|
Home > Temples of Kerala > Kootthambalam KootthambalamThe position of kootthambalam is in the front and right side of the principal deity. ie. if the deity faces east the position of kootthambalam is on the south-east and if the deity faces west its position is on the north-west. There are various types of kootthambalams. Generally, it is 15.6 metres long and 11.6 metres broad with 4.26 metres square platform supported by pillars in the centre. But the kootthambalam constructed at the Kerala Kala Mandalam at Cheruthurutthy (Thrissur district) is the only one outside a temple complex. It is built on the basis of vikrushta madhya style (one of the three naatya grihas specified by Bharatha Muni (2nd century B.C). Its stage is of size 14.62 metres long and 7.31 metres wide having four wooden pillars. The kootthambalam is the store-house of exquisite wood carvings devoted to puraanic and epic themes. The kootthambalam has three main parts viz, aniyara (green-room), rangam (stage) and mridanga-pada where mizhaav (drum) is kept. All other spaces in the front and sides of the rangam are meant for the audience. The kootthambalam is used as stated earlier, to stage the performing arts like Chakkiarkootthu, Kootiyattam, Ottam-thullal, Mohiniyaattam, Krishnaattam, Kathhakali, Pathakam etc. Of late Kootthambalam is not constructed in any temple. It is replaced by a stage with ante-rooms particularly in the context of lower importance given to performing arts of temples. The construction of this stage is also done either within or outside the temple wall, all depending on the availability of space. A ground plan of the kootthambalam is given in Diagram 18.
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
