History of Carnatic Music and Vachana Literature
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"Music is a universal language. It is the emblem of a culture. Indian music is believed to have been originated from two different sources, one is nature and the other is Vedas and mythology. Sounds produced by birds and animals, wind paasing through folly and through holes in bamboo made by insects, while rivers are flowing. All thses prompted the imagination of man and inspired it to create music. Cry of peacock, bellow of bull, bleat of sheep, call of heron, song of cuckoo, neighing of horse, trumpet of elephant are the corresponding sounds for all seven svaras. This Sanskrit verse found in Amar Koosa by Amar Simha and the revised kannada version of this is “Viveeka Cintaamani’’ by Nijaguna Sivayoogi in 16th century. Yajnavalkya Smriti says A person who is a musician can easily attain Mooksa.i.e.,Salvation.
From Sound syllables are formed, from syllables words are formed, from words speech are formed. All mundane activities happen through speech.This shloka found in Sangita Ratnakara, 13th century treaties on music in Sanskrit describes that Phenominal world is controlled by naada. There are two types of Naada.i.e., Ahata and Anahata. Ahata is classified into six kinds. The sphere of Indian classic music includes Classical music, Folk music and Light Music. Indian classic music has developed into two main streams Carnatic and Hindustani. The predominant version practiced in southern states of India is known as Carnatic or Daakshinaatya. Hindusthaani or Auttareeya kind of music is practiced in rest of the country.While Carnatic music developed without any external influences. Folk music is composed in rural and spoken language.It contains subjects from all sphere of life. Light music denotes Bhavgeeta popular singing of poems not adhering to classical novels. Like this there are stage music, dance music,film, music and etc. In kannada Literature there are several references to music. Kannada poet Aadi Kavi Pampa of 10th century writes people who are abode to sacrifice, opulence, learning, conference, beauty, Pleasantness and singing are real human beings. Chandrasekhara, the poet of eight languages in his book Pampaasthaana Varanna mentions about 18 kinds of flute. Contributions of people of Karnataka to Carnatic music is unique.
In kannada, Sivasarana’s Vachana literature of the 12th century is our earliest song. Sivasarana’s literature is identified as Vachana, SvaraVachana. In one of the popular Vacanna, Basavanna praised the god to convert his entire body into an instrument to play and sing the eulogy. Thus Vachana literature is a milestone in kannda literature and Carnatic music.
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