Bhakti in kathakali

[kathakali]

As you know most of the kathakali stories are based on puranas Ramayanam and Mahabharatham and so Gods (like Krishna, Shiva, Rama,Vishnu etc.) are part of these kathakali plays.

Kathakali is actually not much bonded with Bhakti and thus Krishna , Rama , Shiva etc. are not the main characters on most of the plays.
but there are quite a few instances where Lord Krishna and Lord Rama is been worshiped in these stories.

Here are some example padams in kathakali which have Bhakti as it's inherent Bhava:

1) http://kathakalipadam.com/index.php/en/all-uploads/90 : in Yamuna Kalyani ,

Padam: Karuna Videhi mayi: This padam in enacted by Yudhishtira praising Lord krishna for all his help and support to Pandavas during their difficult times in vanavasa and Ajnjatha vasa
The padam has 2 specific lines which describes the dashavathara .

This is from he play 'Uthara Swayamvaram' written by Irayimman Thampi, chief poet and vocalist in the court of maharaja Swathi Thirunal.

2) http://kathakalipadam.com/index.php/en/all-uploads/111 in Bhoopalam (followed by a raga called 'Puraneeru')

Padam: Chandrachooda.. This padam is enacted by DakshaPrajapathi (father-in-law for Lord Siva) praising Lord Shiva and requesting for forgiveness for his evil deeds.

This is from Dakshayagam again written by Irayimman Thampi

3) http://kathakalipadam.com/index.php/en/all-uploads/105 in Naattakurinji
Padam: Madhavajaya Showre , This is padam in enacted by 'Sudarshana' (sudarshan chakra) worshiping his Lord Krishna ,when Sudarshana was summoned by Krishna to destroy Kourava in one shot,
But Yudishtira later pacifies Krishna and requests against it thus stopped Krishna from that

This is from Kirmeera Vadham play, written by Kottayathu Thampuran (lived during the first part of eighteenth century)

Will add some more later:

[kathakali]

More additions:
Padam : Ajitha Hare Jaya
This is very popular one in Sree ragam, from Kuchelavritham , where Kuchela expresses his deep rooted bakthi and devotion to Lord Krishna

http://kathakalipadam.com/index.php/en/ ... ma-warrier