Bharatiya Samskruti Darshana 1 – Music in Temple Architecture Dr. Choodamani Nandagopal

Dr. Choodamani Nandagopal is an ardent Researcher proficient in Art History as well as a Dance Exponent. Currently she is the Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jain University, Bangalore. Being an author of many books, her innumerable research papers have been published in National as well as International journals. She is a recipient of Nehru Fellowship from Victoria Albert Museum; the UNESCO fellowship; An International Research Fellow UNSW, Australia. She has also extended her services at many National and International Universities, Museums, Research Institutes, Art Galleries including the Chitrakala Parishath, Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts and others.

Excerpts from the lecture
Dr. Choodamani Nandagopal, gave a presentation about Music and Temple Architecture during the March program of Vanamala. Known for her research skills, Dr. Choodamani’s lecture was enlightening to senior and budding researchers alike. Indian texts, though centuries old, are relevant even to this day. Music had always been studied along with theatre and dance and until Matanga’s Brihaddeshi, music was dealt with in only a few chapters of treatises, the rest being dedicated to theatre and art.

A number of Sanskrit treatises- some well-known and some little known- were introduced to the audience, along with works in other languages which deal with music and musical instruments. The lecture also dealt with inscriptions in temple architecture related to music. The word “Sangeeta”, when used in inscriptions, refers to Geeta, Vadya and Nritya. Rituals in temples included Angabhoga and Rangabhoga. The latter comprised of worship through dance and music. Orchestras were existent even in the olden days and evidence of this is seen in sculptures. A number of slides containing pictures of sculptures depicting musical instruments in different temples were shown to the audience. In the process, the development of these instruments to their current form was also traced. This lecture was laden with information and knowledge and had the audience wishing for more!