Musicians and Dancing Friezes in the Vijayanagara Temples of Rayalaseema

"Musicians and dancing friezes in the Vijayanagara temples of Rayalaseema" is a threshold to the concept of ‘bhava’, ‘raga’ and ‘thala’the basis of Bharateeya music and dance. The book provides a study of the musicians and dancing friezes in the Vijayanagara temples of Rayalaseema to explore the basis of Indian music and dance: the concepts of bhava, raga and thala. It is concerned with the origin and development of music and dance under the patronage of the Vijayanagar rulers that is reflected in their temple art. It takes up social life of the artistes, their dress and ornaments, and the musical instruments they used as depicted in the temple sculptures that emphasise the artistes’ significant role in social and cultural life of the time and in the royal palaces of the kings. Based on fieldwork, the book includes illustrations that include photographs as well as line drawings of musical instruments, deities, ornaments and costumes. The important musicians and dance sculptures study based on extensive field work through illustrations all have made the book the first of its kind.