Hindu Important Art n Culture points (Part 4)

1. Representative drawing of a parrot lady sculpture at the Chennakesava temple in

Belur, built by the Hoysala kings who ruled Karnataka in the 12th century AD. The
parrot lady is a sculpture of a naayika or heroine seen at several medieval temples in
central
and
southern
India
It is often described as a shukasarika, a shuka being a parrot, and is seen at many
early medieval temples
2.
Modi
offers
prayer
at
Mahabodhi
tree
in
Anuradhapura
Legend has it that the southern branch of the holy Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya in India under
which Buddha was said to have attained enlightenment was brought to Sri Lanka in 288
BC by Princess Sanghamitta (Sanghamitra in Sanskrit), the daughter of Emperor Ashoka
The rituals included placing a Siura (an orange robe worn by monks) on the southern
branch of the sacred tree and tying a Pandura (a small piece of cloth in which a coin is
wrapped)
on
the
branch.
A dagoba is a dome enshrining sacred relics or the bodily remains of the Buddha, or
articles used by Him like the alms bowl and other objects of veneration.
3.
Celebrate
conquest
of
Lal
Qila:
Sikhs
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has demanded that the
Centre announce the conquest of Lal Qila by the Sikh forces in 1783 as a national
event celebrated annually.This is the second year that the committee is holding the event
which commemorates unfurling of the Khalsa flag over Lal Qila in 1783 by Baba
Baghel Singh .
4.Dhyana Buddha sculpted at Dharanikota (Dhanyakataka) in Amaravathi - the name
being considered by Andhra Pradesh Government for its new Capital City. Amaravathi, as
it was once the capital of Satavahanas.
5. The Hindu is bringing out an elegantly crafted book on the Sreekrishna temple at
Guruvayur, a major shrine in India dedicated to Lord Krishna. the Guruvayur Satyagraha
reformed Kerala society. The Guruvayur Satyagraha may have failed in its mission, but
it succeeded in giving a severe jolt to casteist Kerala. The aim of social reformer K.
Kelappan, when he decided to go on an indefinite fast, was to allow entry for all Hindus,
including those from the lower castes, to the Guruvayur temple.
6. Ramanuja was proponent of Visishtadvaita. Also known as Ilaya Perumal. He
converted Jains to Hinduism, including Hoysala King Bittideva. He showed early signs of
theological acumen and was sent to Kanchi (Kanchipuram) for schooling, under the
teacher Yadavaprakasha, who was a follower of the monistic (Advaita) system of the
Vedantaof Shankara, the famous 8th-century philosopher.
7.Ambedkar's
124th
birth
anniversary
Dr B.R. Ambedkar, an eminent jurist and politician, was one of the prime architects of the
Indian Constitution. He fought to secure constitutional guarantees for socially backward
classes and eradicate untouchability, caste restrictions. He was Independent India's first
Law
Minister
and
was
awarded
the
Bharat
Ratna
in
1990.
Ambedkar
on
major
constitutional
provisions

Uplift of backward classes; Abolishing untouchability; Special status for J&K; Hindu
Code Bill
8. The Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj celebrated the 80th Utkal Divas, the Odisha State
Formation Day, here on 1st April 2015.
9. On March 31, 2015, The Hindu carried a report of a plan by the Haryana government
to recreate the Saraswati river, apparently because the present river of the name Sarsuti
does not possess features expected of what is presumed to have been a great river of
sacred
lore.
The Panchavimsha Brahmana and other early texts speak of the Saraswatis
disappearance at Vinashana, which means that it did not then join the Ghaghar, but ran in
a more southerly direction, probably running past Sirsa (medieval name: Sarsati), the
place obviously named after the river itself.
10. In 1903 Emmeline Pankhurst founded a new organisation, the Women's Social and
Political Union. Pankhurst thought that the movement would have to become radical and
militant if it was going to be effective. The Daily Mail later gave them the name
"Suffragettes. Way back in 1921, Madras was the first legislature in British India to pass
the
womens
suffrage
resolution
by
a
considerable
majority
1921: Madras is among the first States to give women the right to vote
11. Kedarnath, the most remote of the four Char Dham sites, is situated in the Himalayas,
about 11,755 ft above sea level near Chorabari Glacier, the head of river Mandakini, and
is flanked by snow-capped peaks.
12. Two of the four skeletons dating back to the 4500-year-old Harappan era found
recently in a burial mound at Rakhigarhi village in Haryana. Marriage of genetic and
software tech to project their likeness
13. Buddha Purnima (Vesak) marking the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama
Buddha would be celebrated on May 4 at Dhyana Buddha project in Amaravathi. Lord
Buddha's enlightenment in 588 B.C and also his attainment of the highest of spiritual
goals, 'Nirvana' in Bodh Gaya and 'Parinirvana' (or "final cessation") in Kushinagara.
Sarnath, near Varanasi, where the Buddha preached his first sermon is another important
site for Buddha Purnima celebrations
Hindu Important Art n Culture points (Part 3)
1. Vittala, Virupaksha temples may get 'Adarsh Smarak' tag (Mo Culture)
Virupaksha Temple and Vittala Temple complex in Hampi, the erstwhile seat of
Vijayanagar empire and also the monument at Pattadkal in Bagalkot district would
become
part
of
the
Adarsha
Smaraks
in
the
country.
Other monuments includes Taj Mahal, Khajurao, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Humayun
Tomb, Hazaradurai, Shore temple at Mahabalipuram, Elephanta Caves, Vaishali,
Pattadkal in Karnataka, Konark Sun Temple, Rang Ghar among others have been chosen
by the Union government under the yojana.
2. Sulba Sutras, composed between 800 and 500 B.C., demonstrate that India had
Pythagorean theorem before the great Greek was born

3. Late Harappan period house discovered in Chandyan village of Uttar Pradesh

This is the first time evidence of habitation pertaining to late Harappan period found in
the Upper Doab region between Ganga and Yamuna. The archeologists also found
remnants of a human skull with a copper crown corresponding to the late Harappan
period at a brick kiln site in Chandyan village.
4.
Rock
paintings
at
risk
of
fading
away
The rock paintings in the Marayur-Chinnar forest belt of Kerala, the second largest
concentration of cave paintings in south India, are at high risk of degeneration.The cave
paintings in Ezhuthala and Attala in Marayur sandal division, the most noted ones, were
in more danger
5. the Maha Stupas are called Sariraka Stupa (buried bodily remains of the Buddha),
Phari Bogika Stupa (buried belongings of Lord Buddha and Uddeshika Stupa, but they
identified it as Phari Bogika Stupa since they found belongings of the Buddha.
6. Hauz-e-Shamis eastern edge, built for the pilgrims as a lodge in the 16th Century
during the Lodi Dynasty).
7. Raja Mahendra Pratap who visited Germany and several other countries to launch a
sustained struggle to oust the British. AMUs alumnus and noted socialist leader Captain
Abbas Ali who joined the British Army and fought the Second World War in several
South Asian countries, joined Netaji Subhash Chandra Boses INA in Malaysia in 1941.
8.
World
Bank
to
fund
Sarnath
redevelopment
Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. It is also a sacred place for Jains as Shreyamshanath,
the 11th Trithankara, was born here.
9.
Ahemdabad
Indian independence Movement developed its roots in the city o Mahatma Gandhi
established two Ashrams o Kochrab Ashram & Sabarmati Ashram o Gandhi initiated the
Salt Satyagrah from Ahmedabad by embarking from his ashram on the Dandi Salt March.
10. The home for writers, as Sahitya Akademi defines itself, has announced that its
annual literary festival Sahiotsav or Festival of Letters. The Northeast regions will get a
national platform under Purvattori (meaning easterners) in which several scholars and
writers from the Northeast States
Some Important Notes from Art n Culture- NIOS Part-3
Wajidali Shah was a great patron of music and dance and here the seeds of the
Lucknowgharana or school of dance was sown. The modern day dancers like Pt.
BirjuMaharaj all have come from the Lucknow school of dance.
In the modern period, we find maximum dance forms in the south Indian classical dance
stream. They are Kucchipudi, Bharatnatyam, Mohiniatyam, Kathakali; eastern side,
Odissi.
theBihu dance of Assam, Mask dance of Ladakh, Wangla of Meghalaya, Bhutia or
Lepcha dance of Sikkim. Similarly we also have some dances which are called martial
dances like Chholia of Uttranchal, Kalaripaittu of Kerala, Thang-taa of Manipur among
the more famous ones.

Bharata wrote Natyashastraand created the plays known as AsuraParajaya and

AmritManthan. Mahabhasya refers to several aspects of drama i.e. the actors, the music,
the stage, rasa in the performances called Kamsavadha and Balibandha.
There is mention of a community called shailoosh which had
professional drama companies. As a result professional singers called kushilavascame
into existence.
Many names were given to the forms of folk theatre in different
provinces
like:
1)
Bengal
Jatra,
KirtaniaNatak
2)
Bihar-Bideshia
3)
Rajasthan
Raas,
Jhumar,
DholaMaru
4)
Uttar
Pradesh
Raas,
Nautanki,
Svaang,
Bhaand
5)
Gujarat
Bhawaii
6)
Maharashtra
Larite,
Tamasha
7) Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka - Kathakali, Yakshagana
KuntleshwarDaityam is a drama that testifies to the fact that Kalidasa belonged to the
Gupta Age. Instruments like dhol, kartal, manjira, khanjirawere some props used in folk
theatre
Hindu Important Art n Culture points (Part 2)
1. BUDDHIST SITES TO BE DEVELOPED WITH JAPANESE HELP
The sites that will be covered in the first phase of the tourism project are Salihundam,
Ramateerthaalu, Bojjanakonda, Guntupalli, Adumuru, Jaggayyapeta, Gummudigudeam,
Alluru,
Ghantasala,
Amaravathi
and
Nagarjunakonda.
The government is also planning to install a Buddha statue at Ghantasala
Buddhist monk Binteji performed a special puja in the Buddhism tradition at
Penneramma in Ghantasala.
2. EARLY HISTORIC PERIOD ROCK PAINTING SITE FOUND IN KADAPA
More than 100 rock art paintings with mystic figures belonging to human and wild
animals in different postures depicted with white pigment were found on quartzite rocks
in a rock shelter known as Diviti Mallanna Banda or Mallugani Banda
A rock art painting site dating back to neolithic (New Stone Age) and megalithic (Iron
Age) and up to the early historic period (from 4,500 BC to 2 AD) was discovered in
Lankamala reserve forest at Ranibavi near Mydukur in Kadapa district. (AP)
The prehistoric man used saliva, animal fat and crushed bones as binding material that
made
the
pigment
last
for
thousands
of
years.
The prehistoric man used saliva, animal fat and crushed bones as binding material that
made the pigment last for thousands of years.
3. The traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of
Jandiala Guru Punjab has got the distinction of being inscribed on the Representative List
of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, UNESCO, 2014.
The Thatheras craft utensils are of both Utilitarian and ritualistic value made of copper,

brass and kansa (an alloy of copper, zinc and tin).The crafting process carried out by a
specific group of craftspeople, known as Thatheras,
4. The paintings on the small rock called Rattapparai are in four sets. In the first set,
three persons with a man mounted on a horse, another pulling that horse with a rope
fastened to the animal while the third man is depicted with stretched hands welcoming
others. The fourth group is a painting of six men standing and few others with
outstretched
hands.
The paintings on rocks of Kilvalai are found in three rocky areas and painted in redochre. That might be 3000 years old. As a heritage rich site situated near Puducherry
5.Amaravathi is among the 12 cities in India that have been declared heritage cities.
The town is also popular among tourists, as the Amaralingeswara Temple is located there.
Dharanikota, located near Amaravathi, was once the capital of the Satavahana dynasty,
and it later emerged as a key centre of Buddhism.
6.
Drawings
of
Indus
Valley
discovered
near
Hampi
Eleven of the Hampi pictographs resemble those of the Indus valley civilisation. This
innocuous sounding statement could actually be a revolutionary find linking the Gond or
Gondi
tribe
to
the
Indus
Valley
civilisation.
The Gondi people are a Dravidian people of central India, spread over the states of
Madhya Pradesh, eastern Maharashtra (Vidarbha), Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana
and Western Odisha
7. Bhamala archaeological site had been declared national and world heritage site located
near Khanpur dam, located on the Haro river.
8. THE KUKA MOVEMENT - NAMDHARI SIKH - BABA RAM SINGH
Government has released commemorative postal stamp to highlight heroic deeds of those
engaged in 1857 Kuka movement of the Namdhari Sikhs against the British rule.
There are two names associated with the start of this movement i.e. Baba Balak Singh
and
Bhagat
Jawar
Mal.
Bhagat Jawar Mal was also known as Sian Sahib. The important teaching of Bhagat
Jawar mal was that his disciples should live a simple teetotaller life and all other rituals
except the chanting the name of God should be discarded, this is how the sect was called
"Namdhari".
In 1920, the Kukas started their paper 'Satyug', and in 1922, their daily, 'Kuka' was started
Hindu Important Art n Culture points (Part 1)
1. Madhubani painting or Mithila painting is a style of Indian painting, practiced in the
Mithila region of Bihar state, India, and the adjoining parts of Terai in Nepal. Painting is
done with fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks, using natural dyes and
pigments, and is characterized by eye-catching geometrical patterns.
There are paintings for each occasion and festival such as birth, marriage, Holi, Surya
Shasti, kali puja, Upanayanam, Durga Puja etc.
2. Phad painting or Phad is a style religious scroll painting and folk painting, practiced in
Rajasthan state of India. This style of painting is traditionally done on a long piece of
cloth or canvas, known as phad. The narratives of the folk deities of Rajasthan, mostly of

Pabuji and Devnarayan are depicted on the phads. The Bhopas, the priest-singers
traditionally carry the painted phads along with them and use these as the mobile temples
of the folk deities
3. A solo dance exposition, the Thullal is of three types. Its origin is attributed to Kunchan
Nambiar, a veritable genius and one of the foremost poets of Kerala. Though based on
classic principles of Natya Shastra the technique of this art is not rigid. The songs, written
in simple Malayalam, frank to outspoken wit and humour, the simplicity of presentation
and the direct appeal to every day life made Thullal very popular. The instruments used in
Thullal are the maddalam and the cymbals. The cymbal player who tunes the rhythm, also
assists
the
actor
dancer
(Thullakaran)
in
singing.
Thullal is classified as Ottan, Seethankan and Parayan based on the difference in
costume, dance and also the metre and rhyme of the Thullal songs.
4.
CHHAU
DANCE.
The fame of Mayurbhanj Chhau has crossed geographical limitations and has claimed
world wide fans for its beauty, vigour and marvel of the art. Though Chhau is famous not
only in India but World over the origin of word Chhau is yet in mystery. Chhau is
believed to have found its origin from "Chhaya" the shadow. But the Chhau performers of
Purulia use Mask while dancing and that mask is told as "Chhau".
Chhau draws substantially from great epics like the Ramayan, the Mahabharat and also
from folk and tribal elements. The music accompanying the dance has its own style
which
envigorates
the
soul.
The Orchestra is generally composed of "Mohuri", "Chad-Chadi", "Dhol", "Dhumsa" etc.
and
some
times
accompanied
by
lilting
vocal
music.
The grammar of Mayurbhanj Chhau comprises six Chalis or Topka (basic steps) and 36
uflis (Jumping locomotions). These Chalis & uflis are are called from rural house hold
activities, behaviour of animals, and birds and war actions.
5. Sabai grass is grown in a wide part of Mayurbhanj district which is mainly used for
making Sabai Rope. Sabai Ropes are mostly sold out side the state for use in weaving
Charpai (Cots) and in paper manufacturing concerns. Sabai rope is also used in making
Sofa sets, Chairs, Tea Poy etc. The main body frames of the Chairs and sofas are made in
Bamboo and wood and Sabai rope is woven and coiled over the frame to give a finishing
shape, which attains exceptional excellence.
6.Recently UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization)
honoured Koodiyattam by declaring the art form as one among the "Masterpieces of the
Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity", which should be protected and preserved.
This was the first time that the UN body had conferred the heritage status on an art form.
Koodiyattam is the earliest classical dramatic art form of Kerala .Koodiyattam literally
means "acting together". Koodiyattam used to be a combined dance drama conducted by
the Chakkiyars (a caste among Hindus), who provided the male cast and the Nangiars
(women
of
the
Nambiyar
caste),
playing
the
female
roles.
Koodiyattam performance lasts for several days ranging from 6 to 20 days. Themes are
based on Hindu mythology.Koodiyattam is enacted inside the temple theatre, known as
the Koothambalam, with two or more characters onstage at the same time.

Vidushaka, a figure parallel to the Fool in Shakespearean plays, sometimes explains in

simple Malayalam the background of the story and gives a live image of characters in the
minds
of
the
spectators.
Koodiyattam is a dramatic presentation in Sanskrit, with the exception of the vidushaka,
who
is
the
only
character
speaking
in
Malayalam
Mizhavu is the major musical instrument used in Koodiyattam; Mizhavu is played only
by the nambiyars. The Nangiars beat the cymbals and recite verses in Sanskrit.Edakka
lends bhava and laya for a vivid portrayal of the soft sentiments of both male and female
characters in Koodiyattam
Some Important Notes from Art n Culture- NIOS Part-4
The blending of Greek and Indian art led to the development of Gandhara art which
developed later. The other schools of art and architecture were the indigenous Mathura
school and Amaravati school.
Under the Gandharaschool of art life-like statues of Buddha and Bodhisattavas were
made in the likeness of Greek gods even, though the ideas, inspirations and subjectswere
all Indian. Rich ornaments, custumesdrapery were used to impart physical beauty.The
sculptures were in stone, terracotta,cement like material and clay.
The figures of the Mathura school were made of spotted red stone. They had more of
spiritual look in them. Here along with Buddha we find sculptures of Jainadieties also.
The Amaravatischool developed under the patronage of the Satavahanas of the Andhra
region. A great stupa was built at Amaravati in the Lower Godavari region. The walls of
the stupa are adorned with bas relief, had carved medallion and decorative panels.
Nagarjunkonda is another place that is famous for Buddhist architecture.
The Gupta period marks the beginning of the construction of free-standing Hindu
temples. An example of this is the temple at Deogarh (Jhansi district) which had a central
shrine or garbhagriha where the image of the deity was placed. Another temple at
Bhitrigaon
(Kanpur
district) are two fine examples of this period.
The chaitya at Karle with fine high halls and polished decorative wall is a remarkable
example
of
rock-cut
architecture.
The
Kailash
temple
at
Ellora built by the Rashtrakutas.
The ratha temples of Mahabalipuram built by the Pallavas are other examples of rock-cut
temples. The Pallava rulers built the shore temple at Mahabalipuram. Pallavas also built
other structural temples like Kailashnath temple and VaikunthaPerumal temples at
Kanchipuram.
The Cholas built many temples most famous being the Brihadeshwara temple at Tanjore.
The Cholas developed a typical style of temple architecture of South India called the
Dravida style, complete with vimanaor shikhara, high walls and the gateway topped by
gopuram. Magnificent temples were built at Belur, Halebid where the stone engravings
reached even greater heights.

In north and eastern India magnificent temples were also constructed and the style
followed by them is referred to as the Nagara style. Most of them consisted of the
shikaras(spiral roofs), the garbhagriha(sanctum) and the mandap(pillared hall). Orissa has
some of the most beautiful temples such as the Lingaraja temple built by the Ganga rulers
and the Mukteshwara temple at Bhubaneshwar and the Jagannath temple at Puri. The sun
temple at Konark was built in thirteenth century by the eastern Ganga ruler Narshimha
Deva I. The temple is dedicated to Surya (the sun god) and has been designed as a
twelve-wheeled chariot.
The temple complex at Khajuraho was built by Chandella rulers between the tenth and
eleventh centuries in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. Most important among
them is the KandariyaMahadev temple. Mount Abu in Rajasthan is known for the
Dilwara
temple
dedicated
to Jain tirthankaras. These were built in pure white marble and adorned with exquisite
sculpture. These were built under the patronage of Solanki rulers.
Some Important Notes from Art n Culture- NIOS Part-2
Hindustani classical music may be traced back to the period of the Delhi Sultanate and to
Amir Khusrau. Most of the Hindustani musicians trace their descent to Tansen. Different
styles of Hindustani music are Dhrupad, Dhamar, Thumri, Khayal and Tappa.
The most popular ragas are: Bahar, Bhairavi, SindhuBhairavi, BhimPalasi, Darbari, Desh,
Hamsadhwani, Jai Jayanti, MeghaMalhar, Todi, Yaman, Pilu, ShyamKalyan, Khambaj.
Amongst the stringed instruments the most famous are sitar, sarod, santoor and sarangi.
Pakhawaj, tabla and Mridangam are precussion or tal giving instruments. Likewise, flute,
shehnai and nadaswaram are some of the chief wind instruments.
The compositions in Carnatic music may be attributed collectively to three composers
who lived between AD 1700 and 1850. They were ShyamShastri, Thyagaraja and
MutthuswamiDikshitar.
The main compositions are known as kritiand are devotional in nature. Flute, veena,
nadaswaram, mridangam, ghatam are some of the instruments to accompany Carnatic
music.
Carnatic alapanais similar to alapin Hindustani classical. Tilanain Carnatic resembles
Tarana of Hindustani. Both lay stress on talaor talam.
Indians adopted some of their instruments such as violin and clarinet to suit the demands
of Indian music. Rajasthani folk songs such as Mand and Bhatiali of Bengal are popular
all over India. Ragini is a popular form of folk songs of Haryana. Kashmirs Gulraj is
usually a folklore and Pandyani of Madhya Pradesh is a narrative put to music. Muslims
sing Sojkhwani or mournful songs during Muharram and Christmas carols and choral
music are sung in groups on the festive occasions.
The Rig Veda mentions dance (nrti) and danseuse (nrtu) and compares the brilliant dawn
(usas) to a brightly attrived danseuse. In the Brahmanas, Jaiminiya and Kausitaki dance
and music are mentioned together.

In southern India Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam developed as an important aspect of

the rituals in temples. Yakshagana, a form of Kathakali in Kerala, tells us stories of
Ramayana and Mahabharata whereas Kathak and Manipuri are mostly related to the
stories of Krishna and his leela (exploits)
Performance of Odissi is related to the worship of Lord Jagannath. Though the Krishna
leelaand the stories related to Lord Shiva was the theme of Kathak. In Assam people
celebrate most of the harvesting season through Bihu. Similarly Garba of Gujarat,
Bhangra and Gidda of Punjab, bamboo dance of Mizoram, Koli, the fishermans dance of
Maharashtra, Dhumal of Kashmir, and Chhau of Bengal.
Facial expressions, body movements, hasta mudras and the footsteps have all been
brought together under three broad categories namely, as nritta (padasanchalan), nritya
(angasanchalan) and natya (abhinay).