Krsna's Andhra Pradesh

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FROM THE IMMORTAL LAND OF KRISHNA SERIES

A SWORD OF TRUTH PRESENTATION

The river named Krishna in homage to the Lord flows through the

ancient and culturally rich Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Numerous

Krishna shrines are spread out all over the state. One of the most

famous of these is the Chennakeswaraswamy temple in Cuddapah

district. There are many temples located within the premises of the

Chennakeswaraswamy temple itself. The most unique one within these

precincts however, is that of the Sudarashanachakra containing the

idol of the Sudarashanachakra of Lord Vishnu as well as that of Lord

Santanagopalakrishna together. This temple is the only one of its

kind in South India.

 

Located on the south bank of the River Penneru, the Talpagiri

Ranganathaswami Temple has a 29 Mts. tall Galigopuram with seven gold

kalashams. Its Addalapatnam (Mirror Parlor) is bedecked with mirrors

all around the walls, ingeniously placed so that a panoramic view of

the deity may be obtained at any angle. The ceiling of the mandapam

here is decorated with a gorgeous painting of Lord Krishna in all his

glory.

 

Machilipatnam, the town which is famous for its Kalamkari printing

and gold covering work also possesses a beautiful shrine of the

Panduranga form of Lord Krishna. Krishna is represented in his

favorite and most adorable posture as Madanagopala in the

Madanagopala temple at Gopalapuram near Kolhapur.

 

The arts of Andhra Pradesh also integrate this reverence for Lord

Krishna, most notably in the form of its classical dance traditions.

Andhra's famous tradition of Kuchipudi, like Kathakali is also a

dance-drama tradition and derives its name from the village of

Kuchipudi in the state. In recent years, it has evolved as a solo

dance for the concert platform.

 

The most popular theme of Kuchipudi presentations is the enactment of

the role of Devi Satyabhama, the proud and self-assured queen of Lord

Krishna, from the dance-drama Bhama Kalapam. Devi Satyabhama is shown

going through the various stages of love. When in separation from

Lord Krishna, she recalls the happy days of union and pines for him.

At last they are reunited when she sends him a beautiful and moving

letter. One more number from the Kuchipudi repertoire that deserves

mention is Krishna Shabdam, in which a milkmaid invites Krishna for a

rendezvous in myriads of ways giving full scope for the dancer to

display her feminine charms and grace.

 

The movements in Kuchipudi are quicksilver and scintillating, rounded

and fleet-footed. Performed to classical Carnatic music, the dance is

set to several lyrical compositions reflecting the desire of the

devotee to merge with Godhead - symbolically the union of the soul

with the super soul.

 

The songs are mimed with alluring expressions, swift looks and

fleeting emotions. A special number in the Kuchipudi repertoire is

called tarangam, in which a dancer balances herself on the rim of a

brass plate and executes steps to the beat of a drum. At times she

places a pot full of water on her head and dances on the brass plate.

The songs accompanying these numbers are from the well known Krishna

Leela Tarangini, a text which recounts the life and events of Lord

Krishna.

 

Yet another of the most popular group dances of Andhra Pradesh, the

Kolatum is a traditional dance performed by womenfolk. It is meant to

be an offering of prayer to Lord Shiva and Sri Krishna. The

performers stand in a formation and use hand-held sticks to tap

series of rhythmic beats, while simultaneously dancing to the music.

 

The varied and multi-hued songs, dance, art and architectural styles

of Andhra Pradesh represent the celebration of the freedom and power

that the soul finds in devotion to the Supreme Being, Shree Krishna.