Rudrapatna

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Rudrapatna | type = city | latd = 12.5961| longd = 76.1227
locator_position = right | state_name = Karnataka
district = Hassan
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude =
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = | population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
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area_telephone = 08175
postal_code = 573 150
vehicle_code_range = KA-13
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
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Rudrapatna is a small village on the banks of the Kaveri river in Arkalgud taluk of Hassan district in the Indian State of Karnataka.

The village is known for its rich musical heritage, and is often compared to Thiruvaiyaru of Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu. The village was an abode of Veda, Nada, and Taranga, according to the renowned Carnatic vocalist, R K Padmanabha. Rudrapatna stands apart as it has the honour of having contributed many artistes to Carnatic music.cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Rudrapatna on Hindu| date=2007-01-08 | publisher= | url =http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/12/10/stories/2006121000350700.htm | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-01-21 | language = ]

Musical history

The village has had a rich musical history. Bhaskar Avadhani, an authority on the History of Rudrapatna calls the place the confluence of "Veda Brahma" and "Nada Brahma". He recounts that the people of the village migrated from Sengottai in Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu. They came in two groups. While one group settled down at Koushika village in Hassan, another came to Bettadapura. People from there started inhabiting on the banks of river Cauvery and one such village formed as Rudrapatna. Sanketis, as they were known, practised Vedas and music. While Dikshitars and Somayajis performed "Yajna" and "Yaga", others spent most of their time learning "Shathavadhana", chanting of Veda and music. It was a place of "Ghanapaathi", "Shathavadhani", "Asthavadahani" and musicians. The Channakeshava Temple of this village is more than a thousand years old. ]

Unlike other contemporary musicians, it is claimed that musicians from this village did not aspire for "Rajashraya"(patronage of royalty). Renowned musician from Rudrapatna R K Padmanabha adds that a mass desertion of the village took place following a plague. He also claims that nearly 60 per cent of the currently performing Carnatic musicians in Karnataka hail from Rudrapatna. ]

Noted musicians

Several noted musicians such as R.K. Suryanarayana, R.N. Tyagarajan and R.N. Taranath (also known as Rudrapatnam Brothers), R.K. Shekar, R.K. Srikantan, R.K. Raghava, R.K. Prakash, R.K. Padmanabha, R.S. Ramakanth, R.S. Keshavamurthy, Rathnamala Prakash (a renowned light music artist also), and R.N. Sreelatha, who have carved a niche for themselves, hail from this village. ]

R.K. Krishna Shastry was another noted vocalist and Harikathe Vidwan, who hailed from Rudrapatna. Venkataramiah, popularly known as Thimmappa, was a renowned Veena vidwan. He is best known for his viriboni Varna in Kedaragowla raga. Shathavadhani Venkataraya was another popular veena vidwan. Veene Shamanna, Veene Shrikantaiah, Veene Ranganath and R.K. Keshava Murthy, who was a disciple of the legendary Veene Subbanna are all from Rudrapatna. Music critic Mysore V Subrahmanya has noted that the village has produced several musicians and scholars, including Veena Rangashastry, who have occupied the position of court musicians at the Mysore palace.

Rudrapatnas of the modern generation are continuing to advance their rich musical heritage. Vivek Rudrapatna of Basking Ridge, NJ has been studying and performing Carnatic Music for the better part of the last decade and has made inroads into the world of fusion music with his experiment "Saptaswara"--a collaboration of Gypsy Guitar, Western and Carnatic Violin, Bluegrass Mandolin, and Tabla. They produced several tracks of a CD to be eventually released by Harvard University's Veritas Records in 2007. ]

References