Krishna's Musicians: Musicians and Music Making in the Temples of Nathdevara, Rajasthan

Traditional Indian arts were passed down through hereditary practitioners, including musicians in the Vallabha Sampraday. Music has been a prescribed part of worship in temples since the sixteenth century, with the svarups of the sampraday entertained with music seventeen times daily. This book explores the role of music in the sampraday and the lives of musicians, particularly Pakhavaji Guru Purushottam Das and his family.

Format: Hardback
Length: 358 pages
Publication date: 07 July 2024
Publisher: Manohar Publishers and Distributors

Traditional Indian arts were often passed down through families, with some practitioners still supported by Hindu temples. One such example is the community of hereditary musicians (kirtankars), who serve in the temples of the Vallabha Sampraday, a Vaishnava sect based in Nathdvara, Rajasthan. Music has been an integral part of worship in these temples since the sixteenth century, with the svarups of the sampraday being entertained with music seventeen times daily. The Shri Nathji temple in Nathdvara, the most important haveli, has eight full-time musicians, while other centres have fewer musicians and perform music less often. This book explores the role of music in the sampraday and the lives of the musicians, particularly that of Pakhavaji Guru Purushottam Das and his family. It focuses on the living tradition and what it can reveal about the past.

Dimension: 254 x 203 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9788173041617