Devotional

Lee Swann in //Indian Theater: Traditions of Performance//, discusses characteristics of devotional genres of performance and points to their origin in the development and spread of Vaisnavism during the middle ages beginning in the 14th and 15th centuries. Songs, dances, painting, and other arts principally celebrated the life and stories surrounding Lord Rama and Lord Krsna, both incarnations of the God Visnu. The __Bhagavad Gita__, one of the main chapters of the //Mahabharata// epic, celebrates Krsna and his divine exploits in human form. The //Ramayana// concerns Rama and stories surrounding his exploits in human form.

The particular movement from which the genres of performance spring is known as the bhakti movement and those who worship these man-gods are called bhaktas. Bhaktas express their intense love for one or the other of these figures.

Ramlila of North India is a large public celebration of Rama's exploits lasting for nearly 30 days. In contrast Raslila of Braj, also of North India, is often held in private and performances allow devotees to express their intense love for Krsna by watching the plays unfold. The performances begin and end on the same day. Similar to Raslila is Krsnanattam of Kerala state which is performed in the courtyard of the Guruvayur Temple which strictly prohibits anyone who is not a Hindu from entering. When made available performances are held in a small hall outside the temple compound for the benefit of non-Hindus. Bhagavata Mela of Tamilnadu, Kuchipudi of Andhra, and Ankiya Nat of Assam are also examples of Vaisnava bhakti in performance.