Honouring in Kannada Culture
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In the annals of history, the opulence of Kannada culture is a matter of great pride reflecting a plethora of degrees, rewards, titles, donations and gifts, bestowed upon various soaring wars to the heroic and noteworthy beat of sacrifice. The reverence bestowed upon those who work for the state's security and welfare is telltale of the people. Scripture reveals that during the olden times the king not only donated to charity but also rewarded the helping people generously. The awards presented were noteworthy, nanjanguuDu taayuuru indicates that the king confers a part of his own made as a gesture of respect, as a gift I am giving you a part of my made and you son, shall be called by my name and I will have my name as Tirumala rajnayak. Those who received his name alongside there considered it to be the pinnacle of respect. Various prefixes of kings and emperors were used as titles next to their names. A claimed king, Srii Krishnadeevaraayaa of Tudulinage, had the title yavanaraajyasamsthapanaacaarya and in order to earn it, the king of Vijaymagara on certain occasions allowed his feet to be kissed. This was considered a great honour for the person who get this opportunity.
Those who battle for victory in war by giving their own life would be conferred with a title and reward in memory of the dead warrior. Stone memorials would be erected to represent them as permanent as the sun and the moon. For the welfare of the brave warrior, the family land was reserved as a benefaction, such reserved land was called inettarugoDege baalgaLcu.
Art was also greatly encouraged in the bygone era. The titles and honours bestowed to artists and sculptures indicate the kind of importance and the various form of art enjoyed. The spectator's record mention that in the entire span of Jambhudviipa, there had been no architect as skilled as Narasobba and also, that there would be no one like him in the future. Another sculpture of repute by the beholder is GunDa, who constructed the Lokeshwara temple for Lookamahadevi the queen of King Vikramaditya, SatyaaSraya bestowed him with the title tribhuvanaacaari and took him on a procession three times as a mark of honour. Dance and Music were a popular forms of art in society. People used to get titles in honour of their work. Pampa, a writer of literature got the title of Gunarnava. Some of the very famous writers were Pampa, Ranna and Ponna, today they are referred to as ‘The three poetic gems”.
Jottitaayamma and Dr K.venkatlakshamma had extraordinary accomplishments in the field of dance. In politics, administration or in the field of art, drama and music, it was customary to appoint a head and the appointed was known as the court head. Only those artists chosen by the court head would receive the honour. “Varshavardanthi” was a festival as prominent as Navaratri. On that day a felicitation would be organized at the ceremonial hall of the Mysore palace, which later on was at Ambavilas Durbar hall. The Diwans used to get the titles of “Rajasevabhushana” and “Rajakaaryaa Praveena” which were for “Diwan cader”. The artists such as musicians, painters and social workers would sit with Diwans in the “Bandrasana’, then, on a silver plate, called “paraabh”, they would place a gold chain, medal and a gondaberunda pendant, with the Mysore’s king’s emblem. A person would bring the chain and a robe and carry the plate to the king, then the king would just touch the plate and after this formality, the Huzur’s secretary, or the Durbar “Bakshi”, would put the jewel on the persons’ neck with the pendant and there robe his shoulder.
Najar-Najaraana is a word derived from Urdu which means offering. Kanike, is another such word, which means offering given to God, king or elders in respectful manners. Another word associated with the culture is Parakuu. Karnataka Kalatilaka and Santa Sisunalaa are awarded for the field of Music. Naadooja award is for literature, Santalaa award for dance, Ekalavya award for achievers in sports, and Karnataka Ratna is the award for lifetime achievement in the field of art. Raajyootsava award is another such award which gives recognition to these various such activities, today. While universities give doctorates to great achievers who accomplish extraordinarily in their respective fields, organization and monasteries offer honour in their own ways by giving titles and shields. To people who have highly contributed to the regional language, the Indian government honoured them with Padmabhushana and Padmashrii awards.