The Making of Regional Cultures

The language an individual speaks may determine their place of

origin. We serve to correlate every region with particular kinds of
food, clothes, poetry, dance, music, and painting. The culture we
perceive today is intermixing local customs with beliefs from other
parts of the subcontinent. Some traditions appear specific to some
regions, some are similar across regions, and others derive from
older systems and new forms.

The Cheras and the Development of Malayalam

 In the ninth century, the Chera kingdom of the ruler
Mahodayapuram was founded.
 Example of culture based on language.
 It was established in the southwestern part of the country,
which is now known as Kerala.
 Malayalam was likely spoken in this area. So, the Malayalam
language and script were introduced in the ruler's inscriptions.
 It is the earliest usage of a regional language in official records
in India.
 The Sanskrit epics' stories were borrowed by the temple
theatre of Kerala, which depicted the ruler's admiration for the
Sanskrit language.
 During the 12th century, the literary works in Malayalam were
blooming of whose credit goes to Sanskrit.
 The Lilatilakam, A fourteenth-century text, which discusses
punctuation and poetics, was written in Manipravalam – in a
real sense, signifies "precious stones and corals."
 Manipravalam refers to two languages Sanskrit and
Malayalam.

Rulers and Religious Traditions: The Jagannatha Cult

 Example of culture based on Religion.
 Jagannatha is the name of Vishnu at Puri, Orissa.
 Jagannatha was a local deity who was later identified as Vishnu
from making the local wooden image.
 In the twelfth century, Anantavarman, a leader of the Ganga
dynasty, chosen to raise a sanctuary for Purushottama
Jagannatha at Puri. In 1230, ruler Anangabhima III gave his
realm to God and considered himself the "delegate" of God.
 When the Mughals the conquered Orissa Marathas, and the
English East India Company, controlled the Temple. Assuming
 it would give them power over the locals. Thus, emphasizing
the political influence of the Temple.

The Rajputs and Traditions of Heroism

 In the nineteenth century, most parts of Rajasthan were called
Rajputana by the British.
 It suggests Rajputs majorly occupied it. Some Rajputs live in
other parts of India as well. But Rajasthani culture is influenced
by Rajputs majorly.
 Prithviraj was one Rajput ruler. Rajput rulers believe in
heroism.
 The glory of Rajputs was recorded in poetic poems and songs.
 Specially trained minstrels recited stories about Rajputs. They
were meant to inspire their successors.
 Familiar people were also intrigued by these stories as these
stories depicted dramatic situations and strong emotions like
loyalty, friendship, love, courage, anger, etc.
 Women also played roles in these stories as the stories
involved war to win or protect women. Sometimes, women are
depicted to follow their husbands' heroic ideals, mostly giving
their lives, and Sati was also talked about.

Beyond Regional Frontiers: The Story of Kathak

 The word Kathak comes from Katha, meaning story.
 The Kathaks was initially known as a caste of storytellers in
temples of north India. Their storytelling was added with songs
and dances.
 During the spread of the bhakti movement, Kathak began
evolving into a distinct mode of dance.
 The stories of Radha-Krishna were acted in the name of Rasa
Lila.
 The practice of dancing in Mughal courts gave Kathak the
particular style that it has today.
 Two traditions or Gharanas of Kathak: one in the courts of
Rajasthan and the other in Lucknow.
 Under the protection of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of
Awadh kathak grew even more.
 After 1850, Kathak was well established in Rajasthan,
Lucknow, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, and
Madhya Pradesh.
  Though the British disfavoured it, courtesans continued to
perform and were acknowledged as one of six primaries of
"classical" dance forms in India after independence.

Painting for Patrons: The Tradition of Miniatures

 Miniatures are little estimated expressions done in watercolor
on fabric or paper. Prior miniatures are on palm leaves or
wood.
 Found in western India, it used to delineate Jaina messages.
 Skilled painters represented uniquely in compositions,
depicting court scenes, scenes of fight or chasing, furthermore,
different parts of public activity.
 These painters were brought in by The Mughal emperors
Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan.
 They were considered gifts.
 Mughal creative preferences changed the local courts of the
Deccan and the Rajput courts of Rajasthan.
 Portraits of rulers and court scenes were painted, initially only
by Mughals but followed by other rulers.
 The Himalayan foothills, the modern-day state of Himachal
Pradesh was also attracted to miniature arts.
 By the late seventeenth century, a style of scaled-down
painting called Basohli was shaped. The most conspicuous
content to be painted here was Bhanudatta's Rasamanjari.
 Nadir Shah's invasion of Delhi in 1739 resulted in Mughal
artists' migration to the hills to escape. Here they found ready
buyers, which led to the starting of the Kangra school of
painting.
 Later in the eighteenth century, the Kangra artists adopted a
new style inspired by the Vaishnavite traditions. Kangra
paintings were distinguished by soft colors, including cool
blues and greens, and lyrical treatment of themes.

A Closer Look: Bengal

 People residing in Bengal speak Bengali, which is believed to
be derived from Sanskrit. But the natives did not speak
Sanskrit.
 From the fourth-third century BCE, business ties started to
grow between Bengal and Magadha, which may cause the
Sanskrit influence.
  During the fourth century, the Gupta rulers set political
authority over north Bengal and settled Brahmanas in this
area, thus the influence.
 The change in rulers also influenced the local dialect.
 Early Bengali literature was majorly divided into two
categories. One was dependent on Sanskrit, and the other was
not.

Pirs and Temples

 The Bengalis shifted eastwards in search of fertile land. Their
settlement here and the Mughal's conquest influenced the
building of Mosques and their influence on the residents.
 Pirs were Community leaders. They also were teachers and
adjudicators. Sometimes with supernatural powers to stabilize
the settlements.
 Many of the basic block and earthenware sanctuaries in Bengal
were worked with the help of a few "low" gatherings of people.

Fish as Food
 Brahmanas generally don't consume Non-Vegetarian food. But
Bengal Brahmanas consumed fish, as fish was a significant
food supply for Bengalis, close to riverine.
 On the dividers of sanctuaries and viharas portray pictures of
fish being dressed and taken to the market.

Important Questions and Answers

1. Were paintings only done by the artists?
Ans: No, even ordinary people painted. Familiar people also painted
on floors, walls, clothes, and pots. Far apart from the miniatures
precisely preserved in palaces for centuries, these works were not
properly maintained. Miniature paintings were considered more
valuable than usual paintings by ordinary people for decoration or
hobbies.

2. Explain the two types of Bengali literature.

Ans: Ancient Bengali literature was divided into two categories. One
was indebted to the Sanskrit language, and the other was
independent of Sanskrit. The first type includes the translations of
Sanskrit literary works. For instance, the Mangal Kavyas, which
managed nearby divinities and bhakti writing like the memoirs of
Chaitanyadeva, the head of the Vaishnava bhakti development. The
second includes the literature type called Nath, which comprises
Maynamati and Gopichandra. Those are the stories about Dharma
Thakur and fairy tales, folk tales, and ballads.

3. List the rulers of Bengal

Ans:
 From the eighth century, Bengal turned into the middle of a
provincial realm under the Palas.
 Bengal was ruled by Sultans between the 14th and 16th
centuries.
 In 1586, Akbar conquered Bengal and created the nucleus of
Bengal Cuba.
 Persian was the language of administration; Bengali was the
regional language.

4. What are Pirs?

Ans: A Persian word meaning a profound aide. Local area pioneers,
who are likewise instructors and adjudicators and now and again
with extraordinary forces, were called Pirs. They planned to balance
out the local area. It consisted of saints or Sufis and other religious
preachers, soldiers, colonizers, many Hindu and Buddhist gods, and
animistic spirits. Pirs even had their shrines.

5. Explain one example of the linguistic influence on culture.

Ans:
 Malayalam was likely spoken in Kerala. So, the Malayalam
language and script were introduced in the ruler's inscriptions.
 It is the earliest usage of a regional language in official records
in India.
 The Sanskrit epics' stories were borrowed by the temple
theatre of Kerala, which depicted the ruler's admiration for the
Sanskrit language.
 The main conspicuous scholarly works in Malayalam, dated to
about the twelfth century, are in Sanskrit.
  During the 12th century, the literary works in Malayalam were
blooming of whose credit goes to Sanskrit.
 The Lilatilakam, A fourteenth-century text, which talks about
punctuation and poetics, was written in Manipravalam – in a
real sense, it signifies "precious stones and corals."
 Manipravalam refers to two languages Sanskrit and
Malayalam.

6. Why did Bengali Brahmins relax the prohibitions?

Ans: Fish was a staple diet of Bengalis. Bengal is a land having
more access to riverine and sea. Brahmanas generally don't
consume Non-Vegetarian food. But Bengal Brahmins Consumed fish,
as fish were a significant food supply for Bengalis, as close to
riverine. On the dividers of sanctuaries and viharas depict pictures
of fish being dressed and taken to the market.

7. List the "classical" dances recognized by the Indian

government.
Ans: Dance forms that are recognized as classical are:
 Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu)
 Kathakali (Kerala)
 Odissi (Orissa)
 Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh) Manipuri (Manipur)
 Kathak (Lucknow)

8. What is animism?
Ans: The attribution of the living soul to plants, lifeless things, and
everyday marvels is known as animism.
It is a conviction framework expressing plants and creatures to have
a spirit quintessence. It was a significant piece of the profound
instruction of antiquated India.

9. What is Manipravalam? Name a book written in that

language.
Ans:
Manipravalam means, in a real sense, "jewels and corals," which is
accepted to allude to the two dialects, Sanskrit and Malayalam.
The Lilatilakam, A fourteenth-century text, which discusses
punctuation and poetics, was written in Manipravalam – in a real
sense, signifies "precious stones and corals."

10. What are the critical structural provisions of the

sanctuaries of Bengal?
Ans: The Bengali sanctuaries replicated the twofold roofed or four-
roofed design of the covered hovels. This prompted the movement
of the good Bengali style in sanctuary engineering. In the somewhat
more composite four-roofed design, four three-sided rooftops
situated on the four dividers progress to associate on a bent line or
a point.
Temples were generally constructed on a square platform. The
inside was genuinely plain. However, a few sanctuaries' external
dividers were decorated with different art, elaborate tiles, and
earthenware tablets