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Vira Natyam (Heroic Dance)
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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