Abstract

Music is an inseparable art in temples. Most of the daily worships or pūjas are accompanied by music, either on musical instruments or on voice. There are so many musical instruments like kombu, kuzhal, pulluva veena, thimila, chenda, śankhu or conch etc. and devotional musical forms like sōpāna sangita, mallāri tunes, tēvāram, divya prabandham, lali, unjāl, kavuttuvam etc. being used in south Indian temples during specific hours of worship. So many iconographical remaining and inscriptions also are found out from various temples that include references on music and musical instruments of ancient ages. Conversely, we can find references on temples from carnātic music compositions also. Most of the illustrious composers of south Indian music have composed kritīs on Temples and Temple related themes and they are collectively known as Kshētra Kritīs. Most of them like Trinities - Tyāgarāja, Muthuswāmi Dīkshitar and Śyāma Śāstri and others like Subbarāya Śāstri, Veena Kuppaiyyar have brilliantly composed Kshētra kritīs during their visits to concerned temples. This article gives a brief description of some of the Indian temples that are mentioned in south Indian music compositions.