Abstract

The history of the development of Classical Music in the southern part of our country is closely associated with development of temple culture. The temples have been largely responsible for the growth and development of all important forms of arts. The art of music, dance, painting, sculpture and architecture developed in India chiefly because of their use in the temples and their patronage. Music is also a necessary ingredient in many of the services in the temples. In addition, the art and art effects of temple‟s iconography and painting in temples carry valuable information on music. Many of the inscriptions on stone and metals available in temples carry abundant information about various forms of art, especially music and musicology. Musical instruments are galore and dance postures held in open – air classes conveying inspiration and lessons to the delight of the viewers, connoisseurs and the devotees. These sculptures are the living testimony to the spirit of the age and clearly show the development of these fine arts as time progressed. They bear testimony to the traditions and culture and reflect the character and interests of the people. It also shows the dedication of the rulers of those periods in promoting music and their devotion to the deities. The performance of music and dance in the temple rituals had special significances. The present paper titled “Manifestation of Vina in the Images and Idols of South Indian Temples” explores a study of musical instrument Vina illustrated on the behalf of Temple Sculptures. This article is borne out from my Ph.D. thesis titled „Role of Temples of Southern India in Preserving and Propagating Classical Music through Its Architecture, Iconography and Art Forms‟ submitted to Kannur University on 2014. All the photographs cited here is taken by myself through temple visit. The study is confined to the temples from states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.