Viranatyam also known as Virabhadra natyam is a community or the traditional ceremonial dance that used to be presented in the Siva and Virabhadra temples when Virasaivism was at its Zenith. Veerabhadra, the destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice is said to be the originator of this dance. Holding a sword in one hand and a shield in another hand the devotee dances and plays steps according to the beat of Viramam. It is a big percussion instrument which produces sharp and piercing sounds. Viramam sounds resembles the sounds of war drums and trumpets and Viranatyam resembles Tandavanrityam in its force and vigour. Dhole, Tashamarpa and Sonmayi are also played during the Viranatyam. At the time of Lingodbhava on the sacred day of Sivaratri, these artistes present Urdhava Tandavam, a special type of dance.

Viranatyam is performed by Viramushti, Jangam, Balija and Devanga communities of Virasaiva cult. In Telangana, Viranatyam is presented by Viramushti and Jangam communities during the festivals in Virabhadreswara temple at Kovari and Kottakonda while offering Virabhadra palleram to the deity. A big plate with burning oil or camphor flames is held in both the hands from palms up to elbows and shown before the deity as an offering. The dancers also recite poems called Khadgalu in praise of Virabhadra and his exploits. The artistes wield swords while singing these panegyrics. It is a vigorous and awful dance with long steps and upward movements of legs and hands. In devotional frenzy and fervor, the artistes also pierce their tongues, cheeks, eyelids, throats and lips with spears and spikes of different denominations called Ekanarasam, Kantimarasam, Kanthanarasam and Sulanarasam. They bleed and dance in frenzy. This ceremonial dance has now gained wide popularity as a folk art due to the many nuances introduced in the dance styles.

Kolatam

Kolatam is a play with sticks. This is known as Hallisaka and Dandarasaka in Sanskrit. In olden days females used to play Kolatam in temple halls as a devotional offering. Now the Kolatam played by males is a folk art form.

A troupe consists of twenty to forty members or the least eight members. There are even numbers of players and a leader in every troupe. The troupe leader is called Pennuddi or Kolanna Pantulu or Garuva. He controls and leads the troupe. A pair of two players is called Uddi in which one is called Rama and the other is Lakshmana. All the players form a big circle in the beginning and change into two circles one in another. The leader along with the Mridangam, flute, harmonium and cymbal players, stand in the middle of the inner circle. Each player holds two sticks one in each hand with coloured strings or bells tied to their ends. As soon as the leader signals, pairs in the circle starts moving with a prayer to Lord Ganesha. The leader then cries out the rhythm Etlugada and begins a song. The songs are in different rhymes and beats. They may be prayers, duets, descriptions or narratives delineating Bhakti, Sringara, Karuna and Virarasa. The variety in steps is called Kopulu. There are 50 kinds of kopulu as maximum and minimum number ranges from six to twelve. When the troupe leader sings the first line of the song the players sing the second line and strike the sticks moving or jumping forward and backward in the circles. The leader whistles and changes the speed to a high crescendo. This is called 'Usi'. The players accordingly move with fast steps maintaining the speed for some time and stop with Muktayimpu. The troupe leader then takes up another kopu and the kolatam continues with different style.

There is a special type of Kolatam called 'Jada Kolatam'or veni Kolatam'. This is more popular in Karnataka. The troupe consisting of 12 to 18 players holding coloured strings or ropes tied above to a pole or branch of a tree form into a circle. The circle's movements inside and outside are so well timed and executed that the ropes hanging from the top become plaited to form a Jada or veni. when the troupe dances anticlockwise the ropes are unwound again, colourful ribbons on platforms during ceremonial occasions.

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