Regional Cultures

Introduction

India is known for its diversity and varied regional cultures. From its food, poetry, dance, music, painting and languages, each region has a distinction of its own. However what we understand as a culture today is a result of years and years of complex intermixing of local traditions with ideas and values from other parts of the subcontinent. Some traditions are specific to a region while others can be similar across regions. While there are some derived from old practises from a particular region but can vary as they spread to other regions. The frontiers separating these said regions have evolved over time and are still changing. Let’s have a look at some of these developments in India’s medieval period. 

The Cheras and the Development of Malayalam

• This is an example that shows how a language can influence a region.
• In the 9th century, the Chera kingdom of Mahodayapuram was established. It was located in the southwestern part of the Peninsula part of present-day Kerala
• Most likely Malayalam was the spoken language of the region. The rulers introduced the Malayalam language and script into their inscriptions. This development is considered one of the earliest examples of the use of regional language in official records in the subcontinent
• At this time the Sanskritic traditions under Cheras further developed and the Temple theatre of Kerala started to borrow stories from the epics written in the Sanskrit language. Around the 12th century the first Malayalam literary works were being introduced whose credit goes to the Sanskrit language
• In the 14th century “Lilatilakam”  a text dealing with grammar and poetics of the Manipravalam language which was composed. Literally it means “diamonds and corals” referring to Sanskrit and the regional language. Manipravalam is a hybrid language that is an amalgamation of the two languages Sanskrit and the regional language. 

Rulers and Religious Traditions: The Jagannatha Cult

• In some parts regional cultures grew on the basis of religious traditions. For example, the cult of Jagannatha (a name for Vishnu  literally translated as “lord of the world”) at Puri, Orissa
• The local tribal people would make the wooden image of a local deity which was later identified as Lord Vishnu. This is a tradition that can be witnessed even in the present times
• A ruler of the Ganga dynasty Anantavarman began construction of a temple for Purushottama Jagannatha at Puri in the 12th century. In 1230 king Anangabhima III dedicated his kingdom to the deity proclaiming himself as “deputy” of the god
• With time the temple emerged as the Centres of pilgrimage. This increased its importance in the region as well as its authority in social and political matters
• To make their rule acceptable for the locals, all those who later conquered Orissa like the Marathas, Mughals, and the English East India Company tried to gain control over the temple.

The Rajputs and Traditions of Heroism

• Rajputs are often acknowledged for giving the present-day state of Rajasthan its distinctive culture. In the nineteenth century the region was called the Rajputana by the British. However, this doesn’t mean it was entirely inhabited by the Rajputs. There are other groups of people inhabiting the region. Similarly, people who are identified as Rajputs can be found in many other areas of Northern and Central India
• From around the 8th century most of what is today called Rajasthan was ruled by several Rajput families. The rulers were known for their vigour and valiant nature in battles choosing death over defeat. The ideals and aspirations of the rulers played a big part in shaping the regional cultures of the area
• Stories of their heroics were recorded in poems and songs. This preserved their memories and inspired the next generations to follow their example. They were preceded by special trained minstrels. It often consisted of dramatic situations and strong emotions like loyalty, friendship, love, valour, anger etc
• The heroic ideal was shown in the stories of Rajput women as well. They were depicted following their husband in life and death, hence the stories about sati or self-immolation of widows where they jump in the funeral pyre of the husbands. Those women who chose to follow the heroic path laid down in their culture often had to pay the price with their lives.

Conclusion

Regional cultures have evolved over time due to the influences that  they had in the past. From the spoken languages to the worshipping traditions of a particular region or the heroics of the rulers. The stories were told of the glory of Rajput rulers which still affects the modern-day populace of the region which is present-day Rajasthan. The culture that we see today in a particular region has emerged because of the blending and mixing of the local traditions with the ideas of those that have ruled over the area in the past. The boundaries of a region are ever-changing, hence a particular tradition can be seen in more than a few regions. While some traditions didn’t travel far too long and remained distinctive to a specific region.