Rudrapatna

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. 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.

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 ''Ghanapathi'', ''Shatvadani'', ''Ashtavadhani'' 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.S. Keshavamurthy, R.K. Ramanathan, R.K. Srikantan, R.K.Srinivasamurthy,
R.K. Suryanarayana, R.N. Thyagarajan and R.N. Tharanathan (also known as Rudrapatnam Brothers), R.K. Raghavan, R.K. Prakash, R K Prasanna Kumar, R.K. Padmanabha, R.S. Ramakanth, R.N. Sreelatha and Rathnamala Prakash (a renowned light music artist also), R.P. Prashanth and R.P. Pramod (also knows as Rudrapatna Veena Brothers), 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.S. 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.

Notable Personalities

* R. Shamasastry - Sanskrit scholar and discoverer of the lost manuscript of the Arthashastra

Political Recognition

Padmavati Gangadhergowda is Daughter of RH Javaragowda (Late Rudrapatna Grama Panchayat chairman for 20 years) has been elected as Mayor of Karnataka capital Bangalore. She also been elected as Janata party (ladies) president in the year 2008.

References

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Villages in Hassan district