Harikatha , literally meaning ‘stories of the lord’ is the exposition of a religious theme, usually the life of a saint or a story from one of India’s scriptural texts. Similar to the western art of oratorio, the Harikatha is also a sacred art form. Story telling, poetry, music, drama, dance, and philosophy blend subtly to give Harikatha a composite nature. The songs may be in
Sanskrit,
Tamil,
Marathi,
Telugu,
Hindi, or any other regional language.
Harikatha begins by invoking god through singing and chanting; the underlying philosophy of the main story or some general philosophical truths are presented in the beginning itself. The main body of this art form comprises the story proper. The audience may also participate in the chanting of the lord’s names. Scriptural quotes abound in Harikatha recital.
The uniqueness of Harikatha is that it is devotional, entertaining and educational at the same time.
