Harikatha
Form of Hindu traditional discourse
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Through Hinduism, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala
Harikatha is a composite art form composed of storytelling, poetry, music, drama, dance, and philosophy, most prevalent in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and ancient Tamil Nadu. Any Hindu religious theme may be the subject for the Harikatha. At its peak Harikatha was a popular medium of entertainment, which helped transmit cultural, educational and religious values to the masses. The main aim of Harikatha is to imbue truth and righteousness in the minds of people and sow the seeds of devotion in them. Another of the aims is to educate them about the knowledge of Ātman (the self) through stories and show them the path of liberation.
Hindu mythology
In Hindu mythology, the first Harikatha singer was sage Narada who sang for Vishnu, other prominent singers were Lava and Kusha twin sons of Rama, who sang the Ramayana in his court at Ayodhya.
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History
This is an ancient form that took its current form during the Bhakti movement around the 12th century. Many famous Haridāsa are Purandara Dasa, Kanaka Dasa.
The Telugu form of Harikatha originated in Coastal Andhra during the 19th century. Harikatha Kalakshepam is most prevalent in Andhra even now along with Burra Katha. Haridasus going round villages singing devotional songs is an age-old tradition during Dhanurmaasam preceding Sankranti festival. Ajjada Adibhatla Narayana Dasu was the originator of the Telugu Harikatha tradition, and with his Kāvyas and Prabandhas has made it a special art form.
Style
Harikatha involves the narration of a story, intermingled with various songs relating to the story. Usually, the narration involves numerous subplots and anecdotes, which are used to emphasise various aspects of the main story. The main storyteller is usually assisted by one or more co-signers, who elaborate the songs and a Mridangam accompanist. The storyteller uses a pair of cymbals to keep the beat.
Famous exponents
Following Krishna Bhagavatar, other great exponents of this art form, such as Pandit Lakshmanachar, Tirupazhanam Panchapakesa Bhagavatar, Mangudi Chidambara Bhagavatar, Muthiah Bhagavatar, Tiruvaiyyar Annasami Bhagavatar, Embar Srirangachariyar, Konnoor Sitarama Shastry, Sulamangalam Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, Sulamangalam Soundararaja Bhagavatar, Ajjada Adibhatla Narayana Dasu, Embar Vijayaraghavachariar, Saraswati Bai and Padmasini Bai popularised the Harikatha tradition.
Saraswati Bai was a pioneering woman Harikatha exponent. She broke the monopoly of Brahmin men over this art form. This was attested by F. G. Natesa Iyer (in 1939), who said: "Saraswati Bai is a pioneer, and today, as a result of her sacrifices. Brahmins and non-Brahmins walk freely over the once forbidden ground. C. Saraswati Bai has achieved this miracle."
Recent practitioners of Harikatha include Veeragandham Venkata Subbarao, Kota Sachchidananda Sastri, Mannargudi Sambasiva Bhagavatar, Banni Bai, Mysore Sreekantha Shastry, Kamala Murthy, Muppavarapu Simhachala Sastry, Embar Vijayaraghavachariar, Kalyanapuram Aravamudachariar, Vishaka hari, Gururajulu Naidu and T S Balakrishna Sastry.
Paruthiyur Krishna Sastri started as a Harikatha exponent and then changed to Pravachan style. One of the best Harikatha renderings is on the life of saint Tyagaraja by Mullukutla Sadasiva Sastry from Tenali.