Prof. Kasireddy Venkat Reddy
Retired Professor of Telugu, Osmania University
Introduction to Folk Science and Indian Culture
Respected brothers and sisters, I will give examples from Telugu. Indian culture is my identity. Indian science includes folk science as an integral part. This science is practiced but not always visible. Folk science is the science of the common people. Folk science encompasses oral traditions, physical culture, folk art, folk languages, and more. It is a broad vision. There are three main divisions: song, speech, and visual. In Telugu, there are 25 divisions of folk science.
Folk science includes song stories, oral narratives, proverbs, idioms, riddles, language usage, family and social life, education, traditions, beliefs, customs, games, traditional medicine, clothing, housing, food, water, jewelry, painting, music, dance and more. These are all part of Telugu folk literature. Over 500 PhD theses and research papers have been written on Telugu folk literature in various universities. These studies cover 25 different aspects of folk science. Many essays have also been written on these topics.
Folk Literature as a Reflection of Indian Culture
Folk literature, including riddles, songs, and proverbs, reflects Indian culture. The culture seen in folk stories, songs and performing arts is the culture of the Indian people. This culture embodies the values and dignity of the nation. The idea of considering the world as one family is not new. It has been a part of Indian society for a long time. However, due to foreign invasions and divisive ideologies like racism, casteism, and the Aryan-Dravidian theory, our society has been fragmented. These divisive ideas were introduced to create division among us.
For example, some worship Mallikarjuna Swamy, while others worship Mallana. But for us, Mallikarjuna and Mallana are the same. Venkateswara and Venkanna are the same. These divisions were created to break our society. Some socialists and communists have also propagated these ideas. Since independence, we have been stuck in these divisions. But now, it is time to embrace nationalism and unity. Folk literature has always promoted unity, but some selfish individuals do not want this unity. Through folk literature, we must awaken and rise above these divisions
Folk Stories and Their Cultural Significance
Let me share some folk stories that reflect Indian culture. In Telugu folk literature, the first comprehensive study was done by Professor Ramaraj. He compared folk songs to Vedic mantras because both were passed down orally. For example, the story of Hanuman is found in every village. Here’s a small story:
After defeating Ravana, Lord Rama was about to return to Ayodhya. He asked Vibhishana if he had any last wishes. Vibhishana expressed his desire to visit villages and consume them. Rama granted him the boon but with a condition: he could only enter villages where Hanuman was not present. Hanuman then went ahead and installed his idols in every village, protecting them from Vibhishana.
Pavilion-Kala
Jayapa Senani
Jayapa Senani, also known as Jaya, was the son of Pinna Choda, whose father, Narappa, was the governor of the estuary region of the Krishna River, also known as Diviseema. Jayapa served as a military commander under King Ganapati-deva, whose reign included the Telugu-speaking regions of present-day Andhra and Telangana. He was appointed as the governor of newly conquered territories, including Vela-nadu. Jayapa led the Kakatiya elephant force, earning the title “Gaja Senani”. He played a crucial role in several military campaigns, including the subjugation of regions like Chola, Kalinga, Seuna, Brihat-Karnata, and Lata.
His cultural contributions include the composition of “Nritya Ratnavali,” a Sanskrit treatise on dancing and choreography, which remains a significant work in the field of Indian classical dance. This treatise has contributed significantly to the development and preservation of Indian classical dance forms. It is also reported that the dance sculptures in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ramappa Temple inspired Jayapa Senani to compose Nritya Ratnavali. Jayapa also wrote about Perini Shivatandavam in one of the chapters of Nritya Ratnavali which is a vibrant dance form of the Telugu States that was an important dance performed during those days. It has five parts with 125 vinyasas.
This story teaches us that the protector is God and the destroyer is a demon. This is why Hanuman temples are found in every village in India. These folk stories were not written by Valmiki but were passed down by our ancestors. The essence of Indian culture is “Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavantu” (May all be happy). This sentiment is reflected in our folk tales.
Telugu Folk Songs and Their Messages
Now, let me share some Telugu folk songs that reflect Indian culture.
Song on the Ramayana:
This song explains why the monkeys were born, why they cut trees, why they built the bridge, why they went to Lanka, why they killed Ravana, and why they brought Sita back to Rama. The message is that evil must be destroyed and good must be protected.
Song Praising Dasharatha and Rama:
This song praises Dasharatha as the noble king and Rama as the embodiment of truth. It reflects the belief that Rama and Sita are like family to us.
Song on the Dashavatara (Ten Incarnations of Vishnu):
“Machha avataram na mamayya, Kurma avataram na tata, Narasimha avataram na nayakudu … “
This song describes how each family member represents an avatar of Vishnu, showing that the divine is present in every household.
Song on Farming and Nature’s Cycle:
This song describes the cycle of clouds bringing rain, rain helping crops grow and crops feeding people, who then worship God for liberation.
Conclusion: Unity and the Soul of Indian Culture
These folk songs and stories reflect the deep connection between Indian culture and folk literature. They show that the same culture found in the Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana and the Mahabharata is also present in folk literature. Many people have researched and written PhD theses on folk literature. This literature reflects the soul of our culture. The soul that resides in all beings is the same as the Supreme Soul. This unity is reflected in our folk literature.
I thank Vedika for giving me the opportunity to present this. I bow to everyone. Thank you!
“The culture seen in folk stories, songs, and performing arts is the culture of the Indian people.”
– Prof. Kasireddy Venkat Reddy
Retired Professor of Telugu, Osmania University
