra itself was believed to have magical power. Over time, magicians picked it up and used it primarily because of that belief.
People fear what they don't understand and from that fear certain rituals, or superstitions, have been practiced throughout time as a form of protection from these unknown fears. Although most of the superstitions from the past have since been proven by science as unnecessary,
ineffective, or simply ridiculous, many are still religiously practiced today by very intelligent and sane people. Following is a list of some of those superstitions and why they were originally started in the first place.
Breaking a Mirror - Even today, when someone breaks a mirror their first thought is that they have just brought upon themselves some unwanted bad luck. It was once believed that one's reflection in a mirror represented their soul. If you were to break that reflection, it would then be harmful to your soul.
Walking Under a Ladder - Most people believe this to be just common sense, in case the ladder falls while you are passing under it. But that is not how it got its start. A very long time ago, the triangle was considered a symbol of life. Walking through any triangular shape, ladder leaning against a wall or otherwise, was considered to be tempting one's fate.
Knock on Wood - Few people know why they do it, but still today when we mention something good that is supposed to happen in the future, many of us "knock on wood" twice to keep from jinxing the expected good fortune. Once upon a time, it was thought that trees were the homes of the gods. When in need of a favor or some good luck, one politely mentioned this wish to a tree and then touched the bark, representing the first "knock." The second "knock" was to say "thank you."
Friday the 13th - This superstition comes directly from Christianity although many unreligious people are still very careful about making decisions or taking any action whenever this day and date coincide, usually two or three times each year. There were thirteen people at The Last
Supper. Judas, the betrayer of Christ, was the 13th guest. Christians also claimed that at satanic ceremonies, there were always twelve witches and one devil present. Then it was on a Friday when Christ died. But even before that, it was a Friday when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden and it was also on Friday when Noah's great flood began. So the combination of the two, Friday and the 13th, was deemed as the unluckiest day on the calendar.
Black Cats - In the Middle Ages, black cats were believed to be the companions of witches. After seven years, these cats were believed to then turn into witches, devils or demons themselves. No one wanted to cross paths with a witch or a demon, hence, when a black cat crosses your path, it might be safest to just turn around and find a different route to where ever it was you were headed.
God Bless You - Did you ever wonder why people say "God Bless You" whenever someone sneezes? During the sixth century, it was believed that a sneeze expelled evil spirits from the body. Later, when a great plague took hold of Europe, and people began sneezing violently, the Pope passed a new law pertaining to sneezes. At that time, since sneezing meant that the person was going to die of the plague, people were required to bless the sneezer. It was then later believed that your soul could escape your body though a sneeze and that by saying "God Bless You," you could immediately stuff it back inside where it belonged.Another explanation could be the fact that many cells in the brain collapses when you sneeze hence the blessing was essential so that the evil passes off without claiming on the life of the sneezer.
Spilling Salt - Although some people believe that Judas spilt salt during the last supper, this claim can't be proven. Salt was a very precious, expensive commodity in the middle ages and was widely used for medicinal purposes. If you were to spill any salt, you were then to immediately throw it over your left shoulder to strike the nasty spirits in the eye, thus preventing sickness.
Lucky Rabbit's Foot - This is one of man's oldest superstitions, some say dating back as early as 600 BC. Because rabbits and hares are such prolific breeders, they became a symbol of fertility. Carrying a rabbit's foot with you and rubbing it often was said to provide good luck, good crops, many children, and prosperity.
Opening an Umbrella Inside - This superstition comes from the idea that an umbrella is a protector against the storms of life. If you were to open one in your home, the household guardian spirits might think you felt their protection was insufficient, and then they'd leave in a huff. Everyone in the house would then be cursed without the spirit protection.
According to superstition, the color of a person's hair can influence their temperament. Redheads have long been accused of fiery tempers because the color red was associated with fire. It was also the color of sin, which is why so many redheads were once believed to be witches.
People with blond hair were considered to be airheads, less intelligent, or simple-minded because the lack of pigment color in the hair supposedly indicated that certain types of nutrients and vitamins were missing from the brain. People with brown hair, on
the other hand, had an abundance of that pigment and were considered smarter, more reliable, and for some reason braver.
Like many girls before me, when I was little, I pulled the petals off of flowers using an alternate saying of "he loves me" and "he loves me not" with each petal I pulled. I managed, of course, to somehow get the response I wanted each time by some mechanism; particularly when I grew older, until recently before i got married, had my boyfriend in mind while playing the game.
Many believe that the game originated specifically with daisies, which were believed to have grown where the Virgin Mary's tears fell after the death of her son, Jesus. The original game of "he loves me" or "he loves me not," therefore, was meant to determine if the woman in question had found favor with Christ.
The idea that carrots can improve eyesight originated from tests conducted in Great Britain during World War II. The government was hoping that the vegetable, which are heavy in vitamin A, might help pilots see better at nighttime to give them an edge over the Germans. While their tests proved to be totally inconclusive, it didn't stop rumors from circulating that the British were better flyers because they ate massive quantities of carrots.
People with blond hair were considered to be airheads, less intelligent, or simple-minded because the lack of pigment color in the hair supposedly indicated that certain types of nutrients and vitamins were missing from the brain. People with brown hair, on
the other hand, had an abundance of that pigment and were considered smarter, more reliable, and for some reason braver.
Owls are considered wise because of the position, placement, and size of their eyes. Basically, they look intelligent and that, alone, caused the superstition to be cultivated. However, not all cultures liked owls. While the Greeks held them in high esteem, the Romans felt that they were suspicious animals. They, in fact, linked them with demons and even the devil himself.
Some Celtic groups believed that witches had the power to change themselves into owls, further mudding the poor bird's already questionable reputation. A Welsh saying said the hooting of an owl symbolized the loss of the virginity of a village maiden. On the flip side, however, many Native American tribes considered owls to be symbols of good luck, prosperity, and long life.
While it may seem funny that some of these ancient beliefs continue today, the fact is that they often do, albeit in a smaller, less stringent way. We continue to pass along the stories, beliefs, and feelings from generation to generation.
These are just a few of the more common superstitions and rituals that many people still practice today. Although I believe in none of them myself, I'd still probably not be able to help but feel a little bit insecure if I sneezed when a black cat crossed my path as I walked under a ladder on Friday the 13th. How about you?
Why do we consider black cats bad luck? Why do we throw salt over our shoulder? Why is opening an umbrella in the house bad luck? These are fascinating questions to which I wanted to know the answers. I suspect you do too. I intend to explore some of our most popular beliefs, where they came from, and what they mean.
The word abracadabra when a magician is doing one of his disappearing tricks. I wonder, where that word, along with hocus pocus, and presto, came from. The story is actually quite interesting.
Abracadabra is the oldest of the three words, but that is where agreement about its origin ends. Some believe that is was once used as a protective word on amulets and charms. Early Christians believed that it had the power to ward off evil spirits.
Others believe that it came from a combination of Hebrew words including ab, which means father; ben, which means son; and rauch acadosch, which means holy spirit. Still more think is the derivative of the name of the Gnostic leader, Abraxas, which means God.
What is known, however, is that during the Middle Ages, people often wore the word on parchment around their neck to assure they that didn't contract illnesses and were not attacked by evil spirits. The word was written in its entirety on the first line and then with each subsequent line, the last letter of the word was dropped until nothing remained but the "A" at the beginning; forming an upside down pyramid.
It was believed that this "charm" could cure the plague, fever, toothache, and a variety of other ailments. The word abracadabra itself was believed to have magical power. Over time, magicians picked it up and used it primarily because of that belief.
People fear what they don't understand and from that fear certain rituals, or superstitions, have been practiced throughout time as a form of protection from these unknown fears. Although most of the superstitions from the past have since been proven by science as unnecessary,
ineffective, or simply ridiculous, many are still religiously practiced today by very intelligent and sane people. Following is a list of some of those superstitions and why they were originally started in the first place.
Breaking a Mirror - Even today, when someone breaks a mirror their first thought is that they have just brought upon themselves some unwanted bad luck. It was once believed that one's reflection in a mirror represented their soul. If you were to break that reflection, it would then be harmful to your soul.
Walking Under a Ladder - Most people believe this to be just common sense, in case the ladder falls while you are passing under it. But that is not how it got its start. A very long time ago, the triangle was considered a symbol of life. Walking through any triangular shape, ladder leaning against a wall or otherwise, was considered to be tempting one's fate.
Knock on Wood - Few people know why they do it, but still today when we mention something good that is supposed to happen in the future, many of us "knock on wood" twice to keep from jinxing the expected good fortune. Once upon a time, it was thought that trees were the homes of the gods. When in need of a favor or some good luck, one politely mentioned this wish to a tree and then touched the bark, representing the first "knock." The second "knock" was to say "thank you."
Friday the 13th - This superstition comes directly from Christianity although many unreligious people are still very careful about making decisions or taking any action whenever this day and date coincide, usually two or three times each year. There were thirteen people at The Last
Supper. Judas, the betrayer of Christ, was the 13th guest. Christians also claimed that at satanic ceremonies, there were always twelve witches and one devil present. Then it was on a Friday when Christ died. But even before that, it was a Friday when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden and it was also on Friday when Noah's great flood began. So the combination of the two, Friday and the 13th, was deemed as the unluckiest day on the calendar.
Black Cats - In the Middle Ages, black cats were believed to be the companions of witches. After seven years, these cats were believed to then turn into witches, devils or demons themselves. No one wanted to cross paths with a witch or a demon, hence, when a black cat crosses your path, it might be safest to just turn around and find a different route to where ever it was you were headed.
God Bless You - Did you ever wonder why people say "God Bless You" whenever someone sneezes? During the sixth century, it was believed that a sneeze expelled evil spirits from the body. Later, when a great plague took hold of Europe, and people began sneezing violently, the Pope passed a new law pertaining to sneezes. At that time, since sneezing meant that the person was going to die of the plague, people were required to bless the sneezer. It was then later believed that your soul could escape your body though a sneeze and that by saying "God Bless You," you could immediately stuff it back inside where it belonged.Another explanation could be the fact that many cells in the brain collapses when you sneeze hence the blessing was essential so that the evil passes off without claiming on the life of the sneezer.
Spilling Salt - Although some people believe that Judas spilt salt during the last supper, this claim can't be proven. Salt was a very precious, expensive commodity in the middle ages and was widely used for medicinal purposes. If you were to spill any salt, you were then to immediately throw it over your left shoulder to strike the nasty spirits in the eye, thus preventing sickness.
Lucky Rabbit's Foot - This is one of man's oldest superstitions, some say dating back as early as 600 BC. Because rabbits and hares are such prolific breeders, they became a symbol of fertility. Carrying a rabbit's foot with you and rubbing it often was said to provide good luck, good crops, many children, and prosperity.
Opening an Umbrella Inside - This superstition comes from the idea that an umbrella is a protector against the storms of life. If you were to open one in your home, the household guardian spirits might think you felt their protection was insufficient, and then they'd leave in a huff. Everyone in the house would then be cursed without the spirit protection.
According to superstition, the color of a person's hair can influence their temperament. Redheads have long been accused of fiery tempers because the color red was associated with fire. It was also the color of sin, which is why so many redheads were once believed to be witches.
People with blond hair were considered to be airheads, less intelligent, or simple-minded because the lack of pigment color in the hair supposedly indicated that certain types of nutrients and vitamins were missing from the brain. People with brown hair, on
the other hand, had an abundance of that pigment and were considered smarter, more reliable, and for some reason braver.
Like many girls before me, when I was little, I pulled the petals off of flowers using an alternate saying of "he loves me" and "he loves me not" with each petal I pulled. I managed, of course, to somehow get the response I wanted each time by some mechanism; particularly when I grew older, until recently before i got married, had my boyfriend in mind while playing the game.
Many believe that the game originated specifically with daisies, which were believed to have grown where the Virgin Mary's tears fell after the death of her son, Jesus. The original game of "he loves me" or "he loves me not," therefore, was meant to determine if the woman in question had found favor with Christ.
The idea that carrots can improve eyesight originated from tests conducted in Great Britain during World War II. The government was hoping that the vegetable, which are heavy in vitamin A, might help pilots see better at nighttime to give them an edge over the Germans. While their tests proved to be totally inconclusive, it didn't stop rumors from circulating that the British were better flyers because they ate massive quantities of carrots.
People with blond hair were considered to be airheads, less intelligent, or simple-minded because the lack of pigment color in the hair supposedly indicated that certain types of nutrients and vitamins were missing from the brain. People with brown hair, on
the other hand, had an abundance of that pigment and were considered smarter, more reliable, and for some reason braver.
Owls are considered wise because of the position, placement, and size of their eyes. Basically, they look intelligent and that, alone, caused the superstition to be cultivated. However, not all cultures liked owls. While the Greeks held them in high esteem, the Romans felt that they were suspicious animals. They, in fact, linked them with demons and even the devil himself.
Some Celtic groups believed that witches had the power to change themselves into owls, further mudding the poor bird's already questionable reputation. A Welsh saying said the hooting of an owl symbolized the loss of the virginity of a village maiden. On the flip side, however, many Native American tribes considered owls to be symbols of good luck, prosperity, and long life.
While it may seem funny that some of these ancient beliefs continue today, the fact is that they often do, albeit in a smaller, less stringent way. We continue to pass along the stories, beliefs, and feelings from generation to generation.
These are just a few of the more common superstitions and rituals that many people still practice today. Although I believe in none of them myself, I'd still probably not be able to help but feel a little bit insecure if I sneezed when a black cat crossed my path as I walked under a ladder on Friday the 13th. How about you?
There's an Angel around
Barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak, she never said a word. Many people passed, but never did one person stop.
Just so happens the next day I decided to go back to the park, curious if the little girl would still be there.
Right in the very spot as she was yesterday she sat perched on high, with the saddest look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. As we all know a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play.
As I began walking towards her I could see the back of the little girl’s dress indicated a deformity. I figured that was the reason the people just passed by and made no effort to help. As I got closer, the little girl slightly lowered her eyes to avoid my intent stare. I could see the shape of her back more clearly. It was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was ok, I was there to help, to talk.
I sat down beside her and opened with a simple Hello. The little girl acted shocked and stammered a hi after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked ’til darkness fell and the park was completely empty. Everyone was gone and we were alone. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me and with a sad face said “Because I’m different.”
I immediately said “that you are!” and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder, she said, “I know.” “Little girl,” I said, “you remind me of an angel, she stood to her feet, and said, “Really?”
“Yes, ma’am, you’re like a little guardian angel sent to watch over all those people walking by.” She nodded her head yes and smiled, and with that she spread her wings and said with a twinkle in her eye, “I am.” I was speechless, sure I was seeing things. She said, “And since you thought of someone other than yourself, my job here is done.”
Immediately I stood to my feet and said, “Wait, so why did no one stop to help an angel?” She looked at me and smiled, “You’re the only one who could see me, and you believe it in your heart.” And She was gone. And with that my life was changed dramatically.
So, when you think you’re all you have, remember, there is an angel always watching over you.
Pass this to everyone that means anything at all to you…. to let them know you’re glad they care about you… like the story says we all need someone.
Everyone of your friends is an angel in their own.
- Author Unknown
LIVE Life be alive
Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.
You never know who these people may be - a roommate, a neighbor, a professor, a friend, a lover, or even a complete stranger - but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.
Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.
Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are sometimes the most important ones.
If someone loves you, give love back to them in whatever way you can, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.
If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.
Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and listen to what they have to say.
Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don’t believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.
You can make anything you wish of your life. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.
And if you love someone tell them, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.
Learn a lesson in life each day that you live!
Today is the tomorrow you were worried about yesterday.
Think About it? Was it worth it?
Love in action
One night a man came to our house and told me, “There is a family with eight children. They have not eaten for days,” I took some food and I went. When I finally came to the family, I saw the faces of those little children disfigured by hunger. There was no sorrow or sadness in their faces, just the deep pain of hunger. I gave the rice to the mother. She divided it in two, and went out, carrying half the rice with her. When she came back, I asked her, “Where did you go?” She gave me this simple answer, “To my neighbors-they are hungry also.”
I was not surprised that she gave–because poor people are generous. But I was surprised that she knew they were hungry. As a rule, when we are suffering, we are so focused on ourselves we have no time for others.
–Mother Teresa
where is the joy - joy to live
We all would like to live a happy, healthy and fulfilled life, yet very few seem to be able to do just that. Why must we have so much suffering, failures and disappointments? We just want to be secure in a loving relationship and a satisfying job with a good income and enjoy ourselves.
Instead, our relationships turn sour and bitter all too soon, we have a job that we do not like or we do not have one at all, there is never enough money and generally there is not much joy to be found anywhere. As a result we feel resentment, hopelessness, depression, perhaps also anger and hatred. Where and why did it all go wrong?
I believe that there is a way out of this depressing jungle of negativity and disappointments. I actually believe that we can make a decision to have a happy, fulfilled life and then really do it. What I cannot promise is that it would be easy. It needs either willpower and determination and most of all the help of good friends and close loved ones. But you have nothing to lose by trying and each step in the right direction is likely to bring some reward.
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