The Kannadigas or Kannadigaru (), often referred to as Kannada people, are a Dravidian ethnic group primarily native to the southern Indian state of Karnataka and its surrounding regions.
They natively speak Kannada, which belongs to the Dravidian language family. Kannada stands among 30 of the most widely spoken languages of the world as of 2001.
After the Mauryas, parts of Karnataka were variously ruled by dynasties who were from the outside. One theory posits that the Vijayanagara Empire, one of the region's most renowned, was founded by Kannadigas who served as commanders in the Hoysala Empire's army stationed in the Tungabhadra region.
The Kannada language has written inscriptions dating back as far as 450 CE. Kannada literature is mostly composed of treatises on various topics and poems on religious works. Kannada architecture is dominated by stone-carved sculptured palaces, temples and traditional wooden folk houses known as thotti mane and chowki mane. Many of religious architectures built during ancient and medieval period are today UNESCO World Heritage sites.
History
Minor dynasties that played an important role in the development of Kannada language, culture and polity were Tuluva Dynasty of Canara,Narasimhacharya (1988), p 68 Rattas of Saundatti (Belgaum), Guttas of Guttal (Dharwad region),Cousens (1996), p15 Banas of Kolar,Mahalingam in Adiga (2006), p 130 Nolambas of Nolambavadi,Adiga (2006), p. 134Their territory included modern Tumkur, Chitradurga, Kolar, Bellary and Bangalore districts. Chopra et al. (2003), part 1, p. 163 Vaidumbas,Adiga (2006), p. 142They were an Andhra dynasty who ruled over Kurnool, Cuddappah in the 10th century. There inscriptions are in Telugu and Kannada. Chopra et al. (2003), part 1, p. 163 Chengalvas, Kongalvas, Sendrakas of Nagarkhanda (Banavasi province), Yalahanka Nadaprabhu Kempegowda,Also known as the Kempegowda family, builders of modern Bangalore-Kamath (2001), pp. 240–241 Sindas of Yelburga (Bijapur-Gulbarga), Kadamba of Hangal.Two coins of the Hangal Kadambas exist, one with the Kannada inscription Saarvadhari and other with Nakara. They are preserved in the Royal Asiatic Society and Indian Historical Research Institute, Mumbai -Moraes (1931), p 385
In addition, other well known kingdoms that patronized Kannada poets and Kannada language were: Eastern Chalukyas Kakatiya dynasty Seuna Yadavas of DevagiriKamath (2001), pp. 143-144 Shilahara Kadambas of GoaThe coins of the Kadambas of Goa are unique in that they have alternate inscription of the king's name in Kannada and Devanagari in triplicate. This shows that the native vernacular of the Goa Kadambas was Kannada. Moraes (1931), p 384
The Karnata Dynasty (founded by Nanyadeva I) of Mithila and Nepal,Thapar, Romila (2003), p. 433, The Penguin History of Early India, From Origin to 1300 AD., 2003, Penguin, New Delhi, Kamat, Suryanath U., (2001), p.8, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore, 2001 (Reprinted 2002), OCLC: 7796041Bose, Manilal (1998), p.28, Social and Cultural History of Ancient India, Concept Publishing Company, Makhan Jha, (1997), pp52-53, Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective, M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd, S.R. Bakshi, S. Gajrani, Hari Singh (2005), p.254, Early Aryans to Swaraj, Sarup & Sons, Sengupta, Nitish K (2011), p50, Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib, Penguin Books, Chapter:The Sen Dynasty, Desai, Pandurang Bhimarao (1970), p.213, A History of Karnataka: From Pre-history to Unification, Kannada Research Institute, Karnatak University, OCLC:203297Mishra, Jayakanta in Ayyappa Paniker (1997), p.280, p.289, Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections, Sahitya Akademi, Pollock, Sheldon (2006), p.417, note.79, The Language of the Gods in the World of Men: Sanskrit, Culture, and Power in Premodern India, University of California Press, The Chalukyas of Gujarat,Altekar in Kamath (2001), p. 73Altekar 1934, pp. 21–22 The Chalukyas of Vengi (Eastern Chalukya),Keay (2000), p 170The Eastern Chalukyas were originally of Kannada stock who later encouraged Telugu The Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri,Shrinivas Ritti and A.V. Narasimha Murthy in Kamath 2001, p. 137Seuna coins carry Kannada legends from the beginning of their rule (O.P. Varma in Kamath 2001, p. 137)Majority of the Seuna inscriptions are in Kannada and during the formation of the kingdom, the Nasik-Ahamadnagar region (Seuna Desa) was a Kannada territory (Kamath 2001, p. 137) The Rashtrakuta family ruling from Berar (modern Amravati district, Maharashtra),A Kannada dynasty may have been created in Berar under the rule of Badami Chalukyas, (Altekar 1934, pp. 21–22) The Rashtrakutas branch of Gujarat (Lata branch),The Gujarat Rashtrakutas signed even their Sanskrit records in Kannada because that was the language of the place of their origin (D.R. Bhandarkar in Kamath 2001, p 73)The Gujarat Rashtrakutas would not have signed their inscriptions in Kannada language in far away Gujarat unless they were Kannadigas (Altekar 1934, pp 21–22) The Sena dynasty of BengalB.P. Sinha in George E. Somers, Dynastic History of Magadha, p. 214, Abhinav Publications, 1977, New Delhi, Sen (1999), p282Majumdar, R. C. (1977), Ancient India, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, p. 320, New Delhi,
Culture
Architecture
Architecture and sculpture has been the epitome of art in Karnataka. Be it the musical pillars of Hampi, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the (monolithic) statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali that was voted by Indians as the first of Seven Wonders of India the Yelu Sutthina Kote of Chitradurga (The Fort of Seven Laps) cutting across hill or the wholesomeness of carvings of temples which bared down all desires to be left out of it and formless (above all forms) all encompassing — the inner garbhagrihas. The temples of Karnataka had in them many shaili or varieties to credit. A majority of the temples were built using the locally available stones.
Some of the places of interest are: Ellora Caves houses the Kailasanatha temple of Ellora was built by the Rashtrakutas Dynasty and is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
Elephanta Caves island was a summer resort of Rashtrakuta kings and is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Konark Sun Temple also called Surya Devalaya and Black Pagoda built in coastline of Odisha, India by Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Ajanta Caves have sculptures of Rashrakutas and Badami Chalukyas and is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Hampi houses the ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire and is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO Pattadakal is a vesara style of Hindu temple architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site Badami cave temples, a regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas, now famous for its sandstone cave temples Aihole is known for its many temples and inscriptions of Chalukya Pulakeshin II in the Old Kannada script Basavakalyan, a major centre of social and religious movement in the 12th century by Basava, consists of temples in Chalukyan architecture Itagi is home to the Shiva temple built by Vikramāditya. Considered to be the best specimen of Kalyani Chalukyan art, it has as many as 68 decorated pillars, an ornate tower and a doorway of great workmanship Lakkundi Belur Halebeedu Shravanabelagola Saumyakeshava Temple, Nagamangala Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu Mallikarjuna Temple, Basaralu Ikkeri Keladi Banavasi
Pioneer sculptors include: Amarashilpi Jakanachari Ruvari Malithamma Chavundaraya Siddalinga Swami K. Venkatappa Modern day contemporaries include visionary architects such as: Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, father of modern Indian engineering, Kannambadi Katte or KRS dam Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Vidhana Soudha
Modern Kannada art is primarily influenced by Raja Ravi Varma and his realism. Popular visual arts generally revolve around puppetry. Most traditional religious paintings include works that are very colorful.
These are many of the places where art is displayed.
Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat Chowdiah Memorial Hall Gaayana Samaja Ranga Shankara Nrithya Grama Ravindra Kalakshetra Gubbi Veeranna Rangamandira Janapada Loka Rangayana Ninasam Prabhat Kalavidaru
Music
Dasa sahitya is the literature of Bhakti movement composed by devotees in honor of Lord Vishnu or one of his avatars. Dasa is literally "servant" in Kannada and sahitya is literature. Haridasas ("servants of God") were preachers of Bhakti to Vishnu. The bhakti literature of these Haridasas is collectively referred to as Dasa Sahitya. It is composed in the Kannada language.Haridasa Contribution to Kannada Literature
The Haridasas richly contributed to the heritage of Karntataka music. They made an indelible impression on the religious and cultural life of Karnataka by spreading the didactic teachings in a musical form to the hearts of the common folk. Like other doyens of Indian classical music, these scholars offered prayer to Vishnu through music, called naadopasana. The Lord is described as Samagana priya, and bhakti through music is the most preferred path to 'reach' Him.
The Haridasa compositions are popularly known as Devaranamas. Compositions like Krishna Nee Begane Baaro, Venkatachala Nilayam, Jagadoddharana, Tamboori Meetidava are some of the many examples of their scholarly work.
Some noted Haridasas or composers of Dasa Sahitya are: Purandara Dasa, widely regarded as Karnataka Sangeeta Pitamaha or "Father of Carnatic music" Kanaka Dasa, a younger contemporary of Purandara Dasa Sripadaraja Vyasatirtha Vadirajatirtha Jagannatha Dasa Jayatirtha Gopala Dasa Vijaya Dasa Naraharitirtha
One of the oldest forms of music in the region is Karnataka Shastreeya Sangeetha which has evolved over ages. Both Hindustani and Karnataka variations are respected and nurtured by Kannadigas. Bhavageete and Sugama Sangeetha are some innovations. Other forms of music include Gamaka, Joogera Pada and Lavani. Yakshagana is considered a unique and indigenous form of both music and dance of Karnataka.
Contemporary musical thespians are:
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, recipient of the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honor Gangubai Hangal, awarded both Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan in 1971 and 2002 respectively C. Aswath, recipient of Karnataka Rajyotsava Prashasti for his immense contribution to Bhavageete Veene Doraiswamy Iyengar Puttaraj Gawai Honnappa Bhagavathar P. Kalinga Rao Balappa Hukkeri Mallikarjuna Mansur Basavaraja Rajguru Veene Sheshanna T. Chowdiah Sawai Gandharva Kumar Gandharva Mysore Ananthaswamy Mysore Manjunath
Theater
Rangabhoomi or the theatre culture is a tradition with Kannadigas. While a lot of (literature) is written in praise of the heroic characters of the epics and puranas, there are major works depicting the kings and their rule. These are called (plays having wide-ranging stages for performance like Rangamancha staged in either theatres or on streets) and Bayalata (). As its etymology indicates, bayalu means open-air field and ata means theatre. In southern Karnataka, the eastern and western varieties of Yakshagana are termed Bayalata, whereas in the north, several other distinct genres are included under the name.
Harikathe which covers an entire night is another form where one (or more) person tells a story in an outstanding manner accompanied by music at background. It is a common feature to narrate battles, stories, devotions or vratha in front of temples on auspicious days like Dasara and Maha Shivaratri. Harikathe is a composite art form composed of story telling, poetry, music, drama, dance, and philosophy. Today, late-night Harikathe sessions are organized overseas where Kannadiga population is considerable.Auckland Kannadigas enjoyed Harikathe on the occasion of 'Dasara'