About Lesson
i. Origin of Indian Puppetry
- Puppetry has a deep-rooted history in Indian culture, with references to marionette theatre dating back to around 500 BCE. Excavations at sites like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro have uncovered puppets with sockets, indicating that puppetry was a popular and widely appreciated art form in ancient times.
- The Sangham Age further highlights the significance of puppetry, with references found in texts such as Silappadikaram (composed in the first and second centuries BCE) and the Mahabharata. These ancient texts mention puppetry, underscoring its cultural importance in India.
- Beyond being an artistic medium, puppetry carries philosophical significance in Indian thought. In the Bhagavad Gita, God is likened to a puppeteer, who skillfully manipulates the universe using three forces: Sattva (purity), Rajas (passion), and Tamas (ignorance). This comparison adds a spiritual layer to the art form, connecting it with broader themes of creation, control, and destiny.
- A broad variety of puppetry traditions have developed throughout India, each with its own distinct style of puppets.
- Folklore, mythology, and local legends served as sources of inspiration. Puppetry has been infused with other artistic mediums, including painting, sculpture, music, dance, and theatre, creating a distinctive form of artistic expression.
- However, this creative genre has been steadily diminishing in recent years because of a lack of devoted fans and financial uncertainties.